But when I’m overseas, if someone asks what I am, I say American. Or if they ask where I came from, I say the United States.

Like most of us, mixed heritage. I'm a 'citizen of the world' who holds a US passport.

Another "Why didn't Democrats stop this?" "Blame Democrats." WHAT?

Just the weaponizing of the term Americans by the haters.

and shouting" is blaming them.

I am not blaming Democrats for something that Republicans did.

However, I feel as though someone is pushing me away from my heritage as an American, and so busy telling me about my race or gender that I am not allowed to claim my nationality.

I don't tell a lot of people this, but hearing a good rendition of the Star Spangled Banner makes me cry... and I boo anyone who screws up the words.

The only reason why there is no flag in front of my house is because I'm lazy. My husband is a hard-core veteran and he believes that the flag goes up in the morning and comes down at night. The law says that if it is spotlighted, it can stay up. One of these years, I'll put the spotlight in and put my flag up.

I remember someone telling me that you can spot a Republican because the flag is up in front of their house. Oooooooooooooh that pissed me off. Once again, this suggestion that Democrats don't post the flag. And therefore are less patriotic.

I also remember someone pointing out that black people don't sing songs about America. They sing songs about cities, and sometimes states, but not America in general. I truly feel that white conservatives want to take away my right to claim my citizenship. And today, for some reason, it's really bothering me.

I might add more later as I'm getting tired.
But see my post #41.

The rest of us are simply extraneous flotsam, demons who pay taxes.

Because my neighbor flies a giant American flag at the sidewalk entrance to his driveway. Better than a Trump flag, I guess.

I'm as American as any of the other people born here, but I'll be goddamned if I'll weaponize it like the rightwingers have weaponized the flag and national identity, especially against immigrants. You're right in that they've appropriated it, but it's come to stand so strongly for American nationalism that I don't apply the label to myself anymore. I think more in terms of citizen or something. Should we take it back? In my most ungenerous moments, I think the haters can have it.

There were times I did feel some what feel that way. I'm going to post something that will include this aspect.

In March particularly, yes, I'm Irish-American and both parts of that are important. I am proud of the hard-scrabble immigrants who fought to be seen as equals to any of those self-righteous entitled bozos.
I am also proud of the Welsh couple who came here in 1750 (my family has been here longer than most, save the native tribes). All my history is important and I won't let the haters make me hide a second of it. We don't win playing their game.

I used to but then this country started going to hell. I have dual citizenship and was raised in Canada. I consider myself Canadian. I am embarrassed to be in this country but hubby has cancer and insurance so we are here. When he passes (stage four liver cancer, so he will have it to the day he dies), I will start my plans for leaving. Already started getting everything in place, even though treatments seem to be doing well in keeping it in check for now.

Living in the US means you are one sickness away from being broke and homeless. This country offers very little to women these days.

Pretty much the same thing, but without the "Hell ya!" treatment.

The roll of the cosmic dice could have just as easily seen me as a barrista working a graveyard shift in Lisbon.

The feigned patriotism of Republicans shouldn't influence whether or not Democrats wish to be openly nationalistic.

Republican white male Christian rural view is considered the norm no matter how out there the view is. All our national debates in my life time have been a debate from conservative male rural view. The only time urbanites are mentioned is to tell you how dangerous, scary, poor, and weird cities are in America.

Are there any examples you can cite?

I've never heard or had the impression that the GOP owns or commandeered the word, "American". No one I know has ever spoken like that, GOP or Democratic Party. This was not an issue on my radar until today, and...well... there's nothing more to add. This isn't an issue for me or my extended progressive social group.

we in NYC had these hard hat construction workers often w the American flag on the hats that would carry on about us not being "Real Americans".

As I was a young to middle teen (14 - 15 ) at the time this made kind of a lasting impression on me.

As was the case with Sarah Palin and her SNL counterpart, I may be confusing Katie Britt and Scarlett Johansen, but I think Katie talked about Americans, and I think that's what got me thinking about this.

