America isn't just the U.S.A. So what is an American?

[fushigi]

Quote by: Nono Anyway, when I see one of those "Oh-you're-American-I-hate-Bush" scenes I always intervene and try to turn the tables on the aggressor ("Oh you're Paraguayan, yeah that Stroessner was a murderous sleazebag, eh?" -- whatever). Mindless anti is as stupid as mindless pro.

Heh, what do you do when it's a Canadian? No famous dictatorial or ethnic cleansing skeletons in their closet.

[brien]

Well I never understand what people mean by "proud" when it comes to their nationality

Well said Nono. I suppose when I wrote proud, I meant that eveyone is probably proud of where they are born, for what reason I don't know, but perhaps it has more to do with what we experience as nationals that is culturally unique to the country of our origin. Kind of like being proud to be American because of some of the cultural iconic roots like Baseball, Football, Rock & Roll, Hamburgers, the Drive In restaurant and theaters, etc. Not that these things are any better than anything else, just unique to the US when they developed in the culture. Surely American culture is as unique as any other.

[5010]

National pride is evoked when members of (or groups within) your country do things that you consider great, or the culture or philosophy allows you to do things you consider great.

[another day]

Well obviously the USA happens to actually have America in the name of it's country, hence adopting the name of Americans. Or you can be like that other guy and call them "United Statians"

[Zhavric]

Why We're Americans and You're Not...

A prose by Zhavric

Why do we get to be Americans? Why can't Canadians or Mexicans be Americans? Why do Brazilians have to be South Americans? Why can't Americans be "Staters" or the like?

Because all of you owe us.

Our dollars and business fuel your economy. If our forign aid isn't helping you directly, than it's helping the country next to you not to get jealous and invade you.

Do you live in Europe? You don't speak German? You're welcome.

But, who am I to stand in the way of others? You guys want to be "Americans" you go right ahead. Just send us a check for the forign aid you've received from us, don't expect any more, and pray to whatever god you worship we don't decide you have vast untapped oil fields under your soil. Also, go ahead and send back all of our entertainment, inventions and goods.

Do you know how much all the countries in the world minus America spend on their military? About $500 billion a year. Know how much America spends on it's military? About $500 billion a year.

We're Americans because we're more important than you are. We're Americans because our ancestors stole great land / were smart enough to show up to the stolen lands. All of you stayed behind.

So, we're going to keep being Americans. Canadians will keep being Canadians. Mexicans will keep being Mexicans. South America is another continent.

That's how it is. Behave or it's the Iraqi treatment for the lot of you.

[fushigi]

Err, yeah.

I think what it comes down to is that we started calling ourselves Americans first. It was only during the late 20th century that non-US citizens started getting sensitive about us monopolizing the name. By then, we had already been using it long enough to be considered "ours."

Possession, 9/10ths of the law, and so forth.

[Nono]

Quote by: 5010 I am a native American because I was born in America.

Quite right. In Canada they've spotted this flaw and moved on to the term "first nation".

Quote by: fushigi Canadian? No famous dictatorial or ethnic cleansing skeletons in their closet.

Hmmm... Well, there's the Acadians, but that's going back a ways, and anyway 'twas the Brits what done it. Naturally the Indians got pushed aside in Canada too, but not in the murderous fashion favoured in the US. So that's tricky ground.

Canada interned en masse its citizens of Japanese origin during WWII. Well, most were living on the west coast and I might have been tempted to intern them too, but not in the way it was actually done (being stuck in the middle of nowhere for way longer than necessary, then returning to find their property looted, etc.). So that was a shameful episode -- beautifully described in Joy Kogawa's Obasan by the way.

[Nono]

Quote by: brien Kind of like being proud to be American because of some of the cultural iconic roots like Baseball, Football, Rock & Roll, Hamburgers, the Drive In restaurant and theaters, etc. Not that these things are any better than anything else, just unique to the US when they developed in the culture.

Again, I can imagine being mighty pleased and grateful to belong to a culture. Just not certain about the word "proud". I'm a Swiss national now and think there are many fine things about this country -- so I'm very pleased. And satisfied with myself, I guess, for having made the jump and made my life in Europe.

Self-satisfaction is the immigrant's prerogative LOL. But you'll never see me wave a flag of any description.

[brien]

Again, I can imagine being mighty pleased and grateful to belong to a culture

I never thought about this much. I suppose substituting the word pleased is probably closer to the point. But I only watch baseball and footbal during the playoffs, and eat Buffalo Burgers rather than hamburgers, and the Drive In's are all mostly gone. I listen to Jazz & Blues, and I am a NASCAR particpant and fan as well. I suppose that quallifies me as an American and belonging to the culture, other than being born in Jersey City NJ.