What you are

[wazzacky]

Ergh i could not think of a decent title for this. This thread spawned from an argument in the "why don't you believe in god" thread. The argument was about where you are from, your ancestry etc.

THere will be many a' arguments if this thread kicks off.

Here is my 2 cents

I belive and always have, where i am from is not by the country i was born in, but a mixture of my culture and my ancestry. Culturally im persian (iranian) *i do , i guess have north american culture, just because i've been here so long,.but persian culture is much more prevalent in my house* But by ancestry i am a mixture of persian and armenian.
My last name is direct armenian, my mom's maiden name is armenian, And i believe my moms moms' maiden name was persian. Every Person in my family can speak armenian, persian, and english. Except for me and twin brother, please don't flame me about that i get enough of it from my family. Also, if you've seen photos of me, u'd see my skin is white which is indefinite of armenia.

I don't believe that standing on a piece of land people call a country has anything to do with who you are or where you're from.

[Mathalamus]

im canadian. obviously we have a bit of british culture. my mom is a full canadian but she buys those werid artifacts that has nothing to do with my ancestry.

[jedimaster86]

I'm sure I have a mix of a couple different countries (like the fact that I'm a quarter Irish, and I'm sure also the fact that I'm half jewish), but I don't tend to act like those countries, nor do I connect myself much with them. Like where Wazz said he connected his place to culture and ancestry, I guess I tend to not think too much about the ancestry part and instead stick with the cultural aspect. Naturally, that's only a personal belief of mine, so I have no problem with what Wazz said.

So yeh, culturally I'm American, so that's what I go with.

[Skye]

Aussie blood through and through, and proud of it

Originally my family came out from Germany on my mums side and England on my dads. But that was so effing long ago, we just claim ourselves as Aussies.

My great grandfather was one of the first settlers in my home town, Tintinara. He and three other men established it over 100 years ago, and now we are a booming town of 250 people!

But anyway. I don't claim myself as English or German. I'm a convicted Australian

[Mathalamus]

booming town of 250? calgary was founded in 1890 or something (120 years ago) and now it has 1 million people. is it cause the town is unfavorable?

[hellsing293]

Wazzacky, many cultures try to retain their culture while living in America. It is a noble effort yes, but just from you admitting you can't speak your native tongues like the your older generations tells me that your family is well on its way to being Americanized. Soon the young girls will eventually marry non-Persian/Armenian men and lose their last names and their children will be 1/2 your descent. I'm not insulting your family, it's just that over generations most families lose their "true" culture and become "normal Americans" with a "normal" household, traditions, family etc.

[Aemaeth]

Pretty much just british.
My family name has germanic roots but who's to say i'm from that line.
Our family history is pretty much muddy and my immediate family aren't sentimental about our roots.

[Siris]

Wait was this supposed to be about what religion you are or what your cultural background is????

Shoot, I am a mix of many differrent races. I am however, mostly german and that shows with my fair skin blonde hair and blue eyes. My family used to be royal but that was many ages ago. I have a family crest but I have not laid eyes on it in many years. We have lived in america for so long that I really don't have any connects to anywhere else. Everyone with my last name is in some way related to me. In fact I believe in Michigan there is a town named after my last name. When the Germans came here that vast majority settled in CA and MI. I was in cali.

[Mathalamus]

royal? in what way? were your acestors a king or queen of some country?

btw. not all germans have blue eyes and blond hair. in fact i think the blond blue conbination is a minority.

[Pamela]

royal? in what way? were your acestors a king or queen of some country?

btw. not all germans have blue eyes and blond hair. in fact i think the blond blue conbination is a minority.

Yes...we know..tell Hitler that.
As for ancestry,I am from a long line of Pastors on both sides.Back to Great,great grandfathers,and grandmothers that both preached the Gospel and took scalps.

You read that right the first time.I am 2 parts American Indian and the rest German/Irish...I however live and believe as Pamela.
My ancestry may have formed my genetic make-up, but my intestinal fortitude shapes who I am today.

[SpoonMan999]

I am a mut. I am American Indian (Cherokee, Choctaw, and Blackfoot), English, German, Irish, Scottish, and Italian.

Also, I'd like to say the country you were born in very much make you who you are, combined with traditions from your ancestory. While your household may be predominantly Persian and traditional you have not learned their language...and here you are conversing on the internet on a forum dedicated to video games.

[Skye]

I agree with Spooner.

I believe the country you were born in determines who and what you are. It's in your blood.

[Mathalamus]

one question, does canada have a unique culture of its own or are they just stolen from the USA?

[wazzacky]

one question, does canada have a unique culture of its own or are they just stolen from the USA?

If theres on thing i've noticed about Canada, ateast in BC, is a lack ther of Canadian culture but a replacment of other cultures. Chinese, Indian etc etc. Im not actually sure wat canadian culture is... mowing your lawn to make it bigger?

About Skye's response. See i have trouble thinking like you and spoon do. And of course no offence. Obviously you know why I can't accept that. Don't you think its they way you grew up. How your parents taught you how to do things, how to respond to crap, and stuff. I think that plays a big roll in different cultures.

[Skye]

I see your point Wazz.

But I believe that the way your parents taught you how to do things and respond to crap etc is just parenting. It's not culture. It's not who you are. It's what you were taught in life.

I believe that your culture is within your blood. Which lies within your roots, where you were born. Your parent's genes and their culture and background plays a major role.

I think we're both getting at the same thing. Just different angles

[Pamela]

I gotta agree with that because there are some things I did not know were Indian...yet find them inately within myself.

None of it was taught or learned in the household.In fact all things *pagan*...
(Grandpa's words) were considered blasphome and not allowed.So nothing Native American was learned.

[SpoonMan999]

What I meant was where you live plays a big part, like if I were of Italian decent but grew up in India I would probably lean heavily towards some Indian habits or trends. Of course I would still be an Italian and have those mannerisms from my heritage and how my parents raised me but a part of me would be Indian in the end.

[wazzacky]

exactly i agree with you. Culture is very hard to define without being vague.

[Pamela]

Very true Spoonie *hug* Being raised in an area that is VERY culturally,politically,and socially predispositioned will inherently shape what you believe and value as *truth*

Just a thought....

[FrogMan]

Funny enough I believe where you come from plays a big role, I am Greek that is right *****es we bought you Maths and the movie 300 lol.

My father speak Greek to me I went to a Greek school but grew up in South Africa, I find its strange I believe you almost feel your culture go through you, music plays a big part in greek culture and dance as well, and I can see greeks that can't speak Greek, sit there and listen to the songs like they actually can feel what they are saying.

Maybe weird but hey.