Do you remember when the "silent majority" was so frequently spoken and written about? Whether the words were original with President Richard Nixon, they fell into common usage after his Nov. 3, 1969, speech on the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. Nixon made a media appeal to the country, saying, "And so tonight -- to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans -- I ask for your support."

Today we hear little about a "silent majority." Instead, we are flooded with references to "minorities" and numerous minority groups. "Minorities" has become an inclusive word that can encompass a diversity of people, causes and groups.

I want to suggest that when "minority" is examined closely, it might be surprising to discover just who or what groups actually constitute a minority in the United States. What is the most significant "minority" in the United States? Is it one or several groups claiming to be minorities, or can it instead be a segment of the population often considered to be in the majority, silent or otherwise?

The word "minority" is widely used to refer to a variety of groups, each of which might rightly be classified as a minority. But when joined with other minorities, they might in fact constitute a majority. Many of the so-called minority groups are well-organized, politically vocal and legislatively and judicially influential. In speaking of themselves, some of them use the word "minority" in an almost paranoid sense, as if the majority of the nation's people are unsupportive of their causes or even stand in opposition to them. They mistakenly and sometimes selfishly look upon those not in their group as being one great monolithic mass arrayed against them. In fact, the others -- those not part of a "minority" group -- are not united at all and certainly not against them.

Who is in the minority? Groups that look upon themselves as minorities can include individuals and groups organized around race, human rights, religions, national origins, gender, sexual orientation, animal rights, gun control, health concerns, environmental interests, labor and professional organizations, and the list goes on and on.

Organized and politically effective are several groups based on race, such as African-Americans, American Indians, Eskimos and Latinos. Some of these groups have one or more subgroups, such as people of various European backgrounds.

Constituting large and small segments of the country's population are numerous religious groups, including Protestants, Roman and Greek Catholics, independents, Jews, Muslims, Mormons, evangelical groups, Unitarian/Universalists, deists, agnostics and atheists. There are many others, such as adherents to Hinduism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Sikhism, Shinto, Taoism, Confucianism and Baha'i. Some of these groups organize to be heard and heeded.

In the last half-century, we have seen a significant increase of outspoken and influential groups relating to gender, espousing and promoting male/female issues and sometimes male-versus-female or female-versus-male agendas.

In recent years, some groups with various sexual orientations have become well organized, very vocal, well funded and politically active.

In a country made up of immigrants from around the world, we have benefitted from, and sometimes been divided by, ethnic groups, some of whom constitute large sections in large cities, where they continue with colorful heritage celebrations. Among them are Irish, Italian, Scot, Norwegian, German, African, Asian and Latino.

There are numerous segments of people who have organized because of their concerns relative to health, immigration, economy, farming, labor, patriotism, education, environment, gun control, animal rights and constitutional rights.

The trouble with some of the groups is that they might see all groups except themselves as one massive body of opposition. Actually, the others are not united at all, while some of the minority groups form alliances and become increasingly vocal. No one of these minorities constitutes a majority of the population, but when considered collectively, their interests presume to represent a majority of the nation's population.

While there are, of course, legitimate reasons for various minorities to seek their own destinies, air their grievances and make their needs known, the single group or totality of the groups might obscure who it is that constitutes the actual minority in the United States.

The actual minority in the United Stated is that smaller-than-imagined residue of citizens who do most of the nation's work, pay most of the country's bills and have to pay for the thievery, damages and criminal acts of all of the country's bad guys.

The actual minority seems to be that shrinking group of Americans who gladly pay for their own and their dependents' housing, transportation, food, schooling, medical needs, religious needs and entertainment. This real minority does not look to nor depend upon government to sustain or control them, but are the ones left who pay most of the taxes that provide for the country's needs and defense.

There are people who need and should receive various kinds of aid from others and from the government in particular. But this country will never be as strong as it can and needs to be until those who are able to produce and provide for themselves and their own do so.