Hyphenated Americans the Real Problem

The Federal Government has posted the largest monthly deficit in American history, $223 billion.  That same administration thinks they need to spend more. They tell the taxpayers that we must tighten our belts while they spend.

The government is telling us that our military leadership is too White, too male, not  reflecting race, ethnicity and gender as it should.  Too many people in America look out their windows and don't see Americans, they see hyphenated people.  Why can't those standing in in the court square shouting "we are all Muslims now" in response to Rep. Peter King's upcoming hearings on the radicalization of individuals in the U.S. simply say "we are all Americans".   You want to know the reason?

Answer:  Because we are NOT all Americans first, too many are something else first.  Too many in this country do not see themselves as proud citizens of this country, they see themselves as Hispanic-Americans, gay-LGTB-Americans, organized-union-Americans, and on and on.  You name it, you can hyphenate it and thus continue to cause divisions.  The hyphen becomes more important than the American. 

There is no place for dual nationalities in the United States of America.  Too many want to cling to their hyphen, whether it is a previous country or a current social issue of the day.

Any person not of your particular hyphenated group then becomes the enemy or at the least a less worthy American.  Many unionized Americans feel the non-unionized laborers owe them greater benefits, greater salaries. Like the story of the Ant and the Grasshopper, only different:

Today, we see the same fable acted out in the battle between the Public Sector Unions (the grasshopper) with their unsustainable benefit and pension funds and the ants who are really the taxpayers. The sad part about this fable is that the ant’s aren’t working for themselves, they are working to pay the taxes that support excessive (compared to the private sector) benefit/pension packages. They also work to pay the part of the salary that is deducted for the union dues and goes to fill the coffers of the Democratic Party.  (from A Shortage of Ants, by GM Roper)

Some non-White and non-heterosexual hyphenated individuals believe others owe them special privileges, easier entry into colleges, special scholarships, and  in the case of the non-heterosexual groups some even expect others to accept their alternative lifestyle as normal. 

The minority hyphenated groups see themselves as more important, better, and deserving of a louder voice than others.

In politics we can no longer disagree with those whose beliefs are different.  Some violently attack the candidate, the politician, and their wives, families and even attack their children.  The label becomes more important than anything. 

I urge all Americans to think about this hyphenated era we live in.  In years past a  hyphenated American was a derogatory thing, something ugly and negative, not as fully American as "unhyphenated" citizens, and it was an ugly thing.

Today being a hyphenated American is sought after, it is a badge of courage, it separated the holder from the rest.  Being different is desired.  The odder the better.

John Wayne wrote a poem which he read on radio concerning the hyphenated  American as it related to nationalized citizens, called "The Hyphen".  I think his words can be applied to all hyphenated Americans whether it be religious, political, sexual, whatever.  In part he said "If you use The Hyphen as a wall, You'll make your life mean ... and small.  An American is a special breed.  ...  United we stand...divided we fall.  We're Americans...and that says it all." Or at least it should.  But it doesn't.

We are so hyphenated, so divided into so many little, vying groups that we no longer have a unique American culture or unique American view.  We cannot go on this way and thrive as a nation.

Until we start thinking like Americans and Americans only, this country is doomed.  Until we start doing what is best for the country as one entity, and not like thousands of little sub groups of individuals all with their own wants, we can never continue to grow as we were founded. 

In my opinion there should be no special groups, no special interests, none.  We need to completely do away with special rights for special sub groups.  We are a nation divided and this must change.

 

Comments

[Leticia]

Wow!! Right on target! I am so glad to know that I am not the only one who does not appreciate all the hyphenated American.

Point in fact, we are all American, with various racial backgrounds.

There is no such thing as an Mexican-American, or African-American. Either you are Mexican citizen or an African citizen. I have never heard of any other nation claiming to be Australian-American. It's nonsense.

America love it or leave it, just leave the hyphen out of it.

[R.J. Godlewski]

To show you how ridiculous hyphenation is, my maternal grandparents were Polish, living in Austria. My paternal grandparents were also Polish, but living in Russia. Poland, as an independent country, did not exist for 126 years ending in 1918, after my family came over here.

So, I guess that makes my mom’s side Polish-Austrian-Americans and my dad’s family Polish-Russian-Americans. And, according to liberal logic, I am a Polish²-Austrian-Russian-American. God help any kids that I might have if I marry a Ukrainian, Colombian, or Chinese girl. ;o)

[New Attitude]

Excellent post. No further comment is necessary.

[Always On Watch]

"There is no place for dual nationalities in the United States of America."

Hear, hear!

America is no longer unified and will not stand as a nation. I'm sorry to have to say that.

[Skunkfeathers]

It is difficult to unite a nation that's being forcibly divided by a failed ideology, bent on dumbed-down education, command and control, and replacing freedom and liberty with socialist/communist dogma.

[JS]

Readers might like to see an article that makes similar point to Debbie's here: "On Being Real" : http://apoxonbothyourhouses.blogspot.com/2010/06/on-being-real_20.html

[afticker]

I am an American. My ancestors welcomed all of those from what ever land they came from. As time went on some began to hyphenate to set them apart. Eventually the government decided that they must hyphenate everyone and my people became native-Americans, not Cherokee-Americans just native but heck we already knew we were the "natives" and the rest of you hyphenated folk were here because we welcomed you. We wanted to be Americans too but we were stuck on land that your cows couldn't live on or where you couldn't raise crops but yet we were American's. In time of war we were Americans, not Indians or "native"Americans, just American's. So all those who want to hyphenate can kiss my Cherokee-native- Welsh- Irish-Dutch American butt. I am an AMERICAN FIRST AND LAST.

[Larry Faren]

This reminds me of a great essay I read in the WSJ twenty years ago in which an articulate "A-A" lady named Deborah Wright simply asked, "Would it be OK to just be American?"
SEE http://farenblog.blogspot.com/2008/11/would-it-be-ok-to-just-be-american.html

[Debbie]

Larry: Thanks for that link, much appreciated.

Thanks everyone for the input.

I think this topic is one we will be revisiting in the near future.

[GM Roper]

Excellent post, and thanks for the link Debbie. Much appreciated.

[Dennis]

Great Post...check out this Youtube link....
The title of the song is
"There's No Hyphen in American"
http://youtu.be/f7OQHi2MDBk