How Many Irish on T-Nation?

Off Topic
221

[quote]deputydawg wrote:
to Go Heavy Fool and Vermillion:
There is an excellent episode of the Sopranos that deals with this issue. Tony and the boys are all geeked up about going back to Italy the old homeland. They get there and they can’t speak the language (they try but no one understands them) they are terribly disappointed by everything they find in Italy and they are like fish out of water. Why? Because they are Americans!

When you travel to a foreign country people don't look at you and thing oh your Irish/scotch/english/ whatever.  If your in London and you ask someone to actually put ice in your Coke or maybe a little seasoning on your food or maybe put a little chill on that beer--they say "Bloody Americans."[/quote]

That episode rocks, Pauly is having a meal with the Mafia and asks for “pasta with gravy, red sauce, kapiche” The real Italians slag him off to his face but he cant understand them, he walks around smiling and thinking he’s found his “heritage” whilst they all think he’s a wanker.

I spent a year in Australia recently and everyone over there seems to be 2nd, 3rd or 4th generation English/Scottish/Irish but they all class themselves as Ozzies, and proud of it. Heck, even people who only emigrated 10-20 years ago class themselves as proud Australians!

I wonder why the situation is so different in America, is it the fact that the Irish had a tough time over there when they mass-migrated and hence clung to their shared identity as a way of sticking together through the tough times?

I quite like the idea of taking pride and interest in my ancestry… if England don’t make the world cup and Ireland do, then pass me the green shirt and pour me a Guinness. If its St Pats day and I fancy a night out call me Sean O’Seanosey and pass along the Jamesons!

222

[quote]supermick wrote:
deputydawg wrote:
to Go Heavy Fool and Vermillion:
There is an excellent episode of the Sopranos that deals with this issue. Tony and the boys are all geeked up about going back to Italy the old homeland. They get there and they can’t speak the language (they try but no one understands them) they are terribly disappointed by everything they find in Italy and they are like fish out of water. Why? Because they are Americans!

When you travel to a foreign country people don't look at you and thing oh your Irish/scotch/english/ whatever.  If your in London and you ask someone to actually put ice in your Coke or maybe a little seasoning on your food or maybe put a little chill on that beer--they say "Bloody Americans."

Excellent point.

In addition, American beer is crap. English attemps at ‘lagers’ are aweful. Europe has the best beer. A toss up between Czech and Germany. [/quote]

Germany… hands down. Not even close.

There are alot of good brews in the world, but the Germans perfected it and as far as I’m concearned invented it too; so they’ve had alot of practice. Even our best beer “Budweiser” is a company formed by two Germans… “Anheiser & Busch”

223

Moved to Australia from Co. Armagh to escape the miserable weather… it’s much warmer ‘down under’ (hence many more chicks in bikinis!)

224

[quote]deputydawg wrote:
to Go Heavy Fool and Vermillion:
There is an excellent episode of the Sopranos that deals with this issue. Tony and the boys are all geeked up about going back to Italy the old homeland. They get there and they can’t speak the language (they try but no one understands them) they are terribly disappointed by everything they find in Italy and they are like fish out of water. Why? Because they are Americans!

When you travel to a foreign country people don't look at you and thing oh your Irish/scotch/english/ whatever.  If your in London and you ask someone to actually put ice in your Coke or maybe a little seasoning on your food or maybe put a little chill on that beer--they say "Bloody Americans."[/quote]

I said this before but I guess it didn’t take, so I will say it again.

When an American describes himself as Irish, or German or Scottish or whatever else, he’s NOT doing so for the benefit of Europeans - it’s an American thing, when relating with other Americans.

When I’m in a foreign country and someone asks me where I’m from, I tell them I’m an American. When I’m in Ohio and someone asks about my background, I tell them I’m Irish. It’s more relevant, you know?

To put a different perspective to this, it’s my experience that Britons get exceptionally uptight if you mislabel their background. A Scot doesn’t want to be called an Englishman - by God, he’s Scottish! Considering the whole island is smaller than the state of California and the citizens are all of exceptionally similar heritage compared to the US, I find the distinction to be hilariously trivial. You’re all British, just like we’re apparently all Americans.

Supermick tells us he’s English and X-Factor tells us he’s Irish, and both would probably object if I lumped them together. Meanwhile, Professor X (black, southern) and I (white, midwestern) are just plain ol’ Americans? Irony, thy name is internet!

