I am an American
Mary Baker explains why she chooses not to have any qualifiers to her identity: American.
Amen to that.
I have held the same position for about a year now (i.e. as long as I have been a naturalized American citizen). I am an American. Any other adjectives or qualifiers demean my proud United States citizenship. I am an American. There is no other group of people to whom I belong or to whom I owe anything. I am an American and whatever I may come to accomplish reflects on Americans and no one else.
America is the Greatest Melting Pot, not a salad bowl. I do not feel that anyone who wants to retain their distinct cultural identity and flock together among the birds of a feather can honestly call themselves “American”. Sure, each group of immigrants do bring their unique culture and enrich us: but as they enrich us and we assimilate to them, they need to be enriched by us and assimilate to our American culture. As much as I like Mexican food, I don’t want Chicanos deluding themselves that they are Americans. Go back to Mexico if you want to separate yourself from the mainstream America.
I just wish that everyone would stop playing identity politics and focus on this great country and how we can make it better together, as Americans—or not, as “loyal opposition” is one of the greatest American (well, and British) ideas.
Unlike these half Americans, who, even if they were naturalized, acted not in the interest of the country to whom they pledged allegiance but in the interest of the country which they fled, I will have only eyes for America.
For one, if America should ever go to war with Korea (especially the South), I am volunteering my service to the military, in whatsoever way I can serve best.
Under “compromise” between assimiliationists and multiculturalists:
While I can understand this view (I think my sister would belong in this group, emotionally anyway), this can be a slippery slope. The ties you maintain with your “homeland” is can be … restrictive. When push comes to shove, by then you may not be allowed to serve your first country, because of the real and perceived loyalties you still have for the country you fled—just look at the Japanese Americans and German Americans during WWII.
If any of them had made it very clear from the very beginning that they are loyal citizens of United States and they have no binding ties to their old country any more, emotional or otherwise, I am sure they would have been allowed to serve, rather than being … contained for the protection of general welfare.
Mary Baker appears in this segment of Glenn Beck’s program to repeat her point.
First and foremost, we are Americans. Everything else is secondary.