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Getting over Ourselves - 1/24/2004 2:51:05 PM

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I posted this thread on another site and was amazed at the responses, so i wanted to post it here to get some feedback..

I was listening as my nephew was going over his American history homework and He keep referring to "African Americans". Of course I sat down immediately and explained to Him the incorrect terminology, and since have written everyone from the school board to the senate, but Just to share my thoughts....

There is NO such thing as a Mexican American, African American, Irish American or any other prelude to "American"! you are either born here or you are not, if you are then you are "American" period... if you are not, then your nationality would be that of the country you were born in.
There are VERY few exceptions.. It is our jobs, and responsibility as parents, aunts, uncles, and adults to teach our youth about their heritage and where they came from. But if we are going to "TEACH" segregation, then call it what it is and figure out a way to move back to the country you find to be your origin. If you want to be an American, then be one! Get over yourselves people.

And just for the record... WHITE is a color, not a race

Just my two cents.

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< Message edited by lanette -- 1/24/2004 5:54:22 PM >

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RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/24/2004 3:08:21 PM

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Hi Lanette. I agree that in this country to many which to break down being *American* into extra catagories. I do believe that your definition should be those born in America, born to American parents or willing to take on the *Laws of the land* and accept America as their own.

Sandy

(in reply to lanette)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/24/2004 3:16:12 PM

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*s* i think that is absolutley correct. thank you...

quote:

ORIGINAL: EStrict

Hi Lanette. I agree that in this country to many which to break down being *American* into extra catagories. I do believe that your definition should be those born in America, born to American parents or willing to take on the *Laws of the land* and accept America as their own.

Sandy

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"Chaos, panic, and disorder --- my work here is done"
"Oh I get it... like humor... but different"

(in reply to EStrict)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/24/2004 4:17:05 PM

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I couldn't agree with you more lanette. First and foremost, if you are a citizen of this country, you are an American. Now that includes many different peoples, since we are a country founded by immigrants. But it used to be that you came here to be assimilated into the American culture, adding from your culture another flavor to this "melting pot".
Now many people want to "balkanize" this country by emphazising the differences instead of the similarities we share in this wonderful country. My Grandparents were from Mexico. I have Mexican blood in me. But I am not Mexican-American. I am American. Period.

(in reply to lanette)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/24/2004 4:19:08 PM

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What is even more wonderful in this wonderful country of ours Lanette, is the Freedom of Speech. So if someone decides they want to call themselves an Irish American or Italian American, or have a Little Italy in New York City they are free to do it. And according to American Law, which is correct, they DO NOT have to go back anywhere because they want to call themselves whatever the hell they want. I enjoy calling myself a White person, but the Freedom of Speech granted by the Constitution of the United States of America allows me to do this. They are free to write things like you did on a web site without repercussion.

(in reply to lanette)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/24/2004 4:36:40 PM

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kitkat, you are missing the point I think. Of course everyone has the right to call themselves whatever they want. That is a right of everyone here.
The point is, what purpose does it serve to divide yourselves up in that manner? All it does is divide us.
I don't advocate people who think this way should leave. But I don't think that breaking down into hyphenates does any good. But as an American of course you have every right to disagree with me.

(in reply to kitkat)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/24/2004 4:40:37 PM

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I don't care what they call themselves, just like what i cal myself is my business, but when it is added to the history book, it is incorrect. Unless i am wrong, you cannot hold citizenship in more than one country at a time.

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"Chaos, panic, and disorder --- my work here is done"
"Oh I get it... like humor... but different"

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RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/24/2004 5:09:48 PM

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Actually lanette, in some countries you can have dual citizenship. Mexico for one. But I do agree with you. The history books are rewriting history to make it more politically correct.

(in reply to lanette)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/24/2004 5:55:08 PM

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smiles, thank you again, you are correct...

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"Chaos, panic, and disorder --- my work here is done"
"Oh I get it... like humor... but different"

(in reply to Estring)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/25/2004 10:11:49 AM

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I totally agree!

Great points, lanette.

Mod One

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RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/26/2004 11:19:03 AM

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I've been blessed to have acquainted myself with a fair number of African Americans. They are truly stellar people. They are proud, hard-working, and intensely loyal. I learned much of their history, their culture, and their language. Every one of the African Americans that I know are caucasians, born and raised in South Africa. I've always found that amusing.

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RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/26/2004 7:49:33 PM

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HAHAHAHA!!!

(Erusvi, I find that rather humorous, too.)

I know many Americans of varied cultural ancestry. The ones that I know that self identify as X-American usually do so out of a desire to hold on to some form of that culture. While I agree that we are "the great melting pot" the real challenge is to learn to live together in celebration of our differences, rather than trying to homogenize ourselves for the sake of expediency and group comfort. It's a harder way to live but tends to garner bigger rewards personally and societally.

