Is your ethnic heritage important to you and if so, why?

Question

Yahoo! Canada Answers Staff note: This is the real Scott Thompson!

Catch Scott on the CBC's genealogy program Who Do You Think You Are? (http://www.cbc.ca/whodoyouthinkyouare/?.ca) on Thursday, December 6, where he will be researching his roots. Along the way, he debunks a treasured family myth, uncovers a family scandal in Ontario and travels to a small village in the UK to learn about an ancestor's tragic circumstance.

Answer 1

Yes very much so. It's part of my roots, part of who I am. You can't deny your heritage, or believe it has no impact on your life.

In fact it very much shapes and defines you (me) personally.

I can't speak for everyone, but my (Italian) heritage is very much evident in every aspect of my life. My religion, my traditions, what we eat, how we love, embrace, dance, celebrate, grieve, all of it.

I am very proud to pass on this heritage to my children too, and am grateful and fortunate to have the roots that I do. Passion drives us, sometimes that is good and sometimes that's not so good, but at least we feel and we love.

I will never forget the first time my children and I watched "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". We were just exploding in laughter throughout, because our culture and the Greek culture are very similar, and we could just relate to every aspect of that movie. It was brilliantly done and reflected family life, it's expectations and the culture, beautifully.

I don't agree with people who think heritage isnt important. Although I do understand that it doesn't mean much to some, perhaps rightfully so, in that history isn't always kind to all or it may seemingly have no relevance. But I do believe the lack of roots, the lack of some sort of foundation, is what is messing up a lot of people in today's world.

Having some sense of self, through one's heritage, gives people something to live by, a base to start, somewhere to begin. I'd rather have that, than be wandering around aimlessly and lost spending my whole life in search of who I am.

I know who I am, and my past, whether I like it or not, very much shaped my foundation. I'm not saying I conformed and settled and became a cookie cut out of those who came before me, but I very much appreciate the heritage I do have, what it has brought to my life, and I CHOOSE to keep it a part of me or at least close to my heart.

My children understand the value of this too and understand that although they are Canadian, their heritage is Italian, Scottish and Irish, and it means a great deal to them, knowing where their parents and grandparents before them came from. They very much appreciate their backgrounds and the values that go along with them. And as they mingle with others, they are eager to explore the differences amongst their friends cultures too, and embrace the fact as Canadians we all really stemmed from other cultures and I think that is why we all mix very well together.

I disagree that pride in our past is something that should or does divide us. It is not our heritage but our selfishness, intolerance and just plain bigotry, greed, and hate that turns people against one another.

Even if we started out with identical pasts, humans would find some reason to hate the other. Our cultures have nothing to do with it, as there are good people in all cultures just as there are evil ones.

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And remember this, in the end, all we have is our past. That is what we sit back and reflect on in our golden years, the tales our offspring will tell, and what's left to remembered of a past generation by future ones.

We all create culture, for life is culture in progress--kids today even create sub-cultures do they not? Everyone needs something to live by. So to deny culture is unimportant is pretty well denying that life is unimportant.

And to quote Hammer from the next page, "If you are not proud of who you are, you are proud of nothing."

And that does not take anything away from the next person. It just shows you respect who you are and if you respect yourself, you are bound to respect others too.

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And one more note: above all, we are all CANADIAN first and should think that way no matter what our heritage. If not for this great country none of us would have the freedoms and liberties that we do. Our Canadian culture is something we need to pay great heed to, that it is preserved, and ensure that it gets the respect that it deserves, thus cultures, although embraced must also make compromises to ensure that which unites us, does not become fractured and thus divide us.

Answer 2

Then on my mother's side discovered recently that my great uncle founded the cheese factory in Millbank. Through this research I have discovered who I am, why our family has certain traits such as music. Why our third generation of kids are being born olive skinned and black hair. The gene pool is very strong in our family tree, and from what I have researching we come mostly from the small country Alsace Lorraine (Lichtenstein). Also my relatives worked very hard tilling the land around Blyth, Brussels, and Listowel developed many businesses which helped these communities flourish. Yes heritage is very important to me. I've heard that some Japanese dislike Chinese as they felt the Chinese had no pride. We don't need yet another reason to mark our differences when what we need to be doing is realizing how similar we are, how we all have the same needs to be met and we must co-exist. I look forward to a world without discrimination, for any reason. Besides, how many generations are we to go back? We are Canadian. Period. We are human. Period. And finally, "The point of power is in the present moment." Louise L. Hay. Yesterday is history or herstory and tomorrow isn't here yet, all that matters is this moment. That's why they call it 'the present' as it is indeed a gift.

