NationStates Jolt Archive

Before I go any further, I would like to say that I am fully aware that I am generalising here. But it does seem that so many Americans are obsessed by Ireland. I live in Belfast, and yes, I love Ireland. But I don't get this obsession idea. I understand people being *interested* - I have strong interests in other countries (the USA included - I love the place). But going on and on about Irish heritage, how much you love Ireland and the Irish people makes little sense especially when 9 out of 10 times you've never even been here. If your ancestors were Irish, so what? You're not just cos they were. My cousin lives in Pittsburgh; his parents are both from here. He considers himself to be an American who has family here - not someone whose 'cultural heritage' is from here!

It has also been observed that Americans are almost always Irish Republicans. I personally am broadly in favour of a Republic, but (a) I've lived here all my life and understand the issues, (b) I've extensively researched any points I wasn't totally clear on and (c) while I would favour a Republic, I have no problem with being part of the UK while the majority in NI favour that. Catholics and Republicans are not oppressed anymore; being part of the UK is in no way discriminatory towards us. Oh, and the IRA weren't freedom fighters. They were/are terrorists, just like they're loyalist counterparts. All should have been shot.

For clarification purposes - electricity is commonplace, we do use ATMs, telephone systems are not surprising to us, and we are capitalists (we actually do have Starbucks, although some of us wish we didn't)!

No criticism intended in any of the above: I am (a) curious and (b) keen to point out that this is not some quaint but violent country, but a dynamic and confident nation.

Regards.

I'm American, and I like Ireland just fine - I'm not friggin obsessed w/it

We all aren't obsessed w/Ireland. Some of the more stupid people I know are Japanophiles

I've never been to Ireland and could take it or leave it.

A better generalization of Americans would be " 'Rest of the world'? What rest of the world?"

Never been to Ireland, but I do have Irish ancestry. I tend to obsess more over my Scotts, Cherokee, and Comanche heritage though.

Also don’t obsess over Ireland


Really maybe is your point of view a bit biased?

The town I'm from is obsessed with Ireland. It is literally an Irish-themed amusement park with all the middle school and high school mascots either the "Irish" or the "Shamrocks."

http://www.dublin.oh.us/

I'm an American who visited Ireland for a short time (and dated an Irish girl for a short time...tee hee!) and I found the land to be beautiful, and the people to be more open than many of my fellow Americans. I think we tend to be a bit jaded here in America, and to see a place like Ireland, which has been invaded and attacked since time immemorial, still have the spirit and willingness to show great cheer, is heartening.

One of my favorite memories will always be drunkenly singing (on stage with a mic, after the normal performers went to take a beer, and invited anyone who wanted to to come up and sing,) in an Irish pub in Cork, called "The Horse's Ass".

I'd have to say many people here in the US cling to their ancestral heritages. ('heritages' sounds awkward, but hey...) Me , I like Irish music and dancing and have a great time with the people in these circles. I've been to ireland 7 times and enjoy the country and it's people (not to mention a lovely lady in Galway). I've studied ireland's history some, but wouldn't consider myself an authority or put in my 2 cents about how to solve the troubles in NI, having not lived there.
because of the dancing and interest in Irish Heritage, I have been acused at times of trying to be more Irish than the irish. I think my dad had something to do with that when i was a kid. I wanted to watch cartoons instead of doing something one day and he said "don't you give a damn about your heritage." so maybe I've over compensated since. But it's all for the 'craic'.
I am an American through and through and more so a New Yorker, where you can venture into many cultures by walking into a different neighborhood.
The Greeks, Italians, Germans, Chinese...etc, also have many people who cling to their heritage.
It is not unusual for Americans to identify themselves by their ancestry. i do it here. but in Ireland i say I am an American no matter how many times I am asked, 'how long you home for?'
Slainte

There are more Irish Americans than there are Irish Irish.

Bear in mind that only a few of us have any Irish heritage. I think it totals to about 15% total, which is not as much as those of German or British decent. I'm personally of both Italian and Lebanese heritage, so I could care less if Ireland sank into the sea tommorow.

There are more Irish Americans than there are Irish Irish.
There are also more Scots-americans than Scots Scots. However the The Irish are Irish, the Scots are Scots, The Irish-Americans and The Scots-Americans(and the Greek-Americans and the Chinese-Americans etc etc etc ) are Americans they aint Irish//Scots - whatever nationality they choose to add a hyphen to and stick in front of "American".

