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* Perhaps the least known (or least discussed) factoid about Illinois is that more people say they’re of German descent than any other nationality…

Illinois 2000 population of Illinois: 12,419,293 (2000 census)

Rank Ancestry % of Population
1. German 19.6
2. Irish 12.2
3. African American 11.5
4. Mexican 8.2
5. Polish 7.5

With a name like “Miller,” you can tell that I have German ancestors. I’m also part Irish (Orange, not Green), and part Native American.

* So, three questions today. Please, answer all…

1) What’s your ethnic heritage? You can certainly give us the mix, but what’s the most predominate one in your family’s history?

2) Should German-Americans have their own state holiday in Illinois, or is that just too offensive even 64 years after the end of WWII? Explain.

3) If you answered “Yes” to Question 2, what German or German-American should the holiday be named after? Explain.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:25 am

Comments

1. Irish
2. Yes
3. Jay Hoffman day

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:28 am
1) Welsh, and Scottish. Mmmm, potato. But I can trace my ancestry to a signer of the Declaration of Independence, so I’m always tempted to answer ‘Native American’.
2) No. But then, I don’t think we should have Casimir Pulaski Day, either (although I had a strangely different opinion when I was a grade school student…….)

Comment by Concerned Observer Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:30 am
There is already a Von Steuben Day parade in Chicago (now if Chicago Public School students would simply learn how to pronounce the name Von Steuben correctly). How about a holiday to honor Mayor Fred Busse, the lone German-American occupant of City Hall, who actually presided during the construction and dedication of City Hall? He was the original “Man on the Fifth Floor.”

Comment by Honest Abe Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:31 am
1. Irish, German, Italian, English
2. Yes
3. Oscar Mayer Day

Comment by phocion Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:31 am
1) See above.

2) Yes. I think it can happen if it’s done with utmost care and sensitivity.

3) Albert Einstein. Think “Manhattan Project,” Fermilab, etc.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:32 am
Please make sure to explain your answers. Thanks.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:32 am
Here’s the mix–I’m not from the Chicago area and have none of the ‘traditional’ Chicago ethnic groups in my background

Just over half German
About a third Norwegian
A little bit Swedish, English, and French-Canadian (Both Acadian and Quebec in there) round it out.

German and Norwegian definitely dominated. I’ve had Lutefisk before. Funny thing is when I took German in high school, I finally figured out what all those terms mom and dad used when they were mad at us meant!! Swear words are always the first learned in a new language and the last to go it seems.
It doesn’t matter to me if there is a German American holiday or not.

Comment by train111 Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:34 am
1.) Although my heritage is mostly German, both sides of my family have been here since before the Revolution, so I say I am American.
2.) Yes, Fourth of July…we should all celebrate being American…I really don’t want to get caught up with trying to celebrate EVERYONE’s heritage….geez, I mean how many countries are there in the world?

Comment by Deep South Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:39 am
My grandfather was Swedish, then there’s lots of northern European mixed in.

I think we could have a German-American Day but don’t see the need for another holiday.

If we did have a holiday, maybe Wilhelm Wundt Day?

Comment by Ahem Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:42 am
1. German …think had some to do with mom & dad and birds and bees.
2. Another holiday would be great
3. Some date in Feb so we could string together another week in the desert

Comment by Reddbyrd Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:43 am
1. Eastern European, Irish, German and French
2. No, and not because of WWII or any other reason, but because I think that state holidays are unnecessary in an “official” sense. People have the ability to celebrate their heritage (St. Pat’s Day, St. Joseph’s Day) without declaring it a state holiday.

Comment by agree with walter Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:43 am
1) I’m black or African American and I have American Indian or Native American heritage as well.

2)Yes

3)If we have St. Patrick’s Day or Pulaski Day then we should also have a Von Steuben Day. I have no problem with a German themed holiday.

Comment by Levois Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:44 am
Here’s why Oscar Mayer deserves a holiday:

German immigrant Oskar Ferdinand Mayer was born March 29, 1859 in Neresheim. In 1883 in Chicago, Oscar Mayer leased the Kolling Meat Market along with his brother, Gottfried Mayer. The two sold bratwurst, liverwurst, and weißwurst and were popular in the predominantly German neighborhoods of Chicago around the market.
As the meat market’s popularity grew, it expanded its storefront and sponsored local events including the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893.