I think Trump does it too. "Make America Great Again". We have abbreviated it to MAGA and I think we forget how they have commandeered "America" as theirs.

It's my citizenship and nationality.

I don't consider "American" to be an ethnicity. I don't know why. Maybe because we're a nation of immigrants.

There is "American food", "American cars" etc. I guess Native-Americans are the real ethnic Americans.

and what is the nationality of that last type face you used?

But it looks rather like Armenian to me.

Soy americano is from beginning Spanish class LOL

The key to this thing is you have to purposefully take back the terms that the rightwing has bastardized and corrupted.

Including, and especially, Christian.

My closest ancestors who were not born here go back five generations on my mom's side and 8 to 10 generations on my dad's. Those should be people so distantly removed from me, genetically speaking, they hardly count as relatives at all.

I don't have a problem with anybody hyphenating their americanism, but in terms of my sense of identity, European nationalities just don't figure into it.

the United States (although, I try to pretend to be Canadian at times).

Most here will be offended by this, but I wish every US citizen would stop claiming 'American'. We're not the only country in North America, South America, or Central America.

Nationality and race are two different things, which a lot of people are unaware of, because race is kind of a made-up thing, or at least an unscientific explanation before a minimal genetic variety.

In Europe, at least among the racially white, nationality is an entirely transferable quality. When Sarkozy was president of France, no one cared that his grandparents were from Hungary (or Bulgaria or whatever).

But 7 to 10 generations past the blight, and there's folks here still claiming they're Irish. There's a couple of redheads in my dad's family and I still have cousins who insist we're Irish, when the ancestry research goes back the 1700s before tracing back to England only. Americans are goofy that way, mostly because we swallowed uncritically the "nation of immigrants" rhetoric.

I mean, on the whole it's a good mythology cause it makes us more receptive to the immigrants that our national growth is dependent on and which continually renews our prosperity and vigor as a people. But the bottom line is: I don't care where you come from, as long as you're here, paying your taxes, and mowing your front lawn.

I grew up speaking only Americanized English, even if my ancestors were from Europe, and spoke other languages. I learned some of the languages of my ancestors, but in school as foreign languages.

We have a guy in our office in Dallas who is from South Africa. His ancestors were from the Netherlands, but he never lived there, and speaks Afrikaans, not Dutch. Although of European origin, like my family originally was, his family was in Africa for centuries, and he still feels very much African.

By the way, when we meet up in our Dallas office, he speaks Afrikaans to me and I speak Dutch back. He understands me fine, presumably because Afrikaners see Dutch TV programs and films. Since I learned Dutch as an adult, and have never been to South Africa, his Afrikaans, which is mostly 17th century Dutch, sounds to me like the English of Jodie Foster's character in "Nell," and I REALLY have to concentrate to understand it. But he has no one else there with whom he can speak his native language, and he jumps at the chance. Since his English is perfect, when I walk in and he starts in with his Afrikaans, newbies in the office think he has just suffered a severe stroke. For those who saw "Lethal Weapon II," yes we make the "diplomatic immunity" jokes.

As my ancestry came from areas that now stretch from Germany to Russia, they spoke languages that are foreign to me. What I know of them, I learned in school, except for Polish, which I don't speak well. I feel sort of at home in Germany, but I don't feel like I've become German. My wife is used to certain parts of the USA, but she'll never feel American, either. Only our daughters, who have spoken both languages from the beginning, and have lived in both countries before they were 20, feel a true dual identity. I wish it were that way with a vast majority of Americans. I think it would help greatly if way more of us would understand that there is no one superior language or culture in this world.

I am a citizen of the world but having been to 40+ countries - no other I rather live in. Now if trump get back in - oh hell - help!

I was kind of panicking and asked something along the lines of, "What are we going to do? Where can we escape to?"

My uncle said something to the effect of, "You don't have to go anywhere. This is OUR home. We are Americans and our ancestors built this damn country!"

