How many generations does it take to lose your claim to a particular Heritage?

There have been a lot of discussions regarding the whole 'heritage' month thing. I am not wanting to get into the 'big' debate. In fact, I think everyone should be proud of their heritage and background, whether you're a first generation or a 10th generation. But whatever happened to just being an American?

Well, actually that is misleading if you think about it…

Canadians, Mexicans, Brazilians, Falkland Islanders we're all Americans. Which is not an ethnicity or a race but continents largely made up of non-indigenous people. The Native Americans are the original Americans (by the geographical use of the word) however, that opens a whole new debate… Please save that for a different discussion (thank you).

The name though, that is one thing our founding fathers should have considered when they gave birth to a new nation. Like all new parents, they think of a name that is so cute at the time, then reality hits. Something I can relate to, my poor daughter… However, calling us a United Statesian just doesn't sound right... So back to being American (USA) and proud!

Moving on…

Now as it has been pointed out in previous discussions we lump everybody into one category or another, besides my aforementioned American. Something, many wish we would just stick with. Focus on what unites us and not what separates us. After all just how many generations of living in a place (nation) does it take for one to stop counting themselves as part this or that? 1-2-3-4-5 ("the kind of thing an idiot would have on his luggage!") Just how many degrees of separation are necessary before you are solely an American (USA)?

Many refuse to see it that way and everyone wants to be united yet remain individual??? And be recognized for this, yet ironically they still allow themselves to be lumped together??? Asians, as example, have May... Asia is a large place made up a lot of different people. Native Americans have November (again a large diverse group of people). February Black history month… Even zombies get a month (they share May). The Hispanics have September-October…

But now where is European American month? Just like Asia and Africa, Europe is a continent. Most of the current nations in the 'Americas' trace their roots East to European beginnings. Hispanics, are of Spanish decent… which is in Europe… ergo… we should celebrate National European Month.

However, we don't…

So this brings me back to be proud of who you are, where you came from, and the contributions that have been made. But if The United States is to move forward we need to be American first or otherwise we all should call ourselves Nigerian-American, Greek-American, Dutch-American… though I prefer the plain and simple American.

Actually I think I will add one last point for consideration…

My great- times whatever- grandmother (Miss Jansen) was born in the Flatlands (Fort Nassau, the first Dutch settlement in North America) New York Area in 1617 they returned to Holland then came back a few years later. Miss Jansen married Jan Van Arsdalen (Born in Holland) and had Simon Van Arsdalen (born in 'America'). Jump ahead to 1936, my mother, maiden last name Van Arsdalen was born (in The United States). The family tree directly traces the line, on US soil, all the back to Miss Jansen, and even on back to Holland for another couple hundred years at least.

So, my mother's family is clearly of direct Dutch heritage (most likely 'pure' blooded Dutch) and has been on 'American' soil almost 400 years… Does that make me a Dutch-American or have I earned the right to be just American?