Ethnically Speaking by Larry Meeks

Dear Larry: I believe that as long as ethnic and cultural groups continue to hyphenate their heritage with American, we will continue to live in a segregated world.

A lot has been done since the '50s to eradicate the separation among groups. However, this eradication process will not be complete as long as people insist on bilingual education, foreign-language publications (such as voting information and ballots) and hiring only bilingual employees. Using divisive titles will continue to keep us apart and foster animosity and contention.

I once checked "yes" to the question "Are you a Native American?" on a college form. I didn't know it meant "American Indian." I innocently said yes because I was born in Iowa, and it is part of the USA. I got upset with my mistake. If they wanted to know whether I was an American Indian, why didn't they just say so? I don't get it. What is wrong with or where is the shame in being called American Indian?

Until we are truly united as Americans, we will continue to have attitudes, resentment, hurt feelings and problems. These feelings of separation no longer are caused by Jim Crow laws; they're caused by people who refuse to learn or speak English at home. I believe this is one of the greatest causes for resentments.

If hyphenated Americans want us to respect their cultural heritage, they should respect ours as Americans with no hyphens. I know ours may be boring to them, but theirs can be obnoxious, for instance when they insist on displaying flags of other countries instead of the Stars and Stripes.

Diversity is one of America's greatest assets.

We can honor and celebrate it in many ways without dragging America down by dividing people into hyphenated groups. — A French-English-Welsh-Spanish-American

Dear FEWSA: I understand your confusion as to whether or not you are a Native American. However, this term has been reserved for "American Indians."

The use of the name "Native American" came about when some in their community wanted to do away with the term "Indian" because they wanted to do away with the "cowboy and Indian" stereotype.

The use of the name was cemented into our language when the Bureau of Indian Affairs wanted a name that included Native Hawaiians, Pacific islanders and Alaska Natives — Indians, Eskimos and Aleuts.

What is interesting is many Native Americans prefer the name "American Indian." You didn't ask, but the best option is to call individuals by their tribal names, e.g., Sioux, Apache, Navajo, Cherokee, Creek, Iroquois, etc.

I agree with you that many Americans are upset with people using hyphenated names, because they believe the terms foster separatism. This is the dilemma groups must confront: How does one show pride in his ethnicity and yet show pride in his country? Unless groups become sensitive to this issue, they will be labeled as anti-American.

As an aside, groups change their names when they are trying to change their images. I remember when my ethnic group changed from Negro to Afro-American to black to African-American. I know that it is difficult for people to keep up with the changes and that they are often at a loss as to what the correct label is. Don't feel bad about not knowing. Sometimes even members of the ethnic group in question are confused and say the wrong name.

To find out more about Larry G. Meeks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

COPYRIGHT 2009 CREATORS.COM