It was a weird but revealing AHA! moment to realize, in my 30s, that I had never fully embraced the idea of being an American who belongs in this country, despite being a registered voter who was born and raised in this country.

But in fairness to me, I didn't ask to be othered. Society othered me and left me out of depictions of "the girl next door" or the "All American" neighbor or "American patriot." Society others me with the ongoing unaddressed institutional racism and police violence.

As far as identifying as plain American, I'm never really given the opportunity to identify as such, unless traveling abroad. People I meet on the street quietly categorize me in the way they see fit and they aren't going to ask for my opinion first.

It might be easier to identify that way online, but with some topics you have no choice but to clearly describe or label certain groups.

Personally, I prefer "black" over the other labels. I'm black. I'm American. Simple and straight to the point.

My Mom's side of the family dates back over 300 years before this was the United States. My Dad's family doesn't go back quite that far, but they've also been here many generations....about 140 years I think. My last name is Czech, but I can't speak a word of the language, nor have I tried any food from that area of Europe (to my knowledge - maybe I have?). I'm definitely an American.

to (I think) the ship that landed at Plymouth Rock.

I was like ... Woah! I'd never met anyone who's ancestry went back to before the USA other than Native Americans, or even soon after we became a country.

We have some sort of connection dating back to the Mayflower on my Mom's side, but it's not direct - maybe cousins or some such. I don't know, I don't have the charts like she does to tell me how it works out. LOL.

It's about finding that "connection" in your tree.

I'm 10th-13th cousin with a lot of presidents. (It's a bunch of x cousin removed by 9 times or something weird because they were too old to actually be cousins)

I'm also 8th cousin of Charles Manson. (White privilege at work, baby!!!)
I'm either 8th or 9th cousin of Bonnie Parker. (There's an app on family search that allows you to compare yourself with another person. So one night, I started comparing relationships with famous people)

A 4th great grandfather of mine arrived here from Scotland in 1718. He was about 13 and came here by himself. His stepdad rejected him, so he left home and worked as a cabin boy. Supposedly, Blackbeard the Pirate attacked their ship when it was anchored off N Carolina. He took off his clothes and got in barrel and somehow made it to shore. Two friends went with him. One didn't take off his clothes and drowned. (I don't know if this is lore or not, but it is passed down).

His son served in the American Revolution. His son had 22 kids between two women and was never married.
One of his sons became a state senator and got all the kids legitimized via a resolution in the North Carolina legislature. (This is fact and the resolution and his will are online)

My great grandfather was born in 1863. The 1860 census shows they had several slaves and were comfortable. However, after the war my great grandfather's family likely poor. (Many southerners were after the Civil War). He eventually became a grove worker in Florida where he died around 1924.

My dad's side can't trace is ancestry back beyond 1909. They were Armenians who were expelled from Turkey. My GGF wrote a book that supplies a few names, but he didn't provide any dates etc. There are no "old country" records.

___________________________________

On my hubby's side, he is the 11th great grandson of Diego Montemayor. (Founder of Nuevo Leon) He is also related to a few other conquistadors who settled northern Mexico. Using the Family Search app, he is related to former Presidents Carranza and SantaAna. He is also 8th cousin of Pancho Villa's wife. (I assume all northern Mexicans are related to each other due to lots of endogamy and little migration). In his case, there was an officer with the name Villejo, who married into hubby's "indigeno" family in the early 1800's. This officer became hubby's 3rd great grandfather. He was connected to all the important founders in the area.

__________

I'm probably related to someone on the Mayflower. I just haven't checked.

They got it. An Italian lady on the plane we were taking from Venice to Brussels was reading an article next to the me and I noticed it had the orange maggot name and she asked me about him. I told her myself and my husband immensely disliked him and thought he was like Mussolini. She agreed with me and we had a nice conversation the rest of the flight and when we got to the baggage claim she introduced her son who she was visiting and said we were smart Americans!

