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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