How do you define your nationality?

[HoneyVision]

For me nationality is strictly where I carry my citizenship. So in my case that would be New Zealand. But my background is very very different, and my family history is about 5 times older than New Zealand itself. I'd never consider myself a 'kiwi', because I still find westerners kinda weird (did that sound racist? haha).

 

[A Distant Star]

Well, do i identify with my ethnic culture (Metis Nations) or the land mass I was born on? (Canada) Am I Metis, or Canadian or some derivative there of?

 

[Mcupobob]

I'm American, family goes back per-revolution. Funnily enough my family didn't fight in the revolution either to young or old at the time.

 

[Bvenged]

I prefer to think of myself as British first and Welsh second.

I've lived in England half my life, and Wales the other half, and I'm Welsh. I feel British; I feel English and Welsh equally. True nationality of Welsh but "real" nationality of British. No point trying to segregated nationalities of Britain, we're stronger culturally as a whole.

 

[sextus the crazy]

Well, as an American, I distinguish between nationality and ethnicity.
For example, I associate with the United States as my nationality since I've lived here all of my life and think that my ideals are fairly consistent with American views. Ethnically, I'm Norwegian, German, and Hungarian since that's where my family is from. However, I only mildly associate myself with said countries.

 

[Raikas]

I'm human. That's as far as I go. I don't care about the concept of countries and nationality, national pride, flags, anthems etc. It's all just man made hogwash. And it's boring. We should try to outgrow those things. Like in Star Trek.

So when you try to cross international borders, do you refuse to show a passport and tell the border control agents that you didn't bother with applying for a visa because you don't care about nationality? Because I'm thinking that would get yourself sent home.

I mean, even if it's not your ideal world, nationality and culture and language do matter. Yeah, nationalism has been responsible for some reprehensible stuff, but that doesn't mean cultural identities need to be washed away. As far as I'm considered, learning new languages and exploring new cultures is awesome (and frankly not very anti-Star Trek), and and not boring at all.

 

[norashepard]

I live in America and I love mashed potatoes and gravy, so I claim the American Nationality, as much as that can be a badge of shame sometimes.

My basic feeling on ethnicity though is that I'm not bloody white.

I have literally 5% Danish blood and that's it. Somehow I got lucky and have pale-ass white skin and blonde hair, but I'm nowhere near majority white, so it pisses me off when people either badmouth non-white cultures around me because they think I'm one of them, OR on the other side of the coin, when PoCs badmouth me because I'm 'white' and am totally the oppressor and totally don't understand culture at all.

Not saying I don't benefit from some privilege, but it is really annoying. /rant

 

[Zombie Sodomy]

American I guess. I was born in France but I've lived in America much longer. Although I'm logically aware that I'm American, I don't really identify as one. It's not so bad as far as countries go, but I've never been a fan of nationalism.

 

[HoneyVision]

I'm human. That's as far as I go. I don't care about the concept of countries and nationality, national pride, flags, anthems etc. It's all just man made hogwash. And it's boring. We should try to outgrow those things. Like in Star Trek.

This is so utterly naive, it's actually laughable. Firstly, nationality may be hogwash, but culture and language are at the very center of human identity. We're not mere empty cups 'filled' with culture. It's something we're born into and is absolutely inescapable. Nationalism is just a concept that you either buy into or not.

Secondly, faaaaar too much has happened for us to just drop everything and "outgrow" nationality. I'm talking about thousands and thousands of years worth of national identity and patriotism, and you think we can just "outgrow" it? No. The correct word would be "outwit". Nationalism is a great unifier of people, but it's also been responsible for some pretty horrific shit. Nationalism is fine, as long we realize that it's really just a social novelty more than an excuse to impose our identity over others.

And thirdly, unfortunately some national stereotypes are still very much valid. Stereotypes is what we should be outgrowing, not nationality itself. When I visited USA for the first time I was so excited and I loved it, but I was absolutely shocked at how many people I met that alarmingly fit into the American stereotype. It was really sad. Same with many French people. And Italian people. Thankfully we do seem to be outgrowing these cliches, but nationality is still very much a part of people's identities today.

