https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 11 Nov 2026 02:00:12 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american/page/2#post-894149 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 16:18:47 +0000 Mrs. Pen 894149@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I'm optimistic! But like you, I'm not sure it will happen either. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american/page/2#post-894122 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 15:58:47 +0000 mrbee 894122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: I don't believe in the melting pot theory. But maybe in a few generations, I'll be proven wrong! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american/page/2#post-894117 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 15:55:05 +0000 Mrs. Pen 894117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrbee: I guess in that sense, yes I have it easy. But then again I'm also envious of all those, like you, who are mainly of one ethnicity and can simply say, "oh I'm half Japanese." (Is that right? I don't remember exactly). I do think @anagram: has a great point that in hopefully just a few more generations everyone will see Americans as a whole as a melting pot of different cultures, colors, beliefs, etc. there is really no country quite like it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american/page/2#post-893974 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 14:40:27 +0000 yoursilverlining 893974@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm an American, even if my ancestry is French/German/English/whatnot. I'm certainly not French, and I'm also definitely not German. I'm American. I guess I see "nationality", "ancestry" and "ethnicity" in 3 categories. I dunno, it's hard to explain. </p> <p>I dont think foreigners being able to spot Americans has anything to do with our ethnicity or "looks", it's more our culture; Americans are easy to spot abroad! We dress differently (usually, sloppier than Europeans) and we are louder than a lot of other people. I love us, but American tourists often stand out like a big red thumb when traveling. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american/page/2#post-893910 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 14:16:37 +0000 mamimami 893910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: sure... It's just... imprecise and technically dicey! But I am taking this thread off onto a whole other tangent so I apologize to everyone! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american/page/2#post-893909 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 14:16:26 +0000 illumina 893909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I find this thread really interesting! The way I see it (I hope this doesn't offend anyone) you are where you were born- thus if you were born in America, you are an American. For example, FIL is Scottish, MIL is Welsh, but because Dh was born in Wales, he would always say he is Welsh. No mention of Scottish heritage, not half this half that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american/page/2#post-893899 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 14:13:57 +0000 mamimami 893899@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: agreed. ? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893886 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 14:08:17 +0000 mrbee 893886@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's awesome you can just say you're American! I could never get away with that one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893853 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:56:22 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 893853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sloaneandpuffy: North America includes the United States of America. We are the only country in the Americas to use the continents' name in the country's name. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893836 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:51:28 +0000 Anagram 893836@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sloaneandpuffy: I hear this a lot, since I grew up in Texas and we have a biiig latin american population. But honestly? I'm in the camp that people can call themselves whatever they want. So if people living in the US have decided to call themselves "American", then the rest of the Americas will just have to suck it. LOL. I'm kidding about the suck it part.</p> <p>But really....if a black person in the US wants to say they are African American, that's their right (OMG, I had an African chemistry professor from Nigeria that one day started a whole long, AWKWARD argument in LAB one day about how African Americans should not call themselves that..that only HE was African American since he was now an American citizen).</p> <p>If United Statesians want to call themselves Americans as a shorter way of saying they are from the United States of America, then really....all the other countries should follow our lead and call us our preferred term. </p> <p>It's only the polite thing to do. ;-) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893808 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:43:56 +0000 Mrsbells 893808@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like your answer too @looch: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893801 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:42:59 +0000 Anagram 893801@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I think it's just a time issue. In a couple more generations, people from all over the world will realize that anyone can be any race and any nationality. There's an African-ancestry Italian judge. She's Italian, even though I'm sure she doesn't fit most people expectations of an "Italian". She's more Italian than all the Americans that say they are Italian.<br /> One of my best girl friends is Taiwanese-American. She would just say she's American. Even SHE once said something like...."It freaks me out to hear Asians from Australia or England...like I think, That's not the right accent for you!" And meanwhile, I'm sure Asians from those countries are saying the same thing about her.</p> <p>It's just time and awareness... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893777 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:37:14 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 893777@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Anagram: Your hubby has an accent; I don't. Yet when people ask me the same question they expect to hear something other than American or my birth city. In the case of your friends I wish American was good enough. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893666 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:11:17 +0000 Anagram 893666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>SO my husband is an American (by citizenship), but when asked he'll say Sri Lankan---and let's be honest, when people ask him that question, that's what they want to hear from the brown guy with an accent. They don't want to know his current citizenship, they want to know his country of origin. Anyway, mentally he identifies as a Sri Lankan, because he lived there till he was 20.</p> <p>When I'm asked, I say "American"...well, depending on the country. In Europe countries, I say American. In central and south america, it's better to say the word they use in that country, like estadounidense or yanqui (hehe), or gabacho, or gringo. But I usually just say where I'm from. ;-)</p> <p>Anyway, I think generally when people ask that question, they want to know your country of origin, not your race. My husband's "race" isn't Sri Lankan, that's his country of origin. But that's what people want to know when they ask. When I travel to other countries, people don't want to hear (oh, I'm 1/16 irish, 1/8 german, blah blah), they just want to know where I'm coming from RIGHT NOW.</p> <p>For the record, most of my american born friends of non-Caucasian ancestries also say "american" when asked in foreign countries. A good example of this was a trip where I went to Greece. I was hanging out with a girl from NYC and another girl from Texas for a few days. </p> <p>Local greek people kept asking us where we were from, and we'd all say we're American. But then the lcoals would look at them and be like...no really, where are you from. Because one girl was east asian and the other was indian, but both 3rd generation American. They would both just say, "American", again. