Identity: Diaspora, Host Society, Guest --> Marginally Versus Definitely American

[Boojatta]

If President Obama's mother had been of Japanese ancestry on both sides of her family, and his father had been of Arab ancestry on both sides of his family, then would President Obama's ancestry make him part of two diasporas? Could we then ask whether, for the rest of his Presidency, he will maintain good relations with “the host society"? Here "the host society" is the USA.

Such use of the phrase “the host society” would assign to President Obama the status of "guest" in America, a reminder of the swift-boat-like disinformation campaign focused on President Obama’s birth certificate. More generally, some influential commentators portray many American citizens as being of suspect status as Americans. For example, a Republican nominee for President insinuated that anyone who is a loyal American is definitely not of Arab ancestry.

On the one hand, even neo-Nazis nowadays give a pass to Americans who have Polish or Russian ancestry, provided that the Americans in question "look and act white.” Hitler's latter-day disciples ignore their master's judgment that Slavs are sub-human, and they also conveniently forget that Hitler sealed that judgment in blood.

On the other hand, some commentators try to classify much of the American population as technically, legally, marginally and temporarily American, but as excluded from the definitely American caste. Even if you were born in the USA on the fourth of July, being excluded from the definitely American caste might make you wonder whether there’s any guarantee that you won’t be treated as Japanese-Americans were treated during World War II.

To end this little rant, I have some questions:

1. Who we are?

2. Are all true Americans people like George W. Bush: high-income Protestants of Northern European ancestry?

3. Alternatively, is there a social contract dominated by the Constitution that has something to do with our identity?