I read your above reply on the subject as well, and that makes more sense, now that you say it like that (well, not that it didn't make sense - just now its not small-wince-inducing).
I should have taken care to be more truthful and respectful, and talked about how the colonial and multi-cultural history of Canada (and other countries) and the social kierarchy have led to the formation of macro "ethnicities", people who identify primarily as white, for example, and don't necessarily know of the ethnic heritage of their forefathers.
*g* Perhaps you should have, but that would have been an awful lot for one post.
I'm not sure about distinguishing ethnic facial features either, to be honest. Within those ethnicities that are 'white', I doubt I could. If anything, because I've little to no exposure (or exposure that I'm aware of - I don't go looking for peoples ethnicities on a regular basis!) to such. Once you add in something like tell-tale hair, or slight skin colour change, I, personally, would be more able to.
But I find that interesting that many Americans you have spoken with have such an unknown/generalized ethnic identity. I don't know about elsewhere in Canada, but in Nova Scotia/the Maritimes, knowing the exact nationalities/ethnicities (sometimes the same thing, sometimes not) is fairly common. For example, I'm pure Scottish on my mother's side all the way back to Scotland, and until my grandfather, in my direct line of the family, we spoke Gaelic. And on my father's side I'm descended from English settlers who originated in Yorkshire, England, with a few dabs of Dutch blood and the (more family legend than anything) possibility of one inter-marriage with a Mi'kmaq woman. (I'm 10th gen Canadian on both sides, btw). And many people I know still hold a certain pride in Scottish heritage, or French/Acadian heritage, or Dutch, etc. (Especially Acadians hereabouts.)
People of colour have been even harder hit by this, not only by voluntarily intermarrying between ethnicities, but also forced by white perception into an ethnic monolith. The generalizations of 'black' or 'brown' or (ugh, detest this term) 'red'. -.- I must admit, I'd never heard the term 'macro-ethnicity' before, but it certainly fits.
"Stew" nations! It is rather cannibalistic, but it works, I do think!
Re: Here from metafandom - don't have openID
I should have taken care to be more truthful and respectful, and talked about how the colonial and multi-cultural history of Canada (and other countries) and the social kierarchy have led to the formation of macro "ethnicities", people who identify primarily as white, for example, and don't necessarily know of the ethnic heritage of their forefathers.
*g* Perhaps you should have, but that would have been an awful lot for one post.
I'm not sure about distinguishing ethnic facial features either, to be honest. Within those ethnicities that are 'white', I doubt I could. If anything, because I've little to no exposure (or exposure that I'm aware of - I don't go looking for peoples ethnicities on a regular basis!) to such. Once you add in something like tell-tale hair, or slight skin colour change, I, personally, would be more able to.
But I find that interesting that many Americans you have spoken with have such an unknown/generalized ethnic identity. I don't know about elsewhere in Canada, but in Nova Scotia/the Maritimes, knowing the exact nationalities/ethnicities (sometimes the same thing, sometimes not) is fairly common. For example, I'm pure Scottish on my mother's side all the way back to Scotland, and until my grandfather, in my direct line of the family, we spoke Gaelic. And on my father's side I'm descended from English settlers who originated in Yorkshire, England, with a few dabs of Dutch blood and the (more family legend than anything) possibility of one inter-marriage with a Mi'kmaq woman. (I'm 10th gen Canadian on both sides, btw). And many people I know still hold a certain pride in Scottish heritage, or French/Acadian heritage, or Dutch, etc. (Especially Acadians hereabouts.)
People of colour have been even harder hit by this, not only by voluntarily intermarrying between ethnicities, but also forced by white perception into an ethnic monolith. The generalizations of 'black' or 'brown' or (ugh, detest this term) 'red'. -.- I must admit, I'd never heard the term 'macro-ethnicity' before, but it certainly fits.
"Stew" nations! It is rather cannibalistic, but it works, I do think!
-Pearlsie