"Jon Kraus" wrote in message
...
Everything I said is true and I stand by my statements. And yes Kwanza's
celebrants DID claim it was an African holiday.

Uh, *who* supposedly said that, when and where? The Kwanzaa web sites I find
say prominently that Kwanzaa is an African-American holiday founded in 1966
by Dr. Maulana Karenga, drawing in part on some African traditions (e.g.
http://www.tike.com/celeb-kw.htm).

That is the bull**** part.

No, it was the term "African American" that you called bull**** ("I don't
believe in the 'African-American' bull****. 99% of black folks have never
set foot in Africa... they are just plain old Americans like me... an
American not a German-American").

According to you, people are apparently supposed to designate themselves by
their nationality but not their ancestry. I fully respect *your* choice to
do so, but you have been unwilling or unable to explain why you object to
others choosing differently.

If you are insulted by my opinion then too ****ing bad. :-) We can agree
to disgree.

If you were confident that your position has merit, you could first make a
good-faith effort to reach agreement, or at least mutual understanding. To
do that, you would have to supply evidence for your claims (not merely keep
repeating them), and attempt to answer the questions I posed.

Instead, you practice a hit-and-run approach: you disparage others' words or
practices as "phony" and "bull****"; then, when questioned, you refuse to
discuss your opinions except to say "too ****ing bad".

Of course you have a right to behave that way, but others have a right to
respond by criticizing your behavior for what it is. That's how free speech
works--it doesn't mean freedom from criticism.

--Gary

Jon Kraus
PP-ASEL-IA
Student Mooney Owner

Gary Drescher wrote:
"Jon Kraus" wrote in message
...

I wouldn't call it a "tirade" at all, you did.


Uh, Jon, no one characterizes their own words as a tirade. But Pete's
characterization is accurate. You disparaged Kwanza as "made-up" (as
though any holiday could be other than made-up) and "phony" (because it's
not a native African celebration--even though its celebrants never
claimed it was!).


I don't believe in the "African-American"
bull****. 99% of black folks have never set foot in Africa and have long
been remove from relatives that are from Africa.


The term "African American" refers to black Americans of African
ancestry. It does not mean "people who have visited Africa, or who speak
to their relatives in Africa", contrary to your peculiar objection.

As with the holiday Kwanza, you take the term "African American" and
misrepresent its meaning in order to make it seem illegitimate. What
motivates you to do so?


Jon Kraus (an American not a German-American)


For many Xs, there are some Americans who prefer to call themselves X
Americans, some who prefer to call themselves Americans, and some who
prefer neither. Why is that difference so hard for you to understand or
respect? Why is it "bull****" for someone's preference to differ from
yours in that regard? Why do you feel the need to insult people for
making a different choice than you as to whether to put their ancestry on
a par with their nationality in their self-description?

--Gary