Thread: War on Terrorism

Originally Posted by surasak

What is an American? Is "American" some kind of identifiable characteristic? Blue eyes? Brown hair? Tall? Short? Fat? Thin?

If I was born in Thailand would I be a Thai? If I was born in China would I be Chinese? If I was born in Japan would I be Japanese?

No, you woud be an American In Thailand,China etc....

Let's try another scenario: instead of moving to the United States my family instead moves to Thailand and afterwards I am born there. What am I then?Thai? I'll never be Thai because I am not genetically or ethnically Thai.

So, what would I be?

you would be an Thai with American ancestry-- your birth certificate would say you are a Thai---you would be a Thai citizen wouldn't you????

A Thai citizen, but, not Thai. There's no way I'll ever be Thai even if I live every remaining day there.

But my family didn't originate in the United States or even this continent. What is American ancestry? Can you identify a specific trait other than birth that makes a person "American?" Your passport simply tells you where you have citizenship (in most cases the country of birth). It says nothing about one's ancestry or ethnicity. If I was born in Thailand I would still be Scottish...just happened to be born in Thailand instead of somewhere else. Whether I was born in the USA, China, Thailand, or BFE it doesn't change the fact that my blood is Scottish.

The problem here is that just about every country on the face of this earth is defined categorically by the major ethnic group that lives there...similar language, similar culture, similar history, etc. Russia, China, Poland, Germany, France, England, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Iran, Pakistan, India....

The only real exception to this is the United States. Racially and ethnically there is no such ethnic group as "American." What do we call the de facto national language? English, not "American." Are we therefore all English? The name "American" we like to throw around so easily is in fact a shortened form of "Anglo-American" which used to refer to a group of British subjects who specifically had British ancestry (from England only) and who were born in the colonies. Linguistically now it refers to anyone born in the United States or naturalized here but for the purpose of ethnicity it's totally meaningless and unless one is a purebred 'native' it isn't even correct aside from describing where one has citizenship.

The only true "Americans" are those indigineous people who lived here prior to Europeans coming here to settle colonies. Many people call themselves American because they don't want to honor their traditions or their past or their ancestry. My family lived in Scotland for over 1000 years. There is a written history that goes back until the time Britain became "Britain." I am no more an "American" than a British born in Hong Kong is Cantonese.

I am an American citizen, but, my family and ancestry is Scottish.

Remember...it's United States of America...implying that the United States is part of a larger place called "America."

Everyone here in North and South American has the right to call themselves American. See how confusing that can be?

Linguistics.

pssssssssssstttttt, the oldest corpse found in north America so far is of Asian descent sooooooo , who would be the indigenous people you are referring too?


so who was in Britain, Scotland,Ireland,etc etc etc before the occupants that are there now????

at one time all people were nomadic , traveling following the herds of animals that they depended upon for survival


so to say that quote :Racially and ethnically there is no such ethnic group as "American."

that is simply a wrong statement, Americans just happen to be the newest kid on the block

what about Mexicans??? Spain invaded Mexico killing off or interbreeding with the indigenous Indians that were there at the time thus bringing into existence what we now call today the Mexican race

Surasak, as you are sneaking American citizenship for your wife and kids despite vocally despising the very core of the system that feeds you and will be feeding them, could it be said that you are turning them into economic refugees, albeit camouflaged as legit family?

Originally Posted by keda

Surasak, as you are sneaking American citizenship for your wife and kids despite vocally despising the very core of the system that feeds you and will be feeding them, could it be said that you are turning them into economic refugees, albeit camouflaged as legit family?

This makes no sense.

A. I've stated many times my displeasure is not with the system but rather the management. Is there a lack of reading comprehension skills here?

B. Economic refugees would be running away from a poor place with little opportunity to a place with great opportunity never to return. My case is quite the opposite, I see more opportunity for me enjoying the fruits of my hard work than I would have if I stayed in the United States. I simply am not willing to pay $200,000+ for a simple house here when the equivalent would buy many houses in Thailand.

I just don't see why some people get their panties in a knot when someone is proud of their heritage. There are lots of people here who were born here that display various flags, symbols, etc. on their cars, houses, etc. There are countless festivals, celebrations, and even holidays that celebrate heritage from long ago. St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, etc. I drive around near where I live and I see Mexican flags in areas with large Mexican immigrant populations. Is that wrong?

The comment about indigenous people coming from Asia is just stupid. If a person had a family history that detailed then more power to them. My family history is solid to about 1000 years back, and, a small portion of it takes place in the United States. Some of my family lived in Ireland for a short time; that doesn't make me one bit Irish. That doesn't change anything. "America," the concept, is a melting pot. If there were numerous ethic groups in my family's history to the point where it would be impossible to describe my heritage, then, yes I would argue that I'm an "American" in concept. In reality, I just happen to have been born here. It doesn't mean I'm ashamed of it or anything like that. It's just no different than if I were born in Thailland or anywhere else.

At least we're in agreement on multiculturalism surasak.