I think some people just like to be in touch with their ancestry which isn’t suddenly cringe when you’re white. But I think for some other people it’s genuinely part of their victim complex. Irish people were among the most oppressed white minorities back in the day.
There is a difference between being in touch with your ancestry to claiming you are literally a nationality which you aren’t. Americans always say “I’m Irish, Italian etc. etc.” and proceeds to be the ultimate arbiter of what is real Irish, Italian etc., when in reality they had some great-grandparents in of their family tree branches who may have been of that nationality.
By all means be interested in your ancestry, study the archives, learn about your distant family, but it does not suddenly make you Irish, Italian etc., you are American.
Irish people were among the most oppressed white minorities back in the day.
Most of the Irish Americans I know are just keen on dishing it back out to whatever Other they can target. I’m also related to most of the Irish Americans I know, so take that as you will.
I think some people just like to be in touch with their ancestry which isn’t suddenly cringe when you’re white. But I think for some other people it’s genuinely part of their victim complex. Irish people were among the most oppressed white minorities back in the day.
There is a difference between being in touch with your ancestry to claiming you are literally a nationality which you aren’t. Americans always say “I’m Irish, Italian etc. etc.” and proceeds to be the ultimate arbiter of what is real Irish, Italian etc., when in reality they had some great-grandparents in of their family tree branches who may have been of that nationality.
By all means be interested in your ancestry, study the archives, learn about your distant family, but it does not suddenly make you Irish, Italian etc., you are American.
Most of the Irish Americans I know are just keen on dishing it back out to whatever Other they can target. I’m also related to most of the Irish Americans I know, so take that as you will.