... non-white Americans (and others I guess) often refer to themselves by national and/or ethnic descent. It even goes as far as saying "my mother was a French Jew whilst my father was Latin-American whose parents were Romany Gypsies from Brussels." Well, maybe not quite like that but you get the picture.

May I ask why this is as I've never heard it spoken about in the UK? I'm white (although I tan really quickly so try to avoid the sun), have brown eyes and brown (well bald and grey now) hair. I have no idea where I descended from. Why would I? I find it very strange and when I read people saying it it suggests to me that they are being defensive in some way. Almost justifying their existence?

So how far off the mark am I? Or how lucky? Or even how long until these ethnic attributes are so diluted (most British people for example) that they are no longer considered? Or am I still way off?

[Edited 8/20/12 3:11am]

This fancy french dude is a direct ancestor of mine

iloveannie said:

... non-white Americans (and others I guess) often refer to themselves by national and/or ethnic descent. It even goes as far as saying "my mother was a French Jew whilst my father was Latin-American whose parents were Romany Gypsies from Brussels." Well, maybe not quite like that but you get the picture.

May I ask why this is as I've never heard it spoken about in the UK? I'm white (although I tan really quickly so try to avoid the sun), have brown eyes and brown (well bald and grey now) hair. I have no idea where I descended from. Why would I? I find it very strange and when I read people saying it it suggests to me that they are being defensive in some way. Almost justifying their existence?

So how far off the mark am I? Or how lucky? Or even how long until these ethnic attributes are so diluted (most British people for example) that they are no longer considered? Or am I still way off?

I noticed the same thing when I first came here on the org. When I asked i ended up being called a racist. Don't ask me why, so now I just don't care.

My theory was than the US being a young country, people need to find their roots. To them, Knowing where they come from is knowing who they are. To the point of paying "experts" to trace their ancestors like Charlotte and her French grand grand grand father

I've been told by an orger that I probably have African blood in me (with the intention of offending me) and they couldn't believe I just couldn't care less. In fact, being Spanish, I'm pretty sure that must be the case.

I disagree with you at being a non white thing. People call themselves Italian or Irish when they have live In America for 5 or more generations

PANDURITO said:

iloveannie said:

... non-white Americans (and others I guess) often refer to themselves by national and/or ethnic descent. It even goes as far as saying "my mother was a French Jew whilst my father was Latin-American whose parents were Romany Gypsies from Brussels." Well, maybe not quite like that but you get the picture.

May I ask why this is as I've never heard it spoken about in the UK? I'm white (although I tan really quickly so try to avoid the sun), have brown eyes and brown (well bald and grey now) hair. I have no idea where I descended from. Why would I? I find it very strange and when I read people saying it it suggests to me that they are being defensive in some way. Almost justifying their existence?

So how far off the mark am I? Or how lucky? Or even how long until these ethnic attributes are so diluted (most British people for example) that they are no longer considered? Or am I still way off?

I noticed the same thing when I first came here on the org. When I asked i ended up being called a racist. Don't ask me why, so now I just don't care.

My theory was than the US being a young country, people need to find their roots. To them, Knowing where they come from is knowing who they are. To the point of paying "experts" to trace their ancestors like Charlotte and her French grand grand grand father

I've been told by an orger that I probably have African blood in me (with the intention of offending me) and they couldn't believe I just couldn't care less. In fact, being Spanish, I'm pretty sure that must be the case.

I disagree with you at being a non white thing. People call themselves Italian or Irish when they have live In America for 5 or more generations

I never had to paid anyone

From what I've understood those that are descendants of slavery have lost a significant part of their history and heritage and I think it's fair enough they search to find their a place in the world. I saw a TV program where they were doing DNA ancestry breakdowns and everyone seemed really happy to find out - regardless of what their mix turned out to be - another piece in their puzzle. If people weren't curious to find out about their family backgrounds all those family tree websites wouldn't be so popular. And it IS interesting stuff

And I agree with you that in a relatively new country, Australia included, people kind of lose track once they are researching their ancestors from before they arrived in the new country. It's not like the family that has lived in the same village for centuries and they can ask anyone about their history because everyone knows them.

