Is my buddy wierd?

Maybe you could help him be proud of his Turkish heritage by playing him that song by the Four Lads - Istanbul was Constantinople Now it's Istanbul, not Constantinople Been a long time gone, Constantinople Now it's Turkish delight on a moonlit night Every gal in Constantinople Lives in Istanbul, not Constantinople So if you've a date in Constantinople She'll be waiting in Istanbul Even old New York was once New Amsterdam Why they changed it I can't say People just liked it better that way So, take me back to Constantinople No, you can't go back to Constantinople Been a long time gone, Constantinople Why did Constantinople get the works? That's nobody's business but the Turks.

Maybe he's experienced discrimination/hostility from certain people which has made him wary.

You should ask him why he doesnt want people to know his heritage.

Seems sad he can’t appreciate his heritage

Never met anyone from Turkey, but I'm guessing they have cool like dat and shitty like dat people, like everywhere else