By 1900 the company had 43 employees and Chicago-wide delivery service. In 1904 Oscar Mayer began branding its meats to capitalize on their popularity, beginning an industry-wide trend. In 1906 Oscar Mayer became one of the first companies to voluntarily submit to the newly-created Food Safety Inspection Service (part of the United States Department of Agriculture) for testing the purity of their products. Before he died in 1955, Oskar Mayer helped secure Illinois’international reputation as the premiere source of meat products. The company later did two jingles that everyone can rattle off by memory. And the Weinermobile would be outstanding in the parade for Oscar Mayer.

Comment by phocion Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:44 am
1. Mostly German, but as one of my brothers noted, my mom’s side says they’re German but spell like they’re French. I know that at least one of 8 great-grandparents came out of Alsace-Lorraine; I suspect the total may be closer to 50%. You remember Alsace, don’t you? It’s been passed back and forth by France and Germany for hundreds of years (it’s currently French). It’s said that Alsatians have all the charm of the Germans and all the efficiency of the French.

2. No, but I also don’t think we need Pulaski Day (it started when I was in jr. high, and I opposed it back then. Still do.), and we should probably rethink Columbus Day, and do more to highlight his crew (including the Jews on it) and the indigenous peoples who were here when Columbus landed.

3. John Peter Altgeld, or do “German Day”, and highlight one German man and one German woman who have ties to the old country and who lived in and made Illinois a better state.

(Anyone going to propose a “Serbian Day” honoring our former Gov.?)

Comment by Lynn S Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:45 am
Personally - 100% German
As to holidays - maybe a more formalized Oktoberfest celebration is in order to honor all German-Americans…

Comment by Herr Deutsch Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:45 am
1) American, I was born here. 2) No. hyphen American needs to go away, it is so over. It is too divisive at a time when Americans need to realize they are American. If people want to celebrate heritage they can but they don’t need a holiday to do that. And yes, 64 years or a 1000 years will not erase the unprovoked attack at Pearl Harbor and the murder of US citizens, or the Nazi concentration camps murder of millions for simply existing, any more than time will erase the murder of thousands on 9/11 3)see number 2

Comment by Belle Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:45 am
1. Mostly Irish dating back almost to the beginning in this country with a bit of German and Danish
2. No. What would they celebrate? Seriously.

Comment by Diane Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:46 am
Interesting, both sides SPOKE German (or Hutterish).

Paternal side: Was German and spoke German but didn’t pass it on to anyone, presumably from shame. Also Irish and Scottish.
Maternal side: 100% Hutterite, spoke German and Hutterish.

I don’t believe in holidays for ancestry, the one thing that people have no say over, and for which they should get no credit or blame. We should have more holidays to promote good works. And, we should have more family friendly work weeks.

Comment by ok why not Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:48 am
1. Irish (Cork)/German

2. No. We have enough official holidays. Frankly, I want St. Patrick’s Day back. It is for us Irish. Stop using it as an excuse to get drunk and stupid.

3. See answer to #2.

Comment by Skeeter Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:49 am
1. Norwegian

2. Sure. German immigrants weren’t to blame for Hitler. My parents both lived through occupation in WWII and they never had an ax to grind with German-Americans.

3. Carl Schurz. German revolutionary, Midwestern leader in early GOP, friend and supporter of Lincoln, Union General in Civil War. Only problem is although he spent a lot of time in Wisconsin and Illinois, he became a senator from Missouri.

Whoa, Rich, I have to laugh, though. You say a German holiday can occur if handled with utmost care and sensitivity, and then you propose Einstein! There might be another group that stakes a claim to one of the few true geniuses that might have a problem!

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:50 am
Yeah, I’m kinda like Deep South (above) on this one. Me, father’s people German came in the 1840’s, mother’s people Native American and Scott/Irish. The husband’s paternal were French came in 1700 and the maternal Swedish and not here until 1870. Been here for so long and think of myself and my children as pure Americans. Would be happy with whatever the state went with for ‘holiday’ but don’t feel a real need for it. While there are many german traditions installed in me, I ‘m total Red, White n Blue now.

Comment by Princess Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:51 am
1) What’s your ethnic heritage? You can certainly give us the mix, but what’s the most predominate one in your family’s history? My great-great grandparents arrived from Ruegen in 1888 and settled in Pullman. Even my mother was raised bilingual and attended German mass during the 1950s. My father was decended from famous Virginian aristocratic bloodstock that predates the United States by a century.

2) Should German-Americans have their own state holiday in Illinois, or is that just too offensive even 64 years after the end of WWII? Explain. I don’t think a lot of people know this but my great grandparents and grandparents were ashamed to speak German and hid during both WWs when German speakers were attacked and harrassed in this country. They witnessed bookburnings of German language books during WWI, and felt a lot of shame that they were German during WWII. They divorced themselves from Deutchland and demanded to be accepted as Americans first and foremost. So to answer that question, my beloved German ancestors would tell you strongly that “NO”, there should be no German-American holiday. They were Americans. Perhaps this is why we don’t see a lot of German-American heritage being promoted.

