Russian immigrants in US - classification possible?

[atacama@global.co.za]

I read once that there are about 150 (or 1500) ethnic groupings
in the former USSR (all of whom mostly spoke Russian besides
their native language).

The Orthodox Church Abroad attracts/ed all Orthodox believers,
who were Slavic-(group)-speakers (most of whom were also
Russian-speakers).  This church also attracted people who
were German-Baltic Lutheran, but who also identitied
themselves with the Russian Empire, all of whom had learnt 
Russian in school.  Even Russian-Empire  & ex-USSR 
Jews still come to the social events and 'teas' after church
service, because they hanker for a bit of Russian language
and traditions and a chit-chat with (Russian Christian)
Landsmaenner.... (people who shared the 'land').

Vera Beljakova
Johannesburg.
-=-=--=-

Original Message:
-----------------
From: Elena Gapova e.gapova at WORLDNET.ATT.NET
Date: Tue, 30 May 2006 23:36:28 -0400
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Russian immigrants in US - classification possible?


The idea that one should have an "ethnic" identity as one's primary or
"indispensable" identity is debatable. This may sometimes be the case with
ethnic groups in the US, where such group belonging can be an important
resource. But in general, there are many other identities (religious,
regional, gender, "historical" - I've seen immigrants in the US who proudly
declare: I am Soviet, first and foremost) which can resurface and dominate,
depending on the situation. Identities are fluid and changeable, as everyone
knows, of course.
To classify Russian-speaking immigrants from the FSU by ethnicity (which can
be absolutely anything) would be a rather odd idea. People do not see
themselves this way.
e.g.

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