Ethnic Heritage

Posted on May 7, 2003 in Francophobia

A concerned friend asked me if my “French American” identification wasn’t the same thing as the bashing from the other side. I say, no, because my ethnic identification doesn’t move me to attack or demand boycotts* of people who are different from me.

I do it in the spirit that I love what my French heritage has given to me, what my grandparents brought to this country from the Old World and passed to me through my mother. It doesn’t make me better or worse than any one else. It’s an important spice that contributes to my uniqueness and specialness. Flavoring in my soup.

Other known ingredients: German, Danish, English, Spanish, Italian, Swiss.

My wife: Greek and English.

Both: American and Human.

Our family tree album.

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*Boycotts called by people living under repressive governments are another matter, as was the case of South Africans living under apartheid. France doesn’t qualify. Their Amnesty International Record is better than ours.