Quote of the Day :: 2010 Census Edition
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.
- Source: Theodore Roosevelt – True Americansim
Something to think about when filling out your Census form, or just in life in general.
The above quote is what “post-racial” means. We are Americans, or United Statesian. No need for hyphens.
I dream of a day, where we can put Race, or Nationality behind us.
We are the Unites States. Let us celebrate that, without the stigma of race of nationality…
Seems like there is a difference between identifying yourself publicly (and proudly) as a hyphenated american, and being asked directly what nation/race you hail from.
One is a mindset that I agree should disappear (and will over time), the other is a statistical measure.
I would also say that rather than those of us who identify simply as “American” scornfully looking down on the hyphenated americans for their hyphens, it is as much our responsibility to make them feel welcome so that in time they will come to feel their hyphens are unnecessary. Soapbox ranting about people that come to our country and don’t speak english, or clog up the emergency rooms, or commit crime… is distancing… and reason enough for these people to cling longingly to their hyphens.
Comment by Cisco — March 16, 2010 @ 9:39:01 AM
So what’s the big hype about the census? A few popular radio hosts are making a huge deal about it and saying we should consider not filling it out. It seemed pretty simple to me-how many people are living in your house and what ethnicity are you? I’m not seeing the conspiracy here.
Comment by Chan — March 18, 2010 @ 10:48:27 PM
I don’t get it either. Except that it is a way of protesting the government by not going along with what they are asking for. And not in a way that would land you in jail like not paying your taxes.
But it’s cutting off your nose to spite your face… imagine what the House would look like if no conservatives filled out the census.
Comment by Cisco — March 19, 2010 @ 9:51:50 AM