somedeafdudefromPNW
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- Jul 6, 2009
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No, I am not asking for your racial identity (white, black, Asian whatever), I am asking for your ethnic identity; your identity based on history, ancestry, language and so on. If you honestly identify yourself as "white" or "black," don't-- instead, are you a Southerner? Do you consider yourself to be a Boston Irish? A New Yorker? An African American, whose can claim their descendent from the American slavery? Caribbean American? North African? Mexican? Puerto Rican? Korean? Chinese? Deaf? Yes, Deaf can be considered as an ethnicity.
Here's the thing. I grew up with a half-Scot for a stepdad, and my sister and my stepdad identity themselves strongly with the Scottish loyalists that has been with Canada since before the Confederation because of the events they participate in and their half of the family. Me and my mom got a bit of Welsh in us, for some reason-- we don't know, but despite that we identity ourselves more strongly with the Slavs and Germans due to the cuisine, shared moral values and languages. So, technically, based on my upbringings, I should identity myself more with the Scots and Maritimers, but because of my close relationship with my mom-- I identity myself more with the Germans and Ukrainians has that settled in Alberta over a century ago-- despite me having an English surname.
I don't identify myself as Canadian nor American. Yes, I am living in Canada, I was born in Canada, but I could care less about Canadian politics or its Confederation history. Am I graceful that I am living in Canada and all the rights that come with it? Yes, but... it's one thing to live in a luxurious country, compared to agreeing with it.
However above all else-- I do identify myself more with being Deaf because my Deaf-centric values are stronger than my values that I placed with my family-- if the two conflicts with one another, the Deaf-centric values always win out. I means geez, I shun technology, yet embrace technology that is useful to the Deaf.
So... I am curious about you guys.
Here's the thing. I grew up with a half-Scot for a stepdad, and my sister and my stepdad identity themselves strongly with the Scottish loyalists that has been with Canada since before the Confederation because of the events they participate in and their half of the family. Me and my mom got a bit of Welsh in us, for some reason-- we don't know, but despite that we identity ourselves more strongly with the Slavs and Germans due to the cuisine, shared moral values and languages. So, technically, based on my upbringings, I should identity myself more with the Scots and Maritimers, but because of my close relationship with my mom-- I identity myself more with the Germans and Ukrainians has that settled in Alberta over a century ago-- despite me having an English surname.
I don't identify myself as Canadian nor American. Yes, I am living in Canada, I was born in Canada, but I could care less about Canadian politics or its Confederation history. Am I graceful that I am living in Canada and all the rights that come with it? Yes, but... it's one thing to live in a luxurious country, compared to agreeing with it.
However above all else-- I do identify myself more with being Deaf because my Deaf-centric values are stronger than my values that I placed with my family-- if the two conflicts with one another, the Deaf-centric values always win out. I means geez, I shun technology, yet embrace technology that is useful to the Deaf.
So... I am curious about you guys.