Why do I call myself Irish-American?

Some people say in the good old days everyone was American and not something dash American. Why are people always surprised that things have evolved? My grandfather, Michael George Martin, came from Boyle, County Roscommon, Eire at the beginning of a new century in a new land. He left his family behind and got on a boat and never saw them again. He became a United States citizen, he became an American. Maybe he looked Irish or you heard a bit of a brogue in his speech, maybe you saw him and his family at the Catholic Church where the Irish went. Because even though the Italians, Irish, French and Lithuanians were all American now, they went to different parishes of the same faith. Today it isn't a social stigma to marry outside your ethnic background, religion or race, but back when everyone was American a young Irish girl often was abandoned by her family for marrying an Italian. All these new Americans still had their old beliefs, customs and prejudices. They believed their children could become anything they wanted, but were not always willing to believe that of others. So I call myself Irish-American. I know I am more American than Irish. But I look Irish, freckles and pasty white skin. I love music, the ocean and a well turned phrase or two. I never met a potato I didn't like. I know too many people who have given their lives to the drink. But when I picked a place to live it didn't have to be an Irish neighborhood. When my kids brought home friends I didn't say, "What kind of a name is that?" And when American Granny said, "spics, wops, kikes and niggers," my children learned NOT to repeat those words and why. I learned from being Irish that we are all made in the image and likeness of God. I learned from being American that all men are created equal, with certain unalienable rights. So when I say I am Irish-American I am not putting down the United States. I hope I am a combination of the best that Eire and America has to offer.