Proud of Being an American

By Diego Garcia III | Editor of The Brownsville Beacon

Being an American has never been more complicated. Well, I should probably amend that statement. Since the time of the U.S. Civil War, it has never been more difficult to be an American. This beautiful country is more divided, more angry, and more broken than it has been in 156 years.

People are constantly being pushed to the far ends of the political spectrum. The middle ground is being eliminated as the lines are being drawn and people are being forced to choose sides.

You're either a Democrat, or a Republican, or gay, or straight, or Christian, or atheist, or Jewish, or white, or black, or brown, or Mexican, or Asian, or progressive, or conservative, or Native American, or Muslim, or one of hundreds of other different groups.

In 1904, Israel Zangwill wrote a Broadway play called The Melting Pot. In it, a Russian Jew immigrates to the United States where he "melts away" his old cultural identity and finds joy in his new American culture.

Editor's note: I am aware I have been using the term "American" to refer to those who live in the United States. I am also aware there are plenty of other countries in North, Central, and South America. I am not trying to diminish the other countries in this hemisphere, I'm just using the term most of society has accepted as the term for someone who is from the United States. 

For the better part of the 19th and 20th centuries, the United States has been known as the great melting pot of the world. Ever since people from other countries and ethnicities began coming to the United States, they have been adding to the unique tapestry that makes up what it means to be an American.

Yes, ethnic cities like Little Italy, Chinatown, Koreatown, India Square, Little Australia, and Little Canada popped up in major cities from New York, across the Midwest to Detroit, Chicago, and Minneapolis; to Austin and across to Los Angeles and San Francisco. Ever since people started to come from Europe and Asia, they've tried to find the people and culture they were used to. If an Italian who came through Ellis Island was walking though the streets of New York, they were probably frightened and shocked at the amount of cultural diversity. It stands to reason they would look for other Italians to make them feel welcome. If a Chinese person came through Angel Island and was walking the streets of San Francisco, it stands to reason they'd be looking for other Chinese people to make them feel welcome.

During the early 1900's, the Americanization movement sought to teach all these recent immigrants how to adopt the "American" culture. Immigrants were taught English and introduced to American clothing styles, American entertainment including lllll music, baseball, and movies, and were taught about the government, their rights, and laws 

In addition, Americanization taught different groups of immigrants about acceptance and diversity, as many new ethnic groups expanded what it meant to be an American as new religions and new cuisine were introduced to Americans. For example, Italians would bring over, and modify, arguably one of the most popular foods in the United States — pizza. Chinese food has been modified, Americanized, and is one of the most popular types of ethnic cuisine in the United States as well.

All of these things melted together to make Americans who they were throughout the 20th century. However, in the second half of the century, things would begin to change.

The Civil Rights movement of the 1960's and the counterculture movement of the 1970's would see the country start to crack and fracture along ethnic lines. The Black Power movement and the Chicano Power movement, along with other groups seeking racial equality caused tensions to rise rather than bring legitimate equality to the country.

These tensions have escalated over the past 60 years. You'd think after we defeated the Nazis in World War II and Communism under the Soviet Union during the Cold War, helping pave the way for the global technological revolution, and all the way through 9/11 and the Global War on Terror, we would have grown closer and tighter as Americans. Instead, people have grown further apart as society has seen fit to continue to drive a wedge between people and their differences.

While it may have been popular to wave the American flag a few years ago, it has become fashionable to talk poorly about America and keep outlining our differences.

When I was in elementary, I was already fascinated with the military and the United States. I was always captivated by pictures of servicemembers in uniform. I l thought all those different colored ribbons they wore on their tunics looked awesome. So much so that to this day I still collect militaria including uniforms, medals, and decorations. When I was in junior high, I was voted "most zealous," and I was a member of the Junior American Citizens club. We were responsible for raising the Texas and American flags in front of the school every morning.

As I got older, and as I began my college career, I became more culturally aware and I began taking courses in Latin American and Mexican history, but I never called myself a Mexican. A Mexican is a person born in Mexico. While some people prefer the distinction of being a hyphenated American, I never warmed to the term "Mexican-American." When you cross a border patrol station, or an American port of entry, they don't ask me if I'm a Mexican-American citizen. They ask if I'm an American citizen.

I am proud of my culture. I am proud to be a Latino. I speak English and Spanish. I don't pretend to be something I'm not, but I am even more proud to be a Texan and an American.

And this is something we seem to have forgotten. We are too preoccupied with the things that make us different as opposed to the things that make us the same.

What I am about to say may be taken out of context or misunderstood, but I make no apologies for saying what I have to say. I only ask that if you're still reading you read everything I have to say and not cherry pick the parts that upset you or make you draw some incorrect assumption of what I'm trying to say.

We are in the midst of graduation season. Several high school and college students are walking across stages across the country to receive their diolomas and degrees. I have seen a handful of videos on social media of graduates waving or wearing different international flags as they receive their dioloma.

One student, however, was denied his diploma. Ever Lopez, the first member of his immediate family to graduate high school, was wearing a 3x5 foot Mexican flag over his gown. After refusing to take the flag off after being asked by the principal, he was given his diploma holder but when it came time to get his actual diploma, he was told he wouldn't be given his diploma because he violated the school dress code.

For the record, I think denying Lopez his diploma is despicable and stupid, and plenty of people agree with me as the video of him being denied his diploma and the encounter with the principal afterwards.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with being proud of your roots. And there's nothing wrong with displaying the Mexican flag as an homage to your family. There's no law that says you can't display another nation's flag. 

In the mid-2000's a BISD high school valedictorian was asked not to deliver his commencement speech in Spanish. He delivered it in Spanish anyway. There's nothing wrong with that, either. There's nothing wrong with delivering a speech in a language your family would be able to understand. Contrary to popular and incorrect belief, the United States does not have an official language.

But just as important as it is to not forget your roots, it's equally as important to honor and respect the place you live in. Now, more than ever, one should be proud to be an American. 

I firmly believe this is the greatest country in the entire world. I know there are those who disagree, but this is still the land of opportunity for so many people who don't have a fraction of the opportunities we have here. 

We need to put our political differences aside and start being proud to be Americans again. We need to proud of the country that we live in, we go to school in, and we work in. I know my health isn't what it used to be, but if anybody would try to invade the United States, I would fight to the death to defend us.

For years, politicians were able to be on both sides of the aisle and at the end of the day they were able to come together and help move the country forward. It was never the policy of either political party to do something only to have it completely undone when the opposing party gained power.

It breaks my heart to see where we are where we are. I just hope things don't get worse than they already are. One can hope the current generation will start putting this country on the right track.

Regardless of what flag they choose to wear on the outside of their graduation gown.