[Mr-J-Reid]

I agree with Andrew of Dallas. I’m tired of separating groups with hyphenated designations. We are all Americans. I preferred when America thought of itself as a ‘melting pot’ instead of the PC diversity ‘salad bowl’. We should emphasize what we all have in common — not where some anchestors came from. Americans, by nature, came here to leave somewhere and they’re free to go back. Be an American first..love this wonderful country! J. Reid

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Name : Mr-J-Reid, City : superior, State : CO, Country : United States, 

[C-Reed19315]

I think if you grammatically deconstruct hyphenated racial phrases, ‘African-American’ or ‘Asian-American’, the first term i an adjective to describe the noun ‘American’. The adjective is simply a term used to establish what type of American you are. To me the phrase ‘American-African’ would denote someone who first identified with being African, not the other way around.

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Name : C-Reed19315, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 23, City : Pittsburgh, State : PA, Country : United States, Occupation : graduate student, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[Tom]

Although Teddy Roosevelt gave a famous speech about there ‘not being room for hyphenated-Americans’ nearly a century ago, I have always thought that it was a regional problem in the Northeast. It does seem to have spread. My father, who was from Virginia, always noted his surprise on moving to the Northeast that there were so many divisions. By this, he meant the number of ethnic clubs. Although their signs can still be seen on many old buildings, these clubs seem to have evaporated. I suppose that some of the recent increase must be the resultof the politics of division. If you do not align yourself with an ‘interest group’ you are liable to be overlooked. As I wrote this, I reviewed American history in my thoughts. I suspect that it has always been so. Regardless of our ‘nation of immigrants’ status, we have rarely been kind to new arrivals. It is reasonable that they should band together.

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Name : Tom, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, Age : 54, City : Boston, State : MA, Country : United States, Occupation : Developer, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

[patricia b]

I agree with you, Andrew, i think if you are born in this country, or become a citizen, then you should simply be an American. It is very often, very obvious what a person’s heritage is, ie: black people are predominently of African heritage, of course, not all, but all black people I know prefer being referred to as African-American. My mother was born in Scotland and became a citizen of this country at 11 years old. She has always considered herself ‘American’. I have never thought of myself as ‘Scotch-American’, but as an American with a Scottish heritage, and as my father was part Norwegian, part Welsh, does that make me a ‘scotch-Norwegian-Welsh American?’ I think not. I am simply an American, as all citizens should be.

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Name : patricia b, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Disability : fibromyalgia, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Congregationalist, Age : 54, City : mcallen, State : TX, Country : United States, Occupation : disabled, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[Paul-C]

I concur with Andrew’s comment and believe that Americans have developed a tendency to emphasize their ethnic differences rather than the things we have in common. We need to return to the ‘melting pot’ idea that made America great and get away from our modern multi-cultural society which divides us.

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Name : Paul-C, City : Salt Lake City, State : UT, Country : United States, 

[Leslie Doolittle]

The ideal of true democracy allows us to welcome individuals from other countries without stripping them of their natural heritage. By using hyphenated ethnicity identification you allow the individual to retain their first and foremost identity.The single most important feature that separates America from other nations is not our freedom, but our ability to fight for and express our freedom, regardless of what our national origin may be.

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Name : Leslie Doolittle, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : American Indian, Religion : Native American, Age : 32, City : Durant, State : OK, Country : United States, Occupation : political scientist, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[Courtney]

I disagree with you but I know some people that do agree with you. I believe that what is so great about North America is that we are diverse and have many cultures. We have the right to identify with a certain culture or religion or ethnicity. I live in Toronto one of the most diverse cities in the world. Sure we have problems with rascism but generally everybody gets along, you know us good old Canadian peace-keepers, eh? When people ask me what nationality I am I tell them that I’m Native-Canadian, British, German, and Ukranian. Our countries were founded by different ethnicities we shouldn’t all jump in the melting pot but be a mosaic, almost like a quilt, all different patches but all joined by being of the same continent.

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Name : Courtney, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Native American/British/German/Ukranian, Religion : Christian, Age : 18, City : Toronto, State : NA, Country : Canada, Occupation : University Student, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[KL]

As you mentioned in your query, the hyphen is not the exclusive domain of blacks in this country. The Irish and Italians in particular have celebrated their origins for decades. Many in this country (including me) happen to be in agreement with you in believing that we need to focus more on our similarities and less on our differences. With that said, the real reason you see so much of this is BECAUSE it seperates and distracts us. That serves a purpose, and it’s not a good one. When more people realize that and reject both the hyphen and racial classification as a whole (screw the checkbox!), we’ll ALL be better off.

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Name : KL, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Age : 42, City : Hickory, State : NC, Country : United States, Occupation : IT, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[W. Jones]

I understand your frustration, but I use African American becuase ‘Black’ doesn’t fit. I am light-skinned and there are many racial mixtures in my bloodline. African-American describes what I am, an American of African descent, which implies this unique history where one-drop of Black blood used to make you Black. I won’t dwell in the past, but history helps us understand. Most hypenated Americans didn’t start this race classification thing. For generations all we wanted was to be just plain Americans. My grandfather and father tried by going to war, going to school, opening businesses, buying homes, but were still classified and limited by racial terms they did not invent, colored, Negro or the plain ol’ N word. Fast forward to now. Things are better, but many Blacks only overcame the inferiority taught to them by looking to Africa (realities and myths) so they include that in their identity.

