NationStates Jolt Archive

Whether the community be Italian, Irish, Greek, Russian, Cuban, Pakistani, Chinese, whatever...do you, besides simply being of this heritage (full or mixed) also participate in community events? For example...do you go to your community hall for special occasions and celebrations, or something similar? Do you have a group of people who you know mostly from your 'community' outings?

I am part of the Native community, and aside from my band (where most people are related to me in some way), I also participate in Native community events, wherever I am. I've been inducted into the Chilean community as well, through my husband. It can be a bit trying at times. Everyone gossips about one another, and it's amazing how fast the most minute details of your life can get around! But it's also nice to belong...

...though I'm half-Irish, my father is third-generation Canadian, with no ties to any Irish community. It seems that this bond with an ethnic community kind of fades with the generations...but sometimes it doesn't...any thoughts on belonging to a 'community', or stories of such?

Nope. I'm not ethnic enough, my ancestors came over too long ago, and I'm nowhere near to having sufficient First Nations blood to fit in with anyone.

Alas.

Nope. I'm not ethnic enough, my ancestors came over too long ago, and I'm nowhere near to having sufficient First Nations blood to fit in with anyone.

Alas.
Hehehehe...it really does seem though that after a certain generation, these communities become less important...but what do we replace them with? Do we still get together with others to celebrate certain occasions and holidays in the same way these communities do?

And yet, some people hold onto their community ties for many generations, perhaps as a way of defining an identity.

Which brings me to my often observed observation of immigrants' children who look to their parent's or grandparent's home as a kind of model of identity...the Greek kids who are more Greek than Greeks...the Italians who speak with phoney accents no one would recognise in Italy...so on and so forth...

Whether the community be Italian, Irish, Greek, Russian, Cuban, Pakistani, Chinese, whatever...do you, besides simply being of this heritage (full or mixed) also participate in community events? For example...do you go to your community hall for special occasions and celebrations, or something similar? Do you have a group of people who you know mostly from your 'community' outings?

I am part of the Native community, and aside from my band (where most people are related to me in some way), I also participate in Native community events, wherever I am. I've been inducted into the Chilean community as well, through my husband. It can be a bit trying at times. Everyone gossips about one another, and it's amazing how fast the most minute details of your life can get around! But it's also nice to belong...

...though I'm half-Irish, my father is third-generation Canadian, with no ties to any Irish community. It seems that this bond with an ethnic community kind of fades with the generations...but sometimes it doesn't...any thoughts on belonging to a 'community', or stories of such?

I belong to the brotherhood of man, so yes.

I belong to the brotherhood of man, so yes.
Right. So you basically you don't belong to an ethnic community?

Right. So you basically you don't belong to an ethnic community?

I don't believe in ethnic stereotypes. There are artificial religious and political differences exacerbated by wealth but we are all fundamentally the same.

But then I would say that as I am an anarchist. :D

Right. So you basically you don't belong to an ethnic community?

I feel so left out now that i'm not in an ethnic community.

I used to. The part of Trenton I grew up in was mostly Italian immigrants. We had a couple of Catholic churches that held multi-day long festivals on religious holidays brought by the immigrants from Italy, my pop used to belong to several Italian social clubs, and my friends and I used to hang out in a store called Panorama Musicale that sold Italian music, Italian magazines, rented Italian movies on VHS, sold cups of espresso, and had a couple of video games for the kids.

I so totally hang with the Cavity Creeps.

Yup. WHITE PRIDE

[/sarcasm]

I belong to the small community of white people in my part of Manchester. Its members can usually be seen in the local take-aways failing to correctly pronounce their orders. :p

I don't believe in ethnic stereotypes. There are artificial religious and political differences exacerbated by wealth but we are all fundamentally the same.

But then I would say that as I am an anarchist. :D
I love that sentence "I don't believe in ....". It's so silly when you think about it! "I don't believe in discrimination", as though you are stating you deny its existence:) Discrimination exists...but you don't support it. That's different than not believing in it.

Ethnic communities exist. You may not support them, but they exist. It can be hard for people who didn't grow up with one to know what it's like. A lot of my friends are of very mixed ethnic descent...Scottish, Irish, French, Ukrainian and so on...with no strong ties to any one group. Most of these people are third, fourth and so on generation. Ethnic ties are not really important anymore. And yet, many of these people also question their identities, and wish they could be a part of a clear-cut 'group', not realising what a royal pain in the ass it can actually be. Just because some of us go to these functions, have to go visit people we hardly know, but who are the same 'ethnicity' as us, doesn't mean we have stronger identities. We just have more readily available stereotypes to copy if we so choose (and many choose...and go WAY overboard). It's both good, and bad.

