Everybody's Irish-American on March 17th.
Beyond that, all this hyphenating is getting real old.

Actually, I can argue to the contrary. My parents immigrated to the US and raised two AMERICANS, and also become AMERICANS themselves. Sure, they still have ties to the country they were born in, but their allegiance lies with the country they adopted as their home. And looking at several other people I know, I can tell you that they're not unique.
Not only is your situation unique, it's practically unheard of. In short, you're arguing the exception, not the rule. Having said that, I respect and appreciate your family’s devotion.

Cheers.
I'm curious to hear your answer to that question. What do you makes someone an American?
First and foremost, an American is someone who doesn't hyphenate his or her nationalities. They feel being a citizen here is too important to append the word American to a place they’ve chosen NOT to live. In short, they love, support, and defend their country. There's simply no room for ambiguity in that hyphenated Americanism is a farce. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, please understand that I'm not referring to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best people I've ever known were naturalized Americans, and having said that, a "hyphenated American" stands for something that America has been trying to abolish since 1776; IOW, it directly flies in the face of establishing a "UNITED States". This is just as true of the man who puts "native" before the hyphen as it is of the one who puts Mexican, Chinese, Palestinian or African. Americanism is a matter of the spirit and soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States, and we must unsparingly condemn anyone who holds other allegiances while living on OUR SOIL.

The foreign-born people of this country must be an Americanized population, for no other kind can fight the battles of America in either war or in peace. They must speak the language of its native-born fellow-citizens, and they must possess American citizenship and American ideals. They must stand firm by their oath of allegiance in word and deed, and must show that they have renounced allegiance to every prince, potentate, or foreign government. A real American should work hard, make money, love their family, and respect their elders.

A true American would never cheapen what it is to be a member of the best country in the world by giving amnesty to people who refuse to abide by our laws or respect our culture. A true American would never view social problems through a microscope, and they should do everything in their power to protect our country. There's a bigger picture, and if they can't see it, then fuck 'em; they don't belong here.

That, my friend, is what a TRUE American is all about.

No, I mean Americans change the definition of everything.
Well, then I guess you're safe, because you're a "Palestinian-American", right?

BTW, don't bother responding - it was a rhetorical question.

A real American should work hard, make money, love their family, and respect their elders.ROTFL! Are you coming down with Froggeritus or something?

Somehow I doubt you were the posterboy for obedient teens.

the posterboy for obedient teens.
Quit talking about me. :(

That is sorta ironic. He's Irish but then he's not Irish. Is there anything wrong with the statement Arab American? I hold an American passport and I am of Palestinian descent. I've lived in Palestine for a few years. And I still consider myself both Palestinian and American whether you guys agree or not.

Ok - thanks for finally clearing things up.

You are American. You have some relatives who are Palestinian.

There is no such thing as Palestinian-American - apart from in your dreams.

Quit talking about me. :(:*pats Evakian on the back and toussles his hair*:

Don't ever change, Evakian. You're a good boy! :)

Ok - thanks for finally clearing things up.

You are American. You have some relatives who are Palestinian.

There is no such thing as Palestinian-American - apart from in your dreams.

You mean your own dreams. I'm Palestinian American whether you guys like it or no. ;)

OK, it's your story, tell it any way you want.

You mean your own dreams. I'm Palestinian American whether you guys like it or no. ;)

Well if it makes you happy call yourself whatever you want - even if it is a made up thing.

Not only is your situation unique, it's practically unheard of. In short, you're arguing the exception, not the rule. I really can't understand why you think that, since I've seen so many examples to the contrary. I agree that many, or even most, immigrants retain their loyalty to their native country, but this mostly does not hold true for their children and descendants. Unfortunately, I don't think there's a way to convince you of this short of personally introducing you to such people.

I do, however, suspect that you misinterpret these people's pride in their ethnic heritage as a lack of allegiance to the US, resulting in the views you hold about them. The two are not equal by any means.

First and foremost, an American is someone...

...
That, my friend, is what a TRUE American is all about.Understood, though my definition is different and much simpler. I believe an American is anyone who has loyalty and allegiance to the United States and its core values.

You mean your own dreams. I'm Palestinian American whether you guys like it or no. ;)

Here are some Palestine-Americans in the News so, I guess there is such a thing as Palestine-Americans. Also I often visit the Italian American club eventho I am no Italian. We also have a Polish-American club. That ain't me either.