3) If you answered “Yes” to Question 2, what German or German-American should the holiday be named after? Explain.
I’ll still answer. Goerthe - a beautiful writer in any language, especially in German. He illustrated the best of German culture, arts and nature. All Americans can enjoy the hot romantic poetry of Goerthe. They guy was Shakespeare for the libido.

Comment by VanillaMan Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:51 am
1) German
2) No, not so much because of WWII just don’t feel that strong of a need for a holiday to celebrate the Germanic background. Don’t need another drinking day.
3) Von Stuben Day I guess if I had to pick one.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:52 am
1. 25 percent Irish, 25 percent German (my dad’s side), 50 percent basic WASP (mom’s side — in her case the acronym would be WASC, or White Anglo Saxon Catholic).

2. No, think we have enough state holidays as it is.

3. On an unofficial basis — Oktoberfest. It can certainly hold its own with St. Patrick’s Day!

Comment by Secret Square Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:54 am
Russian (Jewish — in Russia they make the distinction)

No — just because we can’t afford the paid vacation to state workers (if it’s some purely ceremonial thing, fine).

A scientist — I’ve always thought Karl Benz deserved as much attention as Henry Ford.

Comment by lake county democrat Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:55 am
1. Half Irish (1/2 of that from County Antrim, the rest from County Cork — they melded in the United States and came over in the mid 1700s, each and that is father’s side);one quarter French and one quarter English .

2. Why not, everybody should celebrate heritage and be damn glad they are American and here. Your Germans took it on the chin with being suspect during WW1 — just like the Nisei did in WW2.

3. Pick a day in the fall as opposed to the Spring celegrations for the Polish and our own July 4th.

Comment by Truthful James Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 10:56 am
Mine is easy, Greek from both sides of my family, grandparents and parents. And they all came from Sparta, Greece, making me a true blue Spartan Greek, but sadly, no longer with the physique of the film “300 Spartans.”

Every day to us is a holiday! Give the Germans and all ethnic groups theirs as well.

I’ve always been a big proponent that everyone should celebrate their ancestry and heritage!

Comment by Louis G. Atsaves Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:03 am
Irish
Don’t they already have one?
It is called Octoberfest

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:04 am
1) Austrian
2) No. We seem to miss the point of ethnic pride. Americans should celebrate on the holidays of their ancestors. Not with an official holiday/parade/drinking but with their families at traditional dinners.
3) Goethe - as VanMan said, a beautiful writer in any language.

Comment by babs Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:04 am
1. Irish/German
2. No Holiday (St. Pats is fine) Octoberfest Celebrations can be on the Weekend

I have researched my Irish ancestory they came on the boat in 1810. Interesting past.

Haven’t begun the German side yet

Comment by He Makes Ryan Look Like a Saint Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:05 am
100 percent Polish, both sides. Every last ancestor.

There should not be a German-American holiday. Nor should there be a Polish-American one. Eliminate Pulaski Day as a state-sanctioned holiday. Hurts productivity, is a political ploy and exacerbates the growth of hyphenated-Americanism.

Comment by Up2now Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:06 am
1. I am majority English descent, although my paternal grandmother was 100% Deutsch.

2. Yes, I believe German-Americans should have a holiday in Illinois.

3. I would name the holiday after Everett McKinley Dirksen but also use the holiday to honor other German-Americans, J. Peter Altgeld, etc… Plus, it wasn’t that long ago when a lot of towns in Illinois had the “German side” of town. I know that’s where my Grandma was from and Dirksen came from a similar background. It would be great to have a day where we can honor the accomplishments of German-Americans. In addition, I would love to have another day where I can chow down on some schnitzel!

Comment by HoBoSkillet Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:06 am
HOBo, you’re making me hungry. Edelweiss has been calling me for months. Now I have to go.

Comment by babs Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:08 am
How about D Day — June 6 — in honor of Dwight Eisenhower, the “German” general who liberated Europe.

Comment by Scott Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:09 am
i’m a mutt. where i grew up (in florida), ethnicity (as well as religion, etc) wasn’t exactly something anyone talked about one way or another. in my case, it wasn’t something we knew about. my father’s family was consider a french-scot mix. my mother’s family was anglo-saxon. where i grew up, neighborhoods were defined by their proximity to a major body of water rather than by their resident’s ancestory (or religion).

i don’t care if the german’s get to have their own holiday and i’d have no idea what it should be. ftr, i’m always asking my wife if this name or that was this or that ethnicity. it’s definitely an environmental thing…

Comment by bored now Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:10 am
I’m half German and half English. I’m not sure I care if we have a holiday for Germans but if we do, can we make it some time between Lincoln/Washington Birthday in February and Memorial Day at the end of May? That’s almost 3 1/2 months when state workers don’t get a off.

