Since this thread has been somewhat shifted off the rails a bit. I will say I agree with some of the stuff posted. I agree, with the point that immigrants should learn English within an allotted period of time. I will also take it a step further and say, that all government paperwork/forms should be just in English as well. I personally don't believe in having these same paperwork/forms be in various languages on the tax payers dime. But I also find it hilarious that most immigrants that came here will strive to learn to speak English well, but with a heavy accent, but some of the locals can't even speak it well.
Being in the military I have been in various regions of the US. I will also agree with the statement that Hawaii is one of the most racist places in the US. I have friends who claim not to be, but most of the time when news about new subdivision being built, housing cost so high, etc... He always blames the haoles , for his meager financial situation. I always say it's the choices he made in the past that has compounded to where he is now, not the haoles.
When it comes to why people here or just about everywhere choose ethnicity as a way to distinguish themselves from others if asked "what are they?". IMO it is based on being different from the crowd as a whole. Here in Hawaii, I bet it is difficult to find a 4th generation genuine pure blood ________(insert ethnicity/race). But take these same people and toss them in some foreign country, I bet the first thing they is "I am an American.". It seems as though we as a whole only claim to be "Amercian" , is when the shit hits the fan. But for now, only in this great country people complain about the most absurd things like the video/commercial made by Coke.