BS: You were born where?

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: John P
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 06:56 AM

Crazy Eddie, I'll say you have problems. How's the population there these days?

I was born half way between two small cities that most everyone in the U.S. has heard of, even though they are so small: Kalamazoo and Battle Creek, Michigan. I've been living in Seattle since 1976. Most of my ancestors came from The Netherlands, with a couple of them from Wales and England. I suppose that is important because the attitudes of the people I grew up around in some ways determined who I am, and were in some ways determined by where they were from.

John Peekstok

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Crazy Eddie
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 04:39 AM

Why can't people just ADMIT where they were BORN???? There are so many peopole who say they're ..... Irish/american/african/..... scots
Well the Duke of Wellington was born in Ireland, but wasn't proud of it. Seems being Irish wasn't fashionable at the time. :o)
Apparently, if someone mentioned his birthplace he would remark that "If a man is born in a stable, it doesn't necessarily make him a horse"
Personally, I think it is mainly a state of mind. I know two sisters, of 100% Irish parentage, born & reared in Scotland. One considers herself Irish, one Scottish.
Who am I to argue? They can be Hiberno-Caledonian too as far as I'm concerned.
Mind you I think some of you earthlings are too hung up on this kind of thing. We have other things to worry about on Mote Prime.

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Bluesman and kde
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 04:03 AM

Hi there all..I was born in Frog Level,North Carolina ,4 miles from Greenville where I presently live.Hello to Matt R. and Caitrin here also. I have lived in Massachusetts,New York,New Jersy,Pennsylvania,West Virginia and Missouri.I am of Scottish and American Indian heritage and proud of it. kde

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Billy the Bus
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 03:55 AM

Through no fault of my own, I was born in New Plymouth, North Island, NZ. Most forebears came here from southern England in the 1840s, with later blood from Norway and Scotland. Since then, I've lived in most parts of New Zealand, but through every fault of my own (poverty induced by "Nick Atteen" and "Al K Whole"), I have never moved beyond these shores - apart from via books and the Internet.

I always ask punters on bus tours where they are from. It's great fun trying to relate their "place of origin" to Stewart Island - and not too difficult for most folk from the "western world" - we had a pretty cosmopolitan community here in the 1870s

Most folk give their current location, rather than place of birth, which can be a grin when a strong "accent" comes from an entirely different part of the world...;)

Anway.... It's a ball trying to relate to people's backgound. Teaches you a lot about this crazy world we live in....;)

As does Mudcat! Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

Cheers _ Sam

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Benjamin
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 03:17 AM

If past lives are going to get into this, I had Dejavu while sitting next to a hot girl from Taiwan watching her practice a piece by J.S. Bach on the piano twice! Does that mean anything?

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Metchosin
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 03:03 AM

Oh yeah, I was born in Victoria, BC Canada, of Scottish, English and Eastern European heritage, thought until a couple of months ago to be Hungarian, but after some recent research, now leaning towards Rus or Ruthenian, a people that have never known nationhood.

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Benjamin
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 02:50 AM

Born and raised in Ballard, Washington (more specificly Seattle). Never moved (though it's on a long list of things to do at some point). My parents are both from Minnisota.
My Heritage is Irish, British, German, and Polish. Quarter of each. As for what this all means, I'm not really sure.
BMW

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Metchosin
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 02:49 AM

I am less certain as to why some Americans do it, but because Canada is a country of two founding people, French and English, with two official languages and the French wish to keep their culture officially distinct, then by language, if one speaks English, one automatically is lumped into what is called English Canadian.

As the rest of Canadians are in fact, not all WASPs, and Canada seems to retain less of a "melting pot" ethic than the US, there is a concerted effort here, to define ones heritage, if it is, in effect, not English. Even the Canadian Census now asks one to list ones ethnic background, even if your ancestors arrived here two or three hundred years ago.