"the world is just a wonderful mish mash" (SquirrelMeat)

and I agree

this may sound controversial, but all this stuff about "race and roots" originated during the 19th Century, by FAR the most RACIST century EVER (and had its "apex" during the 30s)

german nationalism, escandinavian nationalism, anglosaxon nationalism, pure race, genetics

ugh...

also, it's kind of ridiculous because people (stupid people) usually use this to insult or create false stereotypes...

My 2¢

The USA is "special" in that you can't really say that ANYONE is really an "American" by blood unless you can trace your lineage to the original Native Nations.

Everyone else's ancestors came here from elsewhere. And because the original colonists felt themselves superior to the "savages" living here, they held on to their European ties rather than assimilate to the existing society/culture/language.

The "bluebloods" in our midst - descendants of the original colonists - hold their lineage dearly. And that has been passed down through the generations.

Each wave of immigrants has assimilated to the ENGLISH society established here, but added their own contributions. AND because they're clearly not English-descended, then they have established pride in their heritage. We have all sorts of "heritage societies" here in the USA; German, Polish, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Puerto Rican, etc., etc.

The exception of course are the African Americans who cannot trace their roots.

However, up until recently, the aim was to always assimilate to the Anglo society here. But somehow there's a push nowadays to not only have "pride" in your heritage, but to actually embrace it above & beyond the established culture. There are immigrants now who not only don't bother learning english, but actually refuse to teach it to their kids.

I'm sure that whole volumes could be written about this issue, by people with proper qualifications...but that's my point of view on the matter.

Quite simply, the United States is a country the power brokers of which, on the one hand, historically have touted an all-trumping national oneness and, on the other hand, accepted large swaths of its statesmen to that oneness through layers of institutionalized estrangement. When people are invited to that sort of "belonging," they often will opt for other modes they believe to be more affirming -- in this case ethnic/ancestral.

Many American groups, including many white ethnic groups, do this. This probably does play out more, though, among non-white Americans because -- and I say this simply matter-of-factly -- white racism (subsuming internal white ethnocentricities [Anglo over Irish, for example]) has been a chief formative factor in the development of the United States.

So, iloveannie, I don't think you're far off at all -- except that this sort of thing long precedes the internet. "How long until these ethnic attributes are so diluted that they are no longer considered?" Good question. I dunno. But I do think there will always be some way -- class, sexual orientation, religion, linguistic distraction, etc. -- that humans will seek to divide and stratify themselves over others; and those "others" will react, for better or worse.

Lammastide said:

Quite simply, the United States is a country the power brokers of which, on the one hand, historically have touted an all-trumping national oneness and, on the other hand, accepted large swaths of its statesmen to that oneness through layers of institutionalized estrangement. When people are invited to that sort of "belonging," they often will opt for other modes they believe to be more affirming -- in this case ethnic/ancestral.

Many American groups, including many white ethnic groups, do this. This probably does play out more, though, among non-white Americans because -- and I say this simply matter-of-factly -- white racism (subsuming internal white ethnocentricities [Anglo over Irish, for example]) has been a chief formative factor in the development of the United States.

So, iloveannie, I don't think you're far off at all -- except that this sort of thing long precedes the internet. "How long until these ethnic attributes are so diluted that they are no longer considered?" Good question. I dunno. But I do think there will always be some way -- class, sexual orientation, religion, linguistic distraction, etc. -- that humans will seek to divide and stratify themselves over others; and those "others" will react, for better or worse.

I love your brilliant mind, and I love that you began your first sentence with "Quite simply."

PurpleJedi said:

My 2¢

The USA is "special" in that you can't really say that ANYONE is really an "American" by blood unless you can trace your lineage to the original Native Nations.

Everyone else's ancestors came here from elsewhere. And because the original colonists felt themselves superior to the "savages" living here, they held on to their European ties rather than assimilate to the existing society/culture/language.

The "bluebloods" in our midst - descendants of the original colonists - hold their lineage dearly. And that has been passed down through the generations.

Each wave of immigrants has assimilated to the ENGLISH society established here, but added their own contributions. AND because they're clearly not English-descended, then they have established pride in their heritage. We have all sorts of "heritage societies" here in the USA; German, Polish, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Puerto Rican, etc., etc.

The exception of course are the African Americans who cannot trace their roots.

