Genealogy /
Americans of Polish descent. How many of us are on Polish forums? [216]
As an American, I'd love to ask you where you actually stand?
What happens with me is people see or hear my name and say "Ah, Polish last name! Don't see many of those west of the Mississippi" if they are from back east. So, people identify me as Polish based on my last name, not because I am actually from Poland. They identify me immediately as "Polish American". It's cool with me.
Yes, of course, I am an American, would never dream of calling myself a European, though I think it's an interesting place, full of history, but I am Polish regardless. You can be Polish and be from America, just like you can be American Irish, Italian, German, Vietnamese. If you look at a Vietnamese person born in the US but maybe only one or two generations in you are going to think they are Asian before American just because they look Asian. Their Vietnamese heritage is always on the forefront even though they were born in the US, so they say "We are Vietnamese" before they say they are Americans. Would anyone argue with them and say "nah you aren't Vietnamese you have never stepped one foot inside Vietnam so you can't be that! You are an American!" Most of them would think you are crazy because in America, it's so obvious when someone is Asian.
In America, it's less obvious when one is Polish, unless one's last name is Polish, then it's the same. People who see or hear the surname say "A Polish name!" and they instantly recognize it. Either that, or they say "What kind of last name is that? Is it Polish?"