 

[Evil Smurf]

I'm Australian
http://images.nonexiste.net/popular/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/As-a-guy-who-should-not-drink-I-face-this-problem-tomorrow-AKA-Straya-Day.jpeg
I like drinking too, is there a connection? No.

 

[Woodsey]

"I could say I'm Scottish because I've lived here for half my life and my dads side of the family is Scottish.
I could at a stretch claim to be Austrian or Russian as my great great grandparents emigrated from there."

Well, not really and absolutely not.

I just say I'm British. If anyone within Britian asks, I'll say I'm English, but they never do because they can hear it. And no one outside of Britain will ever know what constitutes Britiain, so it's not worth the pedantry. Plus, I like the inclusivity angle - the whole Scottish feud shit is stupid. If you need someone to despise, despise those bloody Northerners - not those north of the Northerners.

I find the particularly American habit of "I'm 3/4 Irish and 2/3 Scandinavian and my great-grandfather once had a drink with an Eskimo and also knew a guy who knew a guy who knew a dude from Tibet" attitude to be stupid. You're American, no need for a lesson in bloody genealogy.

 

[Euryalus]

Ethnically I'm very very Irish, just look at my name, but my nationality is American. I was born in Ohio and lived there for seven years then moved to Wisconsin, and then Indiana, and then Michigan. Michigan is where I am now. I've been here for 6 years.

Suffice it to say I'm a very generic Midwestern American and it shows in my accent. XD

Most of the time though I don't bother to define myself by ethnicity or nationality. It's not terribly important to who I am.

 

[Epic Fail 1977]

I could say I'm English because I was born in England.
I could say I'm Scottish because I've lived here for half my life and my dads side of the family is Scottish.

Why not just say you're half-English half-Scottish?

 

[mfeff]

Confederate, of the Confederate States of America. Magic scroll apparently makes that illegal... which is a little awkward.

 

[Wintermute_v1legacy]

Let's see, mom is german, dad is brazilian, I was born in Brazil. Math says I'm brazilian. I don't see the point in mentioning that handjob my great grandfather got from a romanian hooker when he was 14.

 

[the clockmaker]

Australian of Irish heritage. Often I just get called Irish amongst my mates due to very strong cultural leanings in my family.

 

[Saulkar]

Born in Saskatchewan

VIKO!!!! VIKO!!! VIKO!!! YEAH!

Actually I guess by looking out our windows we can both agree that it is very, very flat.

Anyways I would define my nationality as Canadian by what I feel inside and how it is shared by those around my by saying to the person in question who asked said question that I am rugged peacemaker with a grizzly bear by admission hiding under genuine layers of appeal and goodwill.

Certainly a lot better than 50% Radioactive Ukrainian, 12.5% Dutch Oven, 12.5% Drunken Irish, 12.5% Wet Welsh, 12.5% Posh British and 100% Canadian where I was born...

What was the question again?

 

[Blunderman]

EU citizen by birth but I consider myself a cosmopolitan; world citizen.

 

[Mr. Eff_v1legacy]

Interesting question. It's kind of hard to describe, but...
I think of myself as Canadian first and foremost because I have lived here all my life. I've had it pretty good, and where I live is a big part of it. I take Canadian values to heart as well. Freedom of choice is the thing I value most, and where I live has had a large impact on that. In addition, I also feel that as such a young country, a Canadian identity is still being formed, and I would like to help form it.
However I also consider myself a Scot. My dad's from Scotland, and I still have family there. Been over twice, and will be going again. I grew up with the history and culture, and it's something I value greatly. I feel a connection to the country, and I like to be part of it on some level.

 

[Product Placement]

Icelandic.

...that's pretty much the only way I can cut it. Born and raised, with ancestral ties dating back to it's foundation days over a millennium ago. I can literally trace myself back to the Vikings you read about in the sagas. Sure, I've tried living in London and am in a relationship with an American but no matter where I live now, no matter were I'll end up living, I'll always hail from the land of fire and snow.