No. I have little respect for traditions or ethnic background.

I belong to the "white man" ethnic community. I attend most of our community outings, like the majority of the planet. ;)

My group is the cause of all the world's ill. For that I would like to apologize.

I feel so left out now that i'm not in an ethnic community.
Lots of people do. YOU'RE NOT REALLY MISSING WHAT YOU THINK YOU ARE! For a while, when I first was introduced to the 'Chilean community', I thought...wow! These people are so neat! So different! I had an acute case of 'envyyourcultureasitis'. I spent more time with Chileans than I did with others because I kind of found them to be exotic, and I loved it. But then after a while, I realised that this community was just like mine. Everyone talks about everyone else...everyone judges one another on how 'insert ethnicity here' they are...kids are supposed to date other 'insert ethnicity here' kids, and so on and so forth. It's great to get together and celebrate shared events. It's great for kids to learn traditional dances and songs and language and so on. But some people stay so inside that particular community, they never look outside and realise that they're missing out on other, great people, just because those people aren't 'one of us'.

People who don't have such strong ethnic ties tend to hang out with anyone they meet and get along with. This is a good thing. But these people also need to feel pride in where they come from. Those of us in ethnic communities have an easy out...these are our symbols, our ways, this is me. But we also struggle with who we are, and sometimes we cling to stereotypes. Folks without that might think, "I have no culture". It's not true...but you might not be able to see it unless you go somewhere where people are very culturally different than you. Then you can say, "OH! I do have a culture after all! Wow!":)

It can be very comforting sometimes to be defined by your ethnicity, but it can also be very frustrating and confining.

Well technicaly I'm part of the West Indian ethnic group. My parents are immigrants, and they always made us go to cultural events and stuff. But Now that I'm older, my ethnic ties are pretty weak. But I like going to my indian, asian and russian friends cultural events. There are so many intersting cultures out there, that's one of the things I love about living in New York.

I used to. The part of Trenton I grew up in was mostly Italian immigrants. We had a couple of Catholic churches that held multi-day long festivals on religious holidays brought by the immigrants from Italy, my pop used to belong to several Italian social clubs, and my friends and I used to hang out in a store called Panorama Musicale that sold Italian music, Italian magazines, rented Italian movies on VHS, sold cups of espresso, and had a couple of video games for the kids.
Do you miss it?

No. I have little respect for traditions or ethnic background.

Pity. There's something to be said for diversity.

Do geeks count as an ethnic group? =)

Do geeks count as an ethnic group? =)

Damn well better!

Do you miss it?
Not really. It was fun growing up there, but the community has scattered, and as an adult I don't see anything special about just hanging out with other Italians because they're Italian.

I belong to the "white man" ethnic community. I attend most of our community outings, like the majority of the planet. ;)

My group is the cause of all the world's ill. For that I would like to apologize.
I think it's funny how 'white' is suddenly an ethnicity:) A pretty new thing, actually. Because Poles, Italians, Swedes, Ukrainians, Germans, and so on are all 'white'...but radically different culturally.

I would say though that there is a sort of ethnicity in the 'mixed beyond all reckoning' second, third, or whatever generation of Americans and Canadians. People who's ancestors were immigrants, but who have no real ties to other countries. And yet, you feel as though you have no 'culture'. But you do. And it's pretty neat.

Nope...

Not really. It was fun growing up there, but the community has scattered, and as an adult I don't see anything special about just hanging out with other Italians because they're Italian.
I can understand that!

The identity crisis among people in ethnic communities tends to peek in the teens. Then, they either become one of the 'never look outside my own group' adults, or they say, 'there's a wider world out there...see ya!'

Damn well better!

Good then.

In that case, I am part of the "geek" ethnic community. I do all the geek things. You know, Dragon Con, D&D games (weekly), WOW,...

I think it's funny how 'white' is suddenly an ethnicity:) A pretty new thing, actually. Because Poles, Italians, Swedes, Ukrainians, Germans, and so on are all 'white'...but radically different culturally.

I would say though that there is a sort of ethnicity in the 'mixed beyond all reckoning' second, third, or whatever generation of Americans and Canadians. People who's ancestors were immigrants, but who have no real ties to other countries. And yet, you feel as though you have no 'culture'. But you do. And it's pretty neat.
Well, if I look into my past I can trace lineage to:
French
English
First Nation (Iroquois)
Dutch
Irish
and I had an ancestor who was at one time or another a wealthy man in macedonia (whatever country it is in now).
So I believe "mixed" describes me best.