225

[quote]vermilion wrote:
deputydawg wrote:
to Go Heavy Fool and Vermillion:
There is an excellent episode of the Sopranos that deals with this issue. Tony and the boys are all geeked up about going back to Italy the old homeland. They get there and they can’t speak the language (they try but no one understands them) they are terribly disappointed by everything they find in Italy and they are like fish out of water. Why? Because they are Americans!

When you travel to a foreign country people don't look at you and thing oh your Irish/scotch/english/ whatever.  If your in London and you ask someone to actually put ice in your Coke or maybe a little seasoning on your food or maybe put a little chill on that beer--they say "Bloody Americans."

I said this before but I guess it didn’t take, so I will say it again.

When an American describes himself as Irish, or German or Scottish or whatever else, he’s NOT doing so for the benefit of Europeans - it’s an American thing, when relating with other Americans.

When I’m in a foreign country and someone asks me where I’m from, I tell them I’m an American. When I’m in Ohio and someone asks about my background, I tell them I’m Irish. It’s more relevant, you know?

To put a different perspective to this, it’s my experience that Britons get exceptionally uptight if you mislabel their background. A Scot doesn’t want to be called an Englishman - by God, he’s Scottish! Considering the whole island is smaller than the state of California and the citizens are all of exceptionally similar heritage compared to the US, I find the distinction to be hilariously trivial. You’re all British, just like we’re apparently all Americans.

Supermick tells us he’s English and X-Factor tells us he’s Irish, and both would probably object if I lumped them together. Meanwhile, Professor X (black, southern) and I (white, midwestern) are just plain ol’ Americans? Irony, thy name is internet![/quote]

That’s right–you, me and Professor X are just plain old Americans. What that isn’t good enough for you? If anyone needs further elaboration then I am a Texan. American first, Texan second! Guess what. All those other places kicked our ancestors out or they couldn’t wait to get out. Talk about Irony.

226

[quote]vermilion wrote:
deputydawg wrote:
to Go Heavy Fool and Vermillion:
There is an excellent episode of the Sopranos that deals with this issue. Tony and the boys are all geeked up about going back to Italy the old homeland. They get there and they can’t speak the language (they try but no one understands them) they are terribly disappointed by everything they find in Italy and they are like fish out of water. Why? Because they are Americans!

When you travel to a foreign country people don't look at you and thing oh your Irish/scotch/english/ whatever.  If your in London and you ask someone to actually put ice in your Coke or maybe a little seasoning on your food or maybe put a little chill on that beer--they say "Bloody Americans."

I said this before but I guess it didn’t take, so I will say it again.

When an American describes himself as Irish, or German or Scottish or whatever else, he’s NOT doing so for the benefit of Europeans - it’s an American thing, when relating with other Americans.

When I’m in a foreign country and someone asks me where I’m from, I tell them I’m an American. When I’m in Ohio and someone asks about my background, I tell them I’m Irish. It’s more relevant, you know?

To put a different perspective to this, it’s my experience that Britons get exceptionally uptight if you mislabel their background. A Scot doesn’t want to be called an Englishman - by God, he’s Scottish! Considering the whole island is smaller than the state of California and the citizens are all of exceptionally similar heritage compared to the US, I find the distinction to be hilariously trivial. You’re all British, just like we’re apparently all Americans.

Supermick tells us he’s English and X-Factor tells us he’s Irish, and both would probably object if I lumped them together. Meanwhile, Professor X (black, southern) and I (white, midwestern) are just plain ol’ Americans? Irony, thy name is internet![/quote]

My God man, are you trying to start a war!!!

Sorry to piss on your bonfire but that post is just plain wrong. To say that the English, Scottish and Irish all have an exceptionally similar heritage is nonsense.

For a start The United Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ireland only came into existence in 1801 (England and Scotland had shared a monarch since 1603).

This mantle of “Great Britain” was largely imposed by the dominant English as a means of controlling or at least peacefully co-existing with its neighbours whom it had been at war with for centuries.

In the hearts of the many Irish and Scottish patriots they are not, and have never have been, “British”.

And the differences in heritage are incredibly vast, in some cases polar opposites, just take the Catholic v Protestant issue for instance. Any study of English, Scottish and Irish heritages will show very clear differences.

Personally I’d never lump Americans all into one group, obviously there is a huge variety of cultures and heritages present due to the fact that the country is a product of vast migration. The only time Id make an exception to this is when one of you makes a typically “American” comment on an international issue i.e. a statement that shows a complete lack of understanding of all things non-American!