However, up until recently, the aim was to always assimilate to the Anglo society here. But somehow there's a push nowadays to not only have "pride" in your heritage, but to actually embrace it above & beyond the established culture. There are immigrants now who not only don't bother learning english, but actually refuse to teach it to their kids.

I'm sure that whole volumes could be written about this issue, by people with proper qualifications...but that's my point of view on the matter.

Puerto Ricans are NOT immigrants... getting real sick of that shit.

Puerto Ricans ARE Americans, NOT IMMIGRANTS.

paintedlady said:

PurpleJedi said:

My 2¢

The USA is "special" in that you can't really say that ANYONE is really an "American" by blood unless you can trace your lineage to the original Native Nations.

Everyone else's ancestors came here from elsewhere. And because the original colonists felt themselves superior to the "savages" living here, they held on to their European ties rather than assimilate to the existing society/culture/language.

The "bluebloods" in our midst - descendants of the original colonists - hold their lineage dearly. And that has been passed down through the generations.

Each wave of immigrants has assimilated to the ENGLISH society established here, but added their own contributions. AND because they're clearly not English-descended, then they have established pride in their heritage. We have all sorts of "heritage societies" here in the USA; German, Polish, Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Puerto Rican, etc., etc.

The exception of course are the African Americans who cannot trace their roots.

However, up until recently, the aim was to always assimilate to the Anglo society here. But somehow there's a push nowadays to not only have "pride" in your heritage, but to actually embrace it above & beyond the established culture. There are immigrants now who not only don't bother learning english, but actually refuse to teach it to their kids.

I'm sure that whole volumes could be written about this issue, by people with proper qualifications...but that's my point of view on the matter.

Puerto Ricans are NOT immigrants... getting real sick of that shit.

Puerto Ricans ARE Americans, NOT IMMIGRANTS.

My bad, but you get the gist of what I'm saying.

Puerto Ricans leaving the island and settling on the mainland are subject to assimilation just like any other Latin American. Hell, even Mexican-Americans whose families have been in the Southwest since the age of the Spanish crown are subject to this cultural phenomenom. My buddy calls himself "Mexican" since his folks speak Spanish and enjoy "Mexican" culture (food especially) - yet his ancestors have been in Texas since it was part of Mexico.

All part of this cultural "melting pot" that never really melts, just mixed up together.

You know what pisses me off?

It pisses me right the fuck off when I tell any pesron white, black, Latino... that I AM Amercian, yet they say "HOW?"

I was born and raised in America by American parents who were born in America.

But I can't say I am American... I have to say I am Puerto Rican, because by some stupid ideology stupid people all over the world and including Americans think that when your are NOT Caucasian you are from somehwere else. Brown skin = immigrant.

Fuck me!!! I am a fucking NATIVE.... TAINO!!! FUNKING AMERICAN!!!!

Shit!!! I an not from South America, I am American!!! Puerto Ricans are not immigrants and we didn't 'come here...

geesh... do we call African Americans immigrants? Well, they are more immigrants than the Ricans are.

WE were HERE and they imported African slaves here because when the Europeans tried to enslave my people we died off too quickly or ran away... so they brought over slaves from Africa who didn't know the land as well as we did.

I hate that people do not believe me when I say I am American. They rather hear black/Latino

fuckin' racists bitches.

PurpleJedi said:

paintedlady said:

Puerto Ricans are NOT immigrants... getting real sick of that shit.

Puerto Ricans ARE Americans, NOT IMMIGRANTS.

My bad, but you get the gist of what I'm saying.

Puerto Ricans leaving the island and settling on the mainland are subject to assimilation just like any other Latin American. Hell, even Mexican-Americans whose families have been in the Southwest since the age of the Spanish crown are subject to this cultural phenomenom. My buddy calls himself "Mexican" since his folks speak Spanish and enjoy "Mexican" culture (food especially) - yet his ancestors have been in Texas since it was part of Mexico.

All part of this cultural "melting pot" that never really melts, just mixed up together.

Don't take this personal I am having my own issues ... just got into a debate this morning on my kids race...

I said we were American and was asked were sis my parents come from... I said AMERICA...

then the guys asked, again where was I from because he couldn't believe I was an American.

Its no wonder Puerto Ricans have their own flag and detest America as a whole.... I understand why now more than ever.