Also, until fairly recently in this country, if one was not of the background of the two founding nations, in most instances, one was considered a second class citizen (a lengthy discourse regarding the Family Compact would be needed for further clarification). There has been a resurgence of pride in ones ethnic heritage, as people of backgrounds other than French and English have gained positions of prominence and power.

I think this pride heritage is based upon the knowledge of what our ancestors endured to settle and become citizens of this land and a means of honouring their courage and the hardships endured.

A concept that might be difficult to understand, if one is born in a country of relatively homogeneous ethnicity, whose language and traditions date back a thousand years or more, but not in a country that is relatively young such as Canada.

And all this without even touching on the resurgence of pride within people of First Nations heritage.

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 01:02 AM

You bet you did, Bertmyluv!

Rick! Bravo! LMAO!!!

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Bert
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 12:48 AM

Well, like Little Hawk, I'm an Earthling, subheading of Londoner, Canning Town to be precise. BUT. As Kendalman says... How can I be proud of anything that I didn't accomplish myself?...

SO! I'm going to help myself to some of Rick's French Fries, and say that what I - AM - proud of, is that I have friends like Little Hawk and Kendall and Rick and every other bloody Mudcateer that there is. And I just hope that I did accomplish something to earn that friendship.

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 03 Jun 01 - 12:14 AM

My ancestors were waiting for Kendall's ancestors in 1066 and got their Saxon asses whipped. There's a story that's been passed down for many many generations of Fieldings. I'll try to recall it.

"It was a cold damp morning when Turrvig Fieldingson noticed the little ship docking near his back yard. Fearsome creatures emerged from the ship dressed in chain mail and carrying bags of French fries. They were noble indeed and he heard their leader (who was called "William the self-abuser" at that time) exclaim "By Gar, I tink I conquer did here island"! Standing next to William was his personal balladeer, story teller and chief Fool, (a respected profession in those days) a French peasant named Kendalle de Rubberboot. The Fieldingsons stood their ground with their Pikes at the ready (their pickerels were in the shop) awaiting the fearsome charge. Instead, the balladeer hoisted his Taylor-made lute and started singing songs about Maine. My ancestors threw down their weapons and surrendered the country to William, convinced that any race of people who knew folk songs about a State that wouldn't be invented for 700 years were clearly superior beings.

I, on the other hand was born in Toronto, grew up in Montreal, lived in half a dozen countries, and moved back to Toronto because of the plumbing, transit system and many music stores.

Rick

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: kendall
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 11:51 PM

My ancestors came from Normandy with William the conqueror in 1066. In 1635, two brothers came to America and I'm an 11th generation Yankee. As far as being proud of any of that, I dont understand that attitude. How can I be proud of anything that I didnt accomplish myself? How can anyone be proud of an accident of birth? Politicians are always saying "The great state of....." are they implying that other states are not great? That theirs is somehow superior? What makes, say, Texas great? explain it to me, I really want to know. Sounds like a form of nationalism to me.

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 11:26 PM

Where in Norfolk, Yankee Gal? I'm living in Cromer on the North Norfolk coast.

Jon

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Yankee Gal
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 11:17 PM

I am so freaking English , I am more English than the Bloody Queen and all of her progeny. My mother is from Norfolk, East Anglia, and I date my family in the states back to the middle 1600's in New Jersey. Having never been to that fair state, I will hesitate to cast aspersions upon that common scapegoat. I appeared on the earth in a farm town in Indiana, just like a bunch of other people I know. Why am I not allowed to say that I am English-American? No one ever says that. It's like it's a dirty word or something.

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Caitrin
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 11:14 PM

Lessee...I was born in Austin, capitol of the great state of Texas. After that, I spent several years at Exit 9, North Brunswick, New Jersey. After NJ was a brief stint in Arlington, Virginia, then Cape Carteret North Carolina (at the beach), and now my family's in Greenville, NC. (A little further inland.) I spend most of the year in the lovely mountain city of Asheville, NC.
I have no problem admitting where I was born or where I've been. However, I'm also proud of my family that came from other places and enjoy celebrating my heritage.

