bjproc...
It is truly hard to explain! Blood runs deep, I guess! Think of it this way - the stories are told from generation to generation, making the current generation feel almost as connected as those who "came over" two hundred years ago.
Another point, so many of our ancestors, no matter where they were from, had to give up A LOT to "Americanize", losing many customs and traditions along the way. I believe everyone has a deep longing to know who they are and from whence they came...and if it were not for that far off ancestor from long ago, they would not even exist!
And, the people who came to what would be the U.S. had untold hardships and struggles to face "over here". This certainly gets handed down through the generations...our hard working blue collar Americans of today have roots that go deep...to their hard working ancestors who
literally built the U.S.A.
In a "young" country like the U.S., we don't have the history and majesty of those ancient places that our ancestors left. EVERYBODY here (except the Native Americans, of course) can trace there existence to somplace else. In fact, when I had to fill out a form when I entered the convent, I listed my heritage as "American"...it was promptly sent back to me for correction...they wanted to know from where my ancestors hailed.
We do feel some connection to our "cousins" around the world, no matter how distant they may be.
I would never represent myself to others as a Scot or as native Irish, but I WILL proudly tell you that this is where my ancestors lived.
Please don't be put off by the overzealous Americans in search of their ancestry...be happy that we love your land and its people.
P.S. I'm not at all trying to argue, just trying to explain!
Originally Posted by pipesndrumsnun
bjproc...
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