Excerpt: Some good news came for the three Palestian-American men arrested in Michigan, basically for having 1,000 prepaid cell phones: they won't be charged with any terrorism-related offenses. The bad news: they've been hit with federal fraud charges instead. The guys' business plan was pretty straightforward: buy subsidized prepaid phones, then get them unlocked so they could work with any compatible provider, then sell them for a higher price. Prosecutors allege the men's actions represent an attempt to defraud prepaid provider Tracfone, phone manufacturer Nokia and the public by trafficking in counterfeit goods. While unlocking phones, particularly for resale, annoys ...

http://news.techrepublic.com.com/clickthru.aspx?typeid=37&siteid=2&storyid=1315083

I really can't understand why you think that, since I've seen so many examples to the contrary. I agree that many, or even most, immigrants retain their loyalty to their native country, but this mostly does not hold true for their children and descendants.
I'll buy that.
I do, however, suspect that you misinterpret these people's pride in their ethnic heritage as a lack of allegiance to the US, resulting in the views you hold about them. The two are not equal by any means.
Well, to be honest with you, I think you're right. I'm pissed off at what I see happening in America, and deep down, I weep for the future. Mexican arrogance goes far beyond a simple case of "ethnic pride", and having said that, I think they're desperately trying to rehash an old land war with two new weapons: our politicians and their vaginas. It's enough to make anyone wanna vomit.

As far as the Muslims are concerned, I think it's only a matter of time before we're nuked. To do nothing about the problem has only shown to exacerbate it, and waging a war on terror has only proven to be "unpopular". In short, John Q. Taxpayer is a very fickle man who's more concerned about the government listening in on his phone conversation than he is with protecting our country. I mean, after all, it's not like wiretapping has proven to be beneficial (the terrorist attack in England, notwithstanding). God forbid we should start profiling in airports because it's "unconstitutional", right? This is a new age of warfare. "Big Brother" doesn't give a shit about anything you say, so given the obvious, what's the real issue? Are our "rights" really under attack? Therein lies the fundamental problem. I'm tired of witnessing pointy-headed beatniks march in lockstep with one another as they quote the founding fathers on "freedom" and "liberty" when it's painfully obvious they know DICK about either. Everything is an academic exercise to these long-winded Bohemians. Listening to them drone on and on about how to fix this country (politically and economically) is akin to having Steven Wright read you the longest suicide note ever written in history.
Understood, though my definition is different and much simpler. I believe an American is anyone who has loyalty and allegiance to the United States and its core values.
Essentially, I chose a very verbose way to say the same thing you did. IOW, I felt the need to touch on certain social issues that make me think this country is doomed, but then again, my guess is you already knew that, didn't you? It wasn't like I was being vague....

Somehow I doubt you were the posterboy for obedient teens.
True.

But then again, I don't think teens make very good patriots. We all grow up.

"I would like to see someone address these issues - these are good questions and they are being ignored"

Nobody's stopping you.

Well, I'm in agreement with Borg. I just wanted someone on the other side to respond to them.

Well if it makes you happy call yourself whatever you want - even if it is a made up thing.

aargh, WHY DOES IT MATTER??? It's just a word, who cares?

aargh, WHY DOES IT MATTER??? It's just a word, who cares?

Yeah by that logic lets not discuss anything - afterall - who cares.

aargh, WHY DOES IT MATTER??? It's just a word, who cares?
Because the whole concept and practice of hyphenation divides us as Americans.

That's why it matters. If it's so important for you to throw in Irish, German, African, Mexican, Chinese, or Indian, then get the fuck out. You're NOT an American.

Why is this so difficult to understand???

Why is this so difficult to understand???
Why is it so difficult for you to understand that the term "American"--if we're speaking specifically about the United States, as "America" is two continents large--is Irish, German, African, Mexican, Chinese, Indian, etc. When an American says "I'm German", they mean their ancestors were German. If a Englishman says he's German, he's a German citizen. The United States is so ridiculously mishmashed together that it is almost that there is no such thing as a "foreigner", because I highly doubt you could tell the difference between a Chinese person who just moved to the United States and probably isn't a citizen between a Chinese person who's ancestors have been here since we started building the railroads. American pride is pride in history, and there is no American history without immigration. Your attitude is absolutely no different from the attidue of the "natives" back in the early 20th century who hated the Irish and whoever else was coming over. In 50 years time, your opinion will be erased as biggotedness' timeframe only lasts as long as it is relevant. In 50 years time the decendents of those you hate now will have "assimilated"--in America, assimilation is nothing more than the local culture adapting to new things--and there will be an entirely new race of people that people like you will hate. I doubt it will ever end, but then again, there's really no harm in the long run as your opinion doesn't matter. It's relevance is so fleeting that there is no possible way it could matter.

Wow, your post was so off base, it was almost comical. Maybe you should reread the thread, because it's painfully apparent you've missed the point.

Feel free to dismiss my opinion all you want.....

I’m not the one having difficulty grasping a simple concept.

So do you guys hassle people who call themselves Jewish-American? I wonder if Jewish Germans got the same kind of treatment, y'know, threats of disloyalty, special badges, etc.....

Because the whole concept and practice of hyphenation divides us as Americans.

