-American

Note: Before reading My Thoughts, please read My Disclaimer!

I'm an American, specifically a North American, more specifically a citizen of the U.S.A., by birth...and by the fact that I haven't moved to any other country. (Don't get me wrong: I love my country and I have no intention of going anywhere, but it's not like I left things behind to have a chance to live here. My citizenship was automatic.)

I have ancestors who used to live in Germany (actually Prussia at the time) and England. But, I'm not German-American, Prussian-American or English-American. I now live near Phoenix (Arizona), but my whole family lived in the St. Louis (Missouri) area. But, I'm not a St. Louis-Phoenician or a Missouri-Arizonan. It is within that context that I just don't understand the whole "Native-American", "African-American", etc. politically correct labels.

I've lived in the U.S. all of my life. The fact that my distant ancestors immigrated here is no credit/discredit to my having lived here my whole life. I mean no disrespect to American Indians, but they are no more native to this country than I am: They've lived here all of their lives, just like I have. Sure, their ancestors were here first, but so what? How can you take credit for something that you didn't do? Is it so distasteful to be referred to as Indians? Why?

Similarly, is a white guy who immigrates to the U.S. from South Africa an African-American? After all, he's actually lived in Africa, unlike almost everyone who's referred to as African-American. It would seem that he is more "deserving" of the name. Again, I mean no disrespect to blacks, I just don't understand the sensitivity to the term "black" and the preference for another term that is even more ridiculous. (Certainly, I've never met a black person who's skin was truly black. And, I know from looking in the mirror that while I may be pretty pale, my skin is still far from white. And, I really don't feel the least bit of animosity towards anyone that would describe me as a white guy. In fact, that's probably the term I'd use, if I was asked to provide a physical description of myself.)

When taking a step back from the topic, especially considering the gradual mixing of the ethnicities, what is the value in categorizing society by ethnicity / skin color, anyway? Doesn't that just reinforce/imply some sort of segregation, differentiation and stereotyping? What good purpose does that serve? If we are trying to get people to understand that skin color is completely unimportant, then why attempt to categorize people based on it?!

On a related note, what's with ethnic pride? How can you be proud to be a German-American, for example? Unless you yourself immigrated here from Germany, then it's not like you had a choice in the matter. You are your ethnicity by birth. It is nothing that you've worked for or earned. It's like being proud to be a man. Or, being proud to have brown hair. Or, proud to be right handed. I don't understand how anyone can be proud about those things.

On yet another related note, for those characteristics that you had/have no choice in (ethnicity, hair, age, gender, foot size...), if any decisions that are made about you (employment, scholarships...) that consider those characteristics, then that's just plain wrong. That's called discrimination. It's also called reverse discrimination (when a minority characteristic is given preference over a majority characteristic). Somehow, though, reverse discrimination is considered legitimate and affectionately referred to as "affirmative action" instead -- even championed as "compassionate". This travesty to justice is even more evil than discrimination, as it is government-sponsored and otherwise legitimized. It perpetuates the myth that people need help from the government in order to succeed. And, it makes it harder for me to succeed (as a white male), even though I've never discriminated against anyone. How can that be "fair"?!

How can you fix discrimination with more discrimination? What's that old expression?: Two wrongs don't make a right! The only way to fix discrimination is by ending it, not by reversing it and victimizing more innocent people.

Additionally, our society over-emphasizes the issue of racial discrimination -- no doubt because of our country's history of slavery. But, far more prevalent today are other forms of discrimination: reluctance to employ older people, preferences to attractive people and tall people, etc. You can't fix discrimination with legislation -- you must fix it by changing people's minds, one at a time.