this post was submitted on 16 Aug 2023
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[–] TheBat@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Italian

Lmao. What's it with Americans still claiming an identity of their grandparents?

[–] Duamerthrax@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago

Why are you being confrontational about this? Italian Americans aren't claiming to have Italian citizenship. Their cultural identity has more to do with their cuisine and values passed down the family. It's more than just a piece of land that's shaped like a boot.

[–] Gormadt@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

As an American it's frustrating to me as well

The amount of people I know who have no attachment to their so called "homeland" is pretty much most of them. And usually due to their families they basically just pick one family to associate with.

I know people who say "I'm Irish" while their siblings say "I'm Finnish." Simply because of which grandparent they more closely associated with.

Of course normally when I ask people where they're from it's usually in the context of which state.

Edit: By attachment I mean no other attachments than genetics. They don't take part in the culture, they don't visit, they don't stay in contact with their relatives over there, hell most don't even know any of their relatives over there.

[–] Jmr@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

6% scottish, 0.1% Lithuanian, 42% British, 93% Canadian, 12% German.

[–] Mr_Blott@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Well would you admit you were just a mutt 😂

[–] TheBat@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Why don't they call themselves American? Are they stupid?

[–] Tavarin@lemmy.ca 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Because America is incredibly diverse, so saying your American is virtually meaningless in terms of your culture and values.

[–] TheBat@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Wow I didn't know that. I'm from a very homogeneous country, India. This concept of diversity is unfamiliar to me.

/s

[–] Tavarin@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago (2 children)

And Indians tend to refer to themselves as Bengali, Tamil, Telegu, etc...

So why is Americans giving a more culturally specific title at times confusing to you?

[–] Duamerthrax@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 year ago

They sound like a bratty teenager. If we're taking their comments at face value, they probably get a lot of praise from their friends with cheap digs at America even if the same problems exist in their own culture.

[–] TheBat@lemmy.world -1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

culturally specific

Lmao ok. Texan '''Irish''' and Californian '''Italian''' have stronger links to their '''Irish''' and '''Italian''' roots. Sure.

[–] Tavarin@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 year ago
[–] Duamerthrax@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

They do, but depending on context, Italian is the answer they really being asked. If an American asks another American about their background and they get an answer like Italian-American or American of Italian decent, they'll get a funny look because the American part is implied.

[–] ComradeR@lemmy.ml -1 points 1 year ago

I don't understand that too! I have some Italian ancestors on my mom's side of the family. But I'm brazilian and I refuse to call myself "Italian".