The majority of whites or blacks whose ancestors have been in the country over a a few hundred years are people who’s families may not be pure anything. There is no European country or culture for someone who is Irish/German/Native American/and Swedish whose family mixed up on this soil. There is no African country for someone of Nigerian/Angolan/Wamonoag/Irish and Dutch who’s communities were blended on this soil during slavery. Regardless of whether these types of people who call themselves whites and blacks get along or not, they are both hybrid mutts also known as Americans. They’ve created more than a few types of different music styles, have their own distinctive type of religious worship, their own cuisine even their own dialect of the English language known as American English. So don’t get it twisted, there are ethnic Americans whether you accept us or not.

Moving right along, I have noticed that people from so many different countries and cultures come in and either do one of three things. 1. They jump in the midst of ethnic hatred between the blacks and white of this soil and take sides, as opposed to minding their own damned business-Italians! Hispanics! Indians! Nigerians! Arabs! 2. The start strutting around like the ethnic snobs they are by declaring themselves better than Americans by saying things like, “Americans are lazy,” We do de yobs Americans won’t do!” “Americans have no culture but I’m Italian and we have a well established culture” :We Portuguese like quality”…grrrrr 3. Pick up a violin and start preaching about how they came here with nothing and made something of themselves and they see the “Blacks” The Native Americans” ..”The Americans” not taking advantage of opportunities.

You know what I say to you Chinese and Vietnamese people who follow anyone black American around in a store assuming that everyone steals when you’ve never been introduced to the entire multi-tiered communities in every state, F—You! You know what I have to say to you Nigerian and Trinidadian bastards from New England who rant about Blacks not taking advantage? Any immigrant comes over with the advantage of being an exotic other and given the benefit of the doubt, so shut up. Also, you’re coming in using programs that were established for the descendants of slaves while your ancestors probably sold them away! You know what I say to those blowhards like Rick Santorum who wish to cut certain benefits like the heating programs and probably have never set foot in places like Hazard county Kentucky where they NEED these programs, just because your cocky European dad was successful? F—-YOU!

You guys aren’t doing a darn thing for this country but increasing the racial and economic divide. Yes, slavery devastated a lot of people both black and white that you may never see because your too afraid to get to know us. You extend your state of culture shock by rejecting our cultures! What white person from the rural areas do you know to ever utter the words “trailer trash!?” For all you know that person could be descended from a great general who fought in the civil war, while your family was over there in Europe starving. You look down your noses at the people who rescued your behinds from Hitlers goons when they decided to burn your little Italian towns and shoot up your churches! Yet, you call them trailer trash!!!!!!!!???????

What gives you the right to point to any black American and call them a criminal just based on looks alone. How in the hell can you assume that any progress is due to someone giving them a handout??!! The man you just followed in the store- dude from China- happens to be a Veteran who served in Vietnam.  He only patronized your store in the first place because you had cheap products and he’s on disability for PTSD not welfare, pal!

Then you Arab jerks and your radical ideas and quest to come in and cover up our culture and replace it with yours. I can’t even carry a bible or wear a star of David in your countries. How the hell is it that you wish to change our religious holidays, or bury the protestant heritage embedded within American culture!!!??? How is it that you Somalis gladly came over here when your black A— were starving, and next thing you know, your sneaking your big foreheads back over and training for Jihad? Go to hell!

You immigrants who carelessly shoot off your mouths about Americans need to do some research and take off those colorized glasses! You don’t know anything about us. You want to take advantage of being in our country but you still want to wear the country of ancestor origin as if your ashamed of being being confused with us? If you’re that worried, then go back to Jamaica-Jamaicans! Go back to Italy-Italians!, Go back to Pakistan! But don’t even attempt to tell me to go back to Africa or Europe because remember my blood is a combination mixed on this soil and I belong here! F—-YOU!!!!!!

Though, am I wrong for saying Overweight Cop or is there a more appropriate title? I dare not say obese because that would be cruel even though that is still a word that represents people who, well, have more than their fair share at the dinner table. And just so you’ll feel better about my less sensitive frame of reference, I have tilted the scale a time or two myself, which, I think, qualifies my use of the term. There, does that make it all better? Oh, but I sound rather condescending, maybe like a bitch on the lighter end of the scale now who has forgotten her roots. Does that remind you of anyone, Clarence Thomas?

