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inyouagain -> RE: Getting over Ourselves (3/1/2004 8:15:35 AM)
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The ball is rolling... keep it going!
Let's rid ourselves of all divisional references, including:
Male American - gender division
Female American - gender division
Southern Man - geographic and gender division
Northerner - geographic division
West Coaster - ditto
East Coaster - ditto
Tarheel - ditto
Yankee - ditto
Rebel - ditto
Texas Ranger - ditto
Georgia Pine - may not belong here? (other pines in America too)
Florida Gator - no gepgraphic monopoly on reptiles?
Cajun - aren't all cajuns Americans?
Koon Ass - dem dat ditto
Redneck - a species found only in America, yes?
Son of a bitch - gender division, but international I suppose?
Lesbian - gay, but the divisional term is favored for gender division?
These absurd examples illustrate that an effort to 'undivide' America by national origin, ethnicity, gender, profession, geographic region/culture of origin, sexual preference, sports mascot, blah-blah-bah... is a process which by it's nature should apply across the many divisions of daily American life and culture recorded by history.
White bread is still bread, just as wheat bread is still bread, and rye and pumpernickle same-same. Would it help to simply call them all bread?
Variety begats divisional references of numerous types, just as 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are all bases... while the 'other base' is not referred to as a base at all, but rather a plate?
A football player is divided into offense, defense, special teams, and those classifications are further broken down into specific positions... offensive guard, defensive tackle, etc... but all remain football players... as are podiatrists and brain surgeons both doctors... as are a 747 driver and a river barge driver both a pilot... and the list is indeed long.
Monkey wrench time:
I actually agree with you lanette, and personally would like to see the terms not necessarily done away with, but at least put into proper perspective, ie. American African, American Mexican, American Asian (oops, that's Amerasian, sorry), etc... but there's problems with that approach. For instance, American Irishman would be gender divisional and require American Irishwoman as a compliment... further complications, heh!
This brings a special problem to my Native American friends... American Indian would have to preclude all members of Hindu origin... as they are also known as Indians? This has been a touchy situation already, but the term Native American was intended to be all inclusive of various Indian tribes, Eskimo's, and Polynesians (Hawaii).
By label, any 'external' American infers a 'Foreign American' to Americans, I agree!
However, I've always referred to myself as an American Man, not Man American... and I've always referred to my woman as American Woman (they wrote a song about her), not Woman American, lol
Good thing I didn't mention religious denominations, eh?
Inyouagain
''I'm proud to be an American'' - Lee Greenwood (note the absence of division)
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