WTF is this supposed to mean?

mich@el · 11-22-2008, 04:36 PM

I have been giving some thought to the term African American in view of recent events in the USA.

I dont want to single out any one person but would like to have some discussion on what exactly the term African American or Latino/Hispanic American or Arabic American, etc, etc, etc. actually is supposed to mean.

The same applies to any Sovereign country eg what is an Aboriginal Australian or Italian Australian or Chinese Australian??

Surely if your an American, your an American or Australian or whatever. Giving credence to some other term waters down the original if you can see my point.

There is nothing wrong with loving your ancestry but I really feel that there is something wrong with trying to change someone else's. America was founded on immigrants as was Australia and many other places and they became a part of the new country....America, Australia, etc.

Anyway, before I start to rant to much what does everyone else feel??

Mingus · 11-22-2008, 07:18 PM

The public school teachings preach that it allows groups to "keep their heritage" while being an American as well; but, I think it's just a way to divide people. Racists have a tendency to scoff at the terms, usually because they are utter morons, but partly because they don't consider themselves "Caucasian American". Most people can't even spell the word Caucasian, so they don't even use that politically correct word, so "white" still is accepted. The only politically correct term I think should be expressed is Native American, as that accurately depicts those who were here first, although I've heard that American Indian is newest accepted term. I'm not sure about that though...

mich@el · 11-22-2008, 08:30 PM

OK, so I can accept keeping your heritage within the framework of history........but to call yourself XXXX American or YYYY American is just so wrong, it instils no national pride in my humble opinion.......

Mingus · 11-22-2008, 09:29 PM

It doesn't, even though our public institutions like to say that. It's about division. It's just hidden in the filibuster about heritage and the divine rights and all that bogus stuff that keeps people from seeing the truth, that it divides us.

mich@el · 11-22-2008, 09:45 PM

Mingus, I'm just not sure which point of view your expousing?

Division comes from things like African American or Latino/Hispanic American or Arabic American or others.

Are not all Americans.... Americans? Or are Arabic Americans not the same as Israeli Americans?..........

Mingus · 11-22-2008, 09:57 PM

You're illustrating my point. Americans are Americans. The problem is that everyone is used to the corrupted version of the idea of individualism here, and when they see color, they begin to start differentiating. That's why we have racial strife. If you put two white men in the same room and have them discuss football, they'll invariably praise their favorite players equally, because every man they like helps their team win. Football espouses a team concept. The problem we have is that when we start thinking about politics, racism springs forth because politics and racism have been in bed with each other, as has religion, since the beginning of colonization. We have a divided nation with politics, red vs. blue, Democrats vs. Republicans, etc.

kidflash2008 · 11-23-2008, 08:25 AM

The truth is we are not "color blind". Is it such a problem to like someone and appreciate their differences? I do agree on the labeling of people, but that is what the whites did early on in our country. Blacks were called colored, Natives were called savages, and so on.
Pres Elect Obama rarely referred to his race during the election. It was the media and his opponents who used race. They wanted to keep reminding people, even though it should not have mattered.
We also have African American History and Latin American History months, and some people get upset over that. They ask, "What about white American history month?" I say, that is taught every day. We get a few diverse peoples, but the majority of our history is dominated by pale males.

Here is my two cents:

1. I refer to myself as an American, and everyone else the same way. I do not use the term black or brown to describe a friend or acquaintance. It doesn't matter to me, and it shouldn't matter to them.

2. If someone wants to have a label used, more power to them. Most of these groups do not want the label (whites do, as they call themselves Italian or French American etc). Most of the other groups want to be called Americans, but the whites are the ones who ask them what do they prefer to be called. Someone asked this of one of my foster sons (who was of Mexican decent) and he answered "Joe". I laughed at that one!

Remember, the groups are not the ones who were labeled by themselves, it is the majority that did the labeling.

