RE: Getting over Ourselves

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RE: Getting over Ourselves - 3/1/2004 8:15:35 AM

inyouagain

Posts: 418
Joined: 1/6/2004
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The ball is rolling... keep it going!

Let's rid ourselves of all divisional references, including:

Male American - gender division
Female American - gender division
Southern Man - geographic and gender division
Northerner - geographic division
West Coaster - ditto
East Coaster - ditto
Tarheel - ditto
Yankee - ditto
Rebel - ditto
Texas Ranger - ditto
Georgia Pine - may not belong here? (other pines in America too)
Florida Gator - no gepgraphic monopoly on reptiles?
Cajun - aren't all cajuns Americans?
Koon Ass - dem dat ditto
Redneck - a species found only in America, yes?
Son of a bitch - gender division, but international I suppose?
Lesbian - gay, but the divisional term is favored for gender division?

These absurd examples illustrate that an effort to 'undivide' America by national origin, ethnicity, gender, profession, geographic region/culture of origin, sexual preference, sports mascot, blah-blah-bah... is a process which by it's nature should apply across the many divisions of daily American life and culture recorded by history.

White bread is still bread, just as wheat bread is still bread, and rye and pumpernickle same-same. Would it help to simply call them all bread?

Variety begats divisional references of numerous types, just as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are all bases... while the 'other base' is not referred to as a base at all, but rather a plate?

A football player is divided into offense, defense, special teams, and those classifications are further broken down into specific positions... offensive guard, defensive tackle, etc... but all remain football players... as are podiatrists and brain surgeons both doctors... as are a 747 driver and a river barge driver both a pilot... and the list is indeed long.

Monkey wrench time:

I actually agree with you lanette, and personally would like to see the terms not necessarily done away with, but at least put into proper perspective, ie. American African, American Mexican, American Asian (oops, that's Amerasian, sorry), etc... but there's problems with that approach. For instance, American Irishman would be gender divisional and require American Irishwoman as a compliment... further complications, heh!

This brings a special problem to my Native American friends... American Indian would have to preclude all members of Hindu origin... as they are also known as Indians? This has been a touchy situation already, but the term Native American was intended to be all inclusive of various Indian tribes, Eskimo's, and Polynesians (Hawaii).

By label, any 'external' American infers a 'Foreign American' to Americans, I agree!

However, I've always referred to myself as an American Man, not Man American... and I've always referred to my woman as American Woman (they wrote a song about her), not Woman American, lol

Good thing I didn't mention religious denominations, eh?

Inyouagain

''I'm proud to be an American'' - Lee Greenwood (note the absence of division)

(in reply to lanette)

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RE: Getting over Ourselves - 3/3/2004 7:17:06 AM

MrKing

Posts: 27
Joined: 2/2/2004
From: Reno
Status: offline

I'm a Canadian/US Citizen. Which makes me an American. Exactly the same as, oh, a Mexican or an Argentine...

...end sheer perversity...

Actually, in Canada, where there is a social mosaic, nobody much bothers with this - for one thing, nobody much balks at the notion of someone wearing a saree or a turban or a jaunty little beret with a red pompom and still calling themselves Canadian. Which they are.

It's a reality that I think Mid North Americans are going to have to get used to, if reading my box of fruit loops is any indication. THREE languages! English, Spanish and French. Face it dudes, we are surrounded. Learn to enjoy it. :)

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RE: Getting over Ourselves - 3/3/2004 3:39:40 PM

iwillserveu

Posts: 1633
Joined: 1/1/2004
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We silly United Statesonians tend forget the countries that are, well, so polite they are forgettable.

We even got the name of the country to the north wrong. It is Citizens National Democracy, or C.N.D. A silly United Statesonian asked a C.N.D. citizen, "What country are you from?" He replied "C, eh, N, eh, D, eh."

(Sorry, As a Canadian I'm sure you heard it before. I post it again because maybe a United Statesonian has never heard it before.

)

Oh, incase I never put my 2 cents in: Any one has a right to call themselves whatever their heart desires even if it is "differently-abled-pig livered-not mob connected- American (of Congolese decent.)"

What right do I have to tell some one else (even You) what to call them self? If I don't have that right why do you assume to have more rights than me?

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When the Lady smiles i can't resist her call. As a matter of fact, i don't resist at all. Well that depends if it is a smile or a grimmace.

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