In the mid '00s, not so much.

An Anerican citizen but I prefer to identify as an earthling. Borders are an artificial construct that divides us from our true human selves.

I hold 3 passports (US, UK, and Sweden)

I was born in the US (Los Angeles) due to a premature birth (my parents had planned on going back to London for my birth, but surprise!), and I am a citizen via the US's basically unrestricted jus soli citizenship laws.

I have a very Irish name, and always thought of myself as Irish. But when I did 23 and me it came back 25% Irish/English. The rest is French/German/Swiss. Total 100% Northern European. So what “am” I? Guess I’ll have to go with American. No claim to anything else.

and my user name was created to take patriotism back from the right .

Of course I shape-shifted into a white male, so everyone just assumes I am an American....


You raise some good points....


Maybe Republicans feel it necessary to so often claim that they are American,
because otherwise we might mistake them for Nazi Germans circa 1933-1945,
from their politics.....

The United States is only one part of America.

I wish I could have said something as eloquently as you...

I do at times identify as American.
Also United States-er. Or USA'r.

It's complicated. As I pointed out in post #41 -
as a young middle teen (14 - 15) here in NYC, and becoming an Anti-Vietnam War protester the hard hats with American flags on them Construction Workers were very vehement in their practically hatred for those against the War. Some protesters were beaten up, I think by them. It would really make The News at times on TV, in print. It left an impression on me - as said by another poster of The Right appropriating the flag.

I also began to feel uncomfortable with it as a designation as a tween; understanding more of what African-Americans history was, and current conditions at time were... We as Americans had not (still not) granted full first class citizenship to Black Americans (and others but their history being the most agregious).

At that point I hadn't even quite grasped more completely the state of women in America. (Soon though...)

I bought from I don't remember where a US Flag with 48 stars. I remember hanging it upside down (the sign of distress) I think a day or so after it happened, or on the 5th Anniversary of Sen RFK's assassination. Hardly anyone one would have noticed though bc of where our apt building was situated.

I more quickly define myself as a NYC'r, an artist, a liberal (Democrat), a woman, and Greek-American, and Ukrainian-American. Both my mom (Greek-American), and my dad (Ukrainian-American) were First Generation so we have strong connections to certain traditions from those countries.

I am a born, and bred NYC'r. And from Sept 1980 through Late August 1981 I worked on the 73rd floor NE corner office of Sourh Tower #2. God, what an amazing, gorgeous view we had! I made fun of those buildings as they were being built bc of picking up distain from the Architectural Students at my Art, Architecture, Engineering & Science College back then. But I fell in love with them while working there.

So after 9-11 which deeply shook me... I still couldn't wear a flag pin.
My solution was making a long, fancy Lanyard in Red, White & Blue that I hung off my purse, or tote bag.

And I did take, and wave the little American Flag we were given at both of Obama's Inaugurations. (Bill Clinton's first Inauguration was my first one, though not my first visit to 🧡 DC. )

I have lived in the U.S. all my life and it is where I was acculturated. My body is composed of atoms derived from foodstuff grown in this land, with minerals from American soil.

I was born an American, and I will die an American. That's about all there is to it. I love my country. It hurts me to see it being shredded.

One either is or is not a citizen of the United States.

That is objective fact and not self-perception.

A little tongue in cheek humour. Oops, "humor" is how you Yanks spell it.

Its an honest look at the flaws and how we can do better. When I perform it people respond to it and I think they feel patriotic. That's not a bad thing. I feel like President Biden is patriotic. The lunatics and liars do not own being American. They just have a loyalty that is unquestioning and unthinking. It is more American to see it realistically and have a vision for a better future. [link:

I was born here, and I was raised here, and dad gum it, I'm gonna die here!

Also served in the US Army. Now, do I get a cookie?

I also fly my flag. Not because I’m more patriotic than anyone else but to show that the Republicans don’t own the term or the flag.