I am 100% American – not a SomewhereElse-American.

I have always thought it odd that we, as Americans, are so preoccupied by our heritage.  You hear people talk about being French, English, German, African, Chinese, Japanese, and the list goes on, when they were born right here in the USA.  They are fiercely proud of that heritage to the point where arguments break out about whose parents’ countries invaded the others’ a hundred years ago. 

Throughout my childhood, I was taught that my mother was born in Germany, my grandmother spoke French-Canadian, and my Grandfather was British.  This became an important part of my family heritage, as it does for most Americans.  I would sometimes wonder what that makes me.  Am I a German-French-English-American?  Talk about conflicting ancestry.  My relatives a hundred years ago were in world wars twice against each other.  When people asked me what my nationality was, I would usually say I’m a mutt.

My mother was born in Germany and worked very hard to learn English.  Oh, my mistake.  We don’t speak English.  We speak American.  My apologies to the Brits.  My mother also had friends who immigrated to the US shortly after World War II.  It was not in fashion to speak German in America after WWII, so my mom would often tell her friends to speak English, “You live in America.  Learn to speak English.”  I look back on that and think she had the right idea.  Anytime mom’s friends would make comments about the old world, she would also say, “If it’s so good back home, then go back.”  Again, she is a simple genius.

My father has a close friend who is a self-proclaimed Francophile.  He was born and raised in America, but spends an inordinate amount of time learning everything about France and letting people know how proud he is to be French.  He is not French, he is American, but let’s let him live his fantasy.  It’s wonderful that he is proud of his heritage, but if he likes it that much, then he should move to France.  Why does he, and so many others, live his entire life talking about how great it is to be from somewhere else, yet they live here in America?  Because they know that they cannot find the same opportunities and freedoms that they have right here in the good ol’ USofA.

In 2008 the United States elected its first African-American President.  Think about how many hours of news have been wasted talking about how the candidate for president, Mr. Obama, was half black.  Why did it matter?  Is he African or is he American?  As far as I know, the Constitution declares that you have to be 100% American to be elected as President.  I think using the term African-American is the worst injustice anyone can do to people of darker skin.  It separates people, divides them into black and white, and creates a unique identity that says you are not completely American, you are something else.  If Mr. Obama’s mother is white and his father is black, then why is he African-American?  Isn’t he also White-American?  Why isn’t he considered to be Hawaiian-American?  Why do any of us really care and who are we to place a label on someone else? 

I have travelled abroad extensively, landing on almost every continent.  In no other country does anyone refer to me as German-American, Franco-American, or British-American.  Every other country sees me as an American because that is what my passport says.  Why then would I return home and think of myself as a SomewhereElse-American?  Am I not proud to live in this great country?  Wasn’t I born here?  Then why would my allegiance be divided between somewhere my ancestors came from and here where I was raised?  Why would I choose to make myself different, put up boundaries, or create a distinction between myself and every other natural born citizen of the United States?  I choose not to.  I choose to be 100% American.

I think what finally made me think about who I am, and what I am, is when I saw a cartoon of a politician ranting about how to solve the problem of illegal immigrants in the US.  He was suggesting that we send them all back.  There is a Native-American in the picture who thinks that’s a good idea and comments “I’ll help you pack”.  Well, darn it, I was born here.  It may be funny to suggest that we are all immigrants and the Native-Americans are the first real settlers on this land.  I feel sorry for the way in which the first immigrants treated the original inhabitants but really, how long will we keep living in the 1400’s?    I was born here.  I was raised here.  I am 100% American.

(Author Unknown)

Today, I have friends of every color, religious affiliation, and ethnic background.  They are spread out over all parts of this great nation.  Many were born here as 100% Americans and others are new to this country to raise families of 100% Americans.  They are all here looking for the land of opportunity.  The land of freedom.  The land of equality.  We cannot be equal, united, and free when we use labels that divide us.

I started this company to change our national identity, one shirt at a time.  My dream is for all citizens of these United States – all colors, beliefs, and ethnic heritages – to think of ourselves as 100% Americans.  It’s not a shirt, it’s a movement.  A movement towards a new sense of pride and an end to creating differences by creating labels that separate us.  Let’s create a label that unites us in a new heritage.  I am asking all of my fellow Americans to join me in being proud to be 100% American. 

My name is Matthew Randall and I am 100% American.