I know it sounds a bit daft to our ears to hear someone say "I'm Irish" because their great great grandfather was born in Ireland (but no generation of the family since has even set foot in the country), but they live in a young country and I think it's completely understandable to want a link to where you came from.
I myself wanted a link (and found it). My link goes back a significant amount of time but turns out to be reasonably local (25 miles away). If it had have been further than 25 miles, I'd still have acknowledged it, though.
I know where you're coming from and certain things make me roll my eyes but it's only because, where we're from, there's very little sense of displacement. We're as established here as the Egyptians or Chinese are in Egypt and China. Not everyone has that, though.
If you are from New England are you English?
↑ View this comment's parent
← View full post
I know it sounds a bit daft to our ears to hear someone say "I'm Irish" because their great great grandfather was born in Ireland (but no generation of the family since has even set foot in the country), but they live in a young country and I think it's completely understandable to want a link to where you came from.
I myself wanted a link (and found it). My link goes back a significant amount of time but turns out to be reasonably local (25 miles away). If it had have been further than 25 miles, I'd still have acknowledged it, though.
I know where you're coming from and certain things make me roll my eyes but it's only because, where we're from, there's very little sense of displacement. We're as established here as the Egyptians or Chinese are in Egypt and China. Not everyone has that, though.