The Irish are Whimsical Part II: You're not from there

How parochial can an Irishman be? Benny Lewis tries to answer that question.

In his long article about living in America, the Irish author takes exception to American's habit of discussing ancestry:

Every American you meet is not actually American. They are a fourth Polish, three-seventeenths Italian, 10 other random countries, and then of course half Irish. Since Ireland is more homogeneous, it's hard for me to appreciate this, so honestly I don't really care if your great grandfather's dog walker's best friend's roommate was Irish. I really don't.

Let us try to explain something to you there, my pale-faced freckle besotted mick. America is a nation of immigrants. Heritage is usually a fun and interesting topic of conversation.

This might be hard for you people to grasp.

Now up until 20 years ago there was never any reason whatsoever for anyone, anywhere in the world to actually want to immigrate to Ireland. For that matter, in all Irish history it's never been the wrong time to leave.

But here in America, people have been stepping off the boat for over 400 years. Yes, everywhere around the world, their coming to America. People's grandparents, parents, even themselves came here from some Third World shithole (like Ireland!) to make a better life. For centuries people have clung to their old ancestry. For example the Stroocks came out of Rotterdam. In our high school one was Jewish, Irish or Italian, and you better believe we all knew the difference.

Benno here is playing dumb. We've been to Ireland, and at least three times were asked if we had any 'connection' to the old country, as it's called on this side of the pond. So Big Ben knows that people in Ireland actually take an interest in their cousins across the Atlantic.

Oh, by the way, Dublin airport has a departure lounge for flights to America, and its covered with pictures of famous Irish Americans.

Benny just keeps going:

I should add, though, that it's a language difference, so "Irish" actually means "Irish American" as I'd understand it. That's fine, but I'm trying to convey that people genuinely from that country (born and raised) find this annoying. There is no right or wrong, but it's important to realize that rephrasing it or saying "I have Irish/Italian heritage" may be more appropriate if you are talking to someone from that country. This is especially true if speaking other languages.

Benny Lewis comes to our country and tells us how to talk about ourselves. Is that right? 

Actually, speaking of 'connections' we do have one to Ireland. On our mun's side were descended from a long line of Scots-Presbyterians, known colloquially in America as the Scotch-Irish becuase they fought for Orange Billy at the Battle of the Boyne and got a land grant in Ireland. So fuck all 'ya'll.