227

[quote]supermick wrote:
I totally understand it - its called pluralism, and as far as i understand is very much encouraged in the US and A (sorry boratisms keep creeping in). Its still a bit daft in my opinion though. Your not irish American, the same as the other guy is not Italian American, or African American just as i will never be a viking, Hun, Roman, Greek, A quarter Genghis Khan or whatthefuck ever.

Just BS in an effort to obtain an identity and background.[/quote]

You’ve got it all wrong. We Americans include our ancestry in order to let the rest of you poor souls feel like you are a part of something better - the U.S. :wink:

For example, when I’m in Germany, I tell the people I’m German and use my last name as proof. When I’m in Czech, I tell them I’m mostly Czech despite my last name, and use my grandmother’s maiden name as proof. When I’m in Holland, my mother’s maiden name, and on and on depending upon what country I’m in. I can always find a name somewhere in my ancestry that fits the region I’m visiting, with the exception of Italy and Spain, but I like their cuisine, which is enough to fit in, right?

Honestly, I’m 100% American in my mind, despite having a Norman first name.

DB

228

[quote]Go heavy fool wrote:
Even our best beer “Budweiser” is a company formed by two Germans… “Anheiser & Busch”

[/quote]

you’re fucking kidding right? Our best beer is Bud? Maybe you should go a little less heavy for a while.

And to all those who say “American beer is shit (crap, whatever)”. I say stop drinking our shitty beers and try some of our good ones, but you’ve probably never heard of them. And yes, Germany has some great beers, so does Czech, so does Belgium, so does England, so does Ireland (well, one anyway), even France.
Anyone who claims that one or two countries holds the monopoly on good beer just hasn’t been around enough in my opinion to be considered a beer intermediate, let alone expert.

Don’t let prejudice cloud your judgment in the search for excellent beer. Let your tastebuds guide you, rather than someone else’s opinions.

DB

229

[quote]Ashes wrote:

My God man, are you trying to start a war!!!

Sorry to piss on your bonfire but that post is just plain wrong. To say that the English, Scottish and Irish all have an exceptionally similar heritage is nonsense.

For a start The United Kingdom Of Great Britain and Ireland only came into existence in 1801 (England and Scotland had shared a monarch since 1603).

This mantle of “Great Britain” was largely imposed by the dominant English as a means of controlling or at least peacefully co-existing with its neighbours whom it had been at war with for centuries.

In the hearts of the many Irish and Scottish patriots they are not, and have never have been, “British”.

And the differences in heritage are incredibly vast, in some cases polar opposites, just take the Catholic v Protestant issue for instance. Any study of English, Scottish and Irish heritages will show very clear differences.

Personally I’d never lump Americans all into one group, obviously there is a huge variety of cultures and heritages present due to the fact that the country is a product of vast migration. The only time Id make an exception to this is when one of you makes a typically “American” comment on an international issue i.e. a statement that shows a complete lack of understanding of all things non-American!

[/quote]

Yeah, this is what I meant about Britons freaking out when they’re lumped together. You know, despite the fact that they’re all pretty much white, Christian and have been living on the same islands in the north Atlantic for centuries.

The difference in culture between someone born in Glasgow and someone born in Birmingham are relatively minor when comparing someone born in Minnesota and someone born in Puerto Rico. I don’t see how you can argue against this.

230

[quote]dollarbill44 wrote:
Go heavy fool wrote:
Even our best beer “Budweiser” is a company formed by two Germans… “Anheiser & Busch”

you’re fucking kidding right? Our best beer is Bud? Maybe you should go a little less heavy for a while.

And to all those who say “American beer is shit (crap, whatever)”. I say stop drinking our shitty beers and try some of our good ones, but you’ve probably never heard of them. And yes, Germany has some great beers, so does Czech, so does Belgium, so does England, so does Ireland (well, one anyway), even France.
Anyone who claims that one or two countries holds the monopoly on good beer just hasn’t been around enough in my opinion to be considered a beer intermediate, let alone expert.

Don’t let prejudice cloud your judgment in the search for excellent beer. Let your tastebuds guide you, rather than someone else’s opinions.

DB[/quote]

Nope DB… 100% serious. I would have to say the best beeri i’ve tasted for “American beer” is ‘Bud Select’. Then right down the line… Budweiser, Bud Light… the the busch family. everyones taste buds are different. I don’t think i’m too far off considering this is our #1 selling beer year fater year.

Now i like alot of German beers too… Becks is killer and St. Pauly girl, just to name a few.

