The RIGHT reason for coming to America; and the wrong reason!

[TCassidy]

I agree with FriendofSpurgeon. My dad immigrated to this country in 1924. He came here for economic opportunity when his home country was in a terrible depression. He never became a US citizen. He and his mother continued to speak Gaelic between themselves (my grandmother was widowed when she was in her mid 20s with 2 very small children to raise). Until his death in 1979 the kids and grandkids greatly enjoyed the cuisine and culture of our father/grandfather's home.

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

I agree with FriendofSpurgeon. My dad immigrated to this country in 1924. He came here for economic opportunity when his home country was in a terrible depression. He never became a US citizen. He and his mother continued to speak Gaelic between themselves (my grandmother was widowed when she was in her mid 20s with 2 very small children to raise). Until his death in 1979 the kids and grandkids greatly enjoyed the cuisine and culture of our father/grandfather's home.

Boiled potato's & Bushmills I'm thinking....LOL! Relax Tom....I'm just pulling your leg!!!!Laugh

 

[TCassidy]

Boiled potato's & Bushmills I'm thinking....LOL!

My dad would have liked that! (But I don't drink.)

But we should include Bangers & Mash. Boxty. Shepherd's Pie. Dublin Coddle. Steak & Guinness Pie. Soda Bread. And, of course, Corned Beef and Cabbage.

 

[righteousdude2]

My wife's family didn't come to America to assimilate. They came here seeking freedom and fleeing communism. With them, they brought their faith, language, food and culture. They were very grateful to become Americans. Over time and generations, there is an assimilation. Our children are more "American" than their mother; she is more "American" than her parents.

Still not sure if we have "totally assimilated" or not. Spanish is often spoken at our home. Thankfully, our children are bilingual. We celebrate both Christmas Day and Noche Buena. More often than not, we are eating rice and black beans, not potatoes and green beans. And I strongly prefer a cafecito compared to bland American coffee.

My wife's family didn't come to America to assimilate. They came here seeking freedom and fleeing communism. With them, they brought their faith, language, food and culture. They were very grateful to become Americans. Over time and generations, there is an assimilation. Our children are more "American" than their mother; she is more "American" than her parents.

Still not sure if we have "totally assimilated" or not. Spanish is often spoken at our home. Thankfully, our children are bilingual. We celebrate both Christmas Day and Noche Buena. More often than not, we are eating rice and black beans, not potatoes and green beans. And I strongly prefer a cafecito compared to bland American coffee.

Likewise, my great-grandparents on both sides came from Germany. As a child I remember all the German customs being integrated into holidays, including food stuff. There was also the German radio stations and music playing in the background.

And the old folk spoke great German, and the not too old folks spoke broken German with a twang of German in their English.

However, when the little ones, like myself wanted to learn the language of our ancestors, we were told that this was America, and we were to speak the language of the country.

There was total loyalty to America, never once did I see a German flag hanging in the garage or off the porch. Although that may not have been a good idea due to the war being so fresh on our minds.

To this day I still hold a little disappointment in my parents refusal to let me learn German at an early age, because it would have made my foreign language classes that much easier, when I chose to learn German. Still, I saw, later in life, why they insisted we become American in every way possible. And I appreciate that spirit of commitment to the country that took them in, and gave them so much more then they could have ever hoped to have had they remained in Germany, a nation that had two world wars in less than twenty years.

I do not see that commitment in the families sneaking across our borders. They do not appreciate the country or its laws, because they came here ignoring our basic law of immigration, and they have never been held accountable. Accountability leads to loyalty and responsibility. To not be accountable for ones actions, leads to discontent and a spirit of anarchy. And that is not the glue that makes a nation great.

 

[matt wade]

However, when the little ones, like myself wanted to learn the language of our ancestors, we were told that this was America, and we were to speak the language of the country.

There was total loyalty to America, never once did I see a German flag hanging in the garage or off the porch. Although that may not have been a good idea due to the war being so fresh on our minds.

To this day I still hold a little disappointment in my parents refusal to let me learn German at an early age, because it would have made my foreign language classes that much easier, when I chose to learn German. Still, I saw, later in life, why they insisted we become American in every way possible. And I appreciate that spirit of commitment to the country that took them in, and gave them so much more then they could have ever hoped to have had they remained in Germany, a nation that had two world wars in less than twenty years.

You, and your parents, are flat out wrong. There's nothing un-american about knowing two languages, or teaching your children another language.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

My dad would have liked that! (But I don't drink.)

But we should include Bangers & Mash. Boxty. Shepherd's Pie. Dublin Coddle. Steak & Guinness Pie. Soda Bread. And, of course, Corned Beef and Cabbage.

