John Wayne, "America, Why I Love Her"

The Hyphen
By John Mitchum and Howard Barnes

The Hyphen, Webster's Dictionary defines,
Is a symbol used to divide a compound word or a single word.
So it seems to me that when a man calls himself
An "Afro-American," a "Mexican-American," "Italian-American,"
An "Irish-American," "Jewish-American,"
What he's sayin' is, "I'm a divided American."

Well, we all came from other places, Different creeds and different races,
To form a nation...to become as one.
Yet look at the harm a line has done-- A simple little line, and yet, As divisive as a line can get... The road to liberty lies true.
The Hyphen's use is up to you.
Used as a bridge, it can span All the differences of Man...
If you use The Hyphen as a wall, You'll make your life mean...and small.
An American is a special breed, ... Where men are equal...and something more...United we stand...divided we fall. We're Americans...and that says it all.

John Wayne's Comments
EVERYONE knows by now that America is made up of every race, color and creed under the sun. The inscription on the base of the Statue of Liberty is for real: "From her beacon-hand flows world-wide welcome."
...Our country stands today as the world's oldest living Republic. We are the greatest sociological experiment that the world has ever known. If we fail our trust, Democracy fails.
Like Ireland, the Middle East has long been divided by ancient hatreds, hatreds that have no place on our shores. Religious wars and fierce idealogical conflicts should never be a part of America; people came to Her to escape religious and political persecution. Sure, we've had our problems. What family doesn't? But they haven't stopped us. The total divisiveness that has burdened many other nations hasn't caught on here...
So bring your recipe for good Irish stew with you, but leave bigotry and hatred behind. Sing and dance to the balalaika but bring no walls with you. Praise God anyway you so desire. Just allow your neighbor the same right. For each person you see has the same needs that you do. We all want respect, concern, and yes, love.
When we all tear down walls of bigotry and prejudice and live in real harmony with ourselves and others, then we'll all say "I am an American," pure and simple. And "The Hyphen" will no longer apply to any of us. When that day comes, the world can count on us for another ten thousand years, for we'll be a brighter, a stronger and an undivided America. (Nuff said)