Real Dominicans Vs Fake Dominicans

[Guatiao]

Since all this A-Rod "controversy" a real good question has arosed, Are American/Euro-other country born people from Dominican parents truly Dominican. Most 1st generation Immigrants are raised outside of the Dominican Republic and raised without or limited Dominican culture, some have never even visited the Dominican Republic because their parents are poor. My question is should a 1st generation Dominican-American be called Dominican or just American? What makes up a person nationality? Where their born or where their parents are born?

Capo

[Pomli]

I am not Dominican, but as born from immigrant parents, maybe my perspective could help.

If the first generation have not been exposed to their culture enough, they would probably act and think the same way as the society in which they are born. It is hard for parents to teach some values or ways of doing proper to their culture, when the children can see that outside the boundaries of home, it is not the way how things are. They have a chance to learn and act as what is dictated in their friend's family, so to be equal as them and not be different and rejected. However, if the children can get some exposure to their culture, and see often people of the same nationality (kids of same age would help a lot because they will be able to play and practice their language), it will be much easier for them to learn what their parents teach them, because they saw that things are that way elsewhere. But they will never be exactly as a person living in their country of origin, because of the different ways of living, different mentalities etc that exist between them. They will always have something that will differentiate them from a person of their nationality. While growing up, kids will realize that they have two choices, either growing under the influence of the society in which they are living or trying to find more about their origins and try to learn living under those standards but that will be hard unless they move and live a bit in their country. Still the kids will be considered as the same nationality as their parents (for some, it is hard to say that their are truly American or European because of their physical traits that don't fit with the real American or European (unless they are lucky !)) EXCEPT that they will differ greatly from real people of the same nationality in terms of thinking and way of living. So we could talk about Dominican born as American or European to differentiatiate them from real Dominican, because truly, they are made of half of each culture (depending on the degree of exposure).

[NALs]

I get a feeling people refer to this issue according to bloodlines.

If a person is born in another country and both his parents were Dominicans, then that person is expect to identify him/herself as Dominican, period.

If a person is born elsewhere and only one parent is Dominican, people don't expect him/her to identify as Dominican, but if he/she does, its acceptable.

That is the general attitude with the average joe on this island regarding this issue I would think.

In reality, most people just don't care! We have other things to worry about!

[Shelby Stokes]

Originally Posted by Nal0whs

I get a feeling people refer to this issue according to bloodlines.

If a person is born in another country and both his parents were Dominicans, then that person is expect to identify him/herself as Dominican, period.

If a person is born elsewhere and only one parent is Dominican, people don't expect him/her to identify as Dominican, but if he/she does, its acceptable.

That is the general attitude with the average joe on this island regarding this issue I would think.

In reality, most people just don't care! We have other things to worry about!

This is the attitude that I hold. If any of you on this message board do not know by now, I joined in an effort to "connect" to what may truly be a part of my background. At this time I am researching my family heritage and I found that the trail of my Grandfather leads to the shores of the Dominican Republic. I think that when a person begins to accept who they are, then they will begin to identify and attach thenselves to the "Group" that they belong to. If A-Rod, Tiger Woods or myself know who they are, as people, then they will know who they are as a "Nationality" representative.

That is my opinion.
Shelby Stokes

[deelt]

Pomli

I agree with you 100%. If born outside the of the parents home country our affinity with the ethnic culture/nationality is based on degrees of exposure. The fact is that if we are to go back to the land our respective parents are from we are not truly accepted. Thus, we live in an abyss of being treated as foreigners there and in the US. So, this is why I think it is imperative we create a niche for ourselves as Dominican Americans.

Best to you,
D

Originally Posted by Pomli

I am not Dominican, but as born from immigrant parents, maybe my perspective could help.

