On 5/21/07, J S Freeman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Greetings:
>
> I was referring to the use of hyphenations for certain groups of
> Americans.  Are we not all Americans?  We can be proud of our ancestries but
> do we need to quantify things by labeling things Asian-American or
> European-American?  Theodore Roosevelt had some very interesting things to
> say about such ideas.  Label when necessary but going too far down that road
> begins to cast one group against another as if we are not all Americans.
> The history of black Americans and American Indians is AMERICAN history and
> should be part of the whole not looked at as something apart as if it is in
> a vaccuum.
>
> Regarding St Patrick, that technically is a religious holiday, though the
> Irish have adopted it as an ethnic holiday.  If you are not Irish or Roman
> Catholic, I see no reason to celebrate it but I guess it is a harmless
> pasttime if you do.  The melting pot of this wonderful country has made it
> an American holiday.
>
> Regarding Cinco de Mayo, what is the reason Americans should celebrate
> it?  This is a day that celebrates a Mexican political event; I would not
> object if it were truly a cultural festival but I dont expect the British to
> celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July so I dont see the point of
> celebrating of Cinco de Mayo, or Dominion Day, the Candian holiday on July
> 1.
>
> I believe in ultimate freedom so I do not believe we should deny anyone
> the right to celebrate whatever they wish.  But teaching Cinco de Mayo, or
> Kwanzaa- a total fraud of a cultural festival- when we should be teaching
> American history strikes me as folly and a waste of time.
>
> Your obedient servant
> JS Freeman
>
>
>
>
>
> On 5/21/07, Jane Steele <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> >
> > To what hyphenated labels are you referring to?  And if we can celebrate
> > St. Patrick's Day can we as well celebrate holidays that all immigrants to
> > this country hold dear or should we just go with the traditional ones and
> > leave minorities out?  Please explain yourself.  After all St. Patrick was a
> > slave for a while during his lifetime just as Richard Popular was.  Jane
> > Steele.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > >From: J S Freeman <[log in to unmask]>
> > >Sent: May 21, 2007 12:04 AM
> > >To: [log in to unmask]
> > >Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?
> > >
> > >I agree with your general concern about the political correctness that
> > is
> > >infecting too many sectors of our society.  There is no reason why
> > Cinco de
> > >Mayo (which has nothing to do with America)  or Kwanzaa (a total fraud
> > >invented by a murderer) should be taught in schools.
> > >
> > >I would respectfully disagree about Harriett Tubman.  The point is to
> > teach
> > >history in all its complexities,  not package things for certain
> > audiences.
> > >Black history needs to be integrated into American history- which it
> > IS- and
> > >not taught as something in a vaccuum.
> > >
> > >A good example is the way Petersburg celebrates the many sacrifices and
> > >contributions of Richard Poplar, a black gentleman who was recognized
> > and
> > >lauded as a Confederate soldier and hero.  This may upset some
> > individuals'
> > >idea of what "should be" but the complexities and ironies in history
> > are
> > >often the most exciting discoveries.
> > >
> > >I agree with the comments of Ms Steele but those hypenated labels need
> > to
> > >go.
> > >
> > >Jay
> > >
> > >
> > >On 5/20/07, [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> You PC historians reap what you sow.  You spend time  teaching this
> > PC
> > >> history that "celebrates" such nonsense in American  History such as
> > >> Harriet Tubman,
> > >> Cinco De Mayo and Kwanzaa, and then are upset  when Americans can't
> > recite
> > >> the reasons behind the Fourth of July or Declaration  of
> > Independence.
> > >>
> > >> How about that human "global warming".
> > >>
> > >> J South
> > >>
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> ************************************** See what's free at
> > >> http://www.aol.com.
> > >>
> >
> >
> > Lillian Jane Steele
> >
>
>