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893660 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:10:33 +0000 mrsjazz 893660@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sloaneandpuffy: @Mrs. Pen: My dad is from South America but he and most of the people I know from there would never say they were "South American" they would say their country. Each country is so different. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893648 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:08:38 +0000 Mrs. Pen 893648@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: I agree about American does not equal white. Your son is just as American as you are! Although I'm sure he will be asked "where are you from" just as anyone who isn't white is asked. It's more ignorant than anything, I suppose.</p> <p>And yes- I suppose that is the underlying question: can American be an ethnicity?</p> <p>@sloaneandpuffy: true. So I guess I'm referring to North American? However- there are also individual countries in each of those Americas. My brother in law is from Peru. He wouldn't say he's South American, but rather Peruvian. The difference I suppose would be that the United States of America consists of states, not countries... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893626 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:04:08 +0000 Lindsay05 893626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a co-worker who is from India whose family moved here when she was very young. People ask her all the time 'what' she is and she says Canadian. Her belief is that this is her home and has pride as a Canadian so therefore thats 'what' she is. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893620 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:02:46 +0000 mrskc 893620@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think this is an interesting question. And begs the questions, can American be considered an ethnicity? I think in theory it can by definition of what ethnicity is: The fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.</p> <p>It shouldn't matter your race. American = white is the problem though. So I guess we would have to move past the notion that if you're American you're white. My ancestors came to america a long time ago. I know some where from Ireland, England, Sweden, but I don't say those are my ethnicity because I don't identify with any of those b/c my family has been here for so long. So that leaves me with no ethnicity I guess besides to say that I'm American. </p> <p>I thought this essay was interesting:<br /> <a href="http://serenityhome.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/is-there-an-american-ethnicity/" rel="nofollow">http://serenityhome.wordpress.com/2010/10/04/is-there-an-american-ethnicity/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893619 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:02:38 +0000 mamimami 893619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well.... I am not even sure it's a nationality if you want to split hairs. As people in my life love to point out, Latin Americans, South Americans, Central Americans, etc. are also Americans i.e. inhabitants of the American continent(s). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893605 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 13:00:44 +0000 SugarplumsMom 893605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have never realized just how American I am until I lived abroad. Back in the States, I associated myself with my ethnic heritage. I'm Filipino American, I'm Asian, I'm Filipino. But after living in a country with very few Americans, my ethnic heritage is almost second to my nationality. For example, there are quite a few Asians from "the old county" here, but when it comes down to it, it's awfully hard to connect with them. Aside from the food and knowing where my grandparents were from, we don't have too many things in common. I have more in common with someone that was brought up with the same values, in the same county, even if it's a different coast!</p> <p>There are also idiosyncrasies that are purely American that are only obvious when you're surrounded by people not raised in the States. A lot of these things I never even realized I did, for instance, switching the fork and knife when eating. Here people eat holding both, as in the whole time! Slippers with jeans is also (apparently) very American. I know other countries do similar things, but here in Europe, it's how to spot an American 101.</p> <p>So my answer is yes, I am definitely American and it means a lot more to me than just my nationality. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893591 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:57:05 +0000 Mrs. Pen 893591@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: ps: I actually take great pride in the fact that I loved in New York for a year. It's like a status symbol ;) so agree: if I were a real New Yorker- that's what I'd say too ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893585 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:56:07 +0000 Mrs. Pen 893585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsjazz: haha. I've been to Peru and New Zealand and no one ever knows where Minnesota is. They only know about California and New York! So I just said in the middle of America ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893580 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:53:59 +0000 mrsjazz 893580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: It's funny, when I travel to other countries I don't say I'm American, I say I'm a New Yorker :) I feel like I'm treated better when I say that.</p> <p>@TemperanceBrennan: I love it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893576 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:52:05 +0000 Mrs. Pen 893576@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@TemperanceBrennan: omg I just died laughing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893573 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:50:29 +0000 mrsjazz 893573@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@regberadaisy: I don't think it's offensive but I have said something similar to what your DH said "that if you're a citizen and you are using this country's resources then you should at least have pride in the fact that you're 'American'" to friends. I know some people who were born here but still will call themselves by their parents' home countries rather than American. </p> <p>But I try not to get too involved in what people identify themselves as because you're allowed to identify yourself however you want to. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893570 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:49:08 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 893570@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: No you didn't at all. In my first response I didn't include my race and use a hyphen because more so than anything else I think I am culturally American. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893567 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:47:42 +0000 TemperanceBrennan 893567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This discussion makes me think of the "What kind of Asian are you" Youtube clip. </p> <p><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWynJkN5HbQ" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWynJkN5HbQ</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893564 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:45:52 +0000 loveisstrange 893564@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Pen: Funny story, we get asked if we're Canadian ALL. THE. TIME. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893560 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:44:41 +0000 Mrs. Pen 893560@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlebug: that brings up an interesting thought. When I have traveled out of country- people ask if I'm American and I say yes! To them it is an ethnicity. If I were to go to England, they would know I'm American, I couldn't exactly say I'm actually English. </p> <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @spaniellove: oh I hope I didnt come off that way! That's why I liked @.twist.:'s answer: America is made up of all kinds of people. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-is-american#post-893554 Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:40:27 +0000 littlebug 893554@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: That's how I see it, too. I am American by citizenship. I am Irish and German by heritage. When I travel and people ask where I'm from, I either say Philadelphia or I say the US. </p>