American Identity essays

American Identity essays It is predicted that by the year 2050, Caucasian Americans will become a minority in the United States. Is this rapid increase of minorities creating an alarming situation deserving concern? In todays American society, we have become particularly apprehensive with the issue of diversity and but are commonly told to "celebrate" the heterogeneity of individuals this country has come to foster. Why is then so often innocent Americans are condemned or even penalized for such trivial differences such as speaking a language other than English, wearing a skin color other than Caucasian, or expressing homosexual orientation? Such discrimination can only have a harmful impact on American identity. Americans have always feared those who are "different" but have been taught to disguise their fears and attempt to treat everyone equally. However, after the recent events on September 11th, 2001, many Americans have wrongly fashioned unnecessary biases and preconceptions towards the unusual and t he unknown. This inexcusable ignorance is causing the destruction of our American Identity. Beginning in the late 1700's, America became known nationally for her support of religious freedom, seemingly endless job opportunities and an abundance of in-expensive land. As a result, immigrants from all over the globe penetrated these borders, forcing the nation to expand further and further west. People flocked from Ireland, Britain, Italy, Russia and numerous other European countries. By the 19th century, America was already a nation with a diverse population, all in search of a better life. However, even then immigrants were looked down upon and were only offered low paying jobs. In fact an age of nativism came into being, when the Americans wanted immigration of cease allowing America to contain only those who were "native" Americans. When the truth was, native Indian Americans were the only true natives. Immigratio...

Free Essays on Lessons Learned From Russia’s Battles With Ethnic Militants Chechnya To The Moscow Theater Incident

Lessons Learned from Russia’s Battles with Ethnic Militants Chechnya to the Moscow Theater Incident The Russian Empire began the effort to impose state power over Muslim enclaves in 1722, following its first military encounter with Chechen fighters. The Chechens engaged and chased out a cavalry force sent by Peter the Great. Two centuries later the Soviet Union continued the process, with elaborate plans to depopulate large areas being discussed at the highest levels of government; Evangelista writes, â€Å"The proposal to abolish the Cheno-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR) and expel its population was discussed at a meeting of the Politburo on February 11, 1943.†1 Russian Tsars, dictators, and presidents did their best to distract, dilute, and destroy hegemonic Islam. With all its evil designs on global conquest, the USSR actually did something positive – it forestalled militant Islam. Through its intelligence agencies, Soviet Russian leadership was acutely aware of the growing problem with jihadi radicalism. The Soviets endured international criticism for clearing large areas of Muslims; but ethnic pogroms were really nothing new. As Matthew Evangelista wrote in The Chechen Wars, Will Russia Go the Way of the Soviet Union?, â€Å"The Russian government during the tsarist era carried out three major deportations, setting the precedent for Stalin’s genocidal actions against the Chechen people in the 1940s.†2 Russia’s spy agency, the KGB, informed Joseph Stalin that Islamic militants presented a looming problem. The policy of enforced atheism had evidently bounced off Muslims, who continued to practice the tenets of Islam in secret. Knowing that oppressed religious practice is the fertile soil of revolution, Stalin ordered entire Muslim areas depopulated, with the former inhabitants moved by train and then widely dispersed. Stalin took advantage of every excuse to round up and deport Muslims. In Chechnya,... Free Essays on Lessons Learned From Russia’s Battles With Ethnic Militants Chechnya To The Moscow Theater Incident Free Essays on Lessons Learned From Russia’s Battles With Ethnic Militants Chechnya To The Moscow Theater Incident Lessons Learned from Russia’s Battles with Ethnic Militants Chechnya to the Moscow Theater Incident The Russian Empire began the effort to impose state power over Muslim enclaves in 1722, following its first military encounter with Chechen fighters. The Chechens engaged and chased out a cavalry force sent by Peter the Great. Two centuries later the Soviet Union continued the process, with elaborate plans to depopulate large areas being discussed at the highest levels of government; Evangelista writes, â€Å"The proposal to abolish the Cheno-Ingush Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic (ASSR) and expel its population was discussed at a meeting of the Politburo on February 11, 1943.†1 Russian Tsars, dictators, and presidents did their best to distract, dilute, and destroy hegemonic Islam. With all its evil designs on global conquest, the USSR actually did something positive – it forestalled militant Islam. Through its intelligence agencies, Soviet Russian leadership was acutely aware of the growing problem with jihadi radicalism. The Soviets endured international criticism for clearing large areas of Muslims; but ethnic pogroms were really nothing new. As Matthew Evangelista wrote in The Chechen Wars, Will Russia Go the Way of the Soviet Union?, â€Å"The Russian government during the tsarist era carried out three major deportations, setting the precedent for Stalin’s genocidal actions against the Chechen people in the 1940s.†2 Russia’s spy agency, the KGB, informed Joseph Stalin that Islamic militants presented a looming problem. The policy of enforced atheism had evidently bounced off Muslims, who continued to practice the tenets of Islam in secret. Knowing that oppressed religious practice is the fertile soil of revolution, Stalin ordered entire Muslim areas depopulated, with the former inhabitants moved by train and then widely dispersed. Stalin took advantage of every excuse to round up and deport Muslims. In Chechnya,...