Comment by Born and Bred in So. Illinois... Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:11 am
Russian, Polish, Hungarian and yes part German.

A new state holiday simply because a large percentage of the population comes from someplace? No way, our kids need more school days not fewer.

The day should be called Ridiculous Holiday Day.

Comment by carbon deforestation Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:13 am
1) Mexican
2) Yes, I think that part of being “American” is recognizing that with the exception of native americans, our descendants all came from somewhere else, and that we should celebrate our ancestry.
3) I don’t have a particular person or occasion in mind but I would love it to be in either June or August. Those two months need a holiday!

Comment by HV in HP Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:13 am
Mostly German. We don’t need a special German / American day, after all, we have Octoberfest!

Comment by stones Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:13 am
1. Irish(whoda thunk it)

2. Give em a holiday. Not a non working holiday, but just a grits and shins kinda holiday. Think St. Patty’s Day. Hell, Octoberfest lasts for a good hunk of September and October……….they already have a month.

3. The holiday should be named after the Kaiser. Cause he gave us the Kaiser roll and Keyser Sose from “The Usual Suspects”. Or we name something after Bismarck because of the hotel and the great old song “Sink the Bismarck”.

Comment by Irishpirate Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:17 am
1) Half-Irish, half-German.

I grew up with my great-grandfather, who was first generation German-American, and fought against the Kaiser in the trenches of France. Needless to say, German-Americans weren’t treated very well back home during WW I, about the same as Japanese-Americans during WWII.

2) Yes.

3) Einstein’s certainly one of the most famous, although he didn’t become a German citizen until he was 35, and he was a New Yorker.

How about:

Jane Addams (German mother)
Adolphus Busch (St. Louisan)
Governor John Peter Altgeld
Ludwig Meis van der Rohe
Joseph Pulitzer (St. Louisan)
Baron von Stueben (Not an Illinoisan, but Revolutionary War hero)

NOTE: Elvis Presley (nee Pressler) was also of German descent. I’m just sayin’.

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:20 am
1) Russian Jewish, on both sides.
2) I’m generally against this idea, for slippery slope type reasons.
3) How about John Peter Altgeld, since he has a local flavor?

Comment by The Doc Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:24 am
1. Mostly English, but almost as much German.

2. No. We would be better with a “melting pot/we’re all Americans” day than days to celebrate special ethnicities.

3. If we did have to celebrate a German, who was the commander of the Hessians at Trenton? If he’d kept his men (and maybe himself) sober and alert, there would be no US. So give the man some credit for us all being here!

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:26 am
1. East European Jewish. And for those that say Jewish is a religion and not an ethnicity — you are wrong — we were a nation first, then a religion. Plus, most european Jews do not identify with the lands their ancestors were from.

2. No holiday needed — let’s get rid of Columbus and Pulaski day too while we are at it.

Comment by Just Observing Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:27 am
1 Mostly Irish (little German and little English, but my Dad never admitted it)
2 YES
3 Eugene Schulter Chicago’s Own

Comment by chiguy Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:30 am
1. Black with something else sprinkled in from the slavery era
2. No, why give state employees another day off?
3. I think some people in Skokie etc may have issue with a bunch of Germans marching.

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:34 am
German… with family names like Dittrich and Huffman that is a no brainer.

No.

Comment by Farm Girl Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:34 am
1. Half-Japanese/Half-European heritage (German?) I’m not sure.
2. No, but not because it would ‘offend’ anybody.
To paraphrase Morgan Freeman, I don’t want African-American history month or Women’s history month or Japanese history month. When is white history month? Let us celebrate and learn about everybody’s history.

And BTW, I love to check more than one box on forms that ask about race. I hope that Tiger Woods feels the same way.

Comment by IMBack Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:36 am
5/8 Midwestern Swedish
1/4 New England Anglo
1/8 mixed other, including unknown and African-American and maybe Native American

I’m OK with having a German or German-American holiday, but it’s not obvious to me what it would be. Is there a date associated with Germany being unified at one country?

Comment by Carl Nyberg Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:42 am
Polish, Italian, a little German.

There should be a German holiday regardless of a pair of world wars. Who cares?

