FEBRUARY 1, 2026

“I stand for straight Americanism unconditioned and unqualified, and I stand against every form of hyphenated Americanism. I do not speak of the hyphen when it is employed as a mere convenience, although personally, I like to avoid its use even in such manner. I speak and condemn its use whenever it represents an effort to form political parties along racial lines or to bring pressure to bear on parties and politicians, not for American purposes, but in the interest of some group of voters of a certain national origin, or of the country from which they or their fathers came.

Americanism is not a matter of creed, birthplace or national descent, but of the soul and of the spirit. If the American has the right stuff in him, I care not a snap of my fingers whether he is Jew or Gentile, Catholic or Protestant. I care not a snap of my fingers whether his ancestors came over in the Mayflower, or whether he was born, or his parents were born, in Germany, Ireland, France, England, Scandinavia, Russia or Italy or any other country. All I ask of the immigrant is that he shall be physically and intellectually fit, of sound character, and eager in good faith to become an American citizen. If the immigrant is of the right kind I am for him, and if the native American* is of the wrong kind I am against him . . .

Now for our own citizens. We represent many different race strains. Our ancestors came from many different Old World nationalities. It will spell ruin to this nation if these nationalities remain separated from one another instead of being assimilated to the new and larger American life.

The children and our children’s children of all of us have to live here in this land together. Our children’s children will intermarry, one another, your children’s children, friends, and mine. Even if they wished, they could not remain citizens of foreign countries . . . The effort to keep our citizenship divided against itself by the use of the hyphen and along the lines of national origin is certain to breed a spirit of bitterness and prejudice and dislike between great bodies of our citizens.”

–Former President Theodore Roosevelt, speaking to a gathering of The Knights of Columbus (May 31, 1916)

The Observations does not believe that the United States is a “systemically racist” society.  The Observations opposes hyphenated Americanism.  The Observations opposes the very concept of dual citizenship.  We believe in a single loyalty, to the nation in which one resides, and is a citizen.  The Observations opposes identity politics.  The Observations opposes Critical Race Theory, as it is a Marxist tool that substitutes race for class.  The Observations opposes anti-racism because it is, by definition, racist.  The Observations opposes The 1619 Project because it is a pack of lies, that distorts history in order to characterize America as a nation founded on race.  The Observations opposes legislative caucuses based upon race, sex, or nationality.  The Observations opposes any concept of “reparations.  The Observations opposes the politics of perpetual grievances. 

The Observations believes in America, and Americans.  Americans are not defined by nationality or race, as observed by former President Theodore Roosevelt.  But in recent times, most particularly in the last 14 years (though it began before), our country has become more divided along racial, sexual, and national identities.  These divisions threaten our very existence.  These divisions are anti-American, anti-freedom, and anti-liberty.  These divisions are anti-Christian.

THEREFORE, no matter what the calendar reads, or the media tells you, this is NOT “Black History Month”.  It is February.  And in 4 months it will NOT be “Pride Month”.  It will be June.  There is NO “National Hispanic Heritage Month”.  There is September and October.  Next month will NOT be “Women’s History Month”.  It will be March.  And undoubtedly, colder than I prefer.

We need to move beyond the culture of grievance.  We need to celebrate what makes this country great, and it is not the false “diversity” of immutable characteristics.  America is great because America is good.  But when America ceases to be good, it will also cease to be great.  Sadly, it is hard to argue with a straight face that today, America is good.  And therefore, today, America is not great.  But nothing in life is permanent.  If we want—TRULY WANT—America to be great again, we have to be good again.  This is more than achievable if we are willing to commit to it.  Let it begin today, with each of us, and our neighbors.

GFK