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Another question about race

Is it wrong to refer to themselves as any of the following?

  • No, its fine to be refered to as listed

    Votes: 14 53.8%
  • Yes, its wrong to be refered to as listed

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • No, I have neve expressed disapproval toward these designations

    Votes: 4 15.4%
  • Yes, I have expressed disapproval toward these designations

    Votes: 6 23.1%
  • No, I'm fine "-American" in these cases

    Votes: 6 23.1%
  • Yes, its wrong to add "-American" in these cases

    Votes: 2 7.7%

  • Total voters
    26

Smeagol

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Do you there anything unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to refer to themselves as any of the following with respect to ethic heritage?

- Italian
- Indian
- Chinese
- Irish
- Jewish
- German
- Arab

If you do consider it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong; have you ever in your life expressed disapproval of the specific references listed?

To clear up any confusion that ethnicity is being discussed and not nationality of which the person is a patriotic citizen of America; is it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to add "-American" in that reference?
 
In most contexts it's harmless. In instances requiring greater precision or greater emphasis on citizenship, the practice can be unhelpful.

I'm a mutt, and the issue doesn't arise, with one exception. I recognize that despotic and criminal nature of the War of Northern Aggression, and I reject the detestable Lincoln Myth. So sometimes people who seem to think that I'm over 150 years old call me a Confederate.
 
Yes, IMHO, putting anything, implied to be more important, in front of American is generally unpatriotic. Just as there are rules/customs stating the relative positions of other flags to the US flag, I have a problem with folks placing things in front of American, with the notable exceptions of things like Proud American, Patriotic American or Native American. Using phrases like American of Chinese decent is OK by me but, using Chinese-American implies that one is first, and foremost, Chinese but also happens to be of American citizenship.
 
We are a melting pot society, so it is perfectly appropriate for people to refer to their heritage since we benefit from the admixture the way we do.

It only becomes divisive and unpatriotic when people adopt a multiculturalist attitude instead of melting pot where attitudes are in place that seek to preserve the distinct nature of the various sub cultures in such a way that each operates independently and different rules apply to different groups.

All dogs are dogs, but some are beagles and some irish setters. Doesn't keep em from playing together at the dog park.
 
Do you there anything unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to refer to themselves as any of the following with respect to ethic heritage?

- Italian
- Indian
- Chinese
- Irish
- Jewish
- German
- Arab

If you do consider it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong; have you ever in your life expressed disapproval of the specific references listed?

To clear up any confusion that ethnicity is being discussed and not nationality of which the person is a patriotic citizen of America; is it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to add "-American" in that reference?

Using the hyphen for first generation is standard, IMO. After that, it's usually not applicable.

Most people who are American refer to their heritage as being X. If they leave out the heritage part, then I don't think they are truly patriotic at heart. They are separating themselves by their nationality from the great pool which is Americans.

I am an American, but my heritage is German, Dutch, English, Irish. Scottish, Hungarian and a few stray cats. Casual dropping of the word heritage is common, obvious exclusion of the word is separating themselves.
 
Yes, IMHO, putting anything, implied to be more important, in front of American is generally unpatriotic. Just as there are rules/customs stating the relative positions of other flags to the US flag, I have a problem with folks placing things in front of American, with the notable exceptions of things like Proud American, Patriotic American or Native American. Using phrases like American of Chinese decent is OK by me but, using Chinese-American implies that one is first, and foremost, Chinese but also happens to be of American citizenship.

Why is Native American an exception but Jewish American is not?

IMHO its more about being less wordy. I don't think Americans of Italian ancestry are deliberately trying to imply their primary loyalties are with Italy and America comes second just because they might call themselves "Italian Americans" and not "Americans who happen to be of Italian heritage" and aren't even thinking the political correctness rules of the right. Rather, its just quicker to say.
 
I don't care what you call yourself as long as you pay your taxes and don't drive drunk.
 
Why is Native American an exception but Jewish American is not?

IMHO its more about being less wordy. I don't think Americans of Italian ancestry are deliberately trying to imply their primary loyalties are with Italy and America comes second just because they might call themselves "Italian Americans" and not "Americans who happen to be of Italian heritage" and aren't even thinking the political correctness rules of the right. Rather, its just quicker to say.

Head of line privilege was granted, by me, myself and I. ;)

Then why not American-Italian? It is just as short but conveys a different relative importance. ;)
 
Do you there anything unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to refer to themselves as any of the following with respect to ethic heritage?

- Italian
- Indian
- Chinese
- Irish
- Jewish
- German
- Arab

If you do consider it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong; have you ever in your life expressed disapproval of the specific references listed?

To clear up any confusion that ethnicity is being discussed and not nationality of which the person is a patriotic citizen of America; is it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to add "-American" in that reference?

Not every person can accurately identify themselves.
For example: My mother is Jewish, but my father German. My wife is Ukrainian. So my kids half Ukrainians, quarter Jews and quarter Germans.
Further more difficult: mother of my son's daughter, my daughter-in-low, comes from mixed Italian-Irish-Japanese family.
And how should call herself my granddaughter? Japanese-German-Italian-German-Irish-Jewish stew? American, is quite well.
 
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Do you there anything unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to refer to themselves as any of the following with respect to ethic heritage?

- Italian
- Indian
- Chinese
- Irish
- Jewish
- German
- Arab

If you do consider it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong; have you ever in your life expressed disapproval of the specific references listed?

To clear up any confusion that ethnicity is being discussed and not nationality of which the person is a patriotic citizen of America; is it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to add "-American" in that reference?

