Quote Originally Posted by cajunscot View Post
And while you may laugh at them, they are some of the nicest people you'll ever meet, and would no doubt extend a welcome to you if you ever visited. While there are those in any diaspora community who do play up the stereotypes and and don't get the story right, the majority of the Norwegian-Americans I know are hard-working farmers whose families came to America and made a great contribution to our country. They are proud of that fact, as well as their heritage, and no one should laugh at them over that.

So -- you stand invited.

Todd
Sorry if I seemed in attack mode, I wasn't. And I certainly wasn't trying to get a poke at any single person. I'm sorry I come across as a rude bastard. I was raised in a country where "politically correct" is a 4-letter word and politeness is considered condescending.

I think you're actually very right, my family is from the area of Norway where the great emigration started (Haugalandet), and I can't think of a single childhood friend who doesn't have a "rich uncle in the states" (who isn't necessarily rich, and probably your great grand-uncle or second cousin twice removed, but there you go). I personally don't laugh at anyone, especially not those making a great contribution to their country. I was just making a point of what Norwegians in general think of the roots tourists, wearing horned helmets, who seem a bit confused about which country is their own. Most Norwegians will never admit that a Norwegian diaspora exists. You won't be accepted as Norwegian unless both your parents were born in Norway. If you're rich and famous, you'll be accepted as a friend of Norway (one example being Earle Hyman). I think this all stems from a deep shame of having been so poor and desperate that you chose to desert your homeland.

I am very glad to hear that the Scandinavians you know are open-hearted and welcoming, and ashamed to say that they must have picked this up after arriving in the states. Open hearts and minds are few and far between here (one of the reasons I moved to Edinburgh), and though we are getting better, foreigner's aren't treated very nicely. Oslo being a relieveing exception.

But just to be clear: The above is NOT my own opinion. In fact these attitudes make me sick. I used the word "we" in the widest possible meaning, and I personally salute anyone who has the stamina to dig up their actual history and take an interest in ther actual heritage. I'm not much for the Disney Channel stuff - horned helmets, moose-dropping ear-rings (yes, they exist) and suchlike - but some like it and should by all means go for it. Just realise that's not really your heritage.

I hope to be visiting St. Olaf College next year, as part of a choir bringing Norwegian folk songs to America. And I hope to meet many people of Norwegian heritage there - and hope they prove your point well. I've heard there's a place in Northfield that make great sour cream waffles.