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 > > > >