How many generations before the hyphen disappears?

[Charade]

African-American
Italian-American
Indian-American

etc...

I don't agree with the hyphen in the first place but I'm thinking that after at least generation or two you should be just American.

 

[Saffron]

It never has to disappear. This IS America. You have the right to be whoever you want here.

If you want to be just American, go for it.

If someone else wants to be Italian-German-Irish-Welsh-Jamaican-African-American, go for it.

Some people are proud of their cultural/ethnic backgrounds and like to mention it/them when they can. It doesn't harm anyone. Live and let live.

Diveristy ... it's a good thing, it's very American.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Ethnic connections are very strong to some families.

By the way - it's a "hyphen" - not a "hypen".

 

[Robinrs]

I don't think it should disappear. It's a connection to your culture, roots and forefathers. My family has been out of Africa for centuries, doesn't mean my children and great grandchildren have no connection to it. I think it's VERY important.

 

[MAKmom]

It has been over 200 years & it is still going strong in the Melting Pot. I'm
%100 percent from Irish Decent.

 

[poptoone]

I think it should disappear the second you become an american citizen. Your not irish, german, african american anymore your an AMERICAN.

 

[Charade]

If someone else wants to be Italian-German-Irish-Welsh-Jamaican-African-American, go for it.
.

Why did you put American last? When are we an American first?

 

[Micca]

Whatever floats your There are trends, and I suppose at some point it will be fashionable to drop the native origin. Does anybody know if they do this in other countries?

 

[Charade]

. Does anybody know if they do this in other countries?

I don't know. I have heard things like "an citizen of the UK of Pakistani decent". Would be interesting to know.

 

[Sirius]

Does anybody know if they do this in other countries?

I think they do in England. I've heard Afghan-Brit, Pakistani-Brit, etc...

 

[Saffron]

Why did you put American last? When are we an American first?

Why do you think I put American last? I did it as a sinister left wing, liberal conspiracy to deny America.

Why did I put Italian first?

It doesn't make me any more American to say I'm Irish-American, American-Irish or American. I'm American. I'm Irish. I'm Irish-American. It doesn't make you any more American to say you are American and nothing more.

Live and let live. I don't concern myself with what other people wear, if they prefer the Goth look or the Preppie look, if they drive a compact car or SUV, what occupation they have, what they prefer to refer to themselves as, things I have absolutely no control over. I want others to be comfortable with whomever they are and if they're proud of their ethnicity/culture and they want to add that to who they are, so be it. I respect the right of people to be individuals and will refer to them anyway they prefer I refer to them. No biggie to me.

 

[Robinrs]

I think it should disappear the second you become an american citizen. Your not irish, german, african american anymore your an AMERICAN.

I was born an American citizen. Why should it concern you if people want to hold onto their heritage? My people were told to NOT hold onto any of our past so we have to seek our heritage. It explains so much about our lives, I would never want to let go of that.

Let people be what they want to be.

 

[lclark0621]

This should be interesting...

 

[Saffron]

LOL Robin!

I am not Robin, nor is Robin me, we just happened to post almost the exact same thing at the exact same time.

 

[Saffron]

This should be interesting...

Yeah, stick around, it is. This same exact discussion, with the same exact people (plus more), went about 15 pages last time it was brought up. That was before it got locked for umm, not sharing the same opinions a little too strongly.

 

[Robinrs]

LOL Robin!

I am not Robin, nor is Robin me, we just happened to post almost the exact same thing at the exact same time.

GMTA, Maggie!!! After ALL these years....

 

[Micca]

I'm just glad to see two of my favorite Dis-ers on this thread. Hi Robin and Maggie

 

[Charade]

No one is trying to take your heritage away from you. I guess I'm just bothered (rightfully so IMO) by it. We are referred to around the world as Americans (sometimes with other (not so nice) descriptors attached). But we can't even call ourselves that. I fully understand that we are a melting pot of different races, creeds and ethnic backgrounds. I just think that when we refer to ourselves we say American.

It's funny that there some combinations I never hear like Catholic-American but I hear Jewish-American. I don't hear Brazilian-American but I hear Mexican-American. And so on...

Why can't Americans stand proud and be *just* Americans?

 

[JoeEpcotRocks]

No one is trying to take your heritage away from you. I guess I'm just bothered (rightfully so IMO) by it. We are referred to around the world as Americans (sometimes with other (not so nice) descriptors attached). But we can't even call ourselves that. I fully understand that we are a melting pot of different races, creeds and ethnic backgrounds. I just think that when we refer to ourselves we say American.

It's funny that there some combinations I never hear like Catholic-American but I hear Jewish-American. I don't hear Brazilian-American but I hear Mexican-American. And so on...

Why can't Americans stand proud and be *just* Americans?

Most of us are Mutt-Americans.

 

[Saffron]

Why can't Americans be proud and be whomever they want. Why do you care what anyone else around the world says about us? I know people blame "Americans" for lots of things, when they actually mean the American government. What can you do?

Let me ask you some questions, John.

Why does diversity bother you? Why do you want everyone to be the same? Why does it bother you what anyone else does?

You say you have the right to be bothered that someone refers to themselves differently than you would like. That's true, you have the right to be bothered about anything you want. But why do you want people to do things the way you want them to do them? Why does it matter?

Have you never heard anyone say they're Irish-Catholic?!?!? :