Comment by dan l Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:48 am
(1) 100% second generation Italian.
(2) No
(3) Columbus Day should be changed to Ethnic Heritage Day and everybody can have a parade.

Comment by Guido Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:48 am
1. German/Irish/English/and pretty much every other country in Europe except france and the nordic countries.

2. No. German is the most common ancestry in the country. It’s not a phenomenon unique to Illinois.

3. I would change my answer to #2 if Octoberfest is made an official holiday, paid day off of course, and involves lots of beer.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:52 am
1. German/English
2. No its too offensive
3. George Wendt day

Comment by Quacktastic Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:53 am
1.) 100% REAL IRISH - none of that orange stuff here - although we let a Scot in a few generations back after she agreed to convert. (Note however that the Irish are a genetic stew that includes Germans, Anglo-Saxon, Spanish, Viking, Norman, etc.)

2.) I thought Oktoberfest was a German ethnic holiday, although everyone seems to celebrate it in September.

3.) Who is a leading German saint?

PS. The Germans always backed Irish independence from the Brits, so any celebration they want is okay with me.

Comment by anon sequiter Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:53 am
I meant say “not too offensive”

Comment by Quacktastic Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:53 am
1) 100% German, various branches of the family emigrated to central Illinois area between 1840 and 1880 where they became farmers, bakers, tradesmen, businessmen, etc.

2) No. We consider ourselves Americans of German descent. WW2 has nothing to do with it; all the males in my family were in the US Army fighting against the Nazis in Europe.

3) If you absolutely insist on a day, make it in honor of a native American born patriot of German descent.

Comment by Retired Non-Union Guy Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:57 am
1) Scotch - English - German
2) NO
3) But having a holiday the day after Octoberfest would be good for a recovery day.

Comment by InParis Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:57 am
1. A fair mix of Celt & German - Half Irish (Kerry), one-eighth Scot and the rest German, although my “German” ancestors are from present-day Switzerland.

2. I dunno. I agree with the Irish commenter earlier about wanting St. Patrick’s Day back.

3. If we had to have one, Von Stueben is a good choice. Altgeld isn’t bad either. I think there would be problems with Einstein. All in all, just give me Oktoberfest.

Comment by Randolph Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 11:57 am
1. nearly equal parts Irish, English, Scottish, some French, a little bit rock ‘n’ roll

2. a German holiday would be okay.

3. Gutenberg Day, the world’s press owes him a lot, as does the rest of the literate world.

Comment by Captain Flume Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:00 pm
Orange vs Green Irish? What?

Comment by Wumpus Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:01 pm
1) Belorussian & Ukrainian - first generation immigrant and I will do my best to carry my heritage and language through my children to next generations. I don’t insist on hyphenating, but you should know your ancestors and their history.
2) A day of recognition, not a holiday.
3) I agree with Mr. Miller - Albert Einstein. Children can have a theme day in school to recognize this great scientist.

Comment by First Generation Immigrant Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:02 pm
Oscar Mayer was a great choice, but oy, what a weenie!

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:02 pm
My ancestory is all German.My ancestors came here in the 1890’s because there was nothing good for them in Germany.I have visited Germany twice.It is a pretty country but I still don’t reslly care for the people.No German holiday.

Comment by reflector Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:05 pm
1. Spanish and German
2. Perhaps we should make Pulaski Day a day that all Illinoisians are encouraged to celebrate their heritage, whatever it may be.

Comment by Wife of 1 Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:09 pm
1. French (maternal 100%) and Scottish/Brit (Paternal arrived via Mayflower).
2. Sure, but let’s streamline while its the hot thing to do..
3) I’d like to get rid of “people” days. To spread the fun to the Germans, I propose an Ancestors Day and say we get rid of any state and national holidays celebrating an individual ethnicity.

Comment by Keep Smiling Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:13 pm
1. Irish, through and through (Erin Go Bragh)
2. Why not?
3. Teutonic Tuesday (has a nice ring, ya?)

Comment by Big Paddy Bonner Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:14 pm
1) Kraut/Swede.

2) I like Reddbyrd’s idea.

3) Karl Benz, even though my mostly German father would never ride in a Mercedes after WWII.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:16 pm
1. Snips and snails, and puppy-dogs’ tails
2. yes
3. Rich stole mine, Albert Einstein….

“Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
“Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love.”
“I want to know God’s thoughts; the rest are details.”
“Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one.”
“The only real valuable thing is intuition.”
“The only thing that interferes with my learning is my education.”
Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding.”
“The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.”

Comment by Ghost Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:18 pm
English, Scots, Orange Irish but basically an unhyphonated American.I have a holiday, July 4!

