they minted 6 Irish faces, and I have one of them

[the_siobhan]

I had this conversation with a couple of people last night about the experience of being part of the Irish diaspora.

Culturally I'm about as Canadian as it gets. I've lived her since I was just under three years old, most of my "real" memories are set in Canada. Most of my attitudes and values are a direct result of living in the largest city in the country with one of the most diverse populations.

So you know, not all that Irish.

I wasn't even born there. My parents met in England. I have an Irish passport because my parents are Irish born and raised. For a long time that led to the_axel telling me I was actually English, a practice that came very close to getting him brained with something heavy and made out of metal.

But at the same time, I do identify at least partly with the condition of "being" Irish. Not because of some mystical connection or or some misguided idea that one can identify with a culture based on reading about it.

But because the whole history of my family is very strongly tied up with having come from that country and it's weird-ass version of Catholicism. (As opposed to any other country's particular weird-ass version of Catholicism.) The dysfunction that has been handed down from generation to generation. The alcoholism. Some of the genetic stuff. The experiences of my parents' that have profoundly shaped their lives have in their turn profoundly and inescapably influenced mine; my experiences, my personality, all the things I've celebrated and struggled with over the years.

I'm not Irish in that I did not grow up there, any ideas I might have about the current culture are based solely on what I know from relatives who never left. But to say I'm not Irish is to negate a huge component in what influenced my life. As much as being born white. As much as being born female.

I don't wear green to celebrate Padraig - I usually avoid pubs on his night. I don't think of myself of being particularly proud of being Irish. (Although I occasionally make jokes about being proud of having survived being Irish.) I loathe leprauchauns and shamrocks and all the kitschy bullshit.

And I will never, unless it is the final option in the struggle to save my loved ones from the Zombie Apocalypse, ever be caught dead drinking green fucking beer.

Comments

[the_axel]

What does this mean? Not a whole hell of a lot actually.

It means a huge amount. You're saying that you were raised as a Western American, which means you'll have a different set of ethnic baggage from, let's say, an Acadian from the Louisiana, or a guy from Vermont who can trace his family lineage ancestry back to the English Colonial era or the desdendent of slaves from Alabama or a Navajo.

But then again I am not burdened with any of the typical ethnic baggage from my Nordic/Celtic/Teutonic ancestry.

Sure you are. American culture was built by Nordic, Celtic & Teutonic invaders who brought their ethnic baggage with them. Spend some time in other cultures & the differences & similarities become very apparent.

IMO, Family has nothing to do with who you happen to be Related to, but the people you Choose to have in your life.

So how does that work when you're 2 years old, or 4, or 6, or 8? How much choice do you have over who your family is in your formative years?

Sure, you can choose to exclude them in late life, but you can never undo the impact they've had.