"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person's becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American...There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn't an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language.. And we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people." Theodore Roosevelt 1907
6 comments:
Which is why I despise the term "African-American." I can't find Africa-America!
Glenn, I agree. I despise ALL hyphenated American designations.
My grandparents were German immigrants. Most of their children were born in Germany and when they settled in South Dakota, they did not speak English- but they learned. And they ensured that their children learn and spoke ONLY English. Their sons enrolled in our armed services and fought against their native country in World War II because they were Americans.
So, am I supposed to call myself a German-American? That's insane. I am an American.
Another despicable designation is native American. Why is that exclusively used by Indians? I was born here in America and, by definition, that make me a native.
The P.C. answer is that only indigenous people qualify to be native Americans. But then I know a lot of American Indians who are more European than indigenous just like I know a lot of Mexicans who are more European than indigenous.
So then why can't I be designated native American? I am a mixture of several nationalities and a native of America.
Yep, I refuse to use the term "native American" because, as you pointed out, I AM a native American. They don't like "indian" because they aren't from India or the Indies, and I agree with that mis-identification being wrong. I prefer to call them aboriginal Americans.
aboriginal Americans - that's funny. I like it.
Aboriginal- NOUN one of the original or earliest known inhabitants of a country or region.
Aboriginal American really is a much more technically accurate designation.
That's why I came up with the idea. I was watching a movie years ago about the Australian Aborigines, and the idea hit me like a ton of bricks. I think it would be politically-correct also for them if we could just get them off the "native" trip - I think that was a media tag anyway, which they liked. I could be wrong, but the media at least propagated it.
Post a Comment