Hyphenated American

[Gator]

Saw this elsewhere and thought it appropriate

"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all... The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities, an intricate knot of German-Americans, Irish-Americans, English-Americans, French-Americans, Scandinavian-Americans or Italian-Americans, each preserving its separate nationality, each at heart feeling more sympathy with Europeans of that nationality, than with the other citizens of the American Republic... There is no such thing as a hyphenated American who is a good American. The only man who is a good American is the man who is an American and nothing else." Teddy Roosevelt

[wtnhunt]

Seen this before a time or two.

I am an American whose ancestors came from different parts of the world. My last name would come from my ancestors (my great grandfather) who came to this country from Belgium. That does not make me want to call myself Belgian American, however I am very proud of who my ancestors were none the less and do not think calling myself an American in any way changes that.

[stevebeilgard]

most of the world hates the fact that americans are mutts. it is our mixture that makes us great. and never forget that our forefathers left whatever country for a reason. i'm proud to be american.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

most of the world hates the fact that americans are mutts. it is our mixture that makes us great. and never forget that our forefathers left whatever country for a reason. i'm proud to be american.

You're exactly right Steve. OUR forefathers left their homelands to find a better life for themselves and their families. All they wanted was a place where they could be free to work and advance to best of their abilities. Unfortunately, today we have far too many wanting to come into this country because of our overly generous social and welfare programs. So instead of the hard working, freedom loving types, we get the lazy bum, criminal types.

BTW - My ancestry on my father's side is Russian. Probably Jews fleeing the Cossacks in the early 1800's, but there hasn't been anyone practicing Judism in the family as far back as anyone can remember. On my mother's side I'm Black Dutch and American Indian. And sometimes I DO hyphenate my nationality. I'm an Old-American.