Let me start with this Disclaimer -
To be proud of ANY national heritage, is a good thing. Our roots are important. And hardly like anyplace else on earth, America is made up of people "up-rooted" from all over the world. That is one of the truly great things about America.
That said - I will say that it bothers me when people identify themselves as (anything)-American. I think it distracts from saying that they are an American...first and foremost. We, as citizens, should be Americans FIRST. In the current political climate, some might also add in Democrat-American or Republican-American! But, no matter what party affiliation, what ever religion (or none at all) one practices, what color they are, what gender they are, or where their family originated from ... if we are citizens, the we MUST be Americans FIRST!
As a nation, we can not risk a division that makes us appear fragmented and weak. Our differing views are part of what also makes us great, but to not appear as Americans first, is hurting us. Despots, like Chavez, come here and take advantage of such weaknesses and divisions and lure many into doubting who WE are... as Americans first.
Real Americans don't burn OUR own flag. Americans DO voice differing opinions and protest wrong doings and poor policies. Americans DO disagree and DO vote to make changes. But as Americans, WE need to be ONE NATION.
I liken America like a large bickering family. A family that may argue at gatherings, disagree on how to run the family farm, even fight among themselves. But let someone outside the family take a punch at any one family member.... and look out... the whole family will kick that outsider's ass! Right or wrong, that family will join in and get'r done! (The family will usually sort out the right or wrong in a later family fight!)
We need to be like that large bickering family. We need to argue, even vigorously, those things that are important to us. But when any outsider takes a shot at ANY of us, we ALL need to take the fight to them. And when we do it, we ALL need to be waving OUR Flag in unity. (Another posting about OUR Flag later!)
Be proud of where you came from. Be proud to be an American. But in any case, be an "American 1st!"
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
If you choose to live here, as a citizen, with all the benefits America and our Constitution has to offer, then that Pledge must be a commitment and should be in your heart. If anyone has ANY allegiance to another country over America, then they need not be here! To them, I will say......GO HOME!
Be an AMERICAN 1st and above ALL others, or get the hell out!
