I'm an Adjective-American?

[Markus]

Erock's thread reminded me of a statement I made 5 years ago and the response that Kenc gave me and how people like to classify themselves into some category. I am an American and anyone who becomes an American is an American. If I had a choice, there would never be an acceptable adjective that precedes American with respect to citizenship. It's only American. I dislike the adjective and am beginning to think that I should say I'm a European-Native-American. If I was from the U.K. then I would have to say British-Native-American. I'm not really concerned about what I'm called, I just want to make everyone happy with the adjective I use preceding American with respect to citizenship. When filling out forms, there should always be a blank line preceding American so folks can identify where they are from or where their ancestors are from. That's becoming the normal way of identifying Americans. So, I'm trying to jump on the band wagon in the most politically correct way I know. My goal is to make everyone happy with how I identify my wife and myself. I'm really disappointed in myself in that I waited so long to take the adjective of my ancestors. Now, my wife, well, she really is from where her adjective says.

I told Kenc that when my wife becomes an American citizen, she will not be Russian-American, but just American. He commented and said that she will be a Russian living in America as an American citizen. 5 years later, I believe Kenc was correct in his observation.  Before I go on, let me clarify that even though my wife has been in America for 4 years and we've been married for 5 (in July), my wife isn't an American citizen. We delayed this process in case I die so she can go back to Russia. Keep in mind we don't have children (lost 1 in the 2nd month). If we had a child, we would obtain citizenship for my wife very fast.

I have caught myself introducing my wife to people we don't know, and on a careful and selective basis, as Russian. I'm correct based on current citizenship, but if we had obtained citizenship very quickly, I know myself and I would do the same thing. Again, I just want to make everyone happy in using the correct adjective before American. I mean, we should begin to thinks it's abnormal if there isn't and adjective before American.

Am I worrying too much about calling my wife Russian when in fact she is still Russian and worrying too much about finding the correct adjective to use before American for me? I am really concerned about what I should say. I mean, when a female Senator in the U.S gets offended at being called "Ma'am", a word that I use towards all ladies, being from the south, I'm just getting a little confused on how I should introduce my wife and identify where I'm from.

I'm assuming folks from other countries than adjective-America are reading, but has anyone ever heard of

American-Russian folks? How about
American-African
American-Mexican
American-Asian
American-wherever anyone is from.

Why is American never used as an adjective with respect to citizenship in other countries, yet, other countries are used as an adjective with respect to being an American citizen. I'm hoping some posts can educate me on my ignorance. Maybe I'm wrong. Maybe other countries do this too? I don't know. I've never met an American who says they want to leave this country and live elsewhere. I live a shallow world though.







Mark

[ECOCKS]

Mark:

My two cents worth.....

Introduce your wife as American if she has her citizenship and the hell with anyone who says squat. She's as American as anyone else at that point. Introducing her as American until then is a bit off I guess and subject to criticism of others but just factor that into your assessment of their personality.

Pending my wife receiving her citizenship papers someday, I introduce mine as, "This is my wife, Iryna." Occasionally I add, "from Ukraine" if there was a context of where are you from or I think they may need the "headsup" to be prepared for her accent.

Whenever she complains about it, I'll consider a different mode of introduction.

[JR]

My ancestral heritage: English/Irish (dad's side) Portuguese/Armenian (mom's side)

I'm an American...

If your wife's a citizen she's an American and her heritage is, whatever....

[Shadow]

Probably it is because of the tradition of immigration that Americans are always checking out their heritage, and using it as adjective.
Seems that being American without adjective is like being assimilated, so by adding the heritage one gaines some bond with others, and a uniqueness amongst those with different heritage.

I am a Gipsy-Dutch.

[groovlstk]

Like Shadow said, it has nothing to do w/citizenship, it's about heritage.

FWIW, I introduce my wife as "my wife, Polina." People can figure out where she's from by her accent or they can ask her, but it's not something I go out of my way to mention as it's simply not important.

[Doll]

We delayed this process in case I die so she can go back to Russia

She can go any time- you living or not, having the American citizenship or not.

[kryten41]

If I recall correctly, in one of the categories of the cross-cultural marriage survey that was done and is posted on this board, one of the things that irritates a lot of wives is being introduced as "this is _____, she's Russian".

 It seems to me that the sooner we stop thinking of the woman we love as "Russian", and just think of her as the woman we love, the better the relationship will be.  If you live in Mississippi and marry a woman from New York, do you introduce her as a New Yorker?

By definition, if she is an American citizen, she is an American.  It doesn't matter if she was born here or is a naturalized citizen.   

[ECOCKS]

If you live in Mississippi and marry a woman from New York, do you introduce her as a New Yorker?
 

Yes, if the person you are meeting just asked, "Where are you from?"

