I'm not Scottish

[hospitaller]

This is somewhat of a personal pet peeve...the use of 'i'm Scottish' by people who obviously are not Scottish.

Being Scottish is like being German or being Chilean or being a US Citizen. You either are born there or you become one.

Currently I am Chilean, but when my citizenship finally comes through, I will be a US Citizen (an 'American'), but I still am not Scottish.

My grandma was Scottish so I guess that makes me 25% Scot.

I have minor Spanish (Spain) nobility blood in my ancestry, yet I am not Spanish and certainly I am not a noble.

I also have Russian and German blood in my ancestry, yet I am not Russian or German.

I am of Scottish heritage, and I have Scottish ancestry. Just as I am of Spanish, German and Russian ancestry.

Just something to consider when answering that question.

Just as we look down on people claiming to be something they are not, or claiming to be of a nationality they obviously are not of, we should remember that we are not Scottish, we do however have Scottish blood and that is just as good.

Just had to get it off my chest.

[beloitpiper]

I see your point, but let me clarify why I say that. I say "I am Scottish" in America, because everybody knows that I'm American, they want to know if I have Scottish ancestry. In the US, it's just easier to say "I am Scottish" than "I have ancestors who were Scottish". If I ask somebody "if they're Scottish", I know they're American, I want to know if they have Scottish heritage.

Now, when I'm abroad, I clarify like that, because they don't already know that I am American. Like when I'm in Ireland, people will ask me if I'm Irish and I reply "I'm American, but have Irish ancestry".

[Derek Conley]

Both well-written points.

[Bugbear]

I'm a dandelion.

[ChattanCat]

I'm a dandelion.

I had a good laugh!

[Piper]

This is a point which I tend to find puzzling and amusing. I frequently get asked what part of Scotland I'm from, or my family is from. Folks see a large, ruddy faced, bearded guy kilted and playing the pipes, and make the automatic assumption. I explain that my father was an avid genealogist, and that the earliest Young (family name) he found he believed came from the Kincardineshire region of Scotland, but he was unable to get firm proof. However, we do have the record that shows he was married in Phila. PA in 1742, so by my estimation, that makes me an American.
Just the other day I was speaking about "hyphenated Americans" to three of my grandkids. I sit (stand and sometimes run) at the head of a decidedly interracial family. I'm of European stock and my wife is Japanese. Our youngest daughter married a black man. I picked up her three youngest kids from school to have dinner with us. On the way home the conversation turned to ?/Americans. I explained to the kids that their grandmother is a Japanese/American because she was born in Japan, and became an American citizen, but in my opinion, anyone born in this country is simply an American. We all have different ancestry, but we're Americans.
My granddaughter seemed a bit disappointed that she was just a "plain American", but her brothers seemed to take to the idea better.

[slohairt]

This is somewhat of a personal pet peeve...the use of 'i'm Scottish' by people who obviously are not Scottish.

Being Scottish is like being German or being Chilean or being a US Citizen. You either are born there or you become one.

Currently I am Chilean, but when my citizenship finally comes through, I will be a US Citizen (an 'American'), but I still am not Scottish.

My grandma was Scottish so I guess that makes me 25% Scot.

I have minor Spanish (Spain) nobility blood in my ancestry, yet I am not Spanish and certainly I am not a noble.

I also have Russian and German blood in my ancestry, yet I am not Russian or German.

I am of Scottish heritage, and I have Scottish ancestry. Just as I am of Spanish, German and Russian ancestry.

Just something to consider when answering that question.

Just as we look down on people claiming to be something they are not, or claiming to be of a nationality they obviously are not of, we should remember that we are not Scottish, we do however have Scottish blood and that is just as good.

Just had to get it off my chest.

Like Greg said, I think most people (not born in Scotland) simply mean 'Scottish heritage' when they say, "I'm Scottish."

Being Scottish is not the same as being an American (or Canadian). One cannot become Scottish because Scotland hasn't been a sovereign nation for 301 years. One can become a British subject, but cannot become a 'Scottish citizen' as the concept does not exist.

[kiltedmapleleaf]

British by birth, Scottish by the grace of god and canadian by choice.

[Jack Daw]

I see your point, but let me clarify why I say that. I say "I am Scottish" in America, because everybody knows that I'm American, they want to know if I have Scottish ancestry. In the US, it's just easier to say "I am Scottish" than "I have ancestors who were Scottish". If I ask somebody "if they're Scottish", I know they're American, I want to know if they have Scottish heritage.

Now, when I'm abroad, I clarify like that, because they don't already know that I am American. Like when I'm in Ireland, people will ask me if I'm Irish and I reply "I'm American, but have Irish ancestry".

Nail on the head. Well done.

[george7]

I'm a dandelion.

I certainly understand that you mean to say that you are of dandelion heritage.