(Im not saying that the "hyphen-americans" arent wonderful people, just saying they are americans who have ancestors that werent americans)

Peace

American here!!! Obessesed with Ireland? Why yes I most certainly am.
I would like to address your question as honestly as I can.
America is a very young nation comprised 99% of transplants, basically all Americans count their heritage back to another nation, another culture.
Which is why Americans have always held an obsession with heritage.
Our ancestors came here and didnt want to lose their identity which included the cultural identity of their home land.
The first genrations were very similiar to the people in the old country.
With each successive generation the similiarities decreased but the teaching of the children to love the land of their blood did not.
Now as an Irishman, I am sure you know your Irish history and know that the Irish culture has never been assimilated as much as it assimilates.
In other words you dont change the Irish, the Irish change you.
This happened with the first Irish wave of Imigrants to the US(this is not the Great Exodus).
Second for Americans, more Irish blood was spilled in the formative wars of this nation then any other single imigrant group.
More then German, English, yes even more then the slaves.
The Irish fought for the freedom of US, many joined the US Army well before they ever stepped foot on American soil.
So to these men America was the "promised land", where they could rally themselves to return home.
In the Irish tradition these imigrants took the bardic way, and made Ireland sound like a mythical land. And having been to Ireland, it is.
The strength of Irish Culture combined with the very American tradition of loveing both the land you were born in and the Land you blood line was born create The American-Irish, the rabid dogs of Irish culture who sing the praises of a nation that yes many have never seen, the way our fathers did, and our grandfathers did, all the way back to ones who remember her.
I am generalizing as well, but I think that many of my Irish-American compatriots would agree.
Also Ireland is the only country where the people still like Americans, and they do, it was the warmest most lovly place in the world.

This thread reminds me of the joke:

What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
Bilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks one language?
American.

Most US citizens can't even find their home state on the map, let alone Ireland.

This thread reminds me of the joke:

What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
Bilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks one language?
American.

Most US citizens can't even find their home state on the map, let alone Ireland.
Most?
Could you give the actual figures of the poll you are refering to, and please give a source?
No?
I didnt think so.

This thread reminds me of the joke:

What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
Bilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks one language?
American.

Most US citizens can't even find their home state on the map, let alone Ireland.


Wow, would you care to generalize anything else?

All Muslims are terrorists, maybe?

All Jews are born with horns?

I know of no American who can't find their home state on a map.

This thread reminds me of the joke:

What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
Bilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks one language?
American.

I've heard that joke before, except "British" was said instead of American,
Meh, when the rest of the world is learning english what other language should native english speakers learn?

What? Americans are obsessed with Ireland? Where was I when this information was being passed out?

This thread reminds me of the joke:

What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
Bilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks one language?
American.

Most US citizens can't even find their home state on the map, let alone Ireland.

Are you kidding? I think you typed that statement in wrong, 99.9% of Americans with the exception of mentally disabled and very young people could find their home state on a map.

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all your responses. Perhaps I *do* have a biased point of view, as someone suggested - but I accept there are plenty of people in the States who aren't obsessed. For those that are - fair enough, I was just curious as to why. In particular, to the person who stated that Ireland is one of the few countries left that likes America, I would like to reinstate that opinion. I don't want to get involved in a political discussion, but although I was not necessarily in favour of the Iraq war, I refuse to tar the entire country with the attitude that Bush et al took.

I was in California in April, and was also in Arizona and Nevada (doing the usual tourist things, of course!). I've also been in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and New York State, and am intending to visit Seattle and NY City in the future. The enthusiasm and warmth shown to me in these places was so much more than you can expect in any European country, whether I come from Ireland or Timbuktu. It is a shame that so many countries have taken a negative opinion of the States.

Anyway, thank you all once again :)

K

Oh, by the way...when I said I wanted to reinstate the opinion that Ireland is one of the few countries left to like America, I meant that we *do* like America...NOT that everyone else hates it! :rolleyes:

I agree, we should just annex Ireland and make it the 51st state. All in favor say "I"reland.

I wouldn't call myself obsessed at all, but I do hope someday to make a stop in Ireland if I ever tour the British Isles. I've heard it's a very beautiful part of the world. :-)

(I am not of Irish background that I know of, and consider my Dutch roots the most important to me.)

This thread reminds me of the joke:

What do you call someone who speaks two languages?
Bilingual.
What do you call someone who speaks one language?
American.

Most US citizens can't even find their home state on the map, let alone Ireland.


Come on everyone! Lets jump on the insult American's bandwagon!!!