The present core of American culture is not based on race, national origin, or color. American culture has been built upon the acceptance of a very wide assortment of immigrants from France, Germany, Hawaii, India, Ireland, Italy, Greece, Norway, Arab, Asia, Africa, Polynesia, Australia, and more. Not just from England, despite the common English language, which is what gives it strength. Count twenty of your friends. Half of them will have a great-grandparent from another country, but this assortment in adapting to the United States encompasses certain traits, such as extension of the pioneer spirit, conquest of adversity, reach for goals and for a better tomorrow, work ethics, and the right of the individual’s pursuit of happiness, among others, by far transcending being white or black or copper or purple. That’s why they came, except for slaves now free, and those who gained their freedom are free to choose to become part of what’s here, or to return. They can always help improve what is here.
There are those who claim that slaves created the economy of the United States, but not so, for that ignores all the many other contributing causes, among origins, ethnicity, mental attitude, and controlled immigration, of which slavery is just one of the many contributing factors that incorporates human energy. Natural resources, abundant ingenuity, foreign trade, even the entrepreneurship of farmers wherever slaves or not slave-owners, technology, mercantile aggressiveness, and many other factors created a strong economy. However, Blacks are now free like everyone else, and they should be proud, rather than tearful, for their abundant and free contribution today to the economy and culture, and help strive to make it better, like we all are.
Also, there are those who claim oppression is real. However, there are many types of oppressions. Let’s say those complaining of oppression due to racism, which was and still is real, if they do not exhibit traits of conquering adversity and striving for a better tomorrow, if instead they are stuck in a vicious cycle of complaints about traits of skin color and cultural contradictions, then the response generated is one of deep internal and external exclusion or resentment, and not of solutions. Criticize or recognize, the difference separates the man from the boy, the mature from the still growing, the doer from the onlooker.
Be aware of the following quote intent to create disharmony, for there are those who make a living out of dissatisfied people:
"Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it. Demonize your enemy” (#11).
And: "The major premise for tactics is the development of operations that will maintain a constant pressure upon the opposition,...” …and “don’t forget to dress it up with moral arguments.” (Saul Alinsky; Rules for Radicals. #10 & # 11.)
Now think of Booker T. Washington saying, “There is a certain class of race-problem solvers who don’t want the patient to get well, because as long as the disease holds out they have not only an easy means of making a living, but also an easy medium through which to make themselves prominent before the public.”
Summarizing the mirage of issues affecting this country and the world, we can say that controversial social issues have three tiers of people who include themselves into the argument. First tier is the individuals affected by an issue such as: ‘racism’, abortion, and xenophobia. The second tier consist of people who genuinely offer concern, insight, and solutions. The third and larger tier are loudmouths who personally benefit from the controversy created by the issue and because of money, extortion, power, notoriety, or a smoldering hatred that promotes it and further inflame it through a fake concern. These people do not really care about those affected by the issue, and it is mostly, money motivated, for they have found how to milk it. They come out from under the rocks. Al Sharpton is an example. The media loves these self-proclaimed intruders. Hollywood actors are also a pool of resources for these useful idiots. This third tier adds dead weight to any real solutions, and the second tier should denigrate them.
Thinking of Al Sharpton and his constant appearance at racially charged incidents, he employs the Alinsky-approach of picking the target, poking at the crisis, polarizing it, and milking it.
The good people who like to conquer adversity may say, “if you don’t do your part too, I’ll resent it.” As simple as that! It is a performance mindset. In America, widespread xenophobia is a grievous misconception. Compare the United States to any other country on the issue of xenophobia and realize the difference; here it doesn’t really exist as a common trait. The accusation is intended to erode unity. It is hogwash. It’s a ‘divide and conquer’ technique to sidetrack us. Certainly, as a human trait, it exists in all of us, and you can always find an example of it; phobia to what is different. Peer pressure can either fuel it or extinguish it. The media, harps on it like children around candy, like vultures around poop. They promote it and make it flourish. For them it sells. Is it better to ‘criticize’ or to ‘recognize?’ Can we really gain by criticizing weaknesses or rather move forward by nourishing strengths? The diversified backgrounds of Americans is our asset, as there is a series of common elements holding us together. 1) Legally (intellectually), we have the Constitution in common, 2) Spiritually, we have strong commonly shared Judeo-Christian beliefs and values in common, an oriented ideology of caring for our neighbors. I refer to it as ideology here, not as religion. Although it is both. 3) Emotionally, we have strong pioneer spirit of advancement. 4) Physically, we share competition in sports, business, scholastics, and politics. English is the all-important common language, which is indispensable for communications in science, transportation, trade, business, sports, etc. Having English as the official language has nothing to do with xenophobia, but everything to do with the organizing and unification of the United States; that is the union of states. To harp on xenophobia is to split the groups artificially, while to recognize its real presence and educate the individuals involved in it is to conquer it.
To find the main strength of an adversary and attack that strength with a multitude of negative adjectives attempting to demonize their values, is a tactic often used but goes unnoticed. Much too often, those accusing others, do a preemptive strike, and falsely accuse others of what they themselves are doing. Much too often those yelling as an echo negative epitaphs are hiding or ignoring the bigger picture. They try to hide their own guilt and divert by fabricating a false common enemy. When someone uses xenophobia as accusation, beware! They intend harm. When you have a strong identity, you will have strong enemies. That we certainly do have. And real ones!