Quick, Which Ethnic Group Is More Patriotic Than the Average?
Every Black History Month there's always one contrarian (at least one) who pipes up with some snidism such as: "Why do blacks get a month? Why don't we just give everybody a month?" If by "everybody" the cynics mean people of ethnicities whose heritage is not otherwise sufficiently taught in schools, then, yes. We should give "everybody" a month, and "everybody" pretty much has one.
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, devoted to commemorating individuals of Asian and Pacific Island heritage who've contributed greatly to our nation. May was designated as it's the anniversary of both the first Japanese immigrants arriving in the United States -- May 7th, 1843 -- and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10th, 1869 which was built with the considerable labor of a large contingent of Chinese coolies.
And contrarians aside, no matter that it's 2009 and there's a biracial man as president, there's still much we can all learn about others during such designated months. Particularly this month as most other Americans don't distinguish Asian Americans, and look at them as a monolithic group. And as much as 45 percent of the general population says they believe Asian-Americans have more loyalty to their countries of ancestry than to the United States. That number has actually increased from 37 percent in a similar 2001 survey. For the record, about 75 percent of Chinese-Americans surveyed (for example) said they would support the United States in military or economic conflicts. That compares to only about 56 percent of the general population who said they would.
Of course, as you take time to learn about Asian-American history, such patriotism isn't surprising. Just read up on Executive Order 9066, the Nisei Brigade and their rescue of the Lost Battalion to be reminded again that so often in our nation's history it's the very folks who are denied the blessing of liberty who fight and bleed for it the hardest.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month doesn't get nearly the play that Black History Month does. But then neither do Women's History Month (March), Hispanic Heritage Month (Sep 15th to Oct 15th), or American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month (November). But next time a contrarian wants to know if we have to give everybody a month, you can hand them a calendar and get them educated.
For more perspective please visit That Minority Thing.com.
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Seems to me a lot of damage has been done by groups claiming to be more "patriotic" than the rest of us.
I guess you can tell I have a real problem with the whole idea of this month or that month..it promotes racial pride..rac
Watch and listen to this little boy in the video..thi
YouTube - Declan - Tell Me Why - a children's tribute
You have a point, there is no cultural enrichment being taught, only that certain groups deserve special attention this month.
I'm not too fond of racial/eth
Yet, to the exclusion of all other possibilities, that is precisely what this nation has always been about. Ever read The Naturalization Act"? It was the first law passed by this nation upon achieving independence.
I served as a US Marine from 1965 to 1969 and my experience is that economic class not ethnicity or race is the dividing line between those willing to fight and those wanting to hide.
I find it instructive that so many of the Pundit/Political class that instigated the Iraq war were conspicuously absent in Vietnam
Throughout our country's' history the rich and powerful have used race and ethnicity to divided the people so they could be exploited.
Don't forget that "Rich Peoples' Month" runs from January to December
Yes, but every war needs its generals and politicians.
You know the leadership cadre that sends other folks' kids off to die and get maimed.
If we exposed these people to war's horrors, who would plan and direct our next needless war?
Who indeed?
The most patriotic group is that which is currently here in its second generation -- those whose parents came over.
libs live to categorize people....
thenorthshore. I agree that categorizing people is overrated. You said libs live for it, yes but I believe cons tend to categorize gays, secularists and intellectuals too often as well. Whats the point of it all?
and cons live to generalize people.... "terrorists"
Libs, are you serious? While with Republicans it is either saved, or un-saved, eh?
The worst public figure for trying to stuff people into pigeonholes is Rush Limbaugh. Libs, my butt.
everybody knows Cherokees are the most patriotic.
Not that the US has given them strong reason. (Remember the Trail of Tears?)
Why Cherokees? Why not Sioux?
"...who fight and bleed for it the hardest."
Bleeding hard - powerful phrase, new to me. You have an ear, Mr. Ridley. Keep writing. About absolutely anything you care about.
It is a good idea to designate particular dates to learn about people from different places. It allows media to bring together resources for great learning experiences that, without commercial subsidy, we would not have the opportunity to see and hear.
It is not a waste of time and money. In fact, it probably saves us time and money, and delivers many intangible benefits of even greater economic value.
Understanding brings tolerance brings peace brings prosperity brings well-being.
At this point, we need to accept all people of all skin colors as Americans and stop trying to divide each other up. Our history is all connected.
I kinda get the grasp what the writer wants to make ,,but if the writer who probably served in the military. should know but articulated weakly is ..American soldiers lack not in courage and sacrifice and in an ability to adapt as any the world has seen the reason may be the diversity but it is in the Commons that most of us served ....and just to add that uneducated courage has no chance against educated bullets ..........
We as a nation suck at taking care of our soldiers any ethnicity MY answer is all of them
True story: In the 1950s a young Chinese-Canadian wanted to join the Canadian navy. The recruiting officer said, "In these uncertain times we live in, you might have to fight against your own people. Would you be willing to do that?" He responded, "You mean there's maybe going to be a civil war in Canada?"
Totally left out PACIFIC ISLANDERS-not cool, per capita the highest propensity to serve in US Military, (off all the United States including territories ) is American Samoa!
really, what a strange and bizarre country we live in. One very certain and specific demographic considers it VERY unpatriotic to honor any American who is not exactly just like their very own self... Wouldn't it be great if we redefined patriotism to mean something along the lines of "we have an incredibly diverse population where EVERYONE matters: from the most homely, elderly, differently abled, three horned, green skinned, multi gendered, non musically inclined to the ethereal divinely intervened and all points in between... AND since we are all here, lets all work together for the common good and make sure all americans have clean air, healthy food, potable water, a world class education and a voice in government"
wow, I sound completely bonkers, don't I?
no not bonkers, sane, I'd like this too it's worth repeating:
AND since we are all here, lets all work together for the common good and make sure all americans have clean air, healthy food, potable water, a world class education and a voice in government
Seriously, these "declarations" of specials days, weeks, and months for special interest groups, including not just ethnic and racial groups but also diseases and conditions, are a huge waste of taxpayer dollars and government time and energy. Those who care about such things already know; theose who don't won't be lsitening anyway. I honestly believe that it's time to stop focusing on our fractured past and look to a unified future.
In 100 years or so there practically wont be any races at all anymore, so who cares?
True that, virtually everyone's going to be beige or have beige children except for the racists :)
Actually, the whole race thing is man made. People have been mixing since the beginning of time. It was a racist, whose name escapes me, who made up the so called distinction amongst people.
Ridley will care, he will be keeping score...
Don't know how distinguish Asian-Americans? These people didn't grow up in the Pacific Northwest (or the other Asian American centers of America)! I was friends with at least one of each: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Hmong, Lao... and are we counting South Asia in all of this?
Not to sound all Colbert with my "friends" though! That was a bit pathetic, I know.
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