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Name : W. Jones, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 40, City : Kansas City, State : MO, Country : United States, Occupation : communications, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Orangeblossom]

The American society will not let it go. Everytime you fill out a job application, companies want ways to idetinfy everyone. Male/feamle, young/old, colored/non-colored. Due to histories of injustice, including places outside of America, now people have to know this information to make sure they are not overlooking the likes and dislikes of other peopple. I have compassion for multiracial people who identify with all their ethnicities, yet they have to choose one. I live in Germany now, people identify me as American, and that’s more than I can say for my own country.

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Name : Orangeblossom, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Christian, Age : 26, City : Ulm, State : NA, Country : Germany, Occupation : housewife, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Lower middle class, 

[thomas]

I agree with the previous sentiment. even though a person’s great- great- great- grandparents may have born in Ireland, or as a ‘Native American,’ or in Africa, does this entitle them to be called something other than American? if someone wants to live in America and be an American citizen, drop the hyphen. but if we are using hyphens, why arent white people called european-american. it sure beats the stuffing out of ‘caucasian.’ where did they get that name?

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Name : thomas, Gender : M, Age : 17, City : leavenworth, State : KS, Country : United States, Occupation : student, Social class : Middle class, 

[Stephani]

I am Native American. Thats who I am first and foremost. I am not ‘American’ I am an American. People who represent that other part of their heritage are simply giving respect to their ancestory. To think that people seperating themselves from this label, is a bad thing- is wrong. Race labels have nothing to do with our country as a whole, and nothing to do with ‘issues’ in America.

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Name : Stephani, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Yes Please, Race : American Indian, Religion : Non Denominational, Age : 21, City : Beaverton, State : OR, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : 2 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Richard]

Andrew, please do realize that ours is a country of immigrants, children of immigrants, grandchildren of immigrants, etc. Therefore, despite the wishes of the power-hungry WASPs and their poorer, ignorant, and, sometimes bloodthirsty brethren – the rednecks – that this country is to be a ‘melting pot,’ it remains, healthily, a ‘salad bowl’ or ‘smorgasbord table,’ where we’re together as Americans, yet we remember our traditions because some of us still keep in touch with our cousins and other distant relatives in the ‘Old Countries.’ That, my friend is good for America because we are the bridges between the U.S. and the world; we are little ambassadors. We also tend to be more open-minded and educated than you inbred lot of chauvinists who have, like Dubya, created the animosity that the world has for America. I am a Polish-American and proud of who I am and what my people contributed to America. Also, I, unlike you, do not have issues with any other person because of his/her nationality or ethnicity because all cultures are unique and beautiful. Would you rather have a garden full of only one type of flower? Or, wouldn’t you say that a variety of flowers is what makes the eyes and the soul happy? Think about it! Besides hyphenated Americans are not disloyal Americans because what comes before the hyphen does not diminish or obscure ‘American’ – it only enhances it. As for treason, even ‘real Americans’ can be traitors because of a personal character flaw that is only their own. Peace and Best Regards!!! Enjoy the diversity of this country!

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Name : Richard, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Catholic, Age : 44, City : Philadelphia, State : PA, Country : United States, Occupation : Social Worker, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

[Missy]

I don’t believe it so much is a lack of interest in being American, as it is being proud of your ethnic heritage. I am Korean-American – half Korean/half American – a lot of Americans make the mistake of thinking everyone who is American is ‘caucasian.’ I don’t think you realize how annoying it is to meet someone for the first time, for say a job interview or whatnot, and have them sit and look at you, until you finally mention your ethnic upbringing and they go ‘Oh! That’s it! I was wondering what you were! I could tell you were something!’ I mean, what does that mean? ‘I could tell you were something’? um, I’m just a human. We do write it that way (‘Other ethinicity’-American) b/c people ask. If you could accept the fact that I was American, no questions asked, that’d be fine, but most people can’t. Oh and American-Korean just doesn’t have that nice ring to it!

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Name : Missy, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Korean-American, Age : 22, City : Honolulu, State : HI, Country : United States, Occupation : Student, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[larry]

I couldn’t agree more. If you were born in the United States of America, you are simply an American. No if’s, and’s or but’s about it. My roots are from Italy, but I don’t consider myself to be an Italian-American. As a matter of fact I consider myself to be a native American, yet I belong to no tribes or Indian reservations. The sad thing is some people who give themselves a hyphenated nationality can’t tell you where the country or region from which they are so proud to be from is located. It amazes me how people who claim to not want to be treated any differently or looked at differently will go out of their way to make sure YOU know they are not an average JOE.

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Name : larry, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Age : 32, City : charlotte, State : NC, Country : United States, Education level : 4 Years of College, 

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