Ethnic diversity of U.S. troops puzzles Iraqis

St. Louis Post-Dispatch ^ | Apr. 9, 2003 07:10 AM | Ron Harris

[Hoppean]

SOUTH OF BAGHDAD - The Marines were less than 48 hours into their invasion of Iraq when Pfc. Michael Lara of Raymondville, Texas., was first asked the question that he and some other Marines would get repeatedly from civilians.

Lara, 19, was standing guard in the turret of his Humvee manning a machine gun along the Shatt Al-Basra bridge in southern Iraq when an old man and his two sons asked permission to pass across the strategic checkpoint.

[Onelifetogive]

Puerto Ricans have been Americans for a lot longer than one generation.

How do I say: "She is the first generation born on the mainland." (English as her primary language, not Spanish)

There is a distinct Puerto Rican culture...she is the first generation to be of it.

[Onelifetogive]

...generation to be of it.

Wordsmithed that so long and still got it backwards...

...generation not of it.

[ASA Vet]

How do I say: "She is the first generation born on the mainland."

Just like you did works for me. ;-)

[SuziQ]

Amen to that - what a great country, the most ethnically diverse nation in history, but "...we're U.S., we're all U.S." God (continue to) Bless America !!

We were watching the news the other day, and Sir SuziQ noticed this. We in America come in all colors! THAT'S what makes this country strong!

[AppyPappy]

And the young corporal who put the flag on the falling status was born in Burma ... moved to the US when he was one week old.

Galdang it, they are ruining out country, taking our jobs, stealing our tax money. If Patrick J Buchanan were President, deadbeats like him would be rowing a boat home, just as sure as I have a Pinto in my front yard.

[k2blader]

Ha! Can't really blame the Iraqis. Many if not most of them probably thought we're all "white devils." :-)

I've gotten many silly race-related questions over the years here in the US! But folks at least understand I am American.

[Redcloak]

"We're all very different people. We're not Watusi, we're not Spartans, we're Americans! With a capital 'A,' huh? And you know what that means? Do you? That means that our forefathers were kicked out of every decent country in the world!"

-Bill Murray as John Winger, Stripes

[Defiant]

That guy's name was Chin, I think he was Fillipino.

[PigRigger]

"America!!! The REAL United Nations!!!"

You got that right. I'm of German descent, married to a women who is Jewish. We have one natural child, and one recently adopted child from China. I have my own UN right at home!!!!

That's truly America; that's why we are the greatest nation on the face of the earth!!!

[tiki]

This is a prime example of how we shouldn't set any ethnicity apart. We are Americans!

On the lighter side. Does anyone know what ethnicity has blue, purple or maroon hair? I can't quite figure them out :-}

[<1/1,000,000th%]

Americans are the free people. Origin no longer matters except for weddings and funerals.

[Billy_bob_bob]

I believe those are the "Manga" people of Japan. You can spot them by their wild colored hair and their extremely cool boots.

[lorrainer]

Yeah, wretched refuse. And I believe we're now 12-1.

[notpoliticallycorewrecked]

It's a group called Teenagerian. The interesting thing about this group is that as they age(mature) the hair turns back to its orginal color. As they age even further it turns gray or white.

[boxerblues]

Apparently they have a gender ID problem too. I read this morning that Shoshanna wasn't pegged for being a woman until the captors started removing her chemical suit.

wasnt just the Iraqi's having indentity problems.....crass anchor on that other cnn was asking how a African American women ended up with a Hebrew sounding name, what an a@@

[Redleg Duke]

Interesting metalurgical analogy. The impurities strengthen the metal. The world threw out their "impurities". They migrated to America, where mixed together, created a strength that existed before only in the ruling classes' worst nightmares.

[TontoKowalski]

I have my own UN right at home!!!!

Tonto Junior carries the bloodlines of the Japanese, Scots, English, French, and Choctaw Indians.

He's a good looking little squirt, if I do say so myself. Not to mention a (distant) heir to the thrones of England and Scotland...a young Tudor, unrighteously denied the Crown.

[Onelifetogive]

This is a prime example of how we shouldn't set any ethnicity apart. We are Americans!

Just because Demoncrats has corrupted diversity doesn't make it all bad.

I love learning about different cultures. I teach my children about different cultures. My wife is a product of her Puerto Rican heritage. We are both red-blooded Americans!!! Viva la difference!!!

[johnb838]

Interesting metalurgical analogy. The impurities strengthen the metal. The world threw out their "impurities". They migrated to America, where mixed together, created a strength that existed before only in the ruling classes' worst nightmares

So what's the Australians excuse? I've heard mexicans complain about being confused with arabs because they ain't got the schnozz.

[Salman]

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