I Have a Few Questions:

Perhaps you can help me here.

I'm kind of wondering why we call "American-Indians" the "American" part first, and the Indian bit later on?

And why we call "Indian-Americans" Indian first, as in "from India," you know, "red dot," not "Whoo Whoo," and "American" second?

And why we call "Mexican-Americans" Mexican first, and "American" a not-so-close second?

And why we call "African-Americans" African first, and "American" only an after thought?  Shouldn't they be called "American-Africans?"  Or, perhaps even better, just "Americans?"  Unless they're still Africans, that is.

Are they?

In fact, Mr. and Mrs. (and all the other genders, of which I'm told there are now 52) America, why do we Americans engage in such population dividers?  Why do we separate people into little boxes?  Or allow others to do so?  Yes, I know my question is rhetorical, as separating people into little groups is what the Democrat Party does for a living.  And what we Americans should resist with every fiber of our being.

And why do we call colored people "people of color?"  Is "colored people" now a pejorative?  If it is, why isn't "people of color?"  Do we now avoid any claims of racial animus by simply playing this little word game?  

And how do we compute the "National Association for the Advancement of 'Colored People" if "colored" is pejorative?  "Colored" was to have been an "advancement" over "Blacks," since "Blacks" was pejorative during the 60's and 70's (remember the "Black Panthers?").  Yet, "Blacks" is apparently now an advancement over "Colored."  Shouldn't the folks responsible for talking to Black people stop calling them "Colored?"  Is a slight adjustment of descriptive semantics enough to assuage the "Progressive" tendencies of those who would otherwise be outraged at any other term?  Just tweak the verbiage a tad and racial tensions are sure to subside?  Really? 

Remember when Blacks were called "Negroes?"  That was when this, the then preferred and even most polite term for this class of folks (I was there; don't argue with me), was the order of the day.  And that was mucho better than the alternative back then, if you'll recall (!).

Except for hip hop artists, who would have nothing to say if it didn't start with "N."  

But we as a society have (at least publicly) purged our tendency to use descriptive terms that demean and diminish people.  And the incessant "word police" will excoriate anyone who fumbles such a term.  And "social media," such as Twitter and Instagram and those other time-wasters, make it soooo easy to screw up and mislabel somebody or other, and thus cause people to dig their own public graves...  

Think back over the past few years.  Just try to recall all the instances whereby politicians and celebs and bizz-types stepped in it big-time over their too-casual use of their little Twitter-er-er.  And then had to publicly and painfully walk back their intemperate or injudicious commentary in front of all to see.  

If fame is so fleeting, and so fickle, why would anyone want it?

I have a suggestion:  From this day forward let's all just start calling everyone American first, and everything else concerning their lineage later.  If they're here from Lichtenstein and decide to apply for citizenship, I say we should then call them "American-Lichtensteiners."   Or if they're from Zimbabwe, I say we call them "American-Zimbabweans."  And if from Tuvalu, then I suggest "American-Tuvaluans."  It would cost us nothing, it would give America the first-place in the equation it truly deserves, and it would show the World how we view our wonderful Country.

Unless there are some of us who truly don't value their Country, that is.  And now, as we find ourselves deep into the next election campaign, don't you think it's finally time to find out?