Issues you may need to discuss with your MENA SO

[Reynaldo 0]

Not that I was trolling or anything, it is just a tough subject...

Because we know you are not a troll or have troll like postings

Am I being that much of a troll?

Am I in the most hated list with Charles?

Edited January 8, 2007 by Reynaldo

[Sofiyya 1,687]

So much bravado here spent on emotional defense of oneself - it's not pretty, its not productive and it's really kind of sad.

It's just another one of those things that some don't get about Arab cultures. There is a lot of bravado in them, and a lot of pride in heritage. Our cultures have loooooong memories, and no matter where we live, we are raised to live in the long term. I can't honestly say that there's no shaming in this too.

[Jenn! 918]

I agree, Christina.

Your children may even consider themselves more Indian because their father is a new immigrant. He'll be able to teach them more about his heritage, language and perhaps they'll be able to spend some time in India. I'm from a mixed heritage (Beligian, German, and Irish). I barely know anything of these countries/cultures. My sons have learned tons from their father. They can speak the language and have visited his native country a couple times (once for a 7 month stretch). They're very proud of their heritage. That's why they consider themselves Yemeni first and foremost.

Sorry, Jackie, I'm trying to think of some possible questions so we can get back on topic.

This is not unusual. My father was the first born here. My mom is an immigrant too. The "old country" is too close to home to forget.

I apologize if I've misinterpreted something, but your posts have made me curious. You said that your great-grandfather was forced out of Israel and came to the US with his children. Israel didn't exist until 1948. How is that you are in your fifties (born in the fifties) and your father was born here in the U.S. after 1948?

[Fandango 1,439]

I agree as far as the children of immigrants. When D comes here, our kids will be part English. They will be able to qualify for a British passport if done so before a certain age. But we are not talking about first gen Americans here.

And no one's saying that you should deny your heritage...but it's heritage, and one must keep that in mind. As a 3rd gen American, I can categorically say that if USA and Italy went to war and each had a draft...the US would draft me, not Italy.

It's always special to keep to your roots and practice tradition and whatnot, but that doesn't mean one should deny their actual nationality by saying 'I AM AMERICAN'

But WOM made a perfect point....nationality has nothing to do with an opinion. It's not more valid cos your forefathers were born a certain place.

Lisa, the only person for whom you can decide that they leave their heritage at the door is you.

As far as WOM goes, she was trying to make the point that her HUSBAND'S nationality validated her opinion. That contradicts what you said was her point.

Now, perhaps you have your finger on the pulse of what the English or Italians wish to do when they immigrate here, but your family came voluntarily, mine did not. When we get the chance, and insha'allah, that day will come, I will appear with my great-grandfather's property deed to claim what is rightfully ours. If you have nothing you want in Italy, that is your situation. I am Palestinian, JP is Jordanian. That is as much of a part of our identity as WE choose for it to be, not you and those who feel as you do. That is fine for YOU.

How can you pretend to know WHY my family came here? I mean we're playing semantics now, cos even if everyone came to this country for a better life/the opportunities etc...does that mean it's completely voluntary? There are tons of immigrants who came here cos they were starving in their own land, and the only chance at having the means to feed your family was to emigrate. Does that mean it was all 'hey let's give up our homeland! won't it be fun!'

So the distinction of WHY ppl come here is moot..the fact is we're here. You, your parents, grandparents are American. Whether you 'identify' with that or not is another story, but technically you're a born and bred American.

WOM's hubby is doing the 'more Palestinian than thou' olympics because of YOUR comments.

I AM Palestinian, as is my family; I'm not just married to one.

what's that gotta do with holding an opinion?

The fact is, marrying a Palestinian doesn't make you an expert on Palestinians. I have family too, but I'm not going to go into some pissing contest with your pride to prove who is more Palestinian than whom.

I would win, I assure you. I am not Palestinian by injection, and I wouldn't be less Palestinian by divorce.

So you'd win the game you don't even wanna play even though you started the qualifications anyways, and you just have to let that be known. As far as your condescending 'Palestinian by injection' comment, well that's just so declasse & disgraceful that I almost am suprised you said it. Almost

, but I'll be damned if I will stay put for someone to slam me and my heritage because, without knowing much about me, they assume they're more Palestinian than I am because of their marriage, so their opinion has more weight than others.

