A question was posed to me today. "Do you feel patriotic?"

I can't say that I am totally calloused to the whole patriotism thing. I am very proud and fortunate to live here. Then again, I'm not going to display flags everywhere and wear red, white & blue everyday. That's not to say I have no pride in my country. The US is providing me with a good home, a great education, countless opportunities, and great friends. I'm not the type to go all willy-nilly with the US pride idea. Sure, I'm proud. I just don't feel the need to go so far to show that I am.

Being a Filipino, this patriotism has a different point of view. Being an asian in general, I feel as if I am welcomed in this country, but it feels like, "I'll let you in, but not all the way in." The culture is just considered as another minority that has been tossed aside. The stereotypes haven't left. I'm not Chinese. I've never eaten a dog. We all DON'T look a like. I don't know karate. I don't race my car. I use a fork and knife. I eat things like burgers and spaghetti too; not just pancit and lumpia. Think about it. Food can be a stereotype also. Why are some people so excited about the food we make? Why are we labeled with it? We have the ability to cook and eat other dishes. I understand that may be "exotic" and delicious, but it's not like I'd go to a white person's house and exclaim, "OH WOW! BURGERS!"

I may be brown, yellow, asian, pacific islander, filipino or whatever, but I'm just as American as the next person. I am proud of that. I'm in this country and I share all of the freedoms and ideals. So don't tell me that "I should go back to my country." I'm already in my country.