kosta50, the color of the skin is irrelevant.
The issue is how Americans see themselves. As Condi Rice pointed out in a wonderful convention speech, Americans must see themselves as individuals.
The unalienable Creator-given rights apply to the individual. We each, individually, have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. And by extension, the individual freedom of religion, speech, bearing arms and so forth.
Whether learned by their culture or a state religion (or non religion) or whether by having it drilled into their heads in our K-12 public education system, the individuals who surrender to a hive-mind are the problem - particularly if the hive sees itself as a victim class.
Just my "two cents" ...
It can be relevant or irrelevant. It's a factor. What we do with it is what matters.
As Condi Rice pointed out in a wonderful convention speech, Americans must see themselves as individuals
They do, but they also see themselves as members of a particular group, as well as members of a particular nation. So, the collective image is just as important, if not more important, to some for a variety of reasons. When 95% of a certain group vote as a block it is pointless to speak of individualism. It is hive-mind at work.
kosta50, the color of the skin is irrelevant
The only reason I mentioned demographics was not to emphasize skin color but in response to betty boop's observation that the only country with liberty will disappear in the near future and be replaced by the "French model."
The commentary by the upbeat New Iowan syndicated columnist only reiterated betty boop's prediction, except as something eagerly awaited by the new and presumably "open minded" generations. The nostalgics were basically told "sorry, losers, too bad, so sad."
America was ethnically 85% of European origin, Protestant faith, and Ango-Saxon culture, just 50 years ago, and as such the thinking was in line with the thinking and the culture of the Founding Fathers. It was a fertile ground for such system to grow and sustain itself.
In less than a century, this country will be 46% European in origin. Simple regression analysis shows that by 2156 there will be no one Europeans left here. The prevailing cultures that seem to be gaining ground are not fond of European roots but rather see them as the source of oppression that are to be discarded the sooner the better and replaced by their own.
Looking at countries where these groups come from, and the tenacity with which these cultures refuse to assimilate, should give us a glimpse of what will replace the founding principles on which this country was built.
The writing is on the wall. It has nothing to do with individualism or inalienable rights, A-G. It has to do with a mathematical certainty of the changes set in motion by what betty boop correctly called "culture wars" and the might is right inevitable outcome.
At this point, it is not them who are expected to assimilate but those who have been here all along. Native Americans may get vicarious satisfaction observing that what goes around comes around, that the very people who once cleansed this continent of the Natives are now being pushed out themselves by a new wave of newcomers and may end up living in reservations of their own, or completely disappeare as another culutre vanquished and relagated to the dusbins of history.