The hyphen

[TwistedCU]

Looking for cheap, worn-out tires.

The Hyphen by John Wayne

The Hyphen, Webster's Dictionary defines,
Is a symbol used to divide a
compound word or a single word.
So it seems to me that when a man calls himself
An "Afro-American," a "Mexican-American,"
"Italian-American," An "Irish-American," "Jewish-American,"
What he's sayin' is, "I'm a divided American."

Well, we all came from other places,
Different creeds and different races,
To form a nation...to become as one,
Yet look at the harm a line has done -
A simple little line, and yet
As divisive as a line can get.
A crooked cross the Nazis flew,
And the Russian hammer and sickle too-
Time bombs in the lives of Man;
But none of these could ever fan
The fames of hatred faster than
The Hyphen.

The Russian hammer built a wall
That locks men's hearts from freedom's call.
A crooked cross flew overhead
Above twenty million tragic dead-
Among them men from this great nation,
Who died for freedom's preservation.
A hyphen is a line that's small;
It can be a bridge or be a wall.
A bridge can save you lots of time;
A wall you always have to climb.
The road to liberty lies true.
The Hyphen's use is up to you.

Used as a bridge, it can span
All the differences of Man.
Being free in mind and soul
Should be our most important goal.
If you use The Hyphen as a wall,
You'll make your life mean...and small.
An American is a special breed,
Whose people came to her in need.
They came to her that they might find
A world where they'd have peace of mind.
Where men are equal...and something more-
Stand taller than they stood before.

So you be wise in your decision,
And that little line won't cause division.
Let's join hands with one another...
For in this land, each man's your brother.
United we stand...divided we fall.
WE'RE AMERICANS...and that says it all.

 

[mingez]

Nahhh.. I have to disagree with you on that one.
It's eloquent, but I think the celebration of our differences under one flag (The Great American Flag) is what makes our country great. I see nothing wrong with celebrating your heritage.

I love the patriotic message though.

 

[OutOfStep]

Yeah, the melting pot isn't really a good analogy, its more of a chopped salad distinct different pieces coming together to form one unit. It's like the states, be proud of where you're from but the U.S. flag flies higher than all the rest and bows to none.

 

[TwistedCU]

Fix your YJ!!!!

I read nothing in there that discouraged having or being proud of any heritage. The message I got was to not let our different heritages divide us. No matter what the heritage, we're in it together. Funny how we interpereted that differently :? .

So you be wise in your decision,
And that little line won't cause division.

chopped salad? :lol:

 

[OutOfStep]

I interpreted it as that the decision was on whether to use the line or not, to use the line is to be a divided American plus the Nazi's and Commie's like lines too (Even though the USSR, by spanning the majority of Asia, had every bit the racial diversity that America has. It also surpressed ethnic pride and promoted national pride and duty to the mother country, as the poem would suggest is the best method for establishing a strong nationalism in the USA). Just playing devils advocate, I think... :wink:

It reminds me of a thing I saw on the history channel where immigrants in the 40's were shown how to assimilate into American society, they were told to shed their roots, learn how to make poached eggs and toast and never look back.

When I think of all the Carne Asada, Ox Tail 'n Greens, Baklava, Muffuletta's, and Pizza I've enjoyed over the years I'm sure glad it didn't work :lol:

 

[mingez]

So it seems to me that when a man calls himself
An "Afro-American," a "Mexican-American,"
"Italian-American," An "Irish-American," "Jewish-American,"
What he's sayin' is, "I'm a divided American."

It's this part that I interpreted as such. I don't thin that it is saying "I'm a divided American" at all.