Does it ever really go away?

[kuulani]

My husband and I got around to talking last night about our daughter's ethnicities (Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, and Welch).

Anywho, I mentioned that our daughter is 1/16 Chinese. Now, here's my question. Does that ever phase out? I mean 1/16 is a really tiny amount. If she doesn't marry someone with Chinese, her kids will be 1/32 Chinese, their kids will be 1/64 Chinese, etc...

Will they ever not be Chinese?

Just wondering

 

[Spot]

nope.
the indian casinos over our way have people in the tribe that are as little as 1/32.
i, personally, think its just plain dumb. when people ask me my heritage, i just tell them "i'm american"

 

[Squiggy]

I'm just a mutt with a pure bred complex...

 

[Gonzo]

nope.
the indian casinos over our way have people in the tribe that are as little as 1/32.
i, personally, think its just plain dumb. when people ask me my heritage, i just tell them "i'm american"

Good for you.

Heritage has little to do with anything outside our sphere of influence (read:nationality) & our physical appearance which is supposed to be irrelevant.

 

[kuulani]

Technically, when people ask my NATIONALITY, I'm forced to say "American", due to the actions of the past, but that's not my ETHNICITY, which is Hawaiian, Japanese and Chinese. To me, there's a difference

 

[Gonzo]

Since I've never been able to figure it out, maybe you can help.

What does your ethnicity have to do with anything outside your physical appearance? It isn't some kind of behavioral symbol or anything.

Serious question & not being a smart-ass (any more than usual)

 

[Nixy]

Ethnicity in Ku'us case I would think is the way she lives her life, her beliefs, etc. Those are not American, they are based on her background. Same as someone who is Canadian in the sense they were born here and lived here all their life but they practice certain customs that are from their native country...say Pakistan...that is their Ethnicity...

 

[Noite Escura]

I think it has to do with certain traces inherent to ethnicity. Take me for example: I born in Brazil, but I'm 87,5% german. That makes me much less emotional and passionate than the average latin guy.

 

[kuulani]

Nixy & Noite have it basically down.

My ethnicity, in part, makes me do the things I do & feel the way I feel. For example, I'm pretty sure, if I wasn't Hawaiian, I would feel prouder to be American.

 

[Gonzo]

My ethnicity, in part, makes me do the things I do & feel the way I feel.

That is what I don't get. How does, say, your Welsh & Chinese ethnicity make you do/feel those things as opposed to if you had the exact same life but replaced Chinese with Arab & Welsh with Russian?

It's about nationality (in this case we'll leave it simple & say Hawaiian) & experience. Those make a person, not some hidden gene. If not, set me straight.

 

[Mirlyn]

My ethnicity, in part, makes me do the things I do & feel the way I feel.

That is what I don't get. How does, say, your Welsh & Chinese ethnicity make you do/feel those things as opposed to if you had the exact same life but replaced Chinese with Arab & Welsh with Russian?

It's about nationality (in this case we'll leave it simple & say Hawaiian) & experience. Those make a person, not some hidden gene. If not, set me straight.

Actually, I think the correct term is culture. Culture is what makes you act the way you do, feel the way you do, and do the things you do. I feel Ethnicity and Nationalism would be specific parts of culture.

 

[kuulani]

I get your point about the Welch and Chinese thing, and you're right, my life may not be different if it was replaced with Arab & Russian. But I think its because I don't know that much about my Chinese heritage.

But being Hawaiian does make me feel differently about certain events and it roots me to this land. I have a lot of non-Hawaiian friends living in Hawaii, including my mother, and they don't have the same connection to these islands, and its history, as we do.