Exactly Craig!

The problem with modifiers is they inevitibly diminish whatever they modify. African-Americans? As opposed to what? Real-Americans? And what about when you call yourself African-American or any other kind of hyphenated-American? The first word out of your mouth is not American. Besides, I've only known one African-American in my life. He was my brother-in-law. He was born in Egypt and naturalized as a U.S. citizen. Most people who claim to be "African American" aren't African-anything. Just like a guy I knew back at UT Dallas. He called himself Mexican-American. Then I pointed out that he was born in San Antonio. He was no more Mexican-anything than I was. It turned out that there hadn't been a Mexican in his immediate family for three generations (His great-grandfather immigrated to Texas).

Yes, we need to choose quickly. We don't need to be all alike, but we do all need to be of one nation, one culture, one society, and yes, one language. Otherwise, no house divided will long stand.

But there is one final point I would make, that I don't believe anyone has noted yet. Mexicans, Canadians, Guatamalans, Brazilians, Columbians, El Salvadorans, Nicaraguans, Peruvians and Venezualans are all Americans. They certainly aren't Europeans, Asians, Africans, Australians or Antarcticans.

Just a thought.