[KenC]

I always liked the way Lena handled the question "where are you from?"  She would proudly declare "San Diego!"   8)When pressed further with the question "No, before you moved to San Diego, where did you live?"  She would again proudly declare "Michigan."  Mind you, no one is more proud of their Russian heritage than her, but that question gets old in a hurry.
KenC
(BTW, it is my understanding that duel citizenship is allowed by Russia)

[Doll]

Ken, it is not allowed but Russia does not deny its citizenship- only if a person commits a certain crime against it (there is a short list)
 Honestly, I am not sure I understand the OP- we ARE Russians (Ukrainians, etc.)
Over more than 7 years I've been here nobody has asked me like about my background in any offensive way.  Also, nobody needs to be introduced like "this is Olga, she is Russian".
I probably am lucky to only deal with intelligent people but I think it is just my being proud to have this background. Proud in a normal way.

[ECOCKS]

The OP was apparently corrected at some point in the past that his wife is "Russian-American" and always would be. Few social introductions involve a political background and it all sounds pretty petty from what he says.

As most responded, Americans are generally, just Americans except for when the politically correct police force are out and about. I think it's pretty funny when the politicians refer to whatever group they are talking to or about as XXXXX-Americans, usually means they are wanting to tap the financial or political power they perceive that group (be it ethnic or religious) as having.  There are certainly people who prefer being referred to as Native Americans and African Americans but those are really the only two groups I am aware of that seem to be referred to regularly outside of election years. Anyone who made a comment like, "your wife will always be Russian-American" is not someone I'd care to socialize with in the first place.

I did miss the information as to whether his wife is actually an American citizen though. If she intends to claim dual-citizenship (regardless of the legality), that would be her perrogative and I would expect her wishes to be the ones that counted, not some insignificant kibbutzer. Most people have a legitimate curiousity when they ask where you are from so I would rarely play a game with them naming off cities or states where I had just happened to live for a short time unless the whole context and atmosphere was joking and festive.

[Blues Fairy]

(BTW, it is my understanding that duel citizenship is allowed by Russia)

While dual or even multiple citizenship is allowed, duels have been strictly verboten for a few centuries.

[kryten41]

Yes, if the person you are meeting just asked, "Where are you from?"

Or, I suppose, if you thought they needed a headsup to be prepared for her accent?

[Doll]

There is no dual citizenship for Russians in the USA- could be double but not dual.

[SANDRO43]

duels have been strictly verboten for a few centuries.

Mensur is a form of duelling still practiced by Studentenverbindungen in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and recently to a minor extent in Latvia, Poland and Flanders as well (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academic_fencing).

Not to the death, but can leave some very visible scars .
.

[ECOCKS]

Or, I suppose, if you thought they needed a headsup to be prepared for her accent?

That situation too, at least for me, generally though, you should always answer reasonable, polite questions so my response was a bit more all-around. Some others may not care to give a headsup.

[jdk1963]

If you live in Mississippi and marry a woman from New York, do you introduce her as a New Yorker?

Would that marriage be allowed?  :whirling:  If I'm a native Mississippian I think I would be to ashamed to admit I married a New Yorker.

[ECOCKS]

Could just say, "Here's the damn yankee ball and chain," I guess.

Could do worse though, what if you had married someone from California?

[Ooooops]

Why do you have to introduce your wives?   Can't they do it themselves the way they like it? 

[GoodOlBoy]

Why do you have to introduce your wives?   Can't they do it themselves the way they like it? 

Please Ooooops, don't take away one of the "great" pleasures that we lucky (AM) have in life!

After 4 years I still enjoy "introducing" my beautiful RW to a room full of guy's and their cow's (while they ogle her).


GOB

[Chicagoguy]

As of now my fiance's [ will be wife in 1 week ] not so good English and her accent just brings puzzlement to so many faces that a simple explanation is in order. We don't mind. She is proud of her Russian heritage but maybe she will call herself American as the years go by.

[Ooooops]

After 4 years I still enjoy "introducing" my beautiful RW to a room full of guy's and their cow's (while they ogle her).

So, let me guess how that happens - a room full of guy's and their cow's are enjoying themselves and here you and Mrs walk in.   And....   (drum roll...)...!!!   

[ECOCKS]

Usually the one who is asked is the one who responds. If I am asked I respond. I'm quite a bite more extroverted than my wife who usually has a book or is studying menus or whatever. Around the community, people often ask one person where are you (in the plural sense) from after you mention you just moved into the neighborhood. Since I usually walk the dog, again it falls on me to respond.

[groovlstk]

Would that marriage be allowed?  :whirling:  If I'm a native Mississippian I think I would be to ashamed to admit I married a New Yorker.

Why is that? His family's literacy rate will enter the single digits for the first time in generations. 

[Ooooops]

Around the community, people often ask one person where are you (in the plural sense) from after you mention you just moved into the neighborhood. Since I usually walk the dog, again it falls on me to respond.

Ah, the good old suburbia ...     Sometime I miss it but when we live there it just drives me nuts!    :evil:     I guess I'm a city girl, always was and always will be...