In my “opinion”…
I would rank the countries like this(as far as my taste is concearned).

#1 Germany- Andechs Doppelbock Dunkel, Oechsner’s Heller Bock, Beck’s, St. Pauly Girl
#2 Dutch- Heineken, Koningshoeven Trappist Ale, Tilburg’s Dark Ale
#3 America- Budweiser/Busch, Rolling Rock, Iron City beer
#4 Who the hell cares because I don’t drink much of it anyway.

231

[quote]Ashes wrote:

In the hearts of the many Irish and Scottish patriots they are not, and have never have been, “British”.

[/quote]

This is a semantic point, perhaps, but I see it all the time, and it irks me somewhat.

Britain is an island. Scotland is in Britain, just north of England and Wales. Ireland is a completely separate island, west of Britain. People from Britain are British. People from Ireland are Irish.

Geographically speaking, an Irishman is not “British”. Even if he’s Northern Irish.

A Scot, on the other hand, is British, regardless of his patriotism. Just don’t call him “English”.

232

[quote]Varqanir wrote:
Ashes wrote:

In the hearts of the many Irish and Scottish patriots they are not, and have never have been, “British”.

This is a semantic point, perhaps, but I see it all the time, and it irks me somewhat.

Britain is an island. Scotland is in Britain, just north of England and Wales. Ireland is a completely separate island, west of Britain. People from Britain are British. People from Ireland are Irish.

Geographically speaking, an Irishman is not “British”. Even if he’s Northern Irish.

A Scot, on the other hand, is British, regardless of his patriotism. Just don’t call him “English”.[/quote]

Point taken. I was refering to the fact that some boggle-brained Americans class Irish/Scots/English as Brits… the point being that to lump us all in the same group is ridiculous, our cultures and heritages differ greatley.

234

Vermillion says he doesn’t understand how anyone can argue against him. Well, let me quote President Theodore Roosevlt on this issue:

“There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism… A hyphenated American is not an American at all. This is just as true as the man who puts “native” before the hyphen as of the man puts German or Irish or English or French before the hyphen…The men who do not become Americans and nothing else are hyphenated Americans; and there ought to be no room for them in this country…”

Teddy was pretty hard-core on this subject. That’s where I’m coming from.

235

[quote]Varqanir wrote:

Geographically speaking, an Irishman is not “British”. Even if he’s Northern Irish.
[/quote]

Disagree.

Varqanir - you have done a god job here of playing the devils advocate.
Whats your opinion? Are you an Irish American?

So far ive debated various points back and forth and my main arguement has been left in the air (no problem), whereas every hypothetical situation in creation has been used to justifly pluralism - im merely stating that i don not agree with it.

Family ties are over-rated unless your grandad was sparticus.

JMO.

236

[quote]FightinIrish26 wrote:
dollarbill44 wrote:
Go heavy fool wrote:
Even our best beer “Budweiser” is a company formed by two Germans… “Anheiser & Busch”

you’re fucking kidding right? Our best beer is Bud? Maybe you should go a little less heavy for a while.

And to all those who say “American beer is shit (crap, whatever)”. I say stop drinking our shitty beers and try some of our good ones, but you’ve probably never heard of them. And yes, Germany has some great beers, so does Czech, so does Belgium, so does England, so does Ireland (well, one anyway), even France.
Anyone who claims that one or two countries holds the monopoly on good beer just hasn’t been around enough in my opinion to be considered a beer intermediate, let alone expert.

Don’t let prejudice cloud your judgment in the search for excellent beer. Let your tastebuds guide you, rather than someone else’s opinions.

DB

Agreed.

Hell, Sam Adams is far better than Budwieser. And I like Sam Adams far, far better than any German or Dutch beer (none of which I have ever liked) that are sold in America.

It’s like claiming that one country has the best looking women. In truth, there’s hotties everywhere, you just have to find them.

[/quote]
LMAO! You can’t even spell “BudwIEser” buddy. Yeah, you’re not going to find a ton of hotties in Idaho, you might wanna try California or Florida. Same with the beer, you’re drinking 3rd class beer and could have got the real stuff in Germany. May as well go to Wal-Mart to pick up your women too… instead of South Beach. I’m sure that’s where you got your foreign beer tasting at… something like a ‘Publix’ import section.

Here’s a list of “real beer” dude… get the fuck outta here with your “Samual Adams”… gimmi a break.

This is real German beer. How many have you had? I’ll bet you havn’t tasted one and you’re spouting off about foreign beers. I’ve been to Germany and have tasted almost all of these beers.

