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Date: | Sun, 21 Jan 2007 20:23:44 -0500 |
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Except when attending an ethnic get together where a shared heritage
is of interest, I'm just an American. Which I will grant some
Canadians take issue with, as they too can be styled "Americans". At
a Highland Games or Celtic Festival my Irish, Scots, and Welsh
ancestry is of importance otherwise it really doesn't matter. My clan
affiliation is as well. When attending a Renaissance Fair the English
can also be of interest. Seldom, if ever, is my Norwegian or French
ancestry of significance. When attending Pow-wows that I am Mohawk
and Ottawa is most important. But for everyday use, I'm an American.
That there have been and still are racists in The United States goes
without saying. And there is certainly room for improvement. But the
fact that we can have this conversation, and perhaps even more
importantly are having this conversation is more important. That many
Americans still view our nation as a work in progress is a good
thing. Too much of the rest of the world is very willing to criticize
others, but unwilling to look at themselves.
And being over 40 I can remember "White Only" signs, country clubs
who systematically excluded all but a select few who were the right
color and went to the right church, and other overt forms of
discrimination. We've come a long way and still have a ways to go.
But that we recognize we are not there yet is significant. Much of
the rest of the world (and I've seen it first hand) is perfectly
happy with where they are and see no reason to change how they do
things.
James Brothers, RPA
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