11-22-2008, 04:36 PM	#1
mich@el Junior Investigator Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: http://hellhound.org/simplemachinesforum/index.php Posts: 76	WTF is this supposed to mean? I have been giving some thought to the term African American in view of recent events in the USA. I dont want to single out any one person but would like to have some discussion on what exactly the term African American or Latino/Hispanic American or Arabic American, etc, etc, etc. actually is supposed to mean. The same applies to any Sovereign country eg what is an Aboriginal Australian or Italian Australian or Chinese Australian?? Surely if your an American, your an American or Australian or whatever. Giving credence to some other term waters down the original if you can see my point. There is nothing wrong with loving your ancestry but I really feel that there is something wrong with trying to change someone else's. America was founded on immigrants as was Australia and many other places and they became a part of the new country....America, Australia, etc. Anyway, before I start to rant to much what does everyone else feel?? __________________ "Not all who wander are lost"

11-22-2008, 08:30 PM	#3
mich@el Junior Investigator Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: http://hellhound.org/simplemachinesforum/index.php Posts: 76	OK, so I can accept keeping your heritage within the framework of history........but to call yourself XXXX American or YYYY American is just so wrong, it instils no national pride in my humble opinion....... __________________ "Not all who wander are lost"

11-22-2008, 09:45 PM	#5
mich@el Junior Investigator Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: http://hellhound.org/simplemachinesforum/index.php Posts: 76	Mingus, I'm just not sure which point of view your expousing? Division comes from things like African American or Latino/Hispanic American or Arabic American or others. Are not all Americans.... Americans? Or are Arabic Americans not the same as Israeli Americans?.......... __________________ "Not all who wander are lost"

11-22-2008, 09:57 PM	#6
Mingus Investigator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 325	You're illustrating my point. Americans are Americans. The problem is that everyone is used to the corrupted version of the idea of individualism here, and when they see color, they begin to start differentiating. That's why we have racial strife. If you put two white men in the same room and have them discuss football, they'll invariably praise their favorite players equally, because every man they like helps their team win. Football espouses a team concept. The problem we have is that when we start thinking about politics, racism springs forth because politics and racism have been in bed with each other, as has religion, since the beginning of colonization. We have a divided nation with politics, red vs. blue, Democrats vs. Republicans, etc. Last edited by Mingus; 11-22-2008 at 09:59 PM.

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11-22-2008, 07:18 PM	#2
Mingus Investigator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 325	The public school teachings preach that it allows groups to "keep their heritage" while being an American as well; but, I think it's just a way to divide people. Racists have a tendency to scoff at the terms, usually because they are utter morons, but partly because they don't consider themselves "Caucasian American". Most people can't even spell the word Caucasian, so they don't even use that politically correct word, so "white" still is accepted. The only politically correct term I think should be expressed is Native American, as that accurately depicts those who were here first, although I've heard that American Indian is newest accepted term. I'm not sure about that though...

11-22-2008, 09:29 PM	#4
Mingus Investigator Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 325	It doesn't, even though our public institutions like to say that. It's about division. It's just hidden in the filibuster about heritage and the divine rights and all that bogus stuff that keeps people from seeing the truth, that it divides us.

11-23-2008, 08:25 AM	#7
kidflash2008 Senior Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,699	The truth is we are not "color blind". Is it such a problem to like someone and appreciate their differences? I do agree on the labeling of people, but that is what the whites did early on in our country. Blacks were called colored, Natives were called savages, and so on. Pres Elect Obama rarely referred to his race during the election. It was the media and his opponents who used race. They wanted to keep reminding people, even though it should not have mattered. We also have African American History and Latin American History months, and some people get upset over that. They ask, "What about white American history month?" I say, that is taught every day. We get a few diverse peoples, but the majority of our history is dominated by pale males. Here is my two cents: 1. I refer to myself as an American, and everyone else the same way. I do not use the term black or brown to describe a friend or acquaintance. It doesn't matter to me, and it shouldn't matter to them. 2. If someone wants to have a label used, more power to them. Most of these groups do not want the label (whites do, as they call themselves Italian or French American etc). Most of the other groups want to be called Americans, but the whites are the ones who ask them what do they prefer to be called. Someone asked this of one of my foster sons (who was of Mexican decent) and he answered "Joe". I laughed at that one! Remember, the groups are not the ones who were labeled by themselves, it is the majority that did the labeling.