I'm Canadian...or am I chinese?

[Peegee]

You're making this horribly difficult on PG. I think legally nobody has an ethnicity - we only have nationalities (which while you may disagree is a positive or useful attribute, still exists legally). In some countries (like say, Hong Kong and China) they ask you for your race. I write down 'Canadian'.

It's this type of issue I am asking about. My friends all call me Chinese and I make a point to call myself Canadian. Am I ignoring a valid category in which I am a member regardless of 'denial' ?

[rubah]

some genetic groups have tendencies to be higher-risk for certain disorders, and I guess that would be a useful bit of information to throw away. I'm not sure it's useful anywhere else (Although the government would probably like to know so it can brag!)

[Chris]

My father is Danish, and my mother is Filipino/ Spanish. What does that make me?

[~*~Celes~*~]

Chinknadian

I am Native American and European. But regionally, I'm just an American *shrug*

[Peegee]

some genetic groups have tendencies to be higher-risk for certain disorders, and I guess that would be a useful bit of information to throw away. I'm not sure it's useful anywhere else (Although the government would probably like to know so it can brag!)

There *are* medical and biological reasons to label me Chinese or Asian. But as a colloquialism for 'what should I label you so I can assign hierarchial categories', whether I'm Chinese or 'Chinese Canadian' or whatever is pretty important.

[q]Chinknadian[/q]

I love the word 'Chink' and refer to myself as such. I'd never call another person a racial epithet except in jest though.

[~*~Celes~*~]

some genetic groups have tendencies to be higher-risk for certain disorders, and I guess that would be a useful bit of information to throw away. I'm not sure it's useful anywhere else (Although the government would probably like to know so it can brag!)

There *are* medical and biological reasons to label me Chinese or Asian. But as a colloquialism for 'what should I label you so I can assign hierarchial categories', whether I'm Chinese or 'Chinese Canadian' or whatever is pretty important.

[q]Chinknadian[/q]

I love the word 'Chink' and refer to myself as such. I'd never call another person a racial epithet except in jest though.

Ditto. Pokemanz wise and otherwise.

[qwertysaur]

I am me. You are you. Whoever doubts that can go play in traffic

[Raistlin]

What does it mean to say that I'm Chinese? I honestly do not understand, since I refer to myself as 'Canadian'

I guess it's just a distinction between ethnicity (biological origins) and nationality (country of citizenship). It's all meaningless anyway (considering I view both nationalist patriotism and racial identity as largely irrational nonsense), so it just comes down to arbitrary preference on what you want to consider yourself.

[blackmage_nuke]

Cant help with your identitity but if you want people to refer to you as canadian rather than chinese you can say "I'm Canadian eh" then people will be less likely to argue against you.

Sometimes I say "I'm Australian mate" with a strong slightly violent emphasis on the word mate and they back off about my slanty eyes and black hair even though i dont normally speak like that. So i dunno if canadians have an equivalent for that, maybe its "guy" but that might just be southpark making things up

[Mo-Nercy]

Sometimes I say "I'm Australian mate" with a strong slightly violent emphasis on the word mate and they back off about my slanty eyes and black hair even though i dont normally speak like that.

I feel the need to do this sometimes too =\
Usually when ordering beer.

I always tell people I'm Australian-Chinese and I prefer to say it in that order. I like to think that Australia is more culturally significant to me than China is, but there's definitely a lot of both in me. I don't think of the blend as something that distorts my sense of identity, but as something that emphasises it and makes me unique. How many people can say that they've been to Sydney Olympic Park once for a 周杰伦 concert and once again for a NSW vs. QLD State of Origin rugby league match?

[Christmas]

I guess in the end it all come down to whether you are happy as who you are.

[Hot Shot]

I would classify you as Canadian seeing as people are a product of their society. If you live in a country, take on their customs and call it home then you also accept the nationality as well IMO. I'm of African/Caribbean decent, but I class myself as British seeing as I have lived my whole life here. It's all a matter of opinion, but at the end of the day, you class yourself as what you see/feel is most suitable for yourself.

[fire_of_avalon]

I think it all depends upon with which group you identify more often than not.

[Agrias]

Although i live in Canada, i do not consider myself Canadian because i am an immigrant who came here as a child. I consider myself Greek because i was born there, i speak Greek and i was raised in a traditionally Greek family.

[Clo]

Whatever you feel like when you wake up in the morning. "Today... I am Chinese", "Today... I am Canadian", "Today... I am Peegee the Chinadian". Whatevski.