Hyphenated Americans

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

When a conversation turns to ethnicity, I consider myself a EuroMutt. My maternal grandmother was born here but her siblings came over from the Eukraine. "We" haven't been here all that long, and I don't know how long my grandfathers' families were, nor my paternal grandmother. I don't know definitively where they came from, either.

I can't imagine hyphenating with anything, because there are too many choices available to me, and yet, the only thing I can identify with is American. this is my homeland. I have no rites, traditions, customs, costumes or anything else from my 'other homelands'. My culture is here, preserving itself.

[VVTrader Member Find all posts View Profile Close VVTrader]

Why call ourselves anything

To designate ourselves due to our origins or where we presently live are both ways of communicating how we see ourselves.

I choose world citizen rather than some other designation. Is that OK?

[BoardGirl Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close BoardGirl]

Of course it's ok!

I respect what anyone desires to be referred to as.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

I used to say that I am a Heinz 57...as in 57 different ingredients in ketchup.

I also used to say my ancestors were really horny so who knows what mix I have in me.

I really do not care how people id themselves or discuss their ethnicity. It is not that big of a deal unless someone is trying to make a big deal out of it.

My children are of mixed ethnicity. Do they know about it? Sure they do and we teach them about their culture(s) and other cultures. But the bottom line is they are about 5th generation Americans and are citizens of the USA.

This is the USA...you can basically say what you want and identify who you want to be identified with...that is part of our 'freedom'. Or you can make a big deal about other people that do it.