In thinking about all of what may be politically correct or incorrect, I can’t help being reminded on just how intrusive that is on my 5th Amendment rights. Am I wrong in believing there is something indelibly wrong in revamping Mark Twain’s classic, Huckleberry Finn? I suppose the people on the Board of Political Correctness feel like in this “We Are the Word” setting, the N word was just a bit much for the digital learners who are, well, not exactly reading Mark Twain, but dammit, his extravagant and overuse of the word was too hard on the ear. So, there.

And how grand of some African Americans, in their creative and rich culture of language and euphemisms, redefine the N word to mean love toward their fellow African American sister, brother, mother, father…well, I know you get my drift. Though, for the ones who do not understand the code of who should or should not say it, well, just do and you’ll discover how politically incorrect you are. Dare I spell the (ahem) N word, at the risk of the African American Cop shutting my computer down from the Cyber of African American Dos and You Better Hell Nots?

Signed,

Confounded

www.totsymae.com

The United States has always been a country which, although claiming separation of church and state, has been based on a strong religious foundation. Many of the laws that currently exist are very similar to the basic codes that most religious also follow. Growing up in this country has exposed me to many different religious ideas, opinions, and thoughts, and each of these has contributed towards my decision to be agnostic. While growing up, I had always questioned the definite nature of religious claims which others seemed to be able to believe so easily. As I saw the arguments that could arise from conflicting opinions and also the bigotry with which some sides treated another, I began to understand the negative sides of faith. Also, because I possess and analytical mind, the lack of scientific evidence behind many religious claims simply pushed me away. It was at this point that I decided that a middle ground was the safest place and I chose agnosticism over theism, or atheism for that matter. I believe that this decision was influenced by myself just as much as it was by people of other faiths.

Simply the fact that I am allowed to openly express this idea is what sets America apart from other countries. The Constitution’s first ten amendments are known as the Bill of Rights, and act as a set of rights that are always guaranteed to the citizens of the United States. It is the very first of these amendments which guarantees religious freedom. This allows any person to practice whichever religious they wish, without worry of interference from an outside party. This is also the amendment which protects me from any overzealous Christian who thinks of me as sinner, or on the other hand, any atheist who believes I can’t get all the way over the fence. My identity as a person who’s motto is “I don’t know” is protected by the Bill of Rights. This is the same for any other person, and this in turn contributes to the diversity which gives this country the name of The Melting Pot in the first place. As shown, the very amendments which protect our diversity are also the amendments which create the diversity. The United States is known as The Melting Pot of the world because of the diversity of our country and the laws which protect this diversity. My own life has been directly affected by this combination of cultures from around the world, and the Bill of Rights protects me and my ideas no matter how absurd they may seem.

In the past, America has failed to acknowledge or even allow contributions from its minority members. Many have now learned that various racial-ethnic groups contributed a legacy of ideas and gains to the historical growth and intellectual development of American culture. As Americans gain in important achievements, minorities are choosing to have their accomplishments and acclaims accredited to their own race. This means recognizing minority contributions as part of American accomplishments; for instance, you are a credit to your race. As minorities, immigrants, and political refugees form part of the American process, they begin to recognize White resistance toward minority improvement. After evaluating various racial-ethnic groups in American society, often through a discriminatory appeal in accordance with the preconceptions of their own beliefs and opinions, these people are realizing that they have traditions and social customs, which are different from certain ideas, attitudes, or activities of mainstream culture. Once upon a time, this meant that minorities would assimilate their ideals to better accommodate the scheme of American production. This need to fit in or adapt is, however, no longer the case. Minorities now choose not to assimilate their ideas, social gains, and personal achievements to the betterment of American culture. In stead, they choose to achieve and benefit intellectually from minority communities in which they live. This decision often reinforces their prejudiced attitudes toward strangers and others.

