[CodeToad]

“How does she “act[] like an Indian”?”

I am amazed you had to ask but Indian dance is not American. Sorry. Never has been in our culture.

[Conscience of a Conservative]

I am amazed you had to ask but Indian dance is not American. Sorry. Never has been in our culture.

So, because she performed an Indian dance, she's not acting like she's an American?

You're right, Indian dance is not American. But, performing dances (and music, for that matter) that is rooted in one's family roots is, most certainly, American, and has been part of our culture for much longer than you or I have been around.

[discostu]

Remember we’re supposed to have a MELTING POT. Miss America contestants performing dances and stuff from their ancestral land goes way back. It’s not a threat to my culture, and if it’s a threat to yours then your culture is already dead, and deservedly so.

[Nepeta]

I am amazed you had to ask but Indian dance is not American. Sorry. Never has been in our culture.

So anyone who is doing a dance other than say, square dancing, is not behaving like an American?

Silly.

There was a time when nobody in the midwest knew anything about Mexican food. In 3rd grade, we studied Mexico, and some of the moms made a Mexican meal based on the description of "pancakes and beans." Not knowing anymore, they prepared classic pancakes with pork and beans.

There was a time when Italian food was decidedly "ethnic", too. The American table has been enriched with the cuisine of many peoples. I routinely eat all sorts of things my parents never heard of--am I less of an American because I put curry powder in my tuna salad?

My Wal-Mart now sells naan bread--does that diminish anyone's American character?