Very good point.  I just find myself frustrated with the use of hypens in
describing people as if some groups are not fully American.  I am willing to
admit that it is a pet peeve and I can be a little touchy about it.
Ancestry matters but we are all Americans...

Regards,
Jay


On 5/21/07, Anita Wills <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> Many times it is not the people doing this, but the media and
> government agencies. I guess it makes it easier to keep track of
> folks. When the racial classifications started, it was the government
> quantifying people. After all, even Americus Vespucci, was not
> American (smile).
>
> Anita
>
>
>
>
> -- J S Freeman <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> 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
> > >
> >
> >
>