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: GUEST,Dancing Mom
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 10:38 PM

Born in Lynchburg, Virginia, USA. Raised in Northwest North Carolina mountains. Returned to Richmond, VA with husband, where I currently reside. Want to see more of the world, particularly Europe. Sharon

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Philibuster
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 10:35 PM

I was born in Texas. I am the only person in my family to be born and raised here. I don't have any Texan heritage. I'm still proud of my state, and the history behind it, but I don't have ANY ancestral roots here. My paternal grandfather came over from germany shortly before the civil war. No one is shure about my mothers side of the family (when they came here, or even WHY), but their Dutch and Irish.
I care about those roots, simply because I don't have any American ones.

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Matt_R
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 10:28 PM

I was born in Albany, Georgia. I have lived in Oceanside & San Clemente, California; Augusta, Georgia; Jacksonville, Hubert, & Greenville, North Carolina; and Ginowan City & Camp Courtney, Okinawa, Japan.

I've lived most of my life in The South, I live currently in G-Vegas, NC, and consider myself from Philadelphia. My parents are both from there.

My paternal great-grandparents came from Pennsylvania German coalminers, my maternal great-grandparents immigrated to America in the early 1900's, coming over from Southern Italy.

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 10:23 PM

Calach's post has all the hallmarks of a 2 am stagger-in from a Saturday night in the Royal Oak ........

Murray (born in Inverness)

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: MarkS
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 09:49 PM

New York City.
That makes me superior to everybody else.
Mark (New York attitude) S

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 09:34 PM

Perhaps you should consider opening a hospis for escapees from the NYCFTTS.

- LH

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 09:30 PM

I was born in a hospital. Does this make me "hospitable"?

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 09:27 PM

"Why don't people just ADMIT where they were born........ I'm Scottish, born in Edinburgh; why can't people be proud of their heritage"

Surely being proud of one's heritage is likely to extend beyond the country one was born in.

Jon (born in England)

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 09:22 PM

Under your definition, calach, I am "from" Cleveland. My father was in graduate school there, in temporary housing. I lived there for 1 year. My dad had a condition for which he sought the "geographical cure" also known as the "grass is greener" effect. We moved a LOT. I am now living in the one state that has ever felt like home, even though I first lived here after I turned 16. So I say I am "from" New Hampshire. But this rootlessness has led me to yearn for my deeper roots, my ancestral roots, which are Ireland (co. Westmeath), England (Framlingham, Suffolk), and Scotland(place unknown). Never been to Westmeath or Framlingham, though I might someday. They probably won't feel like home, either. But it's nice to know where the old folks came from.
Lots of North Americans suffer from this rootlessness. Don't fault us for looking to the past for the place where the deep waters nourish the roots.

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: GUEST,CarolC, not at home
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 09:20 PM

I was born in Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A., and I'm fine with that. There's not much heritage in my having been born there, though.

My parents were both born in Massachusetts, U.S.A. My paternal grandfather was born in St. John, New Brunswick, Canada. My paternal grandmother was born in Bermuda. My maternal grand parents were born in Massachusetts, but their parents were born in France, Germany, and Ireland. It's pretty difficult to have any sense of roots or 'heritage' with a mix like that.

Subject: RE: BS: You were born where?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 09:16 PM

Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I'm an Earthling, under the subheading of: Canadian.

Would you like me to get into past lives and all that?

- LH

Subject: You were born where?
From: GUEST,calach
Date: 02 Jun 01 - 09:09 PM

I can't understand all this false federalism.
Why can't people just ADMIT where they were BORN???? There are so many peopole who say they're ..... rish/american/african/..... scots irish..... whatever.... Why don't people just ADMIT where they were born........ I'm Scottish, born in Edinburgh; why can't people be proud of their heritage, instead of trying to make one up???????? Hopelessly lost in semantics..... Calach.