Comment by Middle of the road Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:21 pm
Rich - instead of a ethnic holiday can we have one that includes only groups who have never gone to war with each other? I like Rock&RollLover- American Day, GreenTea Drinker-American Day, Catching Fish-American Day….all worthy days that includes anyone who wants to join in.

Comment by Belle Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:24 pm
Pardon my getting political…

but it seems like it would be great for Gov. Quinn to push for Altgeld Day — both to celebrate Illinoisans’ German heritage and to underscore the Altgeld tradition of courageous good government in the face of serious political opposition.

Comment by soccermom Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:30 pm
German(my father would say,Prussian) Yellow dog gets it. Don’t need a holiday.

Comment by hohum Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:39 pm
1.) 3/4 Italian, 1/4 Brit/Irish/Welsh

2.) Not so much. But not because of offensiveness.

3.) Do it up with Octoberfest (which is celebrated in September everywhere).

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:41 pm
@Wumpus

He’s talking about “Northern Protestant” vs “Southern Catholic” Ireland..

That’s a very touchy point over there, even today.

Comment by Anon Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:44 pm
1) German - Italian. I have more German in me.
2) No

Comment by scoot Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 12:46 pm
1. Ukrainian

Comment by Independent One Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:11 pm
My dad always emphasized that I am American - plain and simple.

Ethnic background - German (with a little Czech, Polish and Irish, Scotch, English).

My granddaughter is German, Scotish, Norwegian, Czech, Polish, Irish, Hispanic, Native American, Italian, and English. If she can marry someone so as to add a bit of Asian and African American in the mix, the great-grandchildren will be able to check all of the boxes on the forms.

Comment by doc Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:14 pm
1. Ukrainian
2. No, we don’t need another day in the year.
3. No name needed……

Comment by Independent One Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:14 pm
1.)100% Irish (We from the south have trouble recognizing Orange Irish like Rich Miller!)

2.) I am an American that loves my heritage. While I enjoy St. Paddy’s day, I do not think it should be a state holiday. Therefore I do not believe people of various heritages should have state holidays.

Rep. Ed Sullivan

Comment by Rep. Ed Sullivan Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:14 pm
Great Q Rich…thought it was also interesting to learn that nationwide German is the largest identified ethnic heritage…not suprizing considering Illinois is refelective of our nation in many ways.

1.) Irish (another Corksman) German and some English

2.) Yes…i think the contributions of people of german ancestry should be recognized

3.) Einstien is a great choice and he was an Illinois resident in Hyde Park during the Manhattan Project, Altgeld would also be a good choice…he was in profiles in courage after all

Comment by prairiestatedem Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:17 pm
1. English/Russia/Slovak/Swedish
2.Yes. Why not? St. Joseph’s , St. Patricks, Cashmier Pulaski, make it a working holiday like these\
3. Christkindlmarket Isn’t this a genuine Germin event? And Ocktoberfest?

Comment by Southsider Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:25 pm
1. Mostly Acadian and Huguenot French, with some other Anglo blood thrown in.

2. Sacre Bleu!

3. I will sneak into an Oktoberfest for the bier, but I ain’t touching the food. Most other countries would use sauerkraut as a cleaning agent rather than a delicacy.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:29 pm
Rich, I am also German, Irish and Native American. But mostly Irish though (Green). I am trying to find out more about the Indian side. I think I am 1/16th. If I can find out which tribe I decend from I will be opening a casino here shortly.
I say just attach a persons name to the Oktoberfest celebrations. And of course a day off.

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:29 pm
Six, it’s not a delicacy, it’s a staple. lol

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:31 pm
PSD -

I know that Enrico Fermi (who should replace Columbus) was based at the University of Chicago, but when and where did Einstein live in Hyde Park?

Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:37 pm
All my grandparents came from Sweden in the 1890’s

No - I don’t think we need another ethnic holiday although I have always firmly believed that Columbus Day was supposed to be Lief Erickson Day

Comment by SVEA Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:45 pm
Six - LoL - Hey hey now…. I just had sauerkraut for lunch!!!

Comment by HoBoSkillet Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:50 pm
1) 50% Irish (Cavan/Monaghan), rest Scottish/Dutch/English here since before the Revolution. Most famous Scottish ancestor is the one dressed in Kennedy tartan (yes, not all Kennedys are Irish) breaking the ice in the painting of George Washington crossing the Delaware.
2) No, they shouldn’t and they should get rid of the others as there are too many holidays right now.
3) If there was one, how about Wagner since he gave us, “What’s Opera, Doc?” (”Kill the wabbit!)