1 Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

2 Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

3 Aventinus

4 Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel

5 Weihenstephaner Korbinian

6 Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtr?b

7 Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel

8 Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock

9 Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock

10 Uerige Sticke

11 Uerige Doppelsticke

12 Kapuziner Weissbier

13 Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse

14 Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock

15 Salvator Doppel Bock

16 Ayinger Br?u Weisse

17 Tucher Bajuvator Doppelbock

18 Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Nat?rtrub

19 Weltenburger Kloster Asam-Bock

20 Uerige Altbier

21 Wiesen Edel-Weisse

22 Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen

23 Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbier

24 M?nchshof Schwarzbier

25 Gose

237

[quote]supermick wrote:
Varqanir wrote:

Geographically speaking, an Irishman is not “British”. Even if he’s Northern Irish.

Disagree.[/quote]

Well, that’s your prerogative, I suppose.[quote]

Varqanir - you have done a god job here of playing the devils advocate. [/quote]

Thank you. It’s a favourite pastime of mine.

238

[quote]Go heavy fool wrote:
FightinIrish26 wrote:
dollarbill44 wrote:
Go heavy fool wrote:
Even our best beer “Budweiser” is a company formed by two Germans… “Anheiser & Busch”

you’re fucking kidding right? Our best beer is Bud? Maybe you should go a little less heavy for a while.

And to all those who say “American beer is shit (crap, whatever)”. I say stop drinking our shitty beers and try some of our good ones, but you’ve probably never heard of them. And yes, Germany has some great beers, so does Czech, so does Belgium, so does England, so does Ireland (well, one anyway), even France.
Anyone who claims that one or two countries holds the monopoly on good beer just hasn’t been around enough in my opinion to be considered a beer intermediate, let alone expert.

Don’t let prejudice cloud your judgment in the search for excellent beer. Let your tastebuds guide you, rather than someone else’s opinions.

DB

Agreed.

Hell, Sam Adams is far better than Budwieser. And I like Sam Adams far, far better than any German or Dutch beer (none of which I have ever liked) that are sold in America.

It’s like claiming that one country has the best looking women. In truth, there’s hotties everywhere, you just have to find them.

LMAO! You can’t even spell “BudwIEser” buddy. Yeah, you’re not going to find a ton of hotties in Idaho, you might wanna try California or Florida. Same with the beer, you’re drinking 3rd class beer and could have got the real stuff in Germany. May as well go to Wal-Mart to pick up your women too… instead of South Beach. I’m sure that’s where you got your foreign beer tasting at… something like a ‘Publix’ import section.

Here’s a list of “real beer” dude… get the fuck outta here with your “Samual Adams”… gimmi a break.

This is real German beer. How many have you had? I’ll bet you havn’t tasted one and you’re spouting off about foreign beers. I’ve been to Germany and have tasted almost all of these beers.

1 Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

2 Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

3 Aventinus

4 Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel

5 Weihenstephaner Korbinian

6 Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtr?b

7 Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel

8 Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock

9 Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock

10 Uerige Sticke

11 Uerige Doppelsticke

12 Kapuziner Weissbier

13 Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse

14 Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock

15 Salvator Doppel Bock

16 Ayinger Br?u Weisse

17 Tucher Bajuvator Doppelbock

18 Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Nat?rtrub

19 Weltenburger Kloster Asam-Bock

20 Uerige Altbier

21 Wiesen Edel-Weisse

22 Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen

23 Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbier

24 M?nchshof Schwarzbier

25 Gose

[/quote]

Thats one hell of a seshion! As for the women, there are hotties everywhere but some countries are more blessed than others in terms of quantity and quality!

In my experience Sweden, Poland, Germany and Russia seem to be heaven blessed in their quota of sexy ladies.

239

[quote]Ashes wrote:
Go heavy fool wrote:
FightinIrish26 wrote:
dollarbill44 wrote:
Go heavy fool wrote:
Even our best beer “Budweiser” is a company formed by two Germans… “Anheiser & Busch”

you’re fucking kidding right? Our best beer is Bud? Maybe you should go a little less heavy for a while.

And to all those who say “American beer is shit (crap, whatever)”. I say stop drinking our shitty beers and try some of our good ones, but you’ve probably never heard of them. And yes, Germany has some great beers, so does Czech, so does Belgium, so does England, so does Ireland (well, one anyway), even France.
Anyone who claims that one or two countries holds the monopoly on good beer just hasn’t been around enough in my opinion to be considered a beer intermediate, let alone expert.

