Politicaly correct or patrioticly correct

2014-08-24T19:46:28-04:00

I have a pet peave. Am i right to think this way or not, let me know what you think. My issue is people calling themselves African American, Mexican American, Asian American, ect, ect. I believe we should call ourselves American. If you want to include you color then say American with African decient. (Please over look my spelling). I don't claim to be Naitive, German, Irish American. I am American first and foremost. So choose who you are and stop trying to be from two countries at one time.

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made Aug 24 at 2014 8:07 PM

2014-08-24T20:07:46-04:00

I think you are right on target SPC James Patton. IMHO, there is too much labeling going on and labeling leads to separation and discrimination and we as a country should be far over that by now.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 10 at 2014 1:34 PM

2014-09-10T13:34:54-04:00

I totally agree with you on this...

Check out the clip at this link:

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v= [login to see] 66674&set=vb [login to see] 390277&type=2&theater

Morgan Freeman tells it like it is on "60 Minutes". My sentiments exactly.

Mimi Imfurst | Facebook

Morgan Freeman hits the nail on the head with this one.(like my page -- Mimi Imfurst)

Response by SPC David S. made Sep 10 at 2014 2:09 PM

2014-09-10T14:09:50-04:00

I think the problem is that many with narcissistic inklings or ulterior motives love to stratify, classify, label and or brand individuals to conjur up some sort of pecking order that suits their needs. Thus these labels stick and are passed along. These labels often develope into sterotypes often derogatory in nature much like getting "gyped" from Gypsies or "welshing" on a bet from the Welsh. All of us in the Army do bleed American however it does looks an olive green.

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Sep 10 at 2014 9:31 PM

2014-09-10T21:31:06-04:00

It wouldn't surprise me that the very thing the government is trying to prevent (discrimination) is the very thing that continues to separate us as an AMERICAN Nation. If the "race" box isn't checked, how do the higher ups know that a minority is being discriminated against? The military has always led the way in the Nation's fight against racism and discrimination. I hope one of the full time EOA/EOR's can back me up on this, but I believe that the military started the process of tracking "race" for the reasons I previously stated. The Federal government adapted it's hiring practices in accordance with the military, the rest of the country followed suit stemming from the Civil Rights Act of 1964. I'm spewing up from a paper that I presented eons ago so I can't list sources. Let me do some digging. Meanwhile, one of you EO pros, please come to my aid.......

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2014 9:32 PM

2014-09-10T21:32:25-04:00

I see what you are getting but not all of use have generations that were all American. I am a first generation American. My father came to the US when he was a teen. I call my Portuguese. I am an American but I don't think they are the same. Referring to one's citizenship is one thing. In that case we are all Americans but then that is not really our linage. I don't want to lose a part of my culture that I feel so dear about. I am proud of being Portuguese but on the reverse I am an American. I will fight and die for this country. Calling my myself Portuguese doesn't make me any less of an American than you or anyone else. In the case of many here they may have had generations that go over 200 years born in this country.

This is the same everywhere else. I am sure you have used it without thinking about it. Have you ever referred to the Kurds. Well, technically they are from Iraq, more or less, and are Iraqi but we respect them for their diversity and can still call them Kurds. Should we give up our historical origins to assimilate to being a "generic American?" No, that is not what being an American is about. If we don't we would lose a lot of identities and cultures. Some groups I can think would be; Creoles, Native Americans, Eskimos, Samoans, Puerto Ricans, and many more that I cant think of.

It is not that some groups are trying to be outcasts or separatists but are proud of your peoples.

Response by Capt Chris McVeigh made Sep 11 at 2014 2:24 AM

2014-09-11T02:24:58-04:00

Our country was founded by immigrants, there is nothing wrong with retaining your roots as part of your identity. If you choose to meld your identity into the mixing pot of America, that is fine. It is also acceptable to be an American and still remember your roots as part of who you are.

It's a little strange when people who have no family outside the US say things like this but that's still up to them.

Response by LCpl Stephen Tombs made Sep 11 at 2014 2:36 AM

2014-09-11T02:36:42-04:00

I had a Corporal who referred to himself as African American, but he was the first (and so far only) member of his family to come to America. It was his opinion, and I agree, that only in that instance should one refer to themselves as _____ American. Only when they themselves were born and raised in another country and voluntarily came here and got their citizenship should they use that identifier. The rest of his dark-green Marines just referred to themselves as black if race came up, or by the aforementioned euphemism.

Response by SPC James Patton made Sep 12 at 2014 4:27 PM

2014-09-12T16:27:41-04:00

I'm not trying to say anyone should give up their heritage. But that we should put America first, i.e. American with African decent and so on. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your heritage, as long as you arent trying to use it to seperate yourself from other Americans. This Country was founded by many differant races coming together as one. Today's society is trying to desolve that unity and create a country of many diferent,and seperated societies. No one should be hired, fired, or considered for anything based on their racial back-ground. If we would get rid of the "check you race" box, and become "One Nation" again we would again become The Greatest Nation on Earth.

So again I say put America first. I'll start, I'm American with German, Irish, Cherokee Indian, and English heritage.

Also thanks for each and every responce, I welcome them all.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 27 at 2015 1:32 PM

2015-08-27T13:32:39-04:00

SPC Patton-There's a lot to be said in support of your position. The United States may not be the oldest house on the block, but we have a view to be proud of. On the other hand, the relatively short period of time separating some Americans from the overseas roots equates to some understandable pride and heritage. There's few as inspiring experiences than listening to the pipes and drums when you know an ancestor went "over the top" in France to a Scotch tune, or celebrating St. Patrick's Day remembering an Irish immigrant ancestor who stood with Chamberlain at the Little Round Top. I've been invited to Native American tribal dances and can see the obvious pride of people whose history goes back millennia on this continent...but can't hear the strains of "Garyowen" without standing a little taller recalling my own U.S. Cavalry forefathers. In another chapter of my own history, there was a father and son...on opposing sides; one wore British red the other Continental blue-The redcoat died in battle and the Continental lived on to help start a new line of patriots. My Civil War ancestor died in Andersonville prison...my wife's family were Confederates. Her father and mine both served proudly in the U.S. Army as NCOs. I suppose if I were of African ancestry, and knew my relatives fought under Zulu princes against the British...I may draw some pride from that warrior heritage too. Bottom line, when we use "heritage" to inspire our actions as Americans, I think its a positive thing...when it gives us a "safe" outlet of denouncing our nation, people and place...then it serves no purpose but to divide us.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 28 at 2015 10:23 AM

2015-09-28T10:23:13-04:00

"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all … The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities, an intricate knot of German-Americans, Irish-Americans, English-Americans, French-Americans, Scandinavian-Americans or Italian-Americans, each preserving its separate nationality, each at heart feeling more sympathy with Europeans of that nationality, than with the other citizens of the American Republic … There is no such thing as a hyphenated American who is a good American. The only man who is a good American is the man who is an American and nothing else."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyphenated_American

Hyphenated American - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In the United States, the term hyphenated American is an epithet commonly used from 1890 to 1920 to disparage Americans who were of foreign birth or origin, and who displayed an allegiance to a foreign country. It was most commonly used to disparage German Americans or Irish Americans (Catholics) who called for U.S. neutrality in World War I. Former President Theodore Roosevelt was an outspoken anti-hyphenate and Woodrow Wilson followed...

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 28 at 2015 10:32 AM

2015-09-28T10:32:21-04:00

Given that my heritage is from about a dozen different sources, it would be cumbersome for me to use those names. It would almost be appropriate for my name to be Heinz. You older guys will get that.