Comment by 32nd Ward Roscoe Village Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:53 pm
1. Native-American I was born in North America.

Comment by Hickory Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 1:54 pm
Nigerian-American.

Absolutely.

Anyone but Hitler. Perhaps Goethe?

Comment by Black Ivy Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 2:24 pm
1. German/French/Austrian- its that Alsace thing.
2. Yes, especially if it is a paid holiday.
3. Eric Von Zipper

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 2:31 pm
1) I have been accused of being Irish due to my last name. Not by the Irish, tho who would know that the name is Scottish in origin. However, my father was adopted and while we know his mothers’ Welsh, we don’t know what his fathers’ nationality is. My mother was pure Dutch (Friesland, northern Holland) so that makes me just a stubborn Hollander.
2) I know that certain persons enjoy Holidays in this state but I am not aware of a day for a nationality. So, no, I don’t think they should have one. Not because of WWll.
3) Having said that it wouldn’t hurt to have some offical day for a particular person of German ancestry. Like Pulaski Day in Chicago, or MLK day. Some “native son” of Illinois or Einstein which has been offered.

Comment by dupage dan Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 2:36 pm
German and English
Yes, more holidays
Karl Friedrich Jahn day after the founder of modern physical education training. He founded the Turners and Illinois historically has had a large Turner movement, esp in Chicago. Sound Mind Sound Body is their motto.

Comment by Herr Arbiter Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 2:53 pm
1. English/German/Swedish/Irish- WASP

2. Please No More Ethnic Holidays. End the month long celebrations for the “anyone thats not us groups”.

3. Let just celebrate being human beings comitted to helping mankind. The more we focus on our diferrences that more divided we stay.

Comment by Happy Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 2:57 pm
1) Irish
2) Why not?
3) The Octoberfest idea might not be too bad. Fun, merriment (we could use both), and an introduction to an array of German foods comparable to the Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage.

Comment by SpfldJimbo Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 3:00 pm
1. Polish, Irish/Norway. Grand parents all did Ellis Island as young adults.
2. Pick any holiday. Good ones and any ethnic food you like always work.
3. Any living Brew master.

Comment by zatoichi Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 3:09 pm
an introduction to an array of German foods comparable to the Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage.

Just pretend that plate of sauerkraut is an unadulterated Irish cabbage. Maybe it tastes better with catsup.

Comment by Six Degrees of Separation Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 3:20 pm
Mostly Scots, but people didn’t stay put back then either. My sister is interested in this stuff and has gotten back to the 10th century with Vikings and so on. It does make for some fun family stories, like the time Uncle Bob (Robert Bruce) got excommunicated for murdering Grandpa (John the Red Comyn). But really, we’re all here now. We don’t need any more ethnic holidays, or the ones we have now for that matter. Let’s just have Taste of Illinois and be done with it.

Comment by Excessively rabid Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 3:33 pm
1. - 1/4 German and Norwegian; 1/8 Danish and Scottish, English, Irish and Cherokee for the rest.

2. - Not particularly a holiday, but a recognition of sorts. WW II doesn’t matter, my German ancestors came here 50 years before he came to power. But if there is one to honor…

3. - Beethoven. A believer in democracy, not a toady for aristocracy. Plus he wrote some great music.

Comment by White Rabbit Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 3:47 pm
1)100% Dutch. One great grandparent and all great-great grandparents came over on boats from Holland.
2) Sure, not official but an excuse for a party e.g. St Patrick’s Day.
3) Too obvious - Oktoberfest - Everybody Polka!

Comment by 3 beers to springfield Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 3:48 pm
1. Mostly Irish, the percentages of German, Scotch, Dutch, etc. are too small to really matter.
2. No. A German holiday is too Hitler-riffic for me. Octoberfest is a de facto German holiday.
3. No opinion. I want a Reagan holiday before we add any others. . .

Comment by Jake from Elwood Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 3:52 pm
1. Irish!

2. Yes! Even the Germans (to steal from Blazing Saddles)

3. Hmmm…do like Oktoberfest but am told it occurs in September (go figure) in Germany…so I would defer to those of German descent on this (as long as it stays away from St. Patrick’s Day!)

Comment by Mongo Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 3:54 pm
1.) My fathers side of the family are a split between Annabaptist/Mennonite from the border area between Germany and Switzerland - in fact the family farm spanned both countries and in war they moved between countries. Their name was Schallenbarger and they arrived in PA. in the early 1700’s with the first group of Annabaptist’s to flee religious persecution and Irish Catholic - Clonmel, Contae Thiobraid Árann(County Tipperary) and they were here by the mid 1800’s. My mothers side is predominantly English/Welsh on her father’s side and include an elder on the Mayflower, Charles Carroll of Carrollton and multiple signers of the Declaration of Independence. Her mother’s side is Welsh/Jewish of German extraction and they have been here since the mid 1700’s.

