Strung Out Episode 97 HYPHENISM

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American culture is strange.  We pride ourselves of being one-people out of many, however, when it comes to identifying who we are, we usually resort to the good 'ol hyphen.  What those hyphenisms are and who came up with them are open for debate.  For example, Native-American or African-American only scratch the surface when describing two very diverse groups of Americans.  Most likely those hyphens were given and not created by the dominant, mainly white culture.  Racism plays a part in it, yet to further confuse the discussion, hyphenism is also embraced by many as a way of making them distinct in a society that at times seems also hellbent on the lowest common denominator.  So, an Indian-American and a Filipino-American may be surprised that on the American census, they are both considered Asian-American.  

Another odd curve to this is the way society, especially the market-driven one will take a cultural festival or observation and turn it into an event that society will celebrate as a whole.  
Thus, we now have St. Patrick's Day and Cinco De Mayo.  Is Holi, the Indian festival of throwing colored powders on each other next on the docket for Americans?  Is this a good thing for everyone to celebrate?  Does it bring us together in celebrating diversity or merely just exploiting another culture to sell some beer?  Let's discuss on STRUNG OUT!

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