Answer 3

Through this research I have discovered who I am, why our family has certain traits such as music. Why our third generation of kids are being born olive skinned and black hair. The gene pool is very strong in our family tree, and from what I have researching we come mostly from the small country Alsace Lorraine (Lichtenstein). Also my relatives worked very hard tilling the land around Blyth, Brussels, and Listowel developed many businesses which helped these communities flourish. Yes heritage is very important to me. I've heard that some Japanese dislike Chinese as they felt the Chinese had no pride. We don't need yet another reason to mark our differences when what we need to be doing is realizing how similar we are, how we all have the same needs to be met and we must co-exist. I look forward to a world without discrimination, for any reason. Besides, how many generations are we to go back? We are Canadian. Period. We are human. Period. And finally, "The point of power is in the present moment." Louise L. Hay. Yesterday is history or herstory and tomorrow isn't here yet, all that matters is this moment. That's why they call it 'the present' as it is indeed a gift.

Answer 4

The gene pool is very strong in our family tree, and from what I have researching we come mostly from the small country Alsace Lorraine (Lichtenstein). Also my relatives worked very hard tilling the land around Blyth, Brussels, and Listowel developed many businesses which helped these communities flourish. Yes heritage is very important to me. I've heard that some Japanese dislike Chinese as they felt the Chinese had no pride. We don't need yet another reason to mark our differences when what we need to be doing is realizing how similar we are, how we all have the same needs to be met and we must co-exist. I look forward to a world without discrimination, for any reason. Besides, how many generations are we to go back? We are Canadian. Period. We are human. Period. And finally, "The point of power is in the present moment." Louise L. Hay. Yesterday is history or herstory and tomorrow isn't here yet, all that matters is this moment. That's why they call it 'the present' as it is indeed a gift.

Answer 5

We were always reminded as children the hardships and discrimination are ancestors faced when they arrived to Canada from Ireland.I remember one story in particular.My great-great-grandmother on my mother's side would ask my grandmother if the children she was playing with were Catholic or Protestant?The funny thing was,was that they were living in Cabbage town in the 1920's.I'm currently investigating my Ukrainian and Native American heritage because not alot was known when i was a child because my father was a foster child and was raised by an Italian family(Lazazzera's) from the time he was seven.He did not meet his biological mother and siblings until he was about 41.Up until my 13th or 14th birthday i always thought i was Italian!(Even though i am not really Italian i still feel there is a little part of Italy in me).I could go on about my roots for days because i love history and genealogy but i must sum up my story.In closing i have to say that it is essential for people to know where they came from because as someone once said,"You don't know where you are going, if you don't know where you came from".But in the end we are also all proud Canadians. I've heard that some Japanese dislike Chinese as they felt the Chinese had no pride. We don't need yet another reason to mark our differences when what we need to be doing is realizing how similar we are, how we all have the same needs to be met and we must co-exist. I look forward to a world without discrimination, for any reason. Besides, how many generations are we to go back? We are Canadian. Period. We are human. Period. And finally, "The point of power is in the present moment." Louise L. Hay. Yesterday is history or herstory and tomorrow isn't here yet, all that matters is this moment. That's why they call it 'the present' as it is indeed a gift.

Answer 6

This is an interesting question. I think everyone is interested in their family roots, but for some it is more important than others, especially when looking at adoptees.

I find my ethnic heritage to be very...colourful...and somewhat important to me. It allows me to look at the reasons my family immigrated in the first place and why they chose Canada. As well, knowing my family's heritage is not so much as point of one-upmanship, as it is in understanding how anyone can come to this country and make a good, long prosperous life for themselves and their children

I am proud of the fact that I am a Canadian and that my family (maternal lineage) has been here in the Niagara Peninsula since 1786 . The were Pennsylvania Dutch that tried to stay neutral during the American Revolution and once the War was over, they crossed the Niagara River and settled into the Black Creek area intermarrying with other families that came for the same reasons. I am pretty much related to everyone that has been here for the last 150+ years : 26 children to marry off and a limited gene-pool will speak for itself...lol.