They are choosing not to improve themselves in intergroup relations with the cultural mainstream, but to form strong ties with people in communities that hold certain attitudes and interests in accordance with their own beliefs, ideals, and social customs. They are demanding that America respects their decision not to integrate and insist that their new government accommodates their personal needs to achieve a stable, suitable culture within the contexts of American society. This often means re-establishing ties with their former nation or accrediting minority success to the doctrines of their former country. Along with existing prejudices toward other racial-ethnic groups — for instance, the Bosnian Muslims are at war with Croatians, Israeli denigration of Palestinians, Japan’s prejudice toward China who happens to be hostile against Tibet; East Indians have learned to look down on all those who are not of equal religious standing; Euro-Americans strongly dislike all nationalities; and everyone is prejudice against the nihilistic thinking strategies of African-Americans. These cultural differences lead to stronger ethnocentrism of American racial-ethnic groups. And, with the competition for employment and economic resources, congestion from mixed nationalities into one big melting pot of pre-existing identities, some would say, is a recipe for violence.

In computers this means a mixture of brand and off-brand name components put together to make a single, working computer. Due to all the different manufactured parts inside it, no one company can be accredited to this finished product, and therefore is called a Clone. Many living in America bare a close resemblance to these machines, as they are not made up of only one particular race. In a market full of competition, the idea of sharing everything that makes one particular manufacturer unique is a scary thought. In the same way many may feel that sharing their culture would take away from the many things that make them distinct. Other more optimistic people may promote the idea of a one people society. Jamaica uses there ‘Out of many – One People’ catch phrase to embrace this idea. Either way, the racial tension in the United States continues to grow. Many divisions still exist in today’s America. Arguments over what the politically correct racial terms are still being fought over. Whether it’s Mexican-American or African-American or any of the many other terms used to describe the country of origin to the country of present. To break it down in the simplest form, America is a country in name only. There is no official nationality in the United States. Everyone has come here based on embracing the theme of all nationalities living together in unity. Where everyone has the right to practice their own religion, have their own views on political involvements, and have the freedom to live out their lives in a society that embraces all the things that make them different in the pursuit of harmony. Therefore, if you want to assign a nationality, the best way to do so would be to consider all people with multi-racial backgrounds as American.

One of the largest contributing factors in racism seems to be the stereotypical views of so many nationalities that are acted upon in an unfair and discriminating way. There exist many societies and groups of people that think that America was setup and belongs to the white man. But, this idea is completely skewed. The term White being associated with nationality is completely irrelevant. White is a color not a race, and there is no such nationality that corresponds with this. When you think of Russia do you think of white? When you think of Germany do you think of white? When you think of Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Australia, and all of the other countries in the European regions, do you only see one stereotypical nationality based on coloration? If not, then how can you look at the United States, a country founded on people commuting from all of the different countries of the world, and see only a White coloration of people? There are vast differences in the people of all of these countries as well as all of the rest of the countries that in whole make up the entire world of humanity. What the pilgrims brought to America was not a color, but a culture. A culture in which all the divisions of the world could come together and attempt to live in Unison. The term HEINZ 57 is used to refer to people, as well as animals, that have several different genealogical backgrounds. This results in a combination of different nationalities. A more appropriate term, however; would be American.

 Living in a Melting Pot society has its difficulties that are extremely hard to overcome. During World War II several of America’s citizens of Japanese decent were corralled into concentration camps, in expectation that this would prevent these people from defecting or assisting the enemies of the United States. The thought process behind this is completely foolish. And has long been a black-eye on the face of America. If a World War III broke out consisting of the United States and any of the other major Super Powers of the world, who would they side with? When your country is made up of all the other races in the world, how do you appropriately choose a side? One answer could be that instead of seeking to fix all of the problems of other countries by forced government changes and the stationing of troops to enforce the American agenda, perhaps focus should be placed on establishing more Unity in the United States. Respect other countries policies and agendas, as we expect them to respect ours.

American is a title, given out freely to those born here or to those who have lived here long enough to earn citizenship by length of residency and the ability to pass the American Citizenship Test. The biggest difference between America and the other countries of the world is that there are not just one people with one main culture. The world is filled with many different countries. Not with difference of Colors, but with difference of Cultures. And in the United States you can partake in almost all of them. Join in with the German culture in the United States, by attending any of the many Oktoberfest, sampling several types of Germany’s ales, music, dances, and vestments. Or join in with the French culture in celebrating at the Mardi Gras festival, in New Orleans. Or partake in any of the hundreds of other festivals America has to offer, commemorating and celebrating all of the cultures of the world.

