Editor,

I am an American of Czechoslovakian descent. The "American" comes first since my heritage comes from Czechoslovakia but I was born in the United States of America. I am proud I am Czechoslovakian. But American comes first and always will.

Why is there so much being said about people of different races and different nationalities? What does nationality have to do with it? If you were born in the United States of America, that is what should count. Then, your heritage is next and be proud of it.

Why do we always have to hear someone is the first African-American to do this or that or the first woman to drive a race car or the first Hispanic to fly a fighter jet? Why can't it just be the fact the person is doing whatever they want and they are doing it as an American?

This is what always gets in the way and causes a lot of hate between races and nationalities. We are taught to hate someone because of his race or nationality, so why does the news media make such a big deal out of it?

If they want to talk about someone and the accomplishments they have made, they should talk about how hard it was for them to get there and not because they were of any race. Quit talking about it and maybe the hate would start going away. I don't look at someone because they are black, white, Mexican or even Russian. I don't care. It is that they are proud to be an American and stand up for this country. We have too many people in this country trying to turn each of us against each other. It is really getting sickening.

Who cares if you love God, are an atheist, a Muslin, a Jew, or all the others? Let's start living together and helping one another. This country has a lot of problems and we need to stand together to fix them and not worry about just ourselves.

Clayton Thurman

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