My paternal side of the family has only been here since the 1840's/1850's. They were originally from Ireland -my grandfather used to joke that we'd been kicked out of every country in Europe for trying to overthrow the established monarchy. Oddly enough, we are related to (Thomas) D'arcy McGee... a Father of Canadian Confederation.

Answer 7

Hi Scott,

Yes it is. Part of my family has been in Canada since the 1700's (originally from Britain). I've heard through my family line that we may have some Native blood that is deeply hidden and I'd like to know more about it. Otherwise we are mostly British and Scottish with a little French and Irish blood sprinkled in. A regular Canadian I guess! I really enjoy hearing about everyone's ethnic heritage as it really can tell you a lot about where a person comes from. It's exciting!

By the way, I am a huge fan of yours. I loved your book, "Buddy Babylon" and have been following Kids in the Hall since I was a girl of 13 back when the show first aired!
Check out my website sometime (I'm an artist): www.dcowie.com.

Dana

Answer 8

When I found out who both my real parents were (adopted) I assessed the mish mash of derivation.
English/French, Dutch/German, MicMac Indian.
I thought to myself, if I ever hear an ethnically based joke, I'll only be one fifth insulted...what a blessing.
Dumb consideration all way round.
When Philip Rushton was making the rounds back in the 80's and causing such a fuss, I got to thinking that even the word "race" is suggestive of competition.
I thought that was dumb too, because all resultant strains of humanity are this:
Geographical isolation causes genetic redundancy.
Say it with me: "Geographical isolation causes genetic redundancy.
There are no races, there are no groups, there are no polarizations of "types". It's all a moot point because everyone is related and everyone ends up back on the corner of "Tigris and Euphrates street."
All other considerations on this matter fall down.
Why would it be important?
Would I want to get in good with an employer who's Scottish if my last name is McGill?
Lame. I'm not really Scottish, by birth, but because of supposed association I can do a mean Shrek or Billy Connelly.
If specific ethnicity association is important to someone, then some personal inventory is in order.
Next stop, goosestepping 101.
All of this is the wisdom of living one's whole life thinking one thing about themselves, and then finding out you're someone else.
All of a sudden I'm magically different?
Am I going to go get my laderhosen, my wooden shoes, and do a rain dance? I don't think so. I am who I am. Nurture over nature.
I wouldn't have minded, however, meeting my real bio mom before she passed away, a month before I tried to contact her.
Other than that, not so much of a thing.

www.garymcgill.com

Answer 9

Since I got into genealogy many years ago I have acquired an extensive history lesson in the making of Canada. Fascinating stuff. Now anything early Canadiana can sidetrack me from my own research. My heritage is important to me because I am proud of the part my ancestors had in shaping Canada. I am Scottish, Irish and native which means when I become a stingy drunk I can claim it's all in the genes

Answer 10

As previously mentioned, some people take it way too far because it has been pounded in their head for generations that some ethnicities are superior to others-which does promote intolerance and hate. We have way to much of this going on. We are all humans no matter where we came from. We all share the same planet, even though some people make me wonder this, and our species' destruction will be a result of ourselves, not nature. My Grandfather, 87, is a born bred canadian of mixed heritage, my Grandmother was a war bride of the UK, she just passed away last week. As long as I am a contributing member of society, help out others less fortunate as much as I can, and raise my son to be compassionate to all people no matter what race, religion, or colour and break this cycle of 'who is better than who' then I have done my job. I am Canadian, I am just one person on a huge planet trying my best to live my best - that is all that matters!!

Answer 11

Well, Scott; my ethnic heritage is CANADIAN !! more than severl generations. supposedly i come from english and german immigrants. But since i was adopted at birth and never met my real parents, who knows, eh? I am canadian... Although I truly dislike the way our governments are running our country. I was brought up on respect, honesty and hard work will get you ahead. But that is not the case in the real world since I have been a single parent, (male) raising 3 kids. I love the mix of the canadian culture, and try to learn and understand each. But I do not agree that you need to change who you are to fit the "canadian mold" to live here.
I have traveled to colombia and philippines and find even though their lifestyle is poorer than ours, I would say more people there are happier than the people in canada.
I dislike the commercialization of holidays, and the having to keep up with the jones' mentality.
I have seen a huge change in canada in the past 10-15 years. Where not everyone gets that chance to have a normal life or to be able to be the average canadian. And the compassion towards these people is less and less everyday.
Canada is a great place to live and grow up, but it is falling behind cause of our conservative thinking and submissive nature towards politics. .