in re Normanator
(about the native Californian who considered himself Irish)
Most Americans do this. My mother's family has lived in America since the Civil War and she still considers herself "Irish American." It must sound pretty dumb that a sixth, seventh-generation American citizen is still "Irish", but that's just how it is.

It's not uncommon to ask someone, even if you don't know them that well, "Where was your family from?" or even "What are you?" I never ask though...some people know a great deal about their family tree so you could be there for a while.

edt: bytheway, *I* don't go around telling people I'm German. The screenname is completely unrelated.
(fantastic german, Wed 12 Jan 2005, 18:11, Reply)