Jewish is a religious distinction not of country of origin and that is the only problem I have with people putting American at the end . Most people are of multiple nationalities and not of just one . Besides it brings up the question of how long does one need to reside in this country for one to be deemed just a American since everybody ( except the natives ) had to immigrate to this country .
 
Anthropologists tell us that the human race evolved in Africa. I'm human, and live in America, so I'm an African American.

Moreover, I was born here, so that makes me a native. I'm a native American.

And once upon a time, several generations ago, my ancestors immigrated from Scotland. That makes me a Scottish American.

I'm a native African Scottish American, and proud of it.
 
Jewish is a religious distinction .

Or, you could try learning a little bit about the world.

.......at least enough to realize that being Jewish is based more on ethnicity than religion for most -- especially here in the United States.
 
Jewish is a religious distinction not of country of origin and that is the only problem I have with people putting American at the end . Most people are of multiple nationalities and not of just one . Besides it brings up the question of how long does one need to reside in this country for one to be deemed just a American since everybody ( except the natives ) had to immigrate to this country .

Jewish has several possible meanings. I know at least one Jewish guy who is an atheist.
 
Do you there anything unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to refer to themselves as any of the following with respect to ethic heritage?

- Italian
- Indian
- Chinese
- Irish
- Jewish
- German
- Arab

If you do consider it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong; have you ever in your life expressed disapproval of the specific references listed?

To clear up any confusion that ethnicity is being discussed and not nationality of which the person is a patriotic citizen of America; is it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to add "-American" in that reference?

:mad: "German" is our word!!!
 
I find it utterly ridiculous. If you're an American, be an American. If not, go somewhere else. It's as simple as that.
 
I find it utterly ridiculous. If you're an American, be an American. If not, go somewhere else. It's as simple as that.

I hear people refer to themselves as Italian all the time. They've never even been to Italy. It doesn't bother me, or come to think of it anybody else I've know of outside of this thread but I do find it interesting in consideration of all to be considered.
 
Jewish has several possible meanings. I know at least one Jewish guy who is an atheist.

I don't think that is possible it is a religious distinction . A ethnicity cannot be changed after birth as a religion can . If it were true then Christians would be Jewish .
 
Do you there anything unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to refer to themselves as any of the following with respect to ethic heritage?

- Italian
- Indian
- Chinese
- Irish
- Jewish
- German
- Arab

If you do consider it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong; have you ever in your life expressed disapproval of the specific references listed?

To clear up any confusion that ethnicity is being discussed and not nationality of which the person is a patriotic citizen of America; is it unpatriotic, divisive or otherwise wrong for Americans to add "-American" in that reference?

Ethnicity is not nationality, first off.

Secondly, if one of the ethnicities you mentioned is in a person's heritage, I don't see any reason why they shouldn't acknowledge it as such. There's nothing wrong with recognizing where a person came from, so long as they are fully aware of where they happen to reside today.

"American" really isn't a workable ethnicity anyway. We are far too diverse.
 
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Or, you could try learning a little bit about the world.

.......at least enough to realize that being Jewish is based more on ethnicity than religion for most -- especially here in the United States.

As for yourself . It's as much as a ethnicity compared to other religions . I did not say it wasn't a ethnicity , since ethnicity is a very broad and general term . Its that after which point every religion would need to be considered a ethnicity .
 
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I don't think that is possible it is a religious distinction . A ethnicity cannot be changed after birth as a religion can . If it were true then Christians would be Jewish .

No, Jewish can be religious, it can be ethnic and it can be cultural. I knew someone whose Chinese father was Jewish. I know a bunch of Jewish atheists. It means several different things.
 
For the record, ethnicity and race are not the same thing. Just wanted to make that clear.
 
To my way of thinking, unless you're able to hyphenate as follows: American-Veteran, you're really only a quasi-patriot at best and your rantings as to what is and isn't patriotic are merely noise.

Now, don't get me wrong, I fully support your 1st Amendment right to make as much useless noise as you want, I've served to defend it, after all.

Just don't expect me to take you seriously when you start talking patriotism, regardless of how seriously you may take yourself.
 
No, Jewish can be religious, it can be ethnic and it can be cultural. I knew someone whose Chinese father was Jewish. I know a bunch of Jewish atheists. It means several different things.

Its still a religious distinction. A male/female can be of a country and have a religion but it does not show where the person has came from or their origin or their history or traditions , just like most other religions . You can change them at any time . Jewish Atheist contradicts itself .
 
To my way of thinking, unless you're able to hyphenate as follows: American-Veteran, you're really only a quasi-patriot at best and your rantings as to what is and isn't patriotic are merely noise.

Now, don't get me wrong, I fully support your 1st Amendment right to make as much useless noise as you want, I've served to defend it, after all.

Just don't expect me to take you seriously when you start talking patriotism, regardless of how seriously you may take yourself.

That is an interesting take on things, indeed. So patriotism, as defined by veteran status, is extremely low for females (2%) and the young males (14% of those below 40 years old), yet strongest in the elderly (80% of those 80-85 years old).

In U.S., 24% of Men, 2% of Women Are Veterans
 
Its still a religious distinction. A male/female can be of a country and have a religion but it does not show where the person has came from or their origin or their history or traditions , just like most other religions . You can change them at any time . Jewish Atheist contradicts itself .

No it doesn't, someone can be culturally or ethnically Jewish and be an atheist at the same time. I'm sorry you don't comprehend the concepts involved.
 
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