"I want to be treated the same as everyone else"

[draggar]

I'm sick of hearing groups of people (ethnic, religious, etc..) demanding to be treated like everyone else but then demand special treatment.

Which is it - treated like everyone else or treated differently? You can't have it both ways.

For example - when I lived in NJ there was a huge outcry over the state police entrance exam. Not many people of a "minority' ethnicity passed the test hence more whites were state troopers. The ACLU and other minority rights groups complained that it was unfair. Why? They're given the same test and didn't pass - how is that not fair? So what happened? They started to issue TWO tests. One for whites and an easier one for non-whites. WTF? If I call 911 I want the best qualified person at my door, not someone who passed the test based on their ethnic background.

Also, affirmative action. While I agree people (ANYONE) should be given a chance, why should a company have to hire a lesser qualified applicant based on the color of their skin?

Growing up it was the CHRISTMAS SEASON. Even as a non-Catholic, I called it the Christmas season. But then, non-Christan groups demanded to be treated the same! On, we have to look at all these other holidays but we also can't call it the Christmas season anymore! We need to call it the holiday season! But we sure as hell have to recognize them as Chaunakah (sp?), Kwanzaa (sp?) etc.

Yes, I've seen issues like this with many "equal rights" so-called victims.

Women demanded it (and received it) yet if I'm on a softball team I can slap a guy on the ass (as a "good job") but I can't do that to a woman for fear of being sued for sexual harassment. A grocery store I used to work at got sued because they didn't hire female baggers - so they had to start hiring female baggers but guess what? Part of the job was to go out and collect carriages from the parking lot - guess who never did it especially if the weather wasn't nice?

Gays / Lesbians / Bisexuals - you demanded to be allowed the same rights as married couples / shared benefits. Many states and companies give you this now yet my wife and I can't go into a friend's resort room when he's here because we're a straight couple.

Spanish speaking people demanded to be treated like everyone else yet try to get anything done in Miami without knowing Spanish, hell, try to even get hired ANYWHERE in Miami without knowing Spanish. It is very hard - most positions there have a "bilingual" requirement.

Blacks / African-Americans (BTW - I never understood why AMERICAN was last? But that's a different rant). We had a civil war to start the path to your rights. It was the deadliest war for the USA ever. We gave you the same rights that white people had yet many people complained that parts of New Orleans was ignored because the general populace was black. Really? I got JACK SHIT from the government after hurricane Wilma. Granted, I didn't lose my home but I had the foresight to but insurance. I didn't cry out that the government hated me because they didn't kiss my ass - I was prepared and didn't need to have my ass kissed. Plus, now these people saying that they voted for Barak because he's black - well, that's just hypocritical. Don't get me started on the places I see where I see a sign on the front door: "Blacks only" or "No whites". So we have to allow you wherever you want to go yet you can block me from going somewhere?

Muslims complain that extremists (like Al Qaida) give them a bad name and we need to treat them like everyone else yet some women complain that they need to show their face for a drivers license. WTF? It's a form of identification. If it's just a picture of a veil, ANYONE can be under there. We need to see your FACE.

Every day, as a straight white male, there is far fewer and fewer things I can say or do in fear of offending someone, being sued, etc. for doing something it is perfectly OK to do to another straight white male.

If you're going to demand equal rights - then expect equal treatment, the good and the bad. If you're going to insist on your own set of rules and rights - then don't expect everyone else to extend you the same rights that they have. You can't have it both ways. Doing so only feeds racism and prejudice.

Edit: I do understand that a lot of these are done by a small percentage of the "group" in question but these kinds of people are the ones who have the loudest voices who get the changes done and allowed.

[Hobbs]

This is quite far the most egregious rant I have seen on here (granted I haven't been here long, but still). The term "African-American" is made such to delineate a person's ethnic/racial origin and adding onto their nationality. Civil rights abuses happen daily in this country; the most recent being the law passed in AZ. People with your thinking is why racism is still prevalent in our society today.

[Plaidman]

This is quite far the most egregious rant I have seen on here (granted I haven't been here long, but still). The term "African-American" is made such to delineate a person's ethnic/racial origin and adding onto their nationality. Civil rights abuses happen daily in this country; the most recent being the law passed in AZ. People with your thinking is why racism is still prevalent in our society today.

I think draggar was refering to the fact that alot of people who scream their african american, wasn't born in africa. Nor their parents. Grandparents, great-grandparents, great great grandparents ether. They have no claim of Africa at all. Yet they still scream to be named after it. To me, they're just plain freaking American.

I mean, do black people in Canada demand to be called African-Canandian? Or in Mexico, do they scream to be called African-Mexican? In Britain, are they African-British? In japan, do they go by African-Japanese?

[Greenday]

Just a side note: the American Civil War had nothing to do with freeing slaves.

I do feel like a lot of groups demand equality these days and by equality I mean easier for them than everyone else.