You'll always be American to me

paintedlady said:

You know what pisses me off?

It pisses me right the fuck off when I tell any pesron white, black, Latino... that I AM Amercian, yet they say "HOW?"

I was born and raised in America by American parents who were born in America.

But I can't say I am American... I have to say I am Puerto Rican, because by some stupid ideology stupid people all over the world and including Americans think that when your are NOT Caucasian you are from somehwere else. Brown skin = immigrant.

Fuck me!!! I am a fucking NATIVE.... TAINO!!! FUNKING AMERICAN!!!!

Shit!!! I an not from South America, I am American!!! Puerto Ricans are not immigrants and we didn't 'come here...

geesh... do we call African Americans immigrants? Well, they are more immigrants than the Ricans are.

WE were HERE and they imported African slaves here because when the Europeans tried to enslave my people we died off too quickly or ran away... so they brought over slaves from Africa who didn't know the land as well as we did.

I hate that people do not believe me when I say I am American. They rather hear black/Latino

fuckin' racists bitches.

I think that the problem with Puerto Rico is that - unlike the Republic of Texas or kingdom of Hawaii for example - it's still in limbo of not-quite-a-State and not-quite-a-country. Once it becomes the 51st state (if ever) then that issue will be put to bed.

Unless the Independistas have their way!

paintedlady said:

PurpleJedi said:

My bad, but you get the gist of what I'm saying.

Puerto Ricans leaving the island and settling on the mainland are subject to assimilation just like any other Latin American. Hell, even Mexican-Americans whose families have been in the Southwest since the age of the Spanish crown are subject to this cultural phenomenom. My buddy calls himself "Mexican" since his folks speak Spanish and enjoy "Mexican" culture (food especially) - yet his ancestors have been in Texas since it was part of Mexico.

All part of this cultural "melting pot" that never really melts, just mixed up together.

Don't take this personal I am having my own issues ... just got into a debate this morning on my kids race...

I said we were American and was asked were sis my parents come from... I said AMERICA...

then the guys asked, again where was I from because he couldn't believe I was an American.

Its no wonder Puerto Ricans have their own flag and detest America as a whole.... I understand why now more than ever.

Oh no way! I can take debate with a friend without getting personal.

BTW....uhm...wrong Forum maybe???

PurpleJedi said:

BTW....uhm...wrong Forum maybe???

It will get moved with the quickness... no worries.

To the subject...

I think the way we view other people speaks for our own narrowmindedness....

We tend to attribute one specific race to any one country. So when we think of 'Americans' we think white people....

not just white people think this way.... ALL people do... and it is the conditioning in society that stems from racism IMHO.

This is why I have to explain to some black guy that my kids ARE American and not some type of American.

White people say "American"... and they aren't asked "What Type of American?" even though all white people are originally from the other side of the world... people just accept that answer and there is no reason for further explaination to validate who they are.

I say "American".... and I get total shit for it.

Interesting question. I see it a lot being a white American that lived abroad.

I guess it goes both ways. My English father in law came to the US for the first time and asked two different white Americans if they had ever traced their ancestry? They both said not really. One said his dad was born and raised in England. My father in law asked if he has every traveled to England to see where his father was born and raised? The man said "No, I am American, born and raised here, I have no inerest in knowing my ancestors". I think my father in law was a bit surprised by his answer.

I guess for many Americans, black, white or yellow, you want to feel a part of the world, not just be known as American. Some are content with just being American.

This man is a distant relative on my fathers side.

Franz von Suppé's parents named him Francesco Ezechiele Ermenegildo Cavaliere di Suppé-Demelli when he was born on April 18, 1819, in Split, Dalmatia, Austrian Empire. His Belgian ancestors may have emigrated there in the 18th century.^[3] His father – a man of Italian and Belgian ancestry – was a civil servant in the service of the Austrian Empire, as was his father before him; Suppé's mother was Viennese by birth. He was a distant relative of Gaetano Donizetti. He simplified and Germanized his name when in Vienna, and changed "cavaliere di" to "von". Outside Germanic circles, his name may appear on programs as Francesco Suppé-Demelli.

My dad's closest relatives are all from Verona Italy.

Though I am used to being just a boring old white American.

[Edited 8/20/12 9:33am]

[Edited 8/20/12 9:36am]

PurpleJedi said:

paintedlady said:

You know what pisses me off?

