The Color of Fear

[DantesInferno]

I've been studying racism lately, and I heard this quote that really stopped me. Not to exclude those who aren't within the borders of the USA, your input would be greatly appreciated as well...but I was wondering what you thought about what this man had to say (it was a very heated statement):

"There is no American ethnicity. You have to throw away your ethnicity to become American."

Just me...pondering yet another aspect of society...:right:

[AEstud]

Very good quote, I like it alot. Very interesting and makes complete sense.

[kris]

I think the quote is true to an extent. No, you don't have to throw your ethnicity away to become American, but in the process of becoming American, you do lose it. Not completely, and it doesn't really go away, it just gets spread out, so you share others and they share yours. Think of it this way, large immigration populations, the Irish for instance, once upon a time, they would have been known simply as the Irish. Within a few generations, they were Americans, mostly indistinguishable from others. Sure, they kept a few things, but mostly they had been assimilated.

Think of the immigration from Mexico now. In 50 years what will it be like? Cross marriages will have tons of people with half and half heritages. Spanish will either become a far more common part of American speech, or it will fade out. I'm inclined to think many spanish words will become used everyday. We'll have gone from a very pure population of immigrants with a single language and heritage to a watered down population of born citizens with no unique heritage or language, the main commonality is that they are American.

Its what happens when people come here, they lose some, they gain something, and it all evens out eventually.

[JD@af]

If there's one thing to be hated about computers, it's when they goof and eradicate something you've written, as my not so trusty Dell has just done to me. @!$*%#@&$* Sorry, I will have to get back to this again, later.

[speediva]

I actually just finished studying this in Sociology...

But personally, I think that America is a sort of melting pot. Everyone knows and usually recognizes their heritage. Some people embrace it, others accept it, and yet others go so far as to deny it. Depending upon what a local society's response is, that is what happens. Example: New Orleans has a mixture of almost every individual's heritage... Ontario is (supposed to be) still rather embraced in French culture, but in Maine, USA the locals call the French Americans "frogs" as a derogatory comment on how they should embrace the new culture of North America as a whole...

Personally, I'm 3rd generation on my mom's side, and technically (in part) a native on my dad's side, so I am just a part of "today's" society.

[gang$tarr]

i think it's good.... and it's somewhat true cause if you're an american it doesn't matter what your ethnicity is, you're still american

USA all the way!


but like KB said you don't have to throw away your ethnicity