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Should our government make it mandatory that everyone be called "American" as opposed to black/african american, white/caucasian, hispanic/latino. etc...?

Do you feel this would bring us together as a single society and cut down on "us against them factor" that seems to go on in our own country? Could this further merge our ancestoral backgrounds? Sushi is a great example of cuisine that was born in America, but rooted from Asia.

Would this eliminate a need for Black History, Womens History, Island Pacific Heritage, etc..if our history books were written to reflect the contributions of everyone? I am not saying squeeze out George Washington, but there is more to the birth of this nation then him or Ben Franklin.

Is this a bad idea, band-aid or a prelude to a solution?

2007-05-15 09:49:18 · 21 answers · asked by BionicNahlege 5 in Society & Culture Cultures & Groups Other - Cultures & Groups

21 answers

I think yes AND no. I think we American citizens should be required to be called American for the sake of filling out forms, for example, as opposed to black, hispanic, white, asian, etc...

Otherwise, I think we should start referring to one another as humans. You're really on to something here. You might get negative feedback from closed-minded folks who can't let go of their need to harp on black, white, latino/a, asian, this or that. But I completely understand where you're coming from, and I do NOT think that it would just be a band-aid. I believe that it would be a positive step in the right direction. I LOVE what you have to say about combining our histories into one! As I've said before, if we seperate our histories then we'll remain seperate in the future.

2007-05-15 09:58:44 · answer #1 · answered by SINDY 7 · 2 1

I have never understood what all the squawling was about anyhow. We are all in this together, so we should try our best to get along. I am an agnostic, but I will quote Jesus here: "A house divided against itself cannot stand." This may be the United States, but we as a nation are not united. We are a bunch of bickering, quarrelling factions. It is sad. Another great quote from Jesus is the Golden Rule, though he is not the first person who ever expressed it. I think it should not be that difficult to respect each other's differences. After all, we are all human, and we are all Americans, though a lot of foreigners seem to not like us calling ourselves that.

That is another thing that seems very petty and mean to me. After all, America is part of the name of our country. Why can't they be big enough to not quibble over such trifles? And why do we have to quibble over things like the color of a person's skin or where their ancestor's came from? Mine came from Ireland, Scotland, and right here on the North American continent. I promise to refrain from hating anyone who will do me the same courtesy.

2007-05-15 10:03:03 · answer #2 · answered by harridan5 4 · 1 1

BAD IDEA, you can't legislate patriotism.
NEWS FLASH-many latinos are Americans(South America is an America).
U S citizens are not the only Americans. From Canada to Argentina "Americans" are everywhere. Whatever country you are a citizen of you should be proud to declare it and defend it or you should go to a country where you are willing to claim it as yours. The "United States of America" is a democracy with certain freedoms, none of which should be taken by the government. It is your right to call yourself anything you want but as the song goes "I'm proud to be an American" and would hope you are too. We're not perfect but we try.

2007-05-15 10:06:29 · answer #3 · answered by jimbo 2 · 0 2

NO it is always good to celebrate everyone's history. What is wrong to be called African American, or Hispanic American, or me an Irish American. These days we are mixed with so many other races we aren't a %100 percent of everything. It is always good to celebrate culture, diversity, and respect everyone.

2007-05-15 09:53:01 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1 2

I don't know. I am proud to consider myself a Scottish American, but the American part is definitely more important to me. In fact, neither my father or his father would call themselves anything else but American. I don't think we need all those "histories" now. it's part of American history. You can make legislation for this, but that won't stop people from calling themselves "whatever" American.

2007-05-15 09:54:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2 1

I think it would -help-, but I don't think it's the solution. The main problem is the fact that our 'freedom of speech' has turned on us. We are so worried about offending other people that we can't say ANYthing anymore, without making all of these extra statements to account for anybody with different viewpoints, etc. We need a lot of work before we can even begin to correct all of the problems this country has.

2007-05-15 09:52:57 · answer #6 · answered by gilgamesh 6 · 0 3

More people will protest to this idea though in a perfect world it might work but our world is far from perfect. If it makes some happy it will make some unhappy coz our land is same but people are very different.

2007-05-15 09:54:01 · answer #7 · answered by fijiman 2 · 2 1

yep, American is what we should all be called. If people don't wanna be called American, don't live in America.

They should also be legally here, pay taxes, and everything else that makes them a good AMERICAN citizen. Again, if they don't like it, go somewhere else.

2007-05-15 11:29:19 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

Bad idea, because I hate my country. Not the people (Well... For the most part. Can't say much about Bush.).


I would much rather be called Linaeve, because that is my name (that I gave to myself), and because that is labeling, and that is something that should stop.

2007-05-15 09:55:25 · answer #9 · answered by Lina 5 · 0 2

no because to be honest with you im embarrased to be an american. Our people are starving and for what? we help out all the other countrys but our own. Personally I think id reather be canadian. Atleast they get free health care.ANd for the record I also think we should be proud of our history good or bad. and ameica is a melting pot made up

2007-05-15 09:55:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1 4

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