If the first generation have not been exposed to their culture enough, they would probably act and think the same way as the society in which they are born. It is hard for parents to teach some values or ways of doing proper to their culture, when the children can see that outside the boundaries of home, it is not the way how things are. They have a chance to learn and act as what is dictated in their friend's family, so to be equal as them and not be different and rejected. However, if the children can get some exposure to their culture, and see often people of the same nationality (kids of same age would help a lot because they will be able to play and practice their language), it will be much easier for them to learn what their parents teach them, because they saw that things are that way elsewhere. But they will never be exactly as a person living in their country of origin, because of the different ways of living, different mentalities etc that exist between them. They will always have something that will differentiate them from a person of their nationality. While growing up, kids will realize that they have two choices, either growing under the influence of the society in which they are living or trying to find more about their origins and try to learn living under those standards but that will be hard unless they move and live a bit in their country. Still the kids will be considered as the same nationality as their parents (for some, it is hard to say that their are truly American or European because of their physical traits that don't fit with the real American or European (unless they are lucky !)) EXCEPT that they will differ greatly from real people of the same nationality in terms of thinking and way of living. So we could talk about Dominican born as American or European to differentiatiate them from real Dominican, because truly, they are made of half of each culture (depending on the degree of exposure).

[Oche]

I believe a 1st generation American-Dominican born person should be called dominican if he/she truly believes and lives up to the dominican customs, traditions, values, and culture in a general sense. The national identity subject really frightens me. The younger generations don't seem know and care about national culture, traditions and values. I'm sure there are a LOT of born dominicans (not worth being called dominicans and more like fake dominicans as you have designated) in the present time living in the DR soil who have even less national identity than of a 2nd or even 3rd generation of dominicans born outside DR soil, clearest and best example is dominican colony all around USA, etc.

[Jozee74]

It all depends.....I tell everyone I am dominican when they ask me where I am from I tell them well my parents are from ****city but I was born in the states.

We are brought up with the same values as our parents when they were younger the problem is we tend to change them as we get older and start surrounding ourselves with different people with different cultures. Most get married with someone of another race and they have children and before you know it the Dominican values and traditions dissappear.

Then something miraculous happens they visit the D.R and are born again Dominicans LOL

[deelt]

For logistics sake:
1st generation means those who have migrated.
2nd generation are people who are born here
3rd generation well you know...

The national identity subject should frighten people because it is being used
by many. It's a multi-billion dollar business in remittances, in business ventures, trade agreements, political campaign agendas, political scapegoating, etc. Companies and governments are benefiting out of this abyss and not the people.

In the US not all Dominican children are learning DR history or even care unless it's a merengue/bachata that comes on after eating arroz con carne.
Food, music and can, do not make a people. I think a concerted effort can be made but should be done so independently of the US school system and not paid by US taxpayers' money. But it should be done.

D

Originally Posted by Oche

I believe a 1st generation American-Dominican born person should be called dominican if he/she truly believes and lives up to the dominican customs, traditions, values, and culture in a general sense. The national identity subject really frightens me. The younger generations don't seem know and care about national culture, traditions and values. I'm sure there are a LOT of born dominicans (not worth being called dominicans and more like fake dominicans as you have designated) in the present time living in the DR soil who have even less national identity than of a 2nd or even 3rd generation of dominicans born outside DR soil, clearest and best example is dominican colony all around USA, etc.

[JANET/NJ]

I believe you are from where you originally were born, regardless of where your parents are from. My mom is dominican and my father puerto rican, i was born in Puerto Rico and that's where i say i'm from. i do let them know that i'm 1/2 dominican because i'm proud to be part of that heritage also.

I think i have the best of both worlds, even though it gets tough sometimes trying to defend each side, they both have their positives and negatives.

[Golo100]

Each situation is different and much depends on where you migrated to, the neighborhood you were brought up and if your family maintained their patriotic fervor, customs and language.

But going back to the issue with Alex Rodriguez, the problem laid in the fact that Alex made a big deal of his Dominicanity with his remark in DR that "he is as Dominican as a platano", only to deny it during the playoffs. He should have said..."Alex Rodriguez, born in the USA of Dominican parents and proud of it" or something like that.

Now he looks like a jerk and his poor performance in the playoffs added to the fact that he has now become the new "curse" for losing baseball teams, has made it worse. A sweet revenge was acted upon by Pedro Martinez and other Dominican Boston players who wrapped themselves in the Dominican flag during the Wseries celebrations as a slap in the face to Alex.
I was never too fond of Alex. Even less now.
TW