The Chit Chat Chit Chat Thread

[JenniferS]

While I appreciate that acknowledging one's background is a good thing, I don't think there are many people in the U.S. that can claim one ethnicity/race unless they are first generation immigrants, and they will probably change in a few generations. This country is called a "melting pot", after all. I've never understood how one group (any group) can denigrate another group (any group) based on race, ethnicity, political slant, socio-economic class, gender/identity, orientation or any other characteristic. We're ALL mutts eventually.
Sorry, hope I didn't get too political.

Canada is a "mosaic", the exact opposite of the "melting pot"; for good or for bad ....

 

[TomP]

Ready for the rant? Because here it comes...

AAA finally came. 2 hours after I called. Guy comes out. He gets the engine to turn over. And then...he takes the key out of the ignition! And guess what? Now for some reason the key won't turn in the ignition. My parents told me to leave the car at school and we would take care of it on Friday. When I hung up with them, after the guy left, I noticed that he left my driver's side window down. In the rain. Before a snowstorm. And the window is electric, so it won't roll up now.

So now I am back on the phone with AAA trying to get the problem fixed. Someone is going to face a very p!ssed version of me...

First, try wiggling the steering wheel while turning the key...might need some "alignment" for the ignition to turn.
Go all ballistic with the guy...he deserves it. Good Luck!
ETA: also make sure transmission is in park.

 

[MinnieM123]

I remember a lot of tuna sandwiches and sliced cheddar cheese sandwiches in my school sack lunches.

Ha! You said sack. We call them bags up here. (Oh, I had lots of tuna and cheese sammies, too. In grade school, we didn't have a cafeteria, so we had to bring lunch in a BAG every day. We didn't have a cafeteria until jr. high school.

 

[MinnieM123]

The Incredible Mr. Limpet starring Don Knotts

ETA: oops, might not be what you are thinking of...Limpet was not a Disney movie...Warner Bros.

That was such a cute movie--I remember that one!

 

[seahawk7]

And my opinion is that this is exactly what our ethnicity is. We are all those things, we are not just one group of people to identify with. We are the sum of our people.


In my opinion, the origin of family is only that... the origin, it is where we came from, but it is not where we are. If you take any grouping, is it possible that every single generation in that family originated in that country? If your family is from Italy, for example, then your history is Italian, but, what if four generations before they came here, their parents ancestors came to Italy from Portugal? Wouldn't they still call themselves Italian if they didn't know about that connection? Record keeping a few century's back was not all that dependable. One should be defined by where they are, their routes are their history only. An important part of their family structure, but, doesn't define them. Again the fact that we do incorporate traditions in our culture is part of the definition of our culture. It's what make us, us!

In this country the generation of my grandparents, there was very little discussion concerning the links to other places. Some were French, but, never taught their children the language because they were in the United States and left France for a reason. A reason that they pretty much kept to themselves. That is one of the reasons that Family Search business are doing so well these days. Nobody, really ever talked about their origins.

Not trying to be antagonistic because that's not me plus I respect you as well as everyone else on this forum but... how come none of your examples are Americans of Middle Eastern descent? This is a group of Americans who might get confused with some non Americans causing conflict in the world and no matter how long an American family of Middle Eastern descent has been here, do you think they would be able to travel everywhere in the United States without being targeted? A family of Irish descent can do an Irish jig in the middle of any street in the states and be applauded. Is that the same for other cultures practicing their heritage?

 

[seahawk7]

And that's just for the appetizers!

You are like an onion so many layers. You never cease to shock me!

 

[Eric1955]

And my opinion is that this is exactly what our ethnicity is. We are all those things, we are not just one group of people to identify with. We are the sum of our people.


In my opinion, the origin of family is only that... the origin, it is where we came from, but it is not where we are. If you take any grouping, is it possible that every single generation in that family originated in that country? If your family is from Italy, for example, then your history is Italian, but, what if four generations before they came here, their parents ancestors came to Italy from Portugal? Wouldn't they still call themselves Italian if they didn't know about that connection? Record keeping a few century's back was not all that dependable. One should be defined by where they are, their routes are their history only. An important part of their family structure, but, doesn't define them. Again the fact that we do incorporate traditions in our culture is part of the definition of our culture. It's what make us, us!

In this country the generation of my grandparents, there was very little discussion concerning the links to other places. Some were French, but, never taught their children the language because they were in the United States and left France for a reason. A reason that they pretty much kept to themselves. That is one of the reasons that Family Search business are doing so well these days. Nobody, really ever talked about their origins.

Didn't think I said anything to really disagree with you. Thought I made that clear.

 

[seahawk7]

You know, it's complicated with people. I mean, with dogs of mixed background, we just call them mutts! Makes life simple!

Yes!

