T. Roosevelt Quote

[sfga6970]

I hate it when people say I am an....(insert any nationality) - American. Either your an American or you are not. This quote from TR almost 90 years ago struck me as appropriate today.


Quote:
There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room here for only 100% Americanism, only for those who are Americans and nothing else.
Author: Roosevelt, Theodore
Category: immigration and immigrants
Attribution: Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), U.S. Republican (later Progressive) politician, president. Speech, July 19, 1918, State Republican Party Convention, Saratoga, New York. Roosevelt Policy, vol. 3 (1919).

Roosevelt had earlier drawn attention to “hyphenated Americans” in a speech, Oct. 12, 1915: “Americanism is a matter of the spirit and the soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States.”

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by sfga6970

I hate it when people say I am an....(insert any nationality) - American. Either your an American or you are not. This quote from TR almost 90 years ago struck me as appropriate today.


Quote:
There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room here for only 100% Americanism, only for those who are Americans and nothing else.
Author: Roosevelt, Theodore
Category: immigration and immigrants
Attribution: Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919), U.S. Republican (later Progressive) politician, president. Speech, July 19, 1918, State Republican Party Convention, Saratoga, New York. Roosevelt Policy, vol. 3 (1919).

Roosevelt had earlier drawn attention to “hyphenated Americans” in a speech, Oct. 12, 1915: “Americanism is a matter of the spirit and the soul. Our allegiance must be purely to the United States.”

You know, I tend to think of this as something new. I had never heard of people identifying themselves by both their old country and this one until fairly recently. I hate it too, but had no idea it has been a problem for so long.

You cannot have loyalty divided like that and be true then to either one, in my opinion. You must decide who and what you will be and walk accordingly, no matter what it is you are speaking about.

I know that must sound trite, but I believe it is true.

[sfga6970]

It is not trite. My heritage is Irish and American Indian but my Nationality is 100% American. I have always been, and always will be an American with no hyphens.

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by sfga6970

It is not trite. My heritage is Irish and American Indian but my Nationality is 100% American. I have always been, and always will be an American with no hyphens.

Me too, Paul. My heritage - dear heaven, I am a mongrel!! Primarily British, but even that is English, Scot, Welsh and Irish. Add the French, and that really brings in most of Europe, those countries we know there. But with that said, I am an American, and so many times I have thanked God for letting me be born here where that is true.

Being American, I think, is a privilege. An accident of birth - a darn good one.

[sfga6970]

Karen's Father was a Scot and her Mother was Italian (what a great combination that was). She has her Father's fair looks, but at times her Mother's fiery temper, I have to be careful. She's an American with no hyphen, because that is what we all should be, and be proud of it.

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by sfga6970

Karen's Father was a Scot and her Mother was Italian (what a great combination that was). She has her Father's fair looks, but at times her Mother's fiery temper, I have to be careful. She's an American with no hyphen, because that is what we all should be, and be proud of it.

My grandmother was Scot and French - with much the same result. And she never mentioned it; being American was sufficient for her. We knew it; it wasn't necessary to think of the background, and perhaps knowing it made it all the more important to think ourselves American. I don't know how that works, but I'm just glad to be here.

[sfga6970]

Originally Posted by Snowden

My grandmother was Scot and French - with much the same result. And she never mentioned it; being American was sufficient for her. We knew it; it wasn't necessary to think of the background, and perhaps knowing it made it all the more important to think ourselves American. I don't know how that works, but I'm just glad to be here.

This is the "Great Melting Pot". We have people from all races and Nationalities and we have to accept them all as Americans to keep this Country growing and thriving. I've fought and bled for this Country, as many before me have and many after me will, I feel blessed to be called an American.