"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism.
The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin,
of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation
at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of
squabbling nationalities." - Pres Theodore Roosevelt
The most discusting thing I've seen yet is the term "Italian-American". I am an American of Italian descent. Never in my family tree has anyone ever played the hyphinated allegiance game. It's just not done.
Hollyweird would love you to think so. The wiseguys in brooklyn play their games and would love you to think so. Rats who like class warfare and division would love you to think so. But I've lived, worked, played and grown up in the italian communities of NYC. Italians don't need labels. Nor do we need a hyphinated approval of who we are. If I need to be a person of Italian heritage, born in the good ol' USA, because some jerk decided it's italian American day today, well, wow.. look, I already am!
But my allegiance is 1000% USA.
Piscopo is a jerk. The hyphin game is his ticket into politics.
Up yours, Piscapo, Bada Bing!!!! Pasta face!
Well said, Joe.