[draggar]

This is quite far the most egregious rant I have seen on here (granted I haven't been here long, but still). The term "African-American" is made such to delineate a person's ethnic/racial origin and adding onto their nationality. Civil rights abuses happen daily in this country; the most recent being the law passed in AZ. People with your thinking is why racism is still prevalent in our society today.

First, I'm not racist or prejudice in any way. What annoys me is that many groups demand "equal rights" but then some of them demand, and are allowed, special treatment and to not extend those same rights that they demanded to everyone else.

Rights and how people are treated should NOT be based on religion, ethnicity, sexual preference, the color of your hair, penis size, etc.

As for terms like "African-American" or "Japanese-American", "French-American", "Cuban-American", "Irish-American", "Mexican-American", "Italian--American", "Asian-American", "Martian-American",etc.. Why the HELL is American second? You're in the USA - American should be FIRST. IMO saying it that way insinuates that the first part is more important than the American part. If that's true - then go back there. the only other place I've heard this is "French-Canadian" (and I feel the same way about that - you live in Canada, it should be first).

Yes, be proud of your heritage and history, we need to know about where we came from but also give respect to where you're living now.

[Hobbs]

First, I'm not racist or prejudice in any way.

Let's see about that...

- then go back there.

Ah yes. The ubiquitous, "Go back to where you belong if you show any hint of your culture here," argument

Yes, be proud of your heritage and history, we need to know about where we came from but also give respect to where you're living now.

Why don't you go back to Europe then and leave America to the real Americans?

[joe hx]

Recently I was looking at various scholarships for school. Most of the African-American scholarships required you to have at least a 2.5 GPA. All the other scholarships required at least a 3.5 GPA. So if I'm black, I don't have to do as well in order to get a scholarship.

draggar's post also reminds me when the SAT's were considered racist because some black people didn't do well on them. I didn't matter that there were plenty of black people that did perfectly well (here's one article on it).

Also - a lot if not most African-Americans who are decedents of slaves probably have some white, European genes in them. A lot of slave owners had sex, and consistently children, with their slaves. (Like Thomas Jefferson did - here and here).

[Fryk]

I think I can answer the *blank*-American thing grammatically.

Let's take african-american as an example. Now I can't think of the term for it, but the word 'african' there modifies the word 'american', not the other way around. American is the main part, it's what they are. ut racially speaking, what 'type' of american are they? They are the african kind. African-american.
To me, that says that they see themselves as americans first and mainly.

There are a couple of problems with doing it that way. Like someone said, not all black people come from africa anymore. What if you immigrated from Haiti? Are you a Haitian-African-American? The second problem, and I think the worse one, is that it assumes that there is ONE type of african, ONE type of asian, One type of hispanic, etc. So, all these racially sensitive people are basically saying "they all look alike to me." I'd laugh if it wasn't so sad.

[Crazedclerkthe2nd]

Hey Draggar, how do you feel about affirmative action (businesses getting perks and wage subsidies from the government in exchange for hiring minorities)?

Also, it's funny that "African-American" has become a blanket term for black people all over North America. I knew a guy in college who HATED being labeled as "African-american" because, although he was black, he was of Caribbean origin...and Canadian.

[Greenday]

Let's take african-american as an example. Now I can't think of the term for it, but the word 'african' there modifies the word 'american', not the other way around. American is the main part, it's what they are. ut racially speaking, what 'type' of american are they? They are the african kind. African-american.

This. African is describing the American. That's generally how adjectives work in English.

[protege]

Why don't you go back to Europe then and leave America to the real Americans?

I was wondering what that argument would come up Seriously, why should someone have to "go back to Europe" if they were born here? Also, not all white people came from Europe in the first place! I mean, they hail from Scandinavia, Russia, and other places as well. If that's the case, should my immediate family be forced to return to Norway...when not all of us can trace our heritage back there?

I think the point of this post was that some groups bitch and moan about "equality," yet when they're equal, they start demanding more because they were "wronged" in the past. They want to me *more* than equal in other words. Folks, I'm all for equal rights--I don't care if you're black, white, gay, straight, or whatever you are. But giving people more than their fair share just pisses me off. That's not equality at all!

For example, you can't have any all-white clubs or groups now. Too many people will claim that it's "racist." Yet, you can have all-black clubs or groups with no problems. How the fuck is that "equal?"

