Hyphenated-American

The nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court is going to draw out all sorts of opinions.  Those on judicial activism vs strict constructionism are to be expected.  The focus on her race as part of her selection, even her suitability for the Supreme Court, are not.  That focus reflects poorly on many attitudes in America and how our leaders are chosen. 

Many persons, particularly in public service, seem to prefer a hyphenated label to identify themselves.  The labels typically indicate a country of origin for one's ancestors and in practical use become an implied racial designation.  Does it bother anyone that these labels always precede the term American, almost taking on primary importance?  I'm reminded of the following quote by one of our former presidents:

"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all... The one absolutely certain way of bringing this nation to ruin, of preventing all possibility of its continuing to be a nation at all, would be to permit it to become a tangle of squabbling nationalities, an intricate knot of German-Americans, Irish-Americans, English-Americans, French-Americans, Scandinavian-Americans or Italian-Americans, each preserving its separate nationality, each at heart feeling more sympathy with Europeans of that nationality, than with the other citizens of the American Republic... There is no such thing as a hyphenated American who is a good American. The only man who is a good American is the man who is an American and nothing else."

Teddy Roosevelt, Addressing the Knights of Columbus in New York City,  October 12, 1915

A good friend of mine recently became an American citizen after being legally in America for the required length of time, passing all the required exams and background checks.  He is highly educated, having multiple masters degrees and an earned doctorate in statistics.  With those credentials and speaking (I believe) five languages he could live and be successful in any part of the world he desired.  He chose to come to America and has become very succesful professionally and personally here.  The pride he now exhibits in being an American citizen exceeds that I've seen in some new parents!  There is no hyphenation for him.  He is an American now and nothing else.

Judge Sotomayor herself will effectively be on trial for some number of weeks to come.  The views and prejudices of America, from both sides of the political fence, likely will be too.