If you really want to discuss this I think you are missing the point entirely. I am Italian. (I know you don't care.) Both set of grandparents came to America at the turn of the 20th century. They came with nothing. And they worked to make a better life for themselves, their families, their neighborhood, their town/city. They left family behind that they never saw again. My maternal grandfather was a tailor. My paternal grandfather worked on the railroads. My aunts were seamstresses in the garment district until they retired. My uncles were cops, firefighters, factory workers. One was a shoe maker. They helped MAKE America. I am proud of them. They were Americans because they wanted to be, they chose to be, they earned it. They gave as much as they got. I am sure the same can be said for many other countries. If there were more people around like that today the WORLD would be a better place. But you don't have to care.
So when I say I'm an American and make reference to my heritage it is because I recognize that I have not earned it. I'm American because I was born here. That in and of itself does not make me proud. And that should not offend you.
And what about my many neighbors who are not citizens? They live here. Are they Americans? They come to work or go to school. But they don't want to be Americans. Should I tell them to be proud?
So excuse me if I want you to know what kind of American I am.
And since I AM here I'll keep trying to make a positive impact on my family and neighborhood and town/city. Then I can be proud to call myself an American, because it's what I do, not where I am. In the mean time I will honor my lineage because if you forget where you came from you may forget where you are going.
Now get back to the music people...
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