We have become a nation defined by labels.

Once upon a time we were all Americans first.

The “labels” of our affiliations represented other, deeper, layers of our identity. What church we attended. The neighborhood where we grew up. The traditions our grandparents celebrated at different holidays.

Our ethnic, cultural and religious backgrounds did not define us as United States citizens, but rather represented the melting pot of pride we held as high as our American flags during Fourth of July parades.

Our cities, towns and boroughs didn’t define us. Again they were part of that overall fabric woven into the American Dream.

This past week bears witness to yet another flurry of hate-filled tweets, responses, legislation and 24/7 media coverage. President Donald Trump’s tweets again led our nation down a self-destructive, derisive path where everyone suddenly forgets they’re Americans first and identifies themselves by labels.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly of Butler even stepped into the fray, offhandedly quipping to a Vice News reporter that “I’m a person of color. I’m white.” He later clarified the remark, arguing that “It’s time to stop fixating on our differences — particularly our superficial ones — and focus on what unites us.”

While the bigger picture doesn’t excuse the hate-speech inching its way into our daily vernacular, Kelly’s clarification isn’t altogether without merit either.

When our grandparents and parents marched off to war, they weren’t going to fight the Germans in Europe or the Vietnamese in the Pacific or Afghans in the Middle East. They were going to fight tyranny and oppression brought on by small groups of radicals who took and twisted the ideology of the races, religions and cultures. These hate-mongering factions corrupted, if you will, the identity of entire nations and their fellow citizens.

Our forces went as Americans — not Italian-Americans, not African-Americans, not New Yorkers or Pittsburghers, not Catholics or Baptists or Muslims. But as Americans fighting for the rights of nations and peoples throughout the globe to identify by whatever label they wanted. The color of the blood they spilled protecting this nation and others didn’t change based on the color of their skin or where they worshipped.

They went because they believed it was the right thing to do.

As Americans, we are swiftly approaching the point where we, all on our own, are labeling ourselves into the very silos we accuse Trump of dividing us into. We marginalize ourselves by standing up as a nation of labels first, and Americans second.

It’s time to stop adding layers of flair to our chests meant to label and identify us into these political pockets. If we, as a nation, ever see any hope of breaking down barriers, promoting peace, and providing the next generation with examples of positive relationships to follow, then we need to “label” ourselves as what we all are — regardless of our race, religion, culture, sexual-orientation, etc.

Americans.

— ALH