It pisses me right the fuck off when I tell any pesron white, black, Latino... that I AM Amercian, yet they say "HOW?"

I was born and raised in America by American parents who were born in America.

But I can't say I am American... I have to say I am Puerto Rican, because by some stupid ideology stupid people all over the world and including Americans think that when your are NOT Caucasian you are from somehwere else. Brown skin = immigrant.

Fuck me!!! I am a fucking NATIVE.... TAINO!!! FUNKING AMERICAN!!!!

Shit!!! I an not from South America, I am American!!! Puerto Ricans are not immigrants and we didn't 'come here...

geesh... do we call African Americans immigrants? Well, they are more immigrants than the Ricans are.

WE were HERE and they imported African slaves here because when the Europeans tried to enslave my people we died off too quickly or ran away... so they brought over slaves from Africa who didn't know the land as well as we did.

I hate that people do not believe me when I say I am American. They rather hear black/Latino

fuckin' racists bitches.

I think that the problem with Puerto Rico is that - unlike the Republic of Texas or kingdom of Hawaii for example - it's still in limbo of not-quite-a-State and not-quite-a-country. Once it becomes the 51st state (if ever) then that issue will be put to bed.

Unless the Independistas have their way!

People like my aunt like NOT having to pay taxes on their property...

so they buy TAX free homes in Puerto Rico...

Once Puerto Rico is officially a state the tax free party's ova!

The same with the Bahamas...

PANDURITO said:

You'll always be American to me

On a personal note...I've always considered myself "American".

In fact the times that I traveled to Honduras confirmed it all too well. (I'm a gringo thru & thru).

BUT, because of my dark skin, people are ALWAYS asking me, "what are you"?

Are you Pakistani? Are you Mexican?

Or better yet, I got tired of being asked, "Where are you FROM?" Assuming that I crossed the Rio Grande. So I used reply to "What are you?" with "New Jerseyian" or "Where are you from?" with "Hoboken". Hey, I'm not ashamed of being born in New Jersey. Sometimes.

( Chocolate1)

My kids are 100% American. Born of American-born parents, raised in the American way, and don't speak a lick of Spanish. But I'm sure they'll always be asked, "Where are you from?" because of their skin color.

BTW - Painted you'll get a kick out of this - my oldest went to the voting booth with me a few years ago...he told the old lady behind the table that "we'd just moved here from Puerto Rico."

PurpleJedi said:

On a personal note...I've always considered myself "American".

In fact the times that I traveled to Honduras confirmed it all too well. (I'm a gringo thru & thru).

BUT, because of my dark skin, people are ALWAYS asking me, "what are you"?

Are you Pakistani? Are you Mexican?

Or better yet, I got tired of being asked, "Where are you FROM?" Assuming that I crossed the Rio Grande. So I used reply to "What are you?" with "New Jerseyian" or "Where are you from?" with "Hoboken". Hey, I'm not ashamed of being born in New Jersey. Sometimes.

( Chocolate1)

My kids are 100% American. Born of American-born parents, raised in the American way, and don't speak a lick of Spanish. But I'm sure they'll always be asked, "Where are you from?" because of their skin color.

BTW - Painted you'll get a kick out of this - my oldest went to the voting booth with me a few years ago...he told the old lady behind the table that "we'd just moved here from Puerto Rico."

OMG!! I get the "Are you from India/Paskistan/Cape Verdian/Black"... all the time!

Mostly from... you guessed it!!! Puerto Ricans!!

Your kids are 1/2 Rican though right? Time to buy a TAX FREE home!! Make it official!

Shanti0608 said:

Interesting question. I see it a lot being a white American that lived abroad.

I guess it goes both ways. My English father in law came to the US for the first time and asked two different white Americans if they had ever traced their ancestry? They both said not really. One said his dad was born and raised in England. My father in law asked if he has every traveled to England to see where his father was born and raised? The man said "No, I am American, born and raised here, I have no inerest in knowing my ancestors". I think my father in law was a bit surprised by his answer.

I guess for many Americans, black, white or yellow, you want to feel a part of the world, not just be known as American. Some are content with just being American.

This man is a distant relative on my fathers side.