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RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/26/2004 10:55:29 PM

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I don't agree that to blend in to this culture homogenizes us at all. There is an "American" culture that is formed from the many types of people who live here and have immigrated here. It seems to be increasingly popular to downgrade this culture for some reason. We should celebrate what we all have in common, instead of emphasizing how different we are. A black man living here has much more in common with a white man living here than he does with a black African. I think that gets forgotten these days. "E Plurubus Unum" is "From Many One", not "From One Many".

(in reply to MizSuz)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/27/2004 8:20:45 PM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: Estring

I don't agree that to blend in to this culture homogenizes us at all. There is an "American" culture that is formed from the many types of people who live here and have immigrated here. It seems to be increasingly popular to downgrade this culture for some reason. We should celebrate what we all have in common, instead of emphasizing how different we are. A black man living here has much more in common with a white man living here than he does with a black African. I think that gets forgotten these days. "E Plurubus Unum" is "From Many One", not "From One Many".

I wasn't suggesting that one should abandon one part of their culture in deference to the other part. I was suggesting that there are MANY people in OUR culture who ALSO wish to retain an attachment to their history and the culture of their history.

Sit down to a family dinner in an Italian-American home and you'll see what I mean.

I do not think that pride in being different is divisive. I do think that an intolerance of difference is divisive.

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“The more you love, the more you can love—and the more intensely you love. Nor is there any limit on how many you can love. If a person had time enough, he could love all of that majority who are decent and just.”
- Robert Heinlein

(in reply to Estring)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/28/2004 11:40:10 AM

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I find it refreshing to read the words of those with in this thread and a eye opener to the masses by Erusvi on the pre recognitions most times made in error of what a person * should look like according to what there heritage is and where they came from. I being One whos hearitage is always questioned because of My unique mixture has always * stumpted the masses and it has put Me as well as others in precarious situations at best and at odds at worse. I choose to become American and when I chose to do so I renounced what other Countries aleigance I had befor that choice, hence I am simply American. In the same thought I choose to state for My race that of being Human for I am but one out of many of the Human Race unique and one of a kind but still of only One Race and that is of the Human kind.~smiles~

(in reply to MizSuz)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/28/2004 7:04:33 PM

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How very odd. I was trying to edit this and it reposted below as a new response. Pity it can't be deleted.

< Message edited by MizSuz -- 1/28/2004 7:06:50 PM >

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“The more you love, the more you can love—and the more intensely you love. Nor is there any limit on how many you can love. If a person had time enough, he could love all of that majority who are decent and just.”
- Robert Heinlein

(in reply to MistressDREAD)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/28/2004 7:05:02 PM

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quote:

ORIGINAL: MistressDREAD

I being One whos hearitage is always questioned because of My unique mixture has always * stumpted the masses

It's a similar situation with me. I've an interesting mix by blood and an even more interesting mix by interest and exposure. I wouldn't trade my exposure to the cultures I have been exposed to for anything (my American culture/s included). I hope to get to see and do and experience many new cultures before I die. Every one has been an enriching thing in my life.

quote:

In the same thought I choose to state for My race that of being Human for I am but one out of many of the Human Race unique and one of a kind but still of only One Race and that is of the Human kind.~smiles~

Beautifully put.

< Message edited by MizSuz -- 1/28/2004 7:07:26 PM >

_____________________________

“The more you love, the more you can love—and the more intensely you love. Nor is there any limit on how many you can love. If a person had time enough, he could love all of that majority who are decent and just.”
- Robert Heinlein

(in reply to MizSuz)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 1/28/2004 7:12:16 PM

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I agree with your sentiments. There are many cultures, but people forget that in reality, there really is only one race. The divisions such as Caucasian, Asian, Black etc. really are only distictions useful in science. They mean nothing in real life. Or, they should mean nothing.

(in reply to MizSuz)

RE: Getting over Ourselves - 2/16/2004 4:04:52 PM

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Frankly, I agree with kitkat. I could care less if you call me Irish-American, American or Drunken Mic, as long as you respect my decision to call me by what I choose.

If that means I have to call Indians "Native Americans" and blacks "African American" or refugees from gay marriage "Canadian-Americans-eh" s be it. It is what they want to be called.

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RE: Getting over Ourselves - 3/1/2004 6:15:33 AM

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The idea that perfectly harmonious human relations can be established
between human beings still dominated by egoism is a delusional one.
It is not emotion in itself that philosophy asks us to triumph over but the
lower emotions. On the contrary, it asks us to cherish and cultivate the
higher ones. It is not feeling in itself that is to be ruled sternly by reason
but the blind animal instincts and ignorant human self-seeking. When feeling
is purified and disciplined, exalted and ennobled, depersonalized and
instructed, it becomes the genuine expression of philosophical living.
Philosophical living is the equal thread that we as human beings have yet
to accomplish in real terms of our lifes. THATS WHY WE HAVE BOARDS TO
CHIT CHAT ON WITH OUR DIFFERING VIEWS!!! ~smiles~

(in reply to iwillserveu)

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