Yet your opinion holds more cos your great-great-grandad was born there? Why not just discuss whatever issue you want without having to qualify yourself as the expert? You started this thread making comments that WOM showed you as being untrue - you even admitted it - and yet you still bash her for not having a valid opin cos she's not Palestinian. No one's slamming you for your opinion, even though that's a common cry in many of your threads. But to hold your opinion as more qualified/better/etc than everyone else's is really quite silly, WOM's whole post was 'wait a minute, this is where my husband is from, his experience is this..' yet she's criticized for relaying the info cos she's not Palestinian.

I'm gonna stop the quote wars now cos I'm bored with it, but at the end of the day, I have learned quite a bit about the UK in the past 7 years...some from living there, some from just talking to David about his experiences, etc. I have successfully argued British politics to the point where ppl in the pub were clapping. I think every one of us has a love and interest in the country where our SO came from. To diminish that experience and knowledge as 'not enough' is very short sighted imo.

At the same time, her husband's opinions are quite valid because he was relaying his own personal experience was telling a different story than what the 'I am Palestinian hear me roar!' poster was saying. There's an old saying 'you can't teach a granny to suck eggs'. Cos you're sat here trying to say you know Palestine better than him! hahahah However, I will speculate that had you not started this 'more Palestinain' game, it never would have been brought up. And now you don't like it, even though you started this whole thing.

Edited January 8, 2007 by LisaD

[Reynaldo 0]

I apologize if I've misinterpreted something, but your posts have made me curious. You said that your great-grandfather was forced out of Israel and came to the US with his children. Israel didn't exist until 1948. How is that you are in your fifties (born in the fifties) and your father was born here in the U.S. after 1948?

The state os Israel was created in 1948, but the zionist movent existed since the late 1800s.

Some zionist organizations bought huge landmasses in the Palestine before the wars. At the time the war was over they owned roughly 50% of the Palestine.

And I read somewhere that the Arab Palestines living on zionist properties had to move... But this scrap of information I can't confirm. If that is true, maybe that is the case.

[Sofiyya 1,687]

My dad was born in 1919. My great grandfather and his family traveled quite a bit. He bought land in several countries, including the US, but always returned home until it was gone. My dad was born here during a visit, making him a citizen. My great grandfather didn't settle here until a stint in Morocco. We tend to be rather nomadic. As a result, we have homes in many places, and have for decades.

I apologize if I've misinterpreted something, but your posts have made me curious. You said that your great-grandfather was forced out of Israel and came to the US with his children. Israel didn't exist until 1948. How is that you are in your fifties (born in the fifties) and your father was born here in the U.S. after 1948?

The state os Israel was created in 1948, but the zionist movent existed since the late 1800s.

Some zionist organizations bought huge landmasses in the Palestine before the wars. At the time the war was over they owned roughly 50% of the Palestine.

And I read somewhere that the Arab Palestines living on zionist properties had to move... But this scrap of information I can't confirm. If that is true, maybe that is the case.

No, you are right about that. Displacement started years earlier and that is why my family traveled, buying land. Jews were kicked out too, btw. To this day, we hold our land in trust as a family so it's harder to lose.

Edited January 8, 2007 by Green-eyed girl

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Lisa, again I say, I know from experience that you are a troll and I will not respond to your posts. Nothing you say is worth responding to.

[Fandango 1,439]

Lisa, again I say, I know from experience that you are a troll and I will not respond to your posts. Nothing you say is worth responding to.

You just did. Duh

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Troll.

[Fandango 1,439]

Troll.

There you go again responding to me. I thought you weren't going to?

Meanwhile, I have very clearly laid out my POV. You wanna dismiss it as trollish, that's fine...but throwing around labels like this just proves you have no intelligent response. So thank you for agreeing, or at the very least not being able to contradict anything of what I've said

It's so funny how you always say you get maligned for putting forth your opinion, yet you malign others with ease!

Edited January 9, 2007 by LisaD

[Sofiyya 1,687]

Troll.

[Fandango 1,439]

Troll.

Lol, and you're how old?

[Sofiyya 1,687]

[Reynaldo 0]

You can say that again...

[Reynaldo 0]

You can say that again...

But anyways, last time I was on a pub and people clapped was when 2 straight Swedish chicks made out....

ETA: With each other...

Edited January 9, 2007 by Reynaldo