Franz von Suppé's parents named him Francesco Ezechiele Ermenegildo Cavaliere di Suppé-Demelli when he was born on April 18, 1819, in Split, Dalmatia, Austrian Empire. His Belgian ancestors may have emigrated there in the 18th century.^[3] His father – a man of Italian and Belgian ancestry – was a civil servant in the service of the Austrian Empire, as was his father before him; Suppé's mother was Viennese by birth. He was a distant relative of Gaetano Donizetti. He simplified and Germanized his name when in Vienna, and changed "cavaliere di" to "von". Outside Germanic circles, his name may appear on programs as Francesco Suppé-Demelli.

My dad's closest relatives are all from Verona Italy.

Though I am used to being just a boring old white American.

[Edited 8/20/12 9:33am]

[Edited 8/20/12 9:36am]

Why'd you remove the pic? I was checkin' out your old graddad (x's upteen times)... well, now we know where you got your red from...

It is always interesting to see family lineages. I am jealous, I can only go back 4 gererations now... I am stopped by my non-cooperative father who's father lives in Spain.

[Edited 8/20/12 9:49am]

paintedlady said:

PurpleJedi said:

On a personal note...I've always considered myself "American".

In fact the times that I traveled to Honduras confirmed it all too well. (I'm a gringo thru & thru).

BUT, because of my dark skin, people are ALWAYS asking me, "what are you"?

Are you Pakistani? Are you Mexican?

Or better yet, I got tired of being asked, "Where are you FROM?" Assuming that I crossed the Rio Grande. So I used reply to "What are you?" with "New Jerseyian" or "Where are you from?" with "Hoboken". Hey, I'm not ashamed of being born in New Jersey. Sometimes.

( Chocolate1)

My kids are 100% American. Born of American-born parents, raised in the American way, and don't speak a lick of Spanish. But I'm sure they'll always be asked, "Where are you from?" because of their skin color.

BTW - Painted you'll get a kick out of this - my oldest went to the voting booth with me a few years ago...he told the old lady behind the table that "we'd just moved here from Puerto Rico."

OMG!! I get the "Are you from India/Paskistan/Cape Verdian/Black"... all the time!

Mostly from... you guessed it!!! Puerto Ricans!!

Your kids are 1/2 Rican though right? Time to buy a TAX FREE home!! Make it official!

Yeah the ex's parents are Boricuas.

paintedlady said:

Shanti0608 said:

Interesting question. I see it a lot being a white American that lived abroad.

I guess it goes both ways. My English father in law came to the US for the first time and asked two different white Americans if they had ever traced their ancestry? They both said not really. One said his dad was born and raised in England. My father in law asked if he has every traveled to England to see where his father was born and raised? The man said "No, I am American, born and raised here, I have no inerest in knowing my ancestors". I think my father in law was a bit surprised by his answer.

I guess for many Americans, black, white or yellow, you want to feel a part of the world, not just be known as American. Some are content with just being American.

This man is a distant relative on my fathers side.

Franz von Suppé's parents named him Francesco Ezechiele Ermenegildo Cavaliere di Suppé-Demelli when he was born on April 18, 1819, in Split, Dalmatia, Austrian Empire. His Belgian ancestors may have emigrated there in the 18th century.^[3] His father – a man of Italian and Belgian ancestry – was a civil servant in the service of the Austrian Empire, as was his father before him; Suppé's mother was Viennese by birth. He was a distant relative of Gaetano Donizetti. He simplified and Germanized his name when in Vienna, and changed "cavaliere di" to "von". Outside Germanic circles, his name may appear on programs as Francesco Suppé-Demelli.

My dad's closest relatives are all from Verona Italy.

Though I am used to being just a boring old white American.

[Edited 8/20/12 9:33am]

[Edited 8/20/12 9:36am]

Why'd you remove the pic? I was checkin' out your old graddad... well, now we know where you got your red from...

It is always interesting to see family lineages. I am jealous, I can only go back 4 gererations now... I am stopped by my non-cooperative father who's father lives in Spain.

I can only go back a few generations myself.

ZombieKitten said:

This fancy french dude is a direct ancestor of mine

French!

So how far back can you go generation wise? I was watching Professor Gates research and he was able to trace some people back to Chinese dynasties... (Eva Longoria )

paintedlady said:

Shanti0608 said:

Interesting question. I see it a lot being a white American that lived abroad.

