What's wrong with being just an American?

The last time I filled out a job application, I came across the section where you check your race and ethnicity. Ordinarily, I check the box that says "other" and write in "American" on the blank line. But there wasn't an "other" option on the latest application, so I just left that part blank.
First of all, it is nobody's business but my own what my race and ethnicity are. Second, I don't want to give any employer an excuse to overlook my application just because I'm a white guy and they have Affirmative Action needs to fill. There aren't any racial brownie points for hiring me, after all.
In fact, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) does not protect me from discrimination in the workplace. If I am passed over for a job or promotion because I am not a minority, then my options for seeking justice are few and far between. Basically, I am expected to accept whatever decisions that are made, regardless of whether or not such decisions are just.
I recently completed a training class about discrimination in the workplace. I was told that there are certain protected groups who fall under the protection of the EEOC. Essentially, anyone who is not a white, Christian, heterosexual male under age 40 (WCHM-40) is protected. When I asked the facilitator what my options would be if I was disciminated against for being a WCHM-40, I was told, more or less, that I'm up a creek without a paddle. Since I am not a member of a protected group, I cannot file a complaint with the EEOC. I would have to hire a slick lawyer.
So, I ask: What is so fair about Affirmative Action (AA) and all of its residuals, including the EEOC? Sure, minorities benefit from such policies. But however just the AA was meant to be, it is not just if one group is benefited at the expense of another. Reverse discrimination is still discrimination.
Now, I understand that a minority or member of a protected group may have a different perspective on this issue. I realize that I do not know what it is to be truly discriminated against. But is it right to discriminate against me in order to make right a wrong? Should I be discriminated against, so I can be made to appreciate what discrimination is? Frankly, I beg to differ.
It wouldn't have been right to enslave white people just to make a point of forcing others to experience what slavery was like for black slaves.
On the same token, forcing others to experience discrimination does not rectify the injustice of discrimination. All it does is fuel the fires of hatred and promotes racial inequality. All it does is help to swell the ranks of white supremacist groups and create other divisive groups among other races, such as the Black Panthers and La Raza (Spanish for "The Race"). Reverse discrimination does nothing to reconcile racial differences. Rather, it makes the contrasts more visual than ever.
What is the difference between hiring someone to fill a quota, and not hiring someone because of their skin color, gender or age? Both are fundamentally discrimination.
The burning question in my mind is, why can't Americans simply be regarded as Americans? It is obvious that white is white, black is black, brown is brown, etc. Some Americans are white, others are black, brown, red and yellow; some Americans are gay, others straight; some male, others female; some younger, some older; some Christian, others non-Christian; and so on and so forth.
As far as I'm concerned, there are no intrinsic differences between the skin colors. Do we really need to be recognized by a hyphen? What is the difference between an "African-American," "Mexican-American," "Asian-American," "Native-American," or "European-American"? Other than ancestry and the cultures of such, the only rudimentary difference is skin color.
There has been a movement called "multiculturalism," which seeks to celebrate all of the diverse variations in culture that different races bring to our society. Now, I admit that I enjoy trying food from different parts of the United States. There are also variations of dialect and social norms specific to different parts of the country; "Southern hospitality" and "Southern drawl," for example. However, such differences are not specific to race, but rather geography. A white citizen of Ethiopia is still expected to live as an Ethiopian. A brown citizen of Iceland is still expected to live as an Icelander.
To me, there is a distinction between celebrating geographical versus racial differences. At least the former does not emphasize skin color the way the latter does.
As exciting as cultural differences may be to some, these should not replace, dilute or supersede what it means to be an American. Frankly, I think it is more important to establish what being an "American" means, as opposed to a hyphenated American. What is a "Native American" anyway? Taking skin color out of the equation, the term would imply anyone born in America. That would make me a "Native American." But that is not how our government and popular culture see it. What they regard is skin color. Anyone with red skin, or a member of an American Indian tribe, is considered "Native American." This is misleading, not to mention insulting and demeaning to those of us who were born in America, but do not have the red skin.
Instead of hyphenating each other and focusing on our differences, perhaps what we ought to be doing to heal the wounds of racism in our country is to emphasize what we have in common.
I think our nation and our popular culture have made a mistake in embracing multiculturalism, Affirmative Action, and other racially motivated concepts that were really attempts to change the way people think. Another term for it is "brainwashing," but I digress that such terminology may be a bit harsh, albeit in truth.
Instead of trying to change people's minds, the way to heal racial wounds is to effect how a person thinks. There's a difference between influencing thought with information and forcing change through manipulation.
At least with the former, a person can choose whether or not to change his or her own mind. Using techniques of the latter is a fool's errand because real substantive change is not achieved; just on the surface.
By showing what we share, our commonalities, and that which binds us together as human beings and as a nation, people can see that there is no substantive difference between a white patriot, black patriot, brown, red or yellow patriots.
I say, give each person the freedom to change his or her own minds by providing them with the tools for positive change, instead of trying to force change through manipulation, such as laws that favor one group over another.
Discrimination of any kind that prevents equal opportunity is wrong, anti-American and goes against the very premise of our U.S. Constitution, which was written to preserve individual freedom and promote "the land of opportunity."
Opportunity: Now there's a term that sums up what it means to be an American. With opportunity, there is no guarantee of success; just the chance to achieve it. I think, in the end, that is all any color of the human race can ask for.

Welcome from Dagwood

Hello, everyone, and welcome to my blog site.

I'm a 33 y/o white guy, who is happily married and a father of three four-legged kids: two cats and a greyhound.

I affectionately nick-named my wife "Blondie" when we first met, so she reciprocated and, in turn, called me "Dagwood" after the character in the "Blondie" comic strip. It fits pretty well, too, because I like to eat (a lot, actually), I go to work via an office carpool, and I am always busy with honey-do's.

My blog site will be as diverse as a "dagwood" sandwich with everything on it! From politics to religion, philosophy, history, daily rants and raves, anecdotes, marriage and family issues, crime and punishment, celebrity roasts, movies, music, cars, pets, food, and a lot more than I can fit here.

My views can best be described as "Conservative Christian." My priorities are summed up as G.F.C., which stands for "God, Family, Country." Yeah, I'm one of those "Religious Righties," but this is who I am. So, reader be forewarned.

If you disagree with my views on the surface, or are prejudicially offended by anything "Christian" or "Conservative," then my blogs may not be for you. However, I invite people of all views to read my postings with an open mind. (I figure if the liberal left can ask for an open mind, then so can I.)

By the way: I caution anyone responding to my blogs. While I invite comments, I request that such replies remain intelligent, civil and respectful. I will write with civility and without intent to offend. I expect the same from responses to my posts. Any responses containing foul or inflammatory language, defamation, defecation or even childish name-calling will be immediately deleted, and the sender blocked from any future replies. Blog or Net rage will not be tolerated.

Presumably, we are all adults here, so let's behave as such. I will not abuse the privilege of posting on this blog site, so please do not abuse the privilege of responding to posts.

In short, be respectful. I subscribe to the philosophy of the "Golden Rule," or treating others the way I wish to be treated. If you want to be respected, then please be respectful.

Thank you very much for choosing to take the time and read my blogs.


Sincerely,


Dagwood