 

[MinnieM123]

Absolutely, AAA has gotten me out of a lot of car trouble. And they give me my WDW discount!

Another AAA fan here. They helped me out a few times over the past 6 years or so, with car problems--towing, other issues, too. AAA also has some nice discounts with hotels (i.e. Swan and Dolphin at WDW), plus plenty of other hotels all over. They also have a slight discount on WDW park tickets (you have to buy them at an AAA office prior to your trip).

 

[seahawk7]

Ready for the rant? Because here it comes...

AAA finally came. 2 hours after I called. Guy comes out. He gets the engine to turn over. And then...he takes the key out of the ignition! And guess what? Now for some reason the key won't turn in the ignition. My parents told me to leave the car at school and we would take care of it on Friday. When I hung up with them, after the guy left, I noticed that he left my driver's side window down. In the rain. Before a snowstorm. And the window is electric, so it won't roll up now.

So now I am back on the phone with AAA trying to get the problem fixed. Someone is going to face a very p!ssed version of me...

You have every right to rant! Why did he put the window down? I hope you receive some kind of compensation. You deserve to treat yourself tonight for having such an awful day.

 

[TomP]

Ha! You said sack. We call them bags up here. (Oh, I had lots of tuna and cheese sammies, too. In grade school, we didn't have a cafeteria, so we had to bring lunch in a BAG hilarious every day. We didn't have a cafeteria until jr. high school.

I bagged a lot of lunches too...mostly sausage on biscuit left over from breakfast, or bean sammiches from previous night's supper leftovers (with maynaze, of course). I went to 7 diff elementary schools so they ran the gamut. One still had outhouses. Yeah, I'm that old. (why isn't there a "wrinkled" emoticon????)

 

[Goofyernmost]

Not trying to be antagonistic because that's not me plus I respect you as well as everyone else on this forum but... how come none of your examples are Americans of Middle Eastern descent? This is a group of Americans who might get confused with some non Americans causing conflict in the world and no matter how long an American family of Middle Eastern descent has been here, do you think they would be able to travel everywhere in the United States without being targeted? A family of Irish descent can do an Irish jig in the middle of any street in the states and be applauded. Is that the same for other cultures practicing their heritage?

I never said we were perfect!! But, that is also a part of our culture.

 

[Eric1955]

Oh man, as if the heavy icing wasn't enough, there are multiple fillings, too??!! I just love heart attack on a plate treats; I have a real sweet tooth!

I love heart attack on a plate! Heart attack on a stick is good too.

 

[Goofyernmost]

Didn't think I said anything to really disagree with you. Thought I made that clear.

You did pretty much, but, those that know me know that I tend to have verbal diarrhea and felt the need to further explain my thoughts on the subject.

 

[seahawk7]

While I appreciate that acknowledging one's background is a good thing, I don't think there are many people in the U.S. that can claim one ethnicity/race unless they are first generation immigrants, and they will probably change in a few generations. This country is called a "melting pot", after all. I've never understood how one group (any group) can denigrate another group (any group) based on race, ethnicity, political slant, socio-economic class, gender/identity, orientation or any other characteristic. We're ALL mutts eventually.
Sorry, hope I didn't get too political.

Yeah I hope I didn't get too political but I just feel a responsibility to express that it isn't the same for everyone. It definitely isn't fair for some and I don't want to alienate anyone here.

 

[MinnieM123]

Remember that the news wants to make it the most shocking to keep people scared and hooked to the TV.

newschannels have devolved to Tabloids type reporting lately :/

Yup, that's part of it. But I do tend to take notice if a "trend" develops in either a good or bad news story. I figure if quite a few news outlets are reporting a story with relatively the same outcome, there might be something there to ponder. (I looked for a ponder smilie in what we have on the forums, but couldn't find one specifically for that, so here is just me smiling, instead, as a consolation prize for you. )

 

[seahawk7]

Both sets of my grandparents emigrated from Ireland. So I guess that makes me Irish. Can I join the American Club, too? Is there a pool and tennis courts, and a club house that serves delicious meals? Do I need a sponsor to join, and if so, will you sponsor me?

I will take this as the joke it's meant to be.

 

[Eric1955]

You did pretty much, but, those that know me know that I tend to have verbal diarrhea and felt the need to further explain my thoughts on the subject.

Well, I thought I was agreeing with you but just adding that I think family ancestry is still important. I love learning about my Great-grandparents and Great-great-grandparents. I wish I could have met them because they sound like fascinating people.

 

[TomP]

I love heart attack on a plate! Heart attack on a stick is good too.

Or heart attack in a sack....White Castles !

 

[seahawk7]

Canada is a "mosaic", the exact opposite of the "melting pot"; for good or for bad ....

Yeah I work with a guy of Filipino descent who is Canadian.