I guess it goes both ways. My English father in law came to the US for the first time and asked two different white Americans if they had ever traced their ancestry? They both said not really. One said his dad was born and raised in England. My father in law asked if he has every traveled to England to see where his father was born and raised? The man said "No, I am American, born and raised here, I have no inerest in knowing my ancestors". I think my father in law was a bit surprised by his answer.

I guess for many Americans, black, white or yellow, you want to feel a part of the world, not just be known as American. Some are content with just being American.

This man is a distant relative on my fathers side.

Franz von Suppé's parents named him Francesco Ezechiele Ermenegildo Cavaliere di Suppé-Demelli when he was born on April 18, 1819, in Split, Dalmatia, Austrian Empire. His Belgian ancestors may have emigrated there in the 18th century.^[3] His father – a man of Italian and Belgian ancestry – was a civil servant in the service of the Austrian Empire, as was his father before him; Suppé's mother was Viennese by birth. He was a distant relative of Gaetano Donizetti. He simplified and Germanized his name when in Vienna, and changed "cavaliere di" to "von". Outside Germanic circles, his name may appear on programs as Francesco Suppé-Demelli.

My dad's closest relatives are all from Verona Italy.

Though I am used to being just a boring old white American.

[Edited 8/20/12 9:33am]

[Edited 8/20/12 9:36am]

Why'd you remove the pic? I was checkin' out your old graddad... well, now we know where you got your red from...

It is always interesting to see family lineages. I am jealous, I can only go back 4 gererations now... I am stopped by my non-cooperative father who's father lives in Spain.

The pic seemed a bit massive.

I had an aunt on my dad's side do all kinds of research in to my dad's family. None of them talk anymore so she thought it would bring the family together. It didn't work.

My dad doesn't talk to any of his siblings, me and doesn't care that he has a grandchild. I do know that my dad's parents were sick ppl that had many kids but only 4 survived and they gave two of them away to their parents. So, I don't dig too deep in the recent past with them.

I want to look in to my mom's side. She is Irish/Dutch.

I will probably have more luck finding out about my son's lineage on his English side than American.

Shanti0608 said:

paintedlady said:

Why'd you remove the pic? I was checkin' out your old graddad... well, now we know where you got your red from...

It is always interesting to see family lineages. I am jealous, I can only go back 4 gererations now... I am stopped by my non-cooperative father who's father lives in Spain.

The pic seemed a bit massive.

I had an aunt on my dad's side do all kinds of research in to my dad's family. None of them talk anymore so she thought it would bring the family together. It didn't work.

My dad doesn't talk to any of his siblings, me and doesn't care that he has a grandchild. I do know that my dad's parents were sick ppl that had many kids but only 4 survived and they gave two of them away to their parents. So, I don't dig too deep in the recent past with them.

I want to look in to my mom's side. She is Irish/Dutch.

I will probably have more luck finding out about my son's lineage on his English side than American.

Shanti0608 said:

paintedlady said:

Why'd you remove the pic? I was checkin' out your old graddad... well, now we know where you got your red from...

It is always interesting to see family lineages. I am jealous, I can only go back 4 gererations now... I am stopped by my non-cooperative father who's father lives in Spain.

The pic seemed a bit massive.

I had an aunt on my dad's side do all kinds of research in to my dad's family. None of them talk anymore so she thought it would bring the family together. It didn't work.

My dad doesn't talk to any of his siblings, me and doesn't care that he has a grandchild. I do know that my dad's parents were sick ppl that had many kids but only 4 survived and they gave two of them away to their parents. So, I don't dig too deep in the recent past with them.

I want to look in to my mom's side. She is Irish/Dutch.

I will probably have more luck finding out about my son's lineage on his English side than American.

God bless Aunty! For doing all that important research, you are able to trace family lines all the way back like that...

I am learning most people got their last names by the towns they lived in...

I was researching my family name "Caraballo" and found that group of people (originating form Spain) must have been REAL BUSY because there is so many Caraballos around Hispanola and the Philippines... there s even a mountain range named after them...

The Puerto Ricans with my family name were/are mostly farmers and drug dealers... so my search ended there, didn't want to crawl futher in THAT rabbit hole.