Proud to be an American

Tonight, DMS hosts its 2nd annual World Culture fair. We will have booths and exhibits that represent over 40 countries from which our students have ancestors. I have visited many countries in my life, and I am always surprised that other countries do not have the diverse mix of cultural backgrounds that America has. Since our country is a melting pot of many different backgrounds and ethnicities, many people will often ask what one's cultural identity is. I, for one have been asked on numerous occasions if I am Latino or Hispanic. It is unusual for someone in this country to ask if I am an American, but in countries like Japan, England, France, and Germany, the natives don't ask if I am Hispanic or Latino, they ask if I am an American. So, I often wonder why some Americans do not identify with being an American as being their culture? Is it because we are a melting pot, and we don't want to lose the rich heritage that is our ancestry? In my case, my maternal Great-Grandmother immigrated here from Tripoli, Lebanon, and my maternal Great-Grandfather immigrated here from Dublin, Ireland. I have no idea where how my father's ancestors got here because according to him "they have always lived in Texas." I (like both of my parents) am a native Texan--born and bred. I can write an entire blog on how Texans are the proudest citizens in these United States and comment on how Texans have their own unique culture, but I'll save that for another day. My point is that although we have families that hail from all over the world, we are all Americans, and we share a unique tapestry of culture that melts and blends together that makes us who we are. I am an Irish, Lebanese Texan, but more importantly, I am proud to live in this great country as an American.