[BlaqueKatt]

The second problem, and I think the worse one, is that it assumes that there is ONE type of african, ONE type of asian, One type of hispanic, etc. So, all these racially sensitive people are basically saying "they all look alike to me." I'd laugh if it wasn't so sad.

but way too many modifiers to the word American-we are a "melting pot" and thus should not need modifiers-it's the modifiers that separate us...Do I call myself "sicilian-american, and my husband, german-american? No, and if a South african moved here would they be african-american? What if they had caucasian skin, are they still "africn-american" or are people that have never set foot in Africa* more entitled to the "african" modifier? modifiers are not necessary-and it only happens in the US. If I moved to say Africa would/should I call myself American-African? What about Japan, Iran, Canada etc-nope you'd be a laughingstock. I have a coworker from India-she simply calls herself american-not "indian-american" it's superfluous to add a modifier....heck considering Mexico is part of north america how the heck is "Mexican-American" not redundant? Or say Brazilian-american_it's just silly, unnecessary labeling to divide rather than to put aside differences-it was actually thought up by the department of the interior(government) to "catagorize people"


*most of the people segragating themselves with the term "african-american" have been "american" for at minimum 4 generations-they have no ties with Africa anymore-guess what that's longer than my family or my husbands family have been here......and hey I still have 4 brothers back in Sicily...I have direct generational ties...my husband has cousins in Germany.

[Hobbs]

I was wondering what that argument would come up Seriously, why should someone have to "go back to Europe" if they were born here? Also, not all white people came from Europe in the first place! I mean, they hail from Scandinavia, Russia, and other places as well. If that's the case, should my immediate family be forced to return to Norway...when not all of us can trace our heritage back there?

I can trace my heritage back here. Doesn't stop people like Draggar from telling me to go back to Mexico. If that's how it is, then I'll do it right back.

PS: Scandinavia is in Europe. Maps help.

[protege]

PS: Scandinavia is in Europe. Maps help.

Uh, I *know* that. Still, when one thinks of "European," they think of Germany, France, England, etc. not Sweden, Norway, and Denmark

[draggar]

Ah yes. The ubiquitous, "Go back to where you belong if you show any hint of your culture here," argument

Don't put words in my mouth. Showing culture is one thing and it is a great way to learn about how other cultures live. I have an issue when you start expect everyone else to suit to your heritage's needs.

I think one of the biggest mistakes made in the beginning of this nation was not declaring an official language (and honestly, I don't care if it was English, French, or even German). Here we have people who don't want to learn English just because it's not part of their heritage. This makes it very difficult to do business in these areas. At least if there was an official language we'd all be on the same page.

If I go to another country they won't cater to my needs. If I can't find someone who can speak English, I'll have to learn the local language. Quite often I see people who come to this country and expect everyone to learn their language to accommodate them.

Why don't you go back to Europe then and leave America to the real Americans?

Because I was born here (a.k.a. "accidental" American) and I'm proud to live in America. I'm not demanding that everyone else cater to my needs nor am I demanding that everyone bow down to my Quebecois / Irish ancestry. You don't see me calling myself French-Canadian-American or Irish-American, I'm an AMERICAN. I wave two flags - the American flag and the Gadsden flag. Both are symbols of America and American history.

As for the Native-American argument, what about all the animals that were here before them - THEY were here first, not humans. What about other countries with a large immigrant population dominating over an indigenous population?

As for the people calling me a racist - I guess if expecting everyone should have the same rights and treated the same (the good and bad) is racist, then I guess I am one. Now, who will be the first to misquote me on that?

I can trace my heritage back here. Doesn't stop people like Draggar from telling me to go back to Mexico. If that's how it is, then I'll do it right back.

I'm assuming you don't stand around demanding everyone treat you differently because your family / ancestors are from Mexico? Do you expect the entire nation to stop to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Heck, you're typing in English so I can assume you know how to speak English well enough to get by? Your family understood that most people here spoke English so they learned English.

My father-in-law is from Argentina yet he is one of the most American people I know. He worked hard (he didn't take any handouts etc..), dealt with prejudice right off the bat. His surgical books would be on the interviewer's office yet the interviewer, who purchased his book, would tell him to get back to the docks or get back on the boat. He worked hard for many years and had a family. While he was proud of his Argentinian heritage, when he moved here he was an American first. When travelling people would ask where he's from - he's say New Jersey.

I see many immigrants who are farm more American than many people who live here. I've known immigrants who would get dressed up in suits (etc.) to go vote because where they came from they didn't have the right to vote - they were very proud to be able to do that and considered it a special occasion. Yet so many people would rather go to the beach or the mall to take some time to go vote. I've seen immigrants be very glad that they could move here, they learn English and the ones who didn't know English would travel with a family member or friend who did. They didn't know what a hamburger was, the meaning of the Fourth of July, how our government worked, but were willing to learn and strived to be an American - to have a good job, buy a nice home, etc. These kinds of people are NOT an issue IMO. Its when people start to expect the entire country to say "well, they need this because they came from (country)" and they expect everyone else to change for them, that's when I start to have an issue.

Not once did I ever say all immigrants and their families need to go back to where they came from - go ahead and look, I'll wait. My beef is with people who expect everyone else to suit their needs and consider where they come from more important than where they are. If being from (insert country) is more important than being in the USA - then why are you here in the USA?