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.

Comments

[MJinCanada]

Here in Canada, my 12 year old is learning about Native North Americans this year in social studies. Not just the tipis and bison thing, but the whole history with treaty promises kept and broken, residential schools, disenfranchisement and the development of First Nations political leadership.

I think its a great idea, because education leads to understanding which will in turn reduce bigotry in the next generation. But it's heavy going for kids that age, and it's also very hard when some of the kids in the classroom are the grandchildren of the kids who went through the residential school and foster home turmoil.

[Khirad]

Canada is really great with multiculturalism. And not just with the big political groups. Wasn't this done by Pierre Trudeau, if I recall what little of Canadian history I know? I remember getting lost in wikipedia one fine afternoon reading about Louis Riel! We're so ignorant in this country, we don't even know much of our neighbor to the north. I know Punjabi's make up a big part, I've been to Little India in Vancouver.

[superstition]

Nationalism is a bias, not a virtue.

"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."

[Binea]

What about those of us with many nationalities? I have seven nationalities,and I don't feel any particular affinity to any of them... Oh Wait
Mutts rule the rest drool :) We don't need a month,maybe just a special day ,where we can reflect on how pointless divisions are and what we all have in common.

[marco01]

We're becoming a country of mutts. Soon we won't need any special months at all:)

[MJinCanada]

Mutts are the cutest. And I bet your family has great potluck get-togethers, too!

[ConservativeHippie]

"We don't need a month,maybe just a special day ,where we can reflect on how pointless divisions are and what we all have in common."

4th of July