   What is an American?  It’s the Spirit of Unity. Which seeks to inspire everyone in our world to embrace each other’s Nationality, Customs, Cultures, and, Ethnicities. And maybe one day, there will be a more peaceful and more harmonious existence of people.

Most Americans today, like me, have ancestors who came from other countries to become Americans. My ancestors came from Germany, from the Netherlands, from England and Scotland, from countries that had grown old and tired and from countries that had grown tyrannical. They came to America to flee what they had known. My ancestry, like that of so many in this country, is a rich diversity of cultures and histories.

But today, I don’t speak German. My name does not reflect the Dutch history in my family. I do not owe allegiance to any king, and I do not speak with a Scottish brogue. The diversity of my ancestors has been lost in the generations that separate them from me. What do they all have in common?

What they have in common is America. They left countries and cultures to become Americans. They stopped pledging allegiance to a variety of flags in order to pledge allegiance to one flag that bore stars and stripes. They stopped speaking German or Dutch and gave up their English or Scottish accents. Their choices in foods and clothing styles changed as they became Americans. This was not a celebration of diversity. It was a celebration of something far greater.

America has traditionally been described as a melting pot. Diversity goes in, but all is blended to make something new that comes out. That new thing is a love for freedom. People left cultures and ancestries and countries because they were not free; they came to America to be free.

This was not a do-your-own-thing kind of freedom. It was not a freedom used to preserve that which was no longer appropriate. It was not a freedom-to-be-me thing. It was a freedom to be an American that they sought and obtained.

They did not come to America with the intention of having America change for them or accommodate them. They came to America with the intention of becoming Americans. The change was for them, not for the country to which they had come. They did not come expecting America to adopt its laws or its culture to please them. They came to adopt America’s laws and cultures as their own. They did not come to preserve their diversity. They came to be melted into Americans.

America is much stronger when it celebrates freedom, and weaker when it celebrates diversity. This weakens us because it divides us. When we focus on our different languages, religions, cultures and traditions, we become less one and more many. This is not to say everyone should be expected to throw away their individual cultures and languages. It is to say that we do better when we have a common goal, which is the defense of freedom, and we do not do as well when our goals are diverse.

For decades, our coins have born the motto e pluribus unum, “from many, one.” But celebrating diversity turns this motto around, encouraging us to be less unified and more different. But it is still true that a house divided against itself cannot stand.

Let us celebrate freedom, not diversity. Let us seek to be unified though diverse. Let us be Americans first and all the other things we are second.

As a result art deco buildings were built, at this time they took place of the demolished buildings. By the 40’s tourism became very popular and boosted the economy, then world war II especially after the Japan attack on pearl harbor left hotels empty following war in 1950 Miami was almost ruined. However in mid 80’s Miami was saved and recognized. Miami has the biggest population of Cuban American’s in the United States.

In the mid 80’s Miami became famous for its TV show “Miami Vice” the show was created in Miami beach which in turn created more traffic for tourist and a better economy. Today Miami is well known as an international city for its entertainment.

Calle Ocho is the Hollywood of Latin American actors, writers, artist, and musicians. Every March Latinos throughout the U.S. celebrate the largest festival in the country, and every last Friday of the month is a Latin party considered to be a cultural festival, with dancers, performers, music, food, theater and local artist fun time for everyone. The Calle Ocho festival in March celebrated its 26th annual year. The Kiwanis club launched the Little Havana festival in 1978 to raise money for the local community, projects, causes and groups. More then one million people from around the world appear to this exciting event. This festival holds its place in the Guinness book of world records.

A cultural celebration fills more then 20 blocks of Latin music lovers. A variety of Latin musicians perform 7 hours consecutively with ethnic foods line up on both sides of the street. Hand rolled cigars aromatic leaves being rolled into cigars, “you can see from the windows” meat markets, herbal stores, and coffee, you can walk from downtowns art deco into Little Havana. There are street vendors from Columbian corn arepas to Cuban tomales and authentic Cuban restaurants, many cigar shops, nightclubs and theater.