American culture should be respected in midst of cultural awareness

I have grown very weary of people telling me that I must understand the cultures of other people. I get especially perturbed when I am told that I must respond to the European nations and their alleged negative view of Americans.

I know many of you will find it troubling that I am not worried about how the European nations feel about my America and my American culture. Here’s some history for you.
My grandparents came over on boats from Poland, Russia, Latvia and the Ukraine. My wife’s grandparents came over on a boat from Ireland. You will note they all came from different countries. They didn’t speak the same language, but they all had one thing in common: They didn’t like living where they were in Europe.

On my side of the family, it wasn’t just that they didn’t like living there; it was that they were being killed for living there and weren’t liked by the native population. To use American slang — part of my culture — it stunk being over there! They came here to make a better life. They came here to raise their children in a different land with different things and different ideals and, most importantly, a different culture.

My grandparents made my parents speak English because they wanted them to be American. My grandparents sent my parents to public schools so they could learn how to be American. They did not want their children to be European.

People come to America for the same reasons they always have: opportunity. They could choose to go to other, more sophisticated, polished, classy, eclectic, artsy countries, but they choose here. Nobody forces them to come here.
In today’s world, Cubans come here for opportunity. Mexicans come here for opportunity. Asians come here for opportunity. Nigerians come here for opportunity. Russians, like my grandparents, come here for opportunity. No one is dragging them. They want to be Americans. They want the same opportunity that my grandparents wanted.

So, I’ve grown tired of Americans who tell me that I should be concerned about the international community and their view of our culture. Most of us are immigrants whose parents, grandparents or great-grandparents fled countries that created a culture and environment detrimental to their well-being. They should respect my American culture. Just like the people who are telling me I should be sensitive to other cultures, they should be sensitive to ours.

I will listen to the international community. I will engage in dialogue with the international community. I will try to place myself in their position. I will respect some of their differences. But I will not genuflect to them. I am here as a product of the negative aspects of their cultures. Most of us are here because of all the negative characteristics of those other lands.

Our parents have saved what they believed were good qualities. They are qualities that make us who we are as a country.

So the next time you wish to lecture Americans about their American culture, I argue that you must accept Americans as we are. I’m proud of hotdogs. I’m proud of cowboys. I’m proud of baseball and real football. I’m proud of pizza and beer brewed in America.
Napa Valley wine is darn good. Our women are too risqué, and our men are on steroids. We’re the home of rock and roll.

I like ice cream, apple pie and Chevrolets.

I’m tired of those who wish to bash my American culture. It’s insulting and demeaning, and it makes me feel bad. Isn’t that the modern day test?

How can so many people who are so “tolerant” be so “intolerant” of their own?