2.) As a state worker, I wouldn’t mind ANY holiday that falls between President’s day and Memorial Day.

3.) Reason - it’s a dry season for state paid holidays and I have to use my own time if I want to take off a day between late February and the end of May!(LOL)

Comment by Sweet Polly Purebred Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 4:11 pm
Lithuanian/german yes the state needs a holiday for germans, how about oktoberfest the last friday in septembet would be a state holiday!!

Comment by foster brooks Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 4:19 pm
Rich, by my count, over 35% of your respondents have some German blood in them…

Comment by HV in HP Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 4:32 pm
Norman English (not Chinese!) and Alsatian (Steiffel) on my dad’s side, and German Howser– Hauser und Wildefang) and French (DuVall) on mom’s.

No state holiday, there’s too many already, but we ought to have a Baron von Steuben parade and drink lots of beer. Ja, bier!

Comment by HoosierDaddy Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 4:42 pm
1) Mostly Scandinavian. German ancestors immigrated to Texas, of all places, mid-19thc. They were brewers and 48ers.
2) Sure. I rarely oppose a party.
3) Rather than celebrate any one individual, maybe focus instead on the ideals of the 48ers. Many settled in Illinois. Had the 48ers succeeded, it’s highly likely you wouldn’t have needed to qualify question 2.

Comment by Suzanne Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 5:04 pm
Rich any more info on the AP story by John O on the IDOT raises

Comment by Anon Again Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 5:07 pm
I’m 1/2 Japanese and 1/2 German (from Russia). Yes to the German holiday. My father fought in WWII and the Korean War. The north side of Chicago was predominately German.

Comment by Marianne North Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 6:28 pm
“Imagination is more important than knowledge….”

Ghost, don’t set the bar too high. That Einstein quote and all that followed is really easy for him to say.

Have you ever tried to understand how Einstein’s “Annus Mirabulus” changed our world in a practical way? For example, how does E=MC2 get you to Hiroshima, nuclear power, space travel, etc.?

Beats me. All my life, I’ve read everything I can on the guy to try and understand. And I’m still clueless. From what I’ve read, even the most brilliant physicists don’t have a clue. But they’re smart enough to apply the genius.

Granted, who among us really knows why when we turn on the TV, we can see all this different stuff. It’s like when Alvy Singer, in his philosophical journey, asked his father “why are there Nazis?.” His father replied, “how should I know, I can’t figure out how the can opener works.”

The word genius is thrown around a lot. But what Einstein produced between his ears in 1905 alone, without the benefit of a ballpoint pen, much less computers, is the story of the millennium.

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 7:31 pm
1.Mostly German ethnicity, but who cares?
2.No, but like holidays-need another between Memorial & Labor days-Around August 1st would be okay, or make July 4th three days long.

Comment by Downstate Commissioner Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 8:32 pm
YDD, he had acolytes there, but Einstein never lived in Hyde Park or taught at U of C.. In fact, once he made it to the states he rarely left Princeton. He was the original nutty professor — he wandered off alone, thinking, all the time.

Famous story about Einstein not showing up for a lecture one day. His assistants and Princeton authorities were frantic looking for him.

Finally, one of them found him, non-plussed, sitting on the rail of a bridge in a driving rainstorm.

No one knew how or why he got there, but he seemed content, sitting by himself, thinking. One of the grad students who found him said, “Prof. Einstein, I’m sorry to find you here in this condition.”

Einstein replied, “Don’t worry. What I do, I can do anywhere.”

Comment by wordslinger Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 8:52 pm
1) I’m 16/16ths German.
2) Not a state holiday but an official “day” would be swell. Any reason to celebrate real beer is welcome.

Comment by Cornerfield Tuesday, Mar 24, 09 @ 9:34 pm
Italian!
Yes!
Albert Einstein

Comment by Hip Chick Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 12:47 am
1) German, British (claim to be English with names like MacNabb & McAdams), Hugenot French.
2) Yes.
3) Johannes Guttenberg - should be obvious.

Comment by Smitty Irving Wednesday, Mar 25, 09 @ 6:55 am
1. African American (some French and native American thrown in)/Filipino (some Spanish and Chinese waaaay back there)
2. Yes - but only if it’s fun!
3. Goethe - I want to be amused by all the different ways folks in this city pronounce his name.

Comment by ding Thursday, Mar 26, 09 @ 9:21 am