As for my culture, Quebecois describes it best. We might not have a long history but we did develop an cultural identity.

Anyway ... hijacking aside ...

No, not really. I barely have time for friends, much less a whole community. Between work, kids, NS, writing, composing, Call of Duty, and gardening, my time is tapped. I suppose I could give up sleep ...

"Do you belong to an ethnic community?"

Yeah ... white, Southern males. :D

I can understand that!

The identity crisis among people in ethnic communities tends to peek in the teens. Then, they either become one of the 'never look outside my own group' adults, or they say, 'there's a wider world out there...see ya!'
By my teenage years my folks had moved out of Trenton and into the suburbs where I met other kinds of people, Jews, Irish, Black, etc.

Good then.

In that case, I am part of the "geek" ethnic community. I do all the geek things. You know, Dragon Con, D&D games (weekly), WOW,...
But I assume you don't just hang out with people, even those you don't know well, simply because they belong to the wider 'geek' group? Or am I wrong?

As for my culture, Quebecois describes it best. We might not have a long history but we did develop an cultural identity.
Which you might not really notice as being distinct until you travel elsewhere. I think with ethnic communities, it's much easier to see the differences right away...because once you step out of your community hall, suddenly you're in a different culture. Regional cultures are strong too...Maritimers are very different than Albertans for example...but you don't notice this difference as much until you are around different people.

Though, now that I think about it, that wasn't quite accurate. I do spend time with the local Jewish community. So, yeah, I guess I do hang out with an ethnic community.

How about that ...

But I assume you don't just hang out with people, even those you don't know well, simply because they belong to the wider 'geek' group? Or am I wrong?

Well, I hang out with other geeks I don't know at all at Dragon Con, but not because they are geeks really - more because I find the Con fun.

Drat, and here I was thinking I had found my ethnic group...

((BTW, if you feel this is hijacking, just kick me in the butt =)

Which you might not really notice as being distinct until you travel elsewhere. I think with ethnic communities, it's much easier to see the differences right away...because once you step out of your community hall, suddenly you're in a different culture. Regional cultures are strong too...Maritimers are very different than Albertans for example...but you don't notice this difference as much until you are around different people.
agreed.

Although French and English culture has differences in Quebec so I do notices some small changes when I hang with one group of friends instead of another.

But, in the spirit of the original question: I belong to the majority, so I can't really answer your questions.

pure bred German living in America

'We're all living in Amerika, Amerika'

'We're all living in Amerika, Amerika'"This is not a love song..." :D

"This is not a love song..." :D

Or is it . . . ;)

Or is it . . . ;)I'm pretty sure it wasn't. Awesome clip though...

But, in the spirit of the original question: I belong to the majority, so I can't really answer your questions.
That doesn't cancel out your 'ethnicity'. (or regionality, or geekility, or whatever). A community does not have to be minority in order to be a community.

Everyone belongs to an ethnic group. An ethnic group is defined as a "population (group) characterized by common ancestry, language and custom." (source) (http://www.aaanet.org/gvt/ombdraft.htm) Those people who've said they don't belong to any ethnic group have made the same error as those who claim they have no accent.

Everyone belongs to an ethnic group. An ethnic group is defined as a "population (group) characterized by common ancestry, language and custom." (source) (http://www.aaanet.org/gvt/ombdraft.htm) Those people who've said they don't belong to any ethnic group have made the same error as those who claim they have no accent.That's not the question though, the question was "ethnic" community...

That doesn't cancel out your 'ethnicity'. (or regionality, or geekility, or whatever). A community does not have to be minority in order to be a community.
True. But the original question was asked about smaller communities (say Italian) in a larger group. As such, in the spirit of the original question I can't honestly answer since I am the majority ethnic group in my community.

True. But the original question was asked about smaller communities (say Italian) in a larger group. As such, in the spirit of the original question I can't honestly answer since I am the majority ethnic group in my community.
Na, you're just splitting hairs. Italians are the majority ethnic group in certain parts of the city, but the minority overall. You are part of a particular group within your community, but a minority overall.

Well, I participate in the only holiday in Sweden that´s really big that isn´t celevrated with your family alone: Midsummer! We don´t even celebrate our national day, but we never miss the oportunity to eat lobster and get really, really drunk (though I´m not doing that part *cough*) and then try to play games! Never!

