Is this offensive?

[cherryolives]

For a white person who is British but born in Kashmir to describe themselves as Kashmiri?

I suppose they would need to clarify that they aren’t ethnically Kashmiri? I’m really not sure but can see the potential for offense being taken.

Born there or born and raised there ?

Legal nationality?

There are many British born with Asian ethnicity who would describe themselves as British... quite rightly so.

I don’t see how your situation is any different

Do you want it to be?

Born there to British parents, raised here (and in other countries).

Of course not! If I was born in France then I'd be french... how is this any different?

No. I think your questions offensive. My 'foreign' dad was born in Britain. Are you saying he isn't British?

Offensive to who?

Have you been watching Joanna Lumley's programme, She said that ? I guess so because she was born in India wasn't she.

Kashmiri isn't a nationality so you'd just have to say "I'm British but was born in Kashmir"

You're not automatically the nationality of many countries by virtue of birth. Ius soli v ius sanguinis.

@MissMarpleDarling

No. I think your questions offensive. My 'foreign' dad was born in Britain. Are you saying he isn't British?

No. If he's got the right to live here and/or has nationality and feels British then I don't think he's not British.

Say somebody who is white British was born in Kashmir (before Indian independence) to white British parents and was then brought up in Britain, has British nationality and has not lived in Kashmir except very early childhood are they Kashmiri or is it offensive to claim that they are?

It's obviously offending you, why?

Or, you are talking about yourself and wondering why someone else would be offended - and it sounds from these responses that people don't regard this as offensive.

It doesn’t offend me.

Don’t go around looking to be offended then it won’t be offensive. Let them be Martian if they want.

I can’t imagine who would find this offensive TBH. Although some people are experts at finding offence wherever they go.

Although my dad was born in Japan to British parents and moved back to the U.K. when he was 4. He never considered himself to be Japanese. But would it be offensive if he had? I don’t think so.

Say somebody who is white British was born in Kashmir (before Indian independence) to white British parents and was then brought up in Britain, has British nationality and has not lived in Kashmir except very early childhood are they Kashmiri or is it offensive to claim that they are?

I would find that weird tbh. If I’d been born in Australia but raised in England with English parents growing up with English culture I’d find it weird calling myself an Australian.

I get your point OP. I wouldn't find it offensive. My friend who was born in Australia and came here at 6 months old loves to tell people they are Australian. Joanna can be whatever she likes I bloody love her 😆

@Aaaaaah

Offensive to who?

I don't know if it is offensive but I am white British and not Indian so perhaps it's not my call whether it's offensive or not. My Indian friend does. We both watched the JL programme and my friend finds it offensive. He thinks she's British and it's not on to claim she is Kashmiri when she was born there.

It's not something I would say. I was born in a different UK country to the one I have spent my life in since I was less than a year old but I don't tend to describe myself as Welsh having only spent a few short months there.

You ARE talking about Joanna Lumley aren't you?

I think the most offensive thing about this question is the mention of the person's skin colour.

I can’t see this as being offensive. My daughter was born in Scotland, she lived there till three, moved to England. Is she supposed to say she’s English?

Cross posted there.
No, it''s not offensive, she's obviously very proud of being born there for one thing, and regards it as an important part of her identity.

A bit of a grey area, but not necessarily offensive.

I think it depends on the reasons for someone claiming that identity: If a white person described themselves as "Kashmiri" in order to win an argument or claim a piece of the oppression suffered by others then this would be VERY offensive. Eg "I cant be racist I'm Kashmiri" or "I know exactly how it feels to be Asian in the UK - I'm Kashmiri".

Why on earth would it be offensive? If it was me and I was asked, I think I would say born in Kashmir and brought up in X, as I don’t think Kashmiri is a specific nationality in itself?

Even if one were to debate the semantic use of “Kashmiri” to describe either nationality or ethnicity or even main place you grew up as a child, I wouldn’t think it’s offensive in the slightest.

I think it’s absolutely fine for an ethnically white British person to describe themselves as Kashmiri if they were born there. If I was born in France, I’d be French (not ethnically but definitely nationally). People describing themselves based on regions within countries are perfectly fine as well. If I was born in Paris, I could describe myself as “Parisienne”. If I was born in Sicily, I could describe myself as “Sicilian”. Likewise for continents or groups of countries. People refer to themselves as “Scandinavian” or “Asian” or “Mediterranean”.

I can’t see how any of this is offensive at all.