I should say though, on St Patty's Day, I'm Irish. When Italy is in Euro, or the World Cup, I'm Italian, when Canada is at the Olympics or World Championships, I'm Canadian.
maybe you should change your handle to "flip-flop"
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My parents moved to Canada from South Africa, and I was born here. I guess technically I'm bi-racial, but it would be ridiculous for me to consider myself anything other than Canadian.
I have a maple leaf tattooed on my shoulder and the last time I was in SA, a cousin chided me for not having a springbok or protea tattoo. I told him to get bent.
Meh, I'm indifferent when the term Black or African-American is used on me.
how about the term chocolate lightning?!?!?!!?!??!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by New Era
This individual is not affluent and more of a member of that shrinking middle class. It is likely the individual does not have a high paying job, is limited on benefits, and has to make due with those benefits provided by employer.
i hate when people call themsleves Irish, Itialian, or (insert country) and they have never been there, they don't speak the language.
you are canadian.
Agree. Nothing against either nationality but I know several people of Irish or Italian descent whose families have been here for generations. And like you say they've never been there, don't know the language , but they act like they've moved to the US last week. My family moved here from Holland in the 30s,some in the 50s..we don't walk around saying we're Dutch. Same with many families of German descent. The Irish and Italians seem particularly prone to the hyphenated American definition. Not that it's wrong, just interesting.
As for the original question, I really don't care. If someone wants to be called African American instead of black, or they find black offensive, well, that's their prerogative, and it's no skin off my ass to use African American.
I don't understand the anger and bitching we get about "political correctness". What's the problem? Are the extra syllables that difficult to spit out?
Or do you reserve the right to offend people just because you want to?
That being said, I use the term "black" whenever the need arises (which is not very often). I don't mean any offense and their isn't malice behind it, but if someone (or an entire "group") were to say "I don't like that, call me/us African American", fine with me.
I agree with the jist of what he says, and obviously patriotism can go way too far, or people can be proud for silly reasons. But I can understand being proud for what your country has achieved, or what it stands for. As I mentioned earlier, a country is made up by it's people, so I could see how some could take ownership in that.
IE, Canada's record in peacekeeping makes me proud. I'm not a peacekeeper myself, but I support the ideals of it and work to achieve peace and tolerance in my own ways, therefore I feel it's fair to me to feel some pride in that.
Aslong as Spike Lee and Kanye West keep their mouth shut, they can call themselves whatever they want.
Does this forum have any "those people" from the Southern USA? I would imagine their view of this and the "Canadian" view is completely different. The few black friends I have all prefered to be called "Steve, John, Fred" .. you know, there F'n names.
I'm not a racist, but I am not polictally correct either, but seriously, why must we label everything.
My brother has a 4 Leaf Clover mixed with a Canadian Flag tattoo on his forearm - He has never been to Ireland, and he is only %30 Irish - I dont see no Swedish Flag on his F'n Arm.
...... dammit, I knew I shouldnt of read this thread.
This made me laugh because it reminds me of my cousin. He (and his parents, and our grandparents) were all born in Canada. Our Grandpa was of Irish and Scottish descent...his last name (both my cousin's and my Grandpa's) is the name of a city in Wales, but we are not Welsh. Anyways, my cousin has a tattoo of the Welsh dragon mixed with a maple leaf. WTF? Seriously? He's never even been to Wales, I swear the closest he's even been to Wales is New York.
My brother has a 4 Leaf Clover mixed with a Canadian Flag tattoo on his forearm - He has never been to Ireland, and he is only %30 Irish - I dont see no Swedish Flag on his F'n Arm.
Oh man I totally agree. My sister was born in Houston and she always goes on about how she is American. We left when she was nine months old or something. She's never been back to Houston. And has only vacationed in Hawaii and California briefly. I've been to the States far more than she has.
As for the original question, I really don't care. If someone wants to be called African American instead of black, or they find black offensive, well, that's their prerogative, and it's no skin off my ass to use African American.
I don't understand the anger and bitching we get about "political correctness". What's the problem? Are the extra syllables that difficult to spit out?
Or do you reserve the right to offend people just because you want to?
That being said, I use the term "black" whenever the need arises (which is not very often). I don't mean any offense and their isn't malice behind it, but if someone (or an entire "group") were to say "I don't like that, call me/us African American", fine with me.
Bla bla bla...
Man, I couldn't say it better myself.
It never ceases to amaze me how some people get offended or bothered by other's people right to self-definition. What difference does it make?
The one argument seems to be "well, i have some friends and they prefer to be called 'black'". Who cares? Good for them. People should have a right to have some control over their identity and what works for some members of a particular group might not work for another.
The other argument is "oh, why can't everyone just be people... we're all the same... they're distinguishing themselves, blah blah...". In this case, black people were by and large brought over as slaves and endured slavery then segregation. For a long time they weren't really "americans" at all. The use of African-American - with its overwhelming history of... what... a couple years? - is simply an acknowledgment that their past isn't covered by the term AMerican and their experience in, and relation to, that country is different. NOt incommensurable, just... different.
There's no P.C. conspiracy or any rejection of formal logic. Just a choice some people make to identify in a particular, historically relevant way.
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The great CP is in dire need of prunes!
"That's because the productive part of society is adverse to giving up all their wealth so you libs can conduct your social experiments. Experience tells us your a bunch of snake oil salesman...Sucks to be you." ~Calgaryborn 12/06/09 keeping it really stupid!
Oh man I totally agree. My sister was born in Houston and she always goes on about how she is American. We left when she was nine months old or something. She's never been back to Houston. And has only vacationed in Hawaii and California briefly. I've been to the States far more than she has.
I just don't get it.
Agreed, this would be the same as me saying I'm from Ontario. Left at 6 months old and haven't even been back since the 70's.
