Mexican-American, Afro-American. What about the rest of the world? I am American with (I think) English, German, Italian and Irish genes. Since my great-great-great-great grand father came to, what is now, North Carolina in 1720, I probably have genes from Africa. Do I need 5 hyphens?
2006-07-13 05:42:09 · 13 answers · asked by Dave B 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Immigration
Because people LOVE to label EVERYTHING with as long and nonsensical a label as possible. Black people are called African-American, when not all black people come from Africa, and not all black people live in America. What if a white person was from Africa, would they be called an African-American? Of course not. PC has gone way to far.
2006-07-13 07:59:21 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The government labels people for some stupid reason. In the 50's there was no such label as Mexican-Americans. They were labeled Latin-Americans. But I suspect it's because of the close proximity to Mexico and the strong cultural ties. I agree we should drop labels. If you were born In America, you are an American period. If you think labels are silly, try the stupid ethnicity classification. All Latinos are Hispanic. Anybody else is Other than Hispanic. Silly, huh?
2006-07-13 15:03:43 · answer #2 · answered by Sati 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think Americans should be hyphenated. The whole point is not where you came from or where your ancestors came from but where you are now. You should be proud to be an American.
When I see people hyphenating their citizenship, I wonder where their loyalties lay. In a war, would they be on the side of the USA? I don't trust anyone who hyphenates their citizenship.
2006-07-13 13:34:06 · answer #3 · answered by sister_godzilla 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
THAT is something i've ALWAYS wondered about myself!!! Aren't we ALL Americans??? I just can NOT see the point in all this!!! I understand people being proud of their heritage,but MOST people have a MIXED heritage!!! Like me, for example, I am Irish,Cherokee,etc,etc!! But i do not go around calling myself an Irish-Cherokee-American!! Seems to me,since we are ALL Americans,and we all live in America, that's the ONLY name we should call ourselves.
2006-07-13 12:57:33 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm proud not to need a hyphenate. As far as I can document my family began coming here in 1752. I'm as American as they come. But, if I did it would be Scotch-Irish-German-Native American-and probably something else in there too-American. Thanks, I needed the giggle.
2006-07-13 17:04:44 · answer #5 · answered by carboncopy3570 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't hyphenate either I was born in America and that is what I am American
2006-07-13 12:46:08 · answer #6 · answered by mick987g 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Never fully understood that myself ... you hear about Irish Americans, Italian Americans ... but you never really hear about Vietnamese-Americans, Danish-Americans, etc., etc. How about only American? After all, isn't that what we are supposed to be??
2006-07-13 12:49:16 · answer #7 · answered by Sashie 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you want 5 hyphens, OK. If not, don't. There's nothing wrong with being proud of your heritage.
2006-07-13 12:46:13 · answer #8 · answered by Pitchow! 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Excellent friggin question. And how come the foreign name comes before the American part. Shows you where their heart is doesn't it?
2006-07-13 13:23:51 · answer #9 · answered by sassyk 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because your roots defines who you are as a person..... yes i was born in the u.s. but i have strong ties to my roots in Mexico.... my grandparents didn't fight in WWII, they fought in the Mexican revolution..... we don't eat sandwiches in my house..... we eat tortillas and beans.... we don't watch t.v. all in English we also enjoy the Spanish language shows.......because of the reality i live in.... and the threshold i live between two countries and two cultures..... i am both an American and a Mexican!!!!! and damn proud of both!!!!!!
2006-07-13 13:25:30 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