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Things can get a little ridiculous when it comes to placing labels on sectors of society and this hyphen thing is a good example. Being about close to 4 or so generations removed from where my people came from I would not bother calling myself a French-English American, that would be, well, um, stupid. Which brings to me the reminder that the only true Americans were on this land before it was called such. When you really consider it, we are all visitors on a huge piece of real estate we call home.

In the new concept of a politically correct society we accept what a class decides they would like to be referred to as. In reality however what it does is the case of hyphenations is force someone else's heritage on the rest of society which is actually the opposite of what political correctness sought to do. Self classification further separates themselves from the rest of society yet they seek equality, so it's really an oxymoron and makes no sense. Having said that, it's no big deal and for the most part doesn't offend anyone that considers themselves a regular old American.

I would say that there is a psychological reason for this self classification partly due to a former lack of identity just a few generations ago. This may in part to regain an identity but yet not fully submit to a society that was once segregated among it's people. We all want an identity and it's understandably a cultural reason to have one foot in both countries, or some cases continents.

As I sit here and look at my Siamese cat I can see why we have different classifications even though they are all basically a cat. A cat is not always a cat but to relate that same thinking to a race seems a bit of a stretch. There is no doubt that we have our own slang in society to describe classes within a class itself. We likely have an inherent urge, or maybe even instinct, as a society to create pecking orders and labeling a large segment is simply an off-shoot of that urge. Let's not also forget a classless society would put close if not in a communist society. If we as a society turned to keeping everyone the same we would have a disparity the likes of any ancient society. We have evolved from being a two class society of ruler and peasant to many classes of people and still manage to be unique individuals.

Learn more about this author, Rob Purifoy.
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