How important is your "native" culture to you?

[Svnla]

I grew up in the US South and while it is not perfect, it is still very decent place to live. I have been to many places in US, from East (NYC) to West (numerous large cities in CA) to North (Detroit). I also have been to numerous countries in Asia, South America, and Australia. Those places are different in their own ways but I think I like it here just fine for now, even with all of the flaws and the freaking heat/humidity in the summer.

 

[Possessed Freak]

That's sad.
Every culture has redeeming qualities, if only because, they represent a way of life important to many people. You don't have to identify with a particular culture but, dismissing them as unimportant is a disservice to yourself and seemingly arrogant to many.

Fuck that, I don't think because I am 50% Czechoslovakian, I should live like they do, speak like they do, or act like they do.

 

[BurnItDwn]

Ehh, im comfortable at home in my comfort zone. I grew up in Chicago suburbs, where "pizza" means "pie with meat and cheese" and "hot dog" means all beef frank prepared in chicago fashion. But I spent much of the summer (and holidays and weekends) with my grandparents in their "summer house" (that they retired to in the late 80s) in Door County Wisconsin. Life there runs at a slower pace, and people are generally much more friendly and polite.

So, I compromised in 2007 when I bought my house, and I picked Wauconda, as its a 20 mile commute or less, but also feels a lot like a proper small town of its own.

As far as Louisiana goes, I have only been there twice, but both times I have fallen in love with the State as well as the City of Nawlins. Can not wait to go back there again to binge on some of the worlds best food while listening to dixieland and drinking slurpees made mostly of rum.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Fuck that, I don't think because I am 50% Czechoslovakian, I should live like they do, speak like they do, or act like they do.

You don't have to identify with a particular culture

Reading is fundamental.

 

[Possessed Freak]

Reading is fundamental.

To me, it is unimportant. It is as unimportant as when the hell my dad's family came over here (all of his family history is unknown prior to the 1850's). I am 50% mutt, I am 50% Czech. It is as unimportant to me as knowing the history of any other person I meet. Nothing to me is more fake than somebody flaunting their heritage yet never living there and probably never stepping foot there. "Yeah, your German... you look pretty American to me."

 

[Imp]

Not white, living in a predominantly white country, and parents are immigrants so... very?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

To me, it is unimportant. It is as unimportant as when the hell my dad's family came over here (all of his family history is unknown prior to the 1850's). I am 50% mutt, I am 50% Czech. It is as unimportant to me as knowing the history of any other person I meet. Nothing to me is more fake than somebody flaunting their heritage yet never living there and probably never stepping foot there. "Yeah, your German... you look pretty American to me."

WTH is "flaunting their heritage?" It's fine if the cultural background is unimportant to you, I just believe you're doing yourself a disservice because understanding different cultures brings greater understanding of the people around you, even if you never leave the rock you live under.

 

[Chaotic42]

WTH is "flaunting their heritage?" It's fine if the cultural background is unimportant to you, I just believe you're doing yourself a disservice because understanding different cultures brings greater understanding of the people around you, even if you never leave the rock you live under.

A lot of people do carry their love of their cultural heritage too far, to the point of creating division. Carried to its extreme it becomes nationalism. As long as it's inclusive and doesn't create an "us vs them" mentality, it's fine.

 

[JulesMaximus]

To me, it is unimportant. It is as unimportant as when the hell my dad's family came over here (all of his family history is unknown prior to the 1850's). I am 50% mutt, I am 50% Czech. It is as unimportant to me as knowing the history of any other person I meet. Nothing to me is more fake than somebody flaunting their heritage yet never living there and probably never stepping foot there. "Yeah, your German... you look pretty American to me."

Same here. My Mom's ancestors came to this country from Sweden in the late 1800s. My Dad's side of the family can trace their ancestry back to the Revolutionary War in this country so I guess I'm half Swede and half mutt (part English, Dutch and whatever else mixed in there).

I don't speak Swedish, I've never been to Sweden, the fact that I am half Swedish is a mildly interesting fact but otherwise it means absolutely nothing to me.