So if I liked an Afro hairdo from the 70's and I am a caucasian with frizzy hair, I should not wear my hair that way even though it is in style, looks good on me, and the upkeep is easy? Because black people adopted 'Fro's first and it's cool for them but not for me because of my skin color? That's ridiculous. And I'm not supposed to like the stars and bars confederate flag either, because someone assigned a symbol of racism to it? But I could fly the bonnie blue flag with the single star, the real symbol of the confederacy (the stars and bars was the battle flag)? What pundits decide what is right and wrong? I hereby declare that chihuahuas are anti American, OK? They originally came from Mexico and are obviously a symbol of Mexicans trying to take over the US, OK? Kill your chihuahuas and take down the damn stars and bars, OK? Then we shall all be as one.

There are certain things you can't change. You can't change your genetic heritage. You can't change when you were born. You can't change your genetic sex either. You can identify with whatever you want. The fact remains that when it comes time to collect social security, or apply for benefits that are only available to Native Americans, or when you need a prescription that might interfere with the hormones you take to identify with a different sex- you are what you are. I think the problem is that people really believe that what they are is not okay. And it is. Even if you identify with a different culture than your genetics would put you in, or if you've altered your body to identify as a different gender. This is all just exclusion, and that is the basis of any bigotry. The mentality of "You can't be here."

I'm registered as 1/32 Cherokee Indian, and I can call myself Native American. I don't look it at all, and people would probably look at me funny, but I can.

What's the point of your letter to Obama, Charlie Daniels? I mean, okay, you don't like him, but what's the point of the letter? Just to let him know you have gun-clinging American Christian fans and family that don't like him either? You still have your guns in your hand Charlie Daniels, you had health insurance before ACA, your business is fine Charlie, YOU are fine. Quit trying to be some right-wing hero when you haven't saved anything or anyone.

I'm pretty sure America isn't losing any sleep over the fact that you don't want to live here.

I love American people and I have spent a lot of time in your country, but you could not pay me enough to live there.

Growing up, my grandmother used to tell us stories about her parents' and grandparents' childhoods in Ireland and Scotland. I've always been SO proud of this heritage, and waited excitedly for pictures when grandma went to Ireland to visit her mother's hometown. I've researched our ancestors' clans and tartans, and printed out family coats-of-arms. But I've always hit a roadblock when trying to do our genealogy. Now I know why. My cousin has been working on the family tree for two years now, and it turns out that our grandmother was a huge liar - her parents and grandparents were all born in America. It's not a case of misinformation - we've asked all of our cousins (offspring of grandma's five brothers and sisters), and they all knew/were told that they were born in America. I'm stunned, hurt and disappointed. I feel like everything I knew and held dear all these years was a cruel farce. I'm also embarrassed, as I was so vocal in my pride. I haven't even told dh or the kids.

There is nothing funnier than watching Brits try and adopt American slang and then use it online (by the way I am a Brit so I am laughing at my own here). Just finished a ranty Youtube comment using the gem "doosh".

Jumping into the rich discussion: I just realized I do believe in the rags to riches American dream story. I went to a public high school that had all levels of income (some kids drove corvettes - others walked to school in holey shoes). I can't think of a single person who was serious about school who didn't do well and is now wealthy (in the top 10%). And everyone who goofed off and didn't care about studying - I can't think of anyone who isn't struggling. True, some of those strugglers have rich parents for their plan B. My and my best friend were both the holely shoe people (we worked after school in some of the same places, so we got to know each other really well), so maybe my memories are skewed by the two of us. My husband, who I met after college, has a similar story. Maybe us rags to riches types just tend to band together? None of our siblings seemed to put effort into school, and they are are under the bottom 30 percent, so it doesn't seem to be genetics.

So rich kids who are born into rich families just have naturally smarter kids? Don't be so fucking stupid. "Rich" isn't about smart, it's usually about connections and family ties. If you really think the rags to riches American dream is a common thing I wish I lived in your world. Rich kids are systematically given the best chances from birth. Even their chances of survival are better. Then they are plopped into high class private education, usually given lots of extra curricular activities to round them out as a person, and sent to the best ivy league schools. I really wish I lived in your unicorn kisses world, because it sure as hell aint this one. The Oprahs and JK Rowlings of the world are the exception, not the rule.