Well they're apparently not so idiotic as to not go along with a strident America hater such as yourself in your own country.

No, that is not what I said at all. I just think that if 300 million people like something that just "several" people don't, then maybe the former has the more accurate opinion of that particular thing?

Wait, are you saying that they don't? Two major world social and economic powers, one a permanent member of the UN security council, don't have a say on this planet? Talk about a straw man argument.

Now why would I exclude myself Herring? BTW we like to call ourselves "Native Americans" not "Indians".

Eh...what? Yea sure...:06:

So you are saying that the US should lose all priviliges it has based on it's socio-economic and political status in the world, leadership of Nato etc. included? I think I actually agree with you on that.

No I don't think they have the proportioned power that they would be entitled to. Just look at how for example China has to suffer because of a US based recession.

Oh yea like "one eight Cherokee" or something like that? "Great granddaddy raped a native so that's why I call myself a Native American". :)

Prisons are profitable? Well hell heres your chance !

San Quenton is up for sale !

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2251374/posts

Not that it's any of your damn business Sonny, but my great grandfather MARRIED that "native" just like my Grandfather MARRIED my "native" Grandmother. All of them BTW were born here in this country as was I so we're ALL "natives".

So what's next, are you going to accuse my family of miscegenation?

No offense August - but I don't have but a tiny (I am talking like 1/128th) part American Indian blood in me.

But I am a Native American. I was born here in the US, and thus by definition am a "native" american.

The term is nothing more than PC bull. Whats wrong with all of us just being freakin AMERICAN?

Last time I checked, you cut any man or woman of any race and they bleed red. If you live here and are a legal citizen (natural or naturalized), your American, period.

I am so sick of people having to be "Irish-American", "African-American", "Native-American" or any other "hyphonated" American. Whats that make me? An "American-American" for pete sake?

I got no problem saying I am simply an American. If someone inquires, I have a mainly mixed German, Scottish and Irish heritage. But I am not a "German-Scottish-Irish-English-Indian-American"!

What lunacy.

Thankfully, I am fairly confident August, that your just fine with being called simply "American". And to that I'll lift a virtual drink any day, regardless of any man's "heritage".

The Hyphen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbOIg1Wy9Zo

http://www.theodoresworld.net/archiv...yne_and_t.html

Theodore Roosevelt

Of course Teddy was not talking about them indians

So you have to take what he says with a grain of salt or two

No offense taken at all Hap. You're just like the rest of us: American Mutts. I firmly believe that is the true source of our strength and all these attempts to hyphenate and qualify us into neat little racial categories are nothing more than attempts to divide and conquer us. Regardless of where your people came from if you were born here you are as "native" as my Great Grandmother.

TR was right in that hypenated Americanism is the path to national ruin. I'm not that pleased with the other quote that is being attributed to him (first I have heard of it actually) but I do understand that one has to take it in the context of the times in which he said it. After all there were still people alive at that time who had survived "Indian" attacks. We're talking about a man that did a lot to improve race relations in America.

My personal experiences in traveling abroad is that the government has very little do do with the way people live. It's all about local cultures, norms, and most importantly the people. I'd rather live in a land full of happy, friendly, and laid back people under a dictator than live with a bunch of unfriendly dog-eat-dog workaholics in a democracy.