That's why it matters. If it's so important for you to throw in Irish, German, African, Mexican, Chinese, or Indian, then get the fuck out. You're NOT an American.

Why is this so difficult to understand???

I really can't tell if you're being incredibly sarcastic or if you're actually being serious

Yeah by that logic lets not discuss anything - afterall - who cares.

No... Lets discuss important or interesting issues, but names are not very important issues compared to everything else that's going on.

'African-American/Irish-American/Chinese-American' - they're all just a further description of your heritage or your ethnicity. When people say 'American' at all, it means that they live here and are citizens here. I've never seen someone say they were 'African-American' when they were originally from America and left to live in Africa.

Are you guys getting upset because you're getting confused? Or that people should just assimilate to American culture and completely cut off their heritage? Should we arrest people for speaking different languages too?

Not only is your situation unique, it's practically unheard of. In short, you're arguing the exception, not the rule. Having said that, I respect and appreciate your family’s devotion.

Cheers.

First and foremost, an American is someone who doesn't hyphenate his or her nationalities. They feel being a citizen here is too important to append the word American to a place they’ve chosen NOT to live. In short, they love, support, and defend their country. There's simply no room for ambiguity in that hyphenated Americanism is a farce. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, please understand that I'm not referring to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best people I've ever known were naturalized Americans, and having said that, a "hyphenated American" stands for something that America has been trying to abolish since 1776; IOW, it directly flies in the face of establishing a "UNITED States". This is just as true of the man who puts "native" before the hyphen as it is of the one who puts Mexican, Chinese, Palestinian or African. Americanism is a matter of the spirit and soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States, and we must unsparingly condemn anyone who holds other allegiances while living on OUR SOIL.

The foreign-born people of this country must be an Americanized population, for no other kind can fight the battles of America in either war or in peace. They must speak the language of its native-born fellow-citizens, and they must possess American citizenship and American ideals. They must stand firm by their oath of allegiance in word and deed, and must show that they have renounced allegiance to every prince, potentate, or foreign government. A real American should work hard, make money, love their family, and respect their elders.

A true American would never cheapen what it is to be a member of the best country in the world by giving amnesty to people who refuse to abide by our laws or respect our culture. A true American would never view social problems through a microscope, and they should do everything in their power to protect our country. There's a bigger picture, and if they can't see it, then fuck 'em; they don't belong here.

That, my friend, is what a TRUE American is all about.

Holy shit, I hear humming behind me.:p

Holy shit, I hear humming behind me.:p

Time for you to up that dose of psychotropics you've been on. Stelazine has been known to be effective when experiencing auditory hallucinations.

Holy shit, I hear humming behind me.:p
Goddamned straight, you do.

I really can't tell if you're being incredibly sarcastic or if you're actually being serious
Consider the conversation over then.

Time for you to up that dose of psychotropics you've been on. Stelazine has been known to be effective when experiencing auditory hallucinations.

:lolhit: That made me chuckle out loud... good one ES :lolhit:

:corn: :corn: :corn: :corn:

Because the whole concept and practice of hyphenation divides us as Americans.

That's why it matters. If it's so important for you to throw in Irish, German, African, Mexican, Chinese, or Indian, then get the fuck out. You're NOT an American.

Why is this so difficult to understand???

Does heritage mean anything to you. Would you force people to speak english since different languages divide us, since english is more 'American'.

America is one of the only places on earth were people ARE different, and people here ARE unique in many ways, which is also a division. We have people from all over the world. When someone says that they are Chinese or Irish or African or English you KNOW a good deal about their culture and their heritage. Thats why people say Irish-American or African-American. It tells you something about their culture and heritage apart from where they live.

If someone just tells you that they are American, all that tells you is where they live.

Our allegiance must be purely to the United States, and we must unsparingly condemn anyone who holds other allegiances while living on OUR SOIL.

So, a Japanese who chose to live in the US should sever all ties with his country right? He can't love Japan also, he has to only love the US.

What about prolonged stays. If someone decides to go to Europe for a couple years should he cut all ties with the US then? or is it only when he 'officially' moves that he should pick up the fanatic patriotism?

Can you see the problems with what you just said?

\\If someone just tells you that they are Americans, all that tells you is where they live.
And not just that, you still wonder if they are from Canada, or Mexico, or Argentina, or Brazil, or US, or Cuba, or from any of the others countries in this continent. Actually two continents known as one with the name of América, or America, or Amerika, or Amérique, or Америка, etc.

I've never met anyone from other than the United States who called themselves Americans. If you're sitting in an airport bar in Hong Kong chatting up an individual, they're certainly going to specify that they're from Brazil and not America, for example. Yes, this is the contintent of North America and there's another called South America, but folks don't identify themselves in those terms. No more than someone from France is going to simply admit to being European.