Nice list, and I'm impressed with the coddle. Was yoru family North Dublin (brown coddle) or South Duslin (white coddle) ?

Of course, the corned beef and cabbage is American Irish. Only the wealthy here could afford corned beef so the traditional dish here is bacon and cabbage,

You ever think about visiting the auld sod?

 

[Rolfe]

Righteousdude- Again I ask, since you have not answered the question yet, do you consider those with dual citizenship real Americans?

Bump...

RD, why will you not answer? It is a simple question.

 

[TCassidy]

Nice list, and I'm impressed with the coddle. Was yoru family North Dublin (brown coddle) or South Duslin (white coddle) ?

Dad was an Orange. He came from Derrygonnelly in county Fermanagh in the Lake Country.

You ever think about visiting the auld sod?

I would like to but my doctors keep me on a pretty short leash.

 

[InTheLight]

Bump...

RD, why will you not answer? It is a simple question.

You must be on ignore. Since I've now got one person on ignore I've noticed the new design of BB has more robust Ignore functions. It totally expunges any evidence of the posters in your Ignore List. The old trick of quoting someone so another poster who had that someone on ignore would see their posts no longer works. For example, if you are on Evan's Ignore List and I am not, he won't see your post I quoted (just above this paragraph). He will only see what I've written.

Another cool feature of the new Ignore List is that you don't even see the ignored poster's name anymore. All you see is a generic "Ignored Member".

 

[Rolfe]

You must be on ignore. Since I've now got one person on ignore I've noticed the new design of BB has more robust Ignore functions. It totally expunges any evidence of the posters in your Ignore List. The old trick of quoting someone so another poster who had that someone on ignore would see their posts no longer works. For example, if you are on Evan's Ignore List and I am not, he won't see your post I quoted (just above this paragraph). He will only see what I've written.

Another cool feature of the new Ignore List is that you don't even see the ignored poster's name anymore. All you see is a generic "Ignored Member".

I doubt that I am on ignore, since he recently responded to another post of mine in a different thread.

 

[InTheLight]

Another attribute of the new Ignore List is that it does not transfer to TapaTalk. That is, if someone is on Ignore when browsing BB on my PC I won't see their posts but I will see their posts on my phone and tablet using TapaTalk.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

Dad was an Orange. He came from Derrygonnelly in county Fermanagh in the Lake Country.
I would like to but my doctors keep me on a pretty short leash.

That's a BEAUTIFUL part of the island.

I am even more impressed by the coddle - most folks outside of Dublin have never heard of it - that is genuine Irish stuff

If the docs ever let you come be sure to get in touch

 

[TCassidy]

I am even more impressed by the coddle

Best way in the world to fix left-overs!

 

[Earth Wind and Fire]

My dad would have liked that! (But I don't drink.)

But we should include Bangers & Mash. Boxty. Shepherd's Pie. Dublin Coddle. Steak & Guinness Pie. Soda Bread. And, of course, Corned Beef and Cabbage.

I had shepherd's pie yesterday & a can of Guinness somewhere in the back of the fridge.....and I like boiled potatoes. Biggrin

 

[FriendofSpurgeon]

Likewise, my great-grandparents on both sides came from Germany. As a child I remember all the German customs being integrated into holidays, including food stuff. There was also the German radio stations and music playing in the background.

And the old folk spoke great German, and the not too old folks spoke broken German with a twang of German in their English.

However, when the little ones, like myself wanted to learn the language of our ancestors, we were told that this was America, and we were to speak the language of the country.

There was total loyalty to America, never once did I see a German flag hanging in the garage or off the porch. Although that may not have been a good idea due to the war being so fresh on our minds.

To this day I still hold a little disappointment in my parents refusal to let me learn German at an early age, because it would have made my foreign language classes that much easier, when I chose to learn German. Still, I saw, later in life, why they insisted we become American in every way possible. And I appreciate that spirit of commitment to the country that took them in, and gave them so much more then they could have ever hoped to have had they remained in Germany, a nation that had two world wars in less than twenty years.

I do not see that commitment in the families sneaking across our borders. They do not appreciate the country or its laws, because they came here ignoring our basic law of immigration, and they have never been held accountable. Accountability leads to loyalty and responsibility. To not be accountable for ones actions, leads to discontent and a spirit of anarchy. And that is not the glue that makes a nation great.

Agreed. That is pretty much what I see today. The older generation speaks Spanish. The middle generation speaks both, and the younger ones primarily speak English. (Ever watch "Que Pasa USA?") Parents understand that to be successful in America, one must learn to speak English. However, I don't believe that one have to give up his/her parent's heritage, language or culture to be an "American." BTW, most first generation Americans that I know (and I know a lot) are very appreciative of their adopted country.