I Am an American First
The USA is the Melting Pot of the World
America is known as the `melting pot' of the world. All types of blood make up this land we call the U S. It is totally populated by Emigrants. Yes, even the Indians came here from somewhere else. They just got here about 50,000 years before the white man. But again, I am first and foremost... An American.
I am proud of my `Indian' ancestry and give programs about it all through Texas to anyone who will listen. I love having Irish blood and live up to it's temper. I practice being a Scot at Scottish gathering in Texas and South Dakota.
I wonder sometimes if we as a Nation don't worry too much about where we came from and don't spend enough time working on where we are going. Too many times, I hear on the news about the `African-American' who did this and that. Or, I hear about the `Mexican-American' who was arrested for this reason or that. How about those `Chinese-Americans' that said such and such? I've been in the news a few times; dozens & dozens of times. I don't ever remember hearing any reference about me being a Scot, short, white or bald. I wonder if that would have been true if I had been black, brown, or purple????
Am I the only one that wonders `what am I'? Am I an `American-Native-Scot-Irish' white guy? I think it is a great thing to be proud of your ancestry but IT really doesn't make you who you are. Where you live and how you live your life is what shapes who you are and reflects what you are. I wonder if we don't, sometimes, use where our forefathers came from as a crutch to get one through life or to `draw attention' to one's own self.
I am proud of my bloodlines from the different parts of the world but `I AM AN AMERICAN' first and foremost. My father came from Bastrop Texas. My mother came from Cedar Creek Texas. I was born in Texas and, I think, that by itself, makes me an American. I am not going to Ireland to dispute the British Rule. I'm not going to scalp anyone and go off & live in a Tipi. I'm not planning to return to Scotland, pick up a claymore and do combat. I do plan to live in this great country of OURS and be an American as best I can.
I will admit I have a lot of Tee Shirts that have Scottish sayings on them. Again I am very proud of the far away lands my people came from to get here. But the point is ... they came here. I was born here. Some ancestors came in bondage, some in slavery, and some looking for a better place. They came here for many, many reasons. The United States of America is that better place today REGARDLESS of how our forefathers got here or why.
I fear, we as a nation pay too much attention to our differences and that might be one of the social problems of our land. We, who come here stood under many different flags and there is nothing wrong with loving those flag. But we as a people need to learn to stand under one flag in this land - the American flags.
We as a nation need to think first as one people (Americans) aND then remember our different heritages. We do not need to use our different heritages to create social differences in our people. It is AMERICANS that make up America.
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Joke of the day: What do you call a person that is part Indian, Irish, & Scottish but lives in America??
ANSWER - an American
Published by Jay Wilson
I have been writing for 30 years and have been a columnist for 4 newspapers during that time. I also enjoy writing short stories. I have recently finished my second novel and have started on a third. View profile
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9 Comments
Post a CommentI was born a citizen of the United States of America or a Unitedstatesian. People from Brazil or El Salvador or Canada do not call themselves "Americans" but we all share the continent. What makes the US great is that we are a country without a nationality attached to whatever we call ourselves, a true pot to melt. The government itself, wants to keep the citizens separate by labeling us by what used to be called "Nationality" but is now termed "race". My race is the human race. My father was quite proud to become a Naturalized Citizen, so I guess that is why I lost the hypen.
Well Jeff, You might find all those things you are so proud of harder to have in other cultures and lands. I feel your comments a little off base though... we were talking about cultures and heritages as in being proud of being an American first and foremost. I don't think many would put their families down the list as to what is important to them... Really Jeff.. Is that what you read in my story???? orare we just `stirring the pot'???
First and foremost, I am a human..I am a husband, a father, a person with many interests and talents, and a varied background..and yes, I am an American....but it is far from "first and foremost" in my heritage or life.
My family on both sides came from many places to the US not that long ago(about 100 years ago). These places include Denmark,Sweden,England,Hungry, and Germany. Although I was rasied with many traditions of those places, I was born here. I too am an American first and I agree with a lot of what you say. Lets focus more on what we have in common and better the world together.
This is very true. I am a total mix of heritages as well and while I find it interesting to learn about those cultures I consider myself to be simply American. All of this excess labeling seems to just be creating more confusion in our society. Also, the surge of "multi-culturalism" in the last 10 years or so is much more narrow then they would have you believe. When I was in college in NJ in 1999 I was on a planning committee for campus activities. They wanted to have a multi-cultural night. When I suggested having Irish step dancers or an Oktoberfest-type section for my German and Irish backgrounds I was told that those were not actually other cultures. The only cultures they were interested in including were Hispanic and African American. What is wrong with this picture??
I'm Irish, Ukrainian, Scottish, British, French-Canadian, and Dutch. Above all, I'm American! I wish more people thought like we do!
Hmmm, if even the Indians were immigrants, than what is an American? (this is a rhetorical question)
Very nice! I'm all about not ever again hearing what kind of an American one is. American is enuff for me.
Say it Loud and Proud, brother!