Well said. A few days ago on a news website I read a long piece about  
racism in France. People who live in glass houses...

Nancy

-------
I was never lost, but I was bewildered once for three days.

--Daniel Boone



On Jan 21, 2007, at 8:23 PM, James Brothers wrote:

> 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
> [log in to unmask]
>
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