Don’t let prejudice cloud your judgment in the search for excellent beer. Let your tastebuds guide you, rather than someone else’s opinions.

DB

Agreed.

Hell, Sam Adams is far better than Budwieser. And I like Sam Adams far, far better than any German or Dutch beer (none of which I have ever liked) that are sold in America.

It’s like claiming that one country has the best looking women. In truth, there’s hotties everywhere, you just have to find them.

LMAO! You can’t even spell “BudwIEser” buddy. Yeah, you’re not going to find a ton of hotties in Idaho, you might wanna try California or Florida. Same with the beer, you’re drinking 3rd class beer and could have got the real stuff in Germany. May as well go to Wal-Mart to pick up your women too… instead of South Beach. I’m sure that’s where you got your foreign beer tasting at… something like a ‘Publix’ import section.

Here’s a list of “real beer” dude… get the fuck outta here with your “Samual Adams”… gimmi a break.

This is real German beer. How many have you had? I’ll bet you havn’t tasted one and you’re spouting off about foreign beers. I’ve been to Germany and have tasted almost all of these beers.

1 Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock

2 Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier

3 Aventinus

4 Andechser Doppelbock Dunkel

5 Weihenstephaner Korbinian

6 Paulaner Hefe-Weissbier Naturtr?b

7 Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier Dunkel

8 Kulmbacher Reichelbrau Eisbock

9 Aventinus Weizen-Eisbock

10 Uerige Sticke

11 Uerige Doppelsticke

12 Kapuziner Weissbier

13 Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse

14 Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Urbock

15 Salvator Doppel Bock

16 Ayinger Br?u Weisse

17 Tucher Bajuvator Doppelbock

18 Hacker-Pschorr Hefe Weisse Nat?rtrub

19 Weltenburger Kloster Asam-Bock

20 Uerige Altbier

21 Wiesen Edel-Weisse

22 Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Marzen

23 Julius Echter Hefe-Weissbier

24 M?nchshof Schwarzbier

25 Gose

Thats one hell of a seshion! As for the women, there are hotties everywhere but some countries are more blessed than others in terms of quantity and quality!

In my experience Sweden, Poland, Germany and Russia seem to be heaven blessed in their quota of sexy ladies. [/quote]

Russia… Yuck! Lived with 2 Russian ladies before, lets just say I couldn’t stand the stench.
What about Italy and France, Spain & Portugal? You also left out the whole continent of sexy South American ladies… Brazil, Columbia, Venezuela<sp, and so on… there is an exotic lady hot spot.

Plus alot of those islands like Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cuba, Hawaii, The Phillipinos are smokin’, The Caribbean has alot of sexy women.

240

I’ve got a little Irish in me. Three years ago on holiday I met my fiance in Cork Ireland. I’m pregnant. lol…

He is moving to California from Cork in June. …we will be married and he will become an American citizen. Will he cease to be Irish or have any claim to being Irish? No. I know he won’t feel any shame in calling himself an American citizen either.

I am American. First and Foremost. There is no hyphen I’d like to place by my name on the checklist. President Roosevelt had it right, you either lay it down and call yourself American, or you may as well turn around and go back where you came from, when it comes to immigration. In generations past, those who immigrated to America were grateful for the opportunities and freedoms afforded by this country, in comparison to lands they were fleeing for unsavoury (oppression, starvation) various reasons.

They didn’t mind shedding the old skin, working hard and earning the name ‘American’. So long England, So long Ireland (etc etc)… Were Americans now. I have no qualms saying that I am American, even if this saddles me with ridiculous stereotyping. I’m not fat. I’m not thick. I have spoken to scores of Europeans who seem to believe they are synonymous.

Yet on the forums of which I am a member, 99 percent of which are either English or Scots, there are so few who use the English language with any sort of finesse, and as for the weigh in, there are far more cows than foxes if you get my drift. I’ve had quite enough of the superior attitude thanks.

I am American. My ancestors came here from Europe, It is obvious to look at me. Quite a few of my friends do happen to be English, Scottish… my fiance is Irish. I know how the Scots can be if called English. I wouldn’t dare refer to my fiance as British or English. We spar quite a bit about preconceived notions on either side.

At the end of the day, America is made up of nothing but immigrants, mine happened to come from Europe, so I feel closer to, and a certain affinity with…Europeans. My blood is a mix, but the heart that pumps it is American.

Cheers :o)

241

Bah, fuck beer. Gimme a glass of whiskey. I’m American and proud of it.