America has been called the melting pot of the world. But, the meld is no longer working. Today we have: Congress’ Black Caucus; the Oneida Nation; the Menominee nation; Japanese-Americans; NAACP; National Organization of Women; Gay Americans; — and a myriad of other groups who segregate themselves by their ethnicity,gender or sexual orientation rather than by their country. The only people who not allowed to form a representative group are the white males, age 25 – 50, because that particular delineation is considered discriminatory in today’s world.
Why are we increasingly divided? Why do many choose to be identified by their ethnicity when others using that same ethnicity are considered racist? Why has America been having trouble assimilating these diverse groups into one cohesive entity?
The main reason is greed. Yes, there is money to be made and power to be gained by dividing the American people into easily identifiable groups. Once you can delineate a sector of the American voting population, you can then buy their votes. But, first, you have to separate people and make them unhappy with their status. You must create the impression that someone else has dishonorably gained their financial position and that the other’s money SHOULD belong to EVERYONE. Then, you tax the wealthier groups to redistribute to the poorer groups and, in the process, you be sure to let the recipients KNOW that this largesse comes from YOU, not the pockets of your neighbors.
This is a good system for the politicians who need votes. But, in the process, we are creating a divided country, not a united America.
Congress was formed to represent the entire American populace and not to become an aristocracy of power-hungry and egocentric men and women. If America wants to survive, we have to unite behind our troops who fight to keep terrorism away from our shores. We have to stop using the problems of any group as a voting base for the next election. We have to understand that the success of one person is not the reason for the failure of another. And that differences between people should not be a podium for politicians to build a campaign on.
We have to remember that there are no Japanese Americans or African Americans. There are Americans who are Japanese, just as there are Americans who are black. There are Americans who are gay, and those who are not. There are Americans like me who are descended from immigrants and those who claim to have lived here forever. But, none of that should matter.
If we wish to move into the future successfully, we have to stop emphasizing our differences, and start using our commonalities. A strong, united America is better able to face an increasingly hostile world than an America which is so self centered that it can’t see the threat without.
So, who are we?
WE ARE AMERICA and damned proud of it!