Though being a German living in Cincinnati, Ohio is awesome. It's nothing like being in Bavaria during Oktoberfest, but it sure beats a lot of places. God Bless Warsteiners

Yup. The Chinese-English SPeaking Community. :D

My country has 3 majority races, Indian (10%) (Pujabi,Ceylonese{They think Sri Langka is a dirty word} Tamil), Malays (70%), Chinese (20%) & Minority others.

I'm a Chinese. I participate in Chinese New Years, all their All Ghost Day,Moon Cake Festival celebrations etc etc. And since I'm also a Christian, I celebrate Christmas!

Then again, since we are accepting towards other races, most other races usually join in in our celebrations.

Like for Chinese New Year, we get Indians Dressing as Chinese and taking our Ang-Pows (red packets of money given to friends& little children) and teach us in the arts of Fireworks and burning down the neighbours house! While the Malays fikle-ey consume our dumplings (though there's pork, and their muslim, but they try to play ignorant :D)

I belong to more ethnic communities than you can shake a flag at. Every other week one branch of my huge family starts a culture war. Even I do it occasionally (no, I'm not getting my hair cut, Dad. Stop syaing that.).

Though being a German living in Cincinnati, Ohio is awesome. It's nothing like being in Bavaria during Oktoberfest, but it sure beats a lot of places. God Bless Warsteiners
I had quite enough living for a bit over two years in Cincinnati, Ohio, with all the prudish, holier-than-thou hypocrites, thank you! The only good thing about Cincinnati is that it's over 600 miles away from me! :mad:

I'm a first generation Canadian, of German background (both parents from areas ethnicly cleansed by the USSR) and as such I identify much more with Europeans and other first-generation Canadians (from anywhere).

I don't attend any cultural events except for the Oktoberfest, the celebration of which is so all pervasive in my city that I can't escape it.

I'd never confine my socializing etc. to just Germans and the German community, its just too boring. I already am very familiar with the culture, I want new experiences. Most of my friends are either first-generation Canadians, immigrants (from all over) and Americans. But while I don't define myself by my etchnic background, I do have a strong sense of ROOTS. Where I live, there are so many germans and people of german background, that I don't really have to go to any particular events or gatherings to experience the culture.

When living in Toronto though, I really had to search to find deli's and restaurants that sold the kind of food and goodies I'm so used to. The closest I got in Toronto was a the Prague Deli, which while not at all German, did have the comfort food and ingredients I was looking for (Marzipan, Rouladen, Maltzbeer, etc.) and I never did find decent German restaurant, and was overjoyed when I found a Hungarian restaurant that served a half-decent rendition of Spaetzle ( a kind of thick dough noodle). I was surprised by just how much I missed that aspect of my ethnic background. For many years the family business was Delicatessen/Butcher Shop, so I guess that explains why my etchnicity centres so much around food.

The funny thing is that I find many Germans to be insufferable (mostly just the older genration), though this may have something to do with the fact that my dad left West Germany when he was 19 because he couldn't stand Germans. Both of the German provinces my parents came from, besides no longer existing, had a very different culture than the one found in West Germany.

So, yes, I have an ethnicity that gives me a sense of roots and some identity, but I consider myself a Canadian, rather than as a German-Canadian. I think having a sense of Roots is a very precious thing, and I wish my "melting-pot" could experience that kind of thing for themselves.

Though being a German living in Cincinnati, Ohio is awesome. It's nothing like being in Bavaria during Oktoberfest, but it sure beats a lot of places. God Bless Warsteiners


Cincinnati ain't got nothing on Kitchener's Oktoberfest.


I think I'll go grab Warsteiner now.

Well on my mothers side, there are a bunch of Southern people who spew about Yankees, and on my Fathers side (born & bred Italian) there are TONS of family things.

I was born in Italy and spend a lot of time there during summers and everytime I'm there I'm doing something ethnic...

Nope. Nothing.

Unless you count all of Southern California as sort of being one giant Hispanic ethnic community.

I grew up in the Polish-Jewish community in NYC and somewhat in KC. I enjoyed being around people who spoke Polish, since it wasn't a very common language, not something you normally hear everyday. The Greenpoint area of Brooklyn was always fun!

My dad's side of the family is Persian, and it seems a rather a small group of people here, and I swear, they ALL seem to know each other. It's kinda scary. But yeah, I'm a part of an ethnicity group. My mom's side..pfft..so blended from all over the world that it doesn't really matter.