General Discussion

qwlauren35

(6,153 posts) Wed Mar 13, 2024, 06:51 PM Mar 13

Do You Identify as American? [View all]

Republicans would have you believe that "American" means white straight Christian Republican. And no one else. But I am concerned that we are all buying into this. The only time I think of myself as American is when I'm talking to someone from another country, and that doesn't happen very often. (And when I'm voting.) I was born American, so I think of it in an odd way as a right and privilege, but really something my parents had more to do with than I do. And for all of its warts, I plan to stay. But for some reason, it is the absolute last thing on the list of things that I identify as. I'm female. I'm black. I'm straight. I'm Buddhist. I'm quick to put myself into all of these neat tidy packages. Even Democrat. Before I say that I'm American. Or patriotic. I vote, dammit. That's as patriotic as you can get! But it's just not a word that comes to mind.

On one hand, I find myself quite pissed that Republicans have commandeered "American". But I wonder if I helped. If I don't claim my birthright as part of my identity, if an immigrant doesn't claim the country where they live, isn't it easy to take that label away from me?

African-American, Latino, Asian American, Arab American. We divide into the identity we are most comfortable with and then we tack "American" on the end as if "yes, I'm that also".

I think we need to stop doing that. If Democrats don't start standing up and shouting - I'm just as American as you are! - and claiming our nationality as a major part of who we are, then we lose something big. Yes, we have our differences, and some of them are big differences, but here we are, all in the same country...

I think I need to declare my nationality more often.

64 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Do You Identify as American? [View all] qwlauren35 Mar 13 OP

I don't say I'm American in the United States. jimfields33 Mar 13 #1

I'm an American mutt pfitz59 Mar 13 #2

I have no idea what this means. Attack: "If Democrats don't start standing up and shouting" betsuni Mar 13 #3

They were not attacking Democrats LearnedHand Mar 13 #8

Nope. American means the culture, not a political party and accusing Democrats of not "standing up betsuni Mar 13 #12

I'm so sorry you took it that way. qwlauren35 Mar 13 #39

I think I get what you're saying... electric_blue68 Mar 14 #42

The right claims the flag, bible and the name American. Hope22 Mar 13 #4

Heh yeah. See my #41 post electric_blue68 Mar 14 #43

It's easy for me to remember where I am Basic LA Mar 13 #5

Well said! LearnedHand Mar 13 #6

I get what you're saying re "it's come to stand so strongly for American nationalism"... electric_blue68 Mar 14 #44

You're hitting at the time i am most likely to hyphenate Maeve Mar 13 #7

I identify as a Hoosier. BluesRunTheGame Mar 13 #9

Hoosier Daddy? Bucky Mar 14 #54

No. usedtobedemgurl Mar 13 #10

I identify as a guy randomly born on this side of an imaginary red line on a map. Torchlight Mar 13 #11

Why? TwilightZone Mar 13 #13

Yes. Republicans are nutty right-wing radicals. Has nothing to do with anyone else. betsuni Mar 13 #14

Worse the media would have you believe that Johonny Mar 13 #15

This is a thing? ThreeNoSeep Mar 13 #16

Wow, back at n the Anti Vietnam War days... electric_blue68 Mar 14 #41

I confuse them. qwlauren35 Mar 14 #61

Soy americano! Yes amerikats'i yem ես ամերիկացի եմ LeftInTX Mar 13 #17

I get what you're saying... electric_blue68 Mar 14 #46

It's been a while NanaCat Mar 14 #49

Armenian. I'm Armenian-American. Hubby is Latino. LeftInTX Mar 14 #57

Ty. Oh, I recognized the Spanish 😁 Spanish in HS, too electric_blue68 Mar 14 #60

I do NYC2ATL Mar 13 #18

I do. Even on my census form my nationality is American Bucky Mar 13 #19

If someone in a foreign country asks me. I say I'm from sinkingfeeling Mar 13 #20

PS: Amen! to the OP Bucky Mar 13 #21

Sure. I was born there, as were my parents and grandparents. My roots are there. DFW Mar 13 #22

Passport WA-03 Democrat Mar 13 #23

Yes, I identify myself as an American and I am not ashamed of it. Progressive dog Mar 13 #24

My dad and uncle had to remind me of that when trump emerged ecstatic Mar 13 #25

Of course ITAL Mar 13 #26

I have a liberal Texan friend who can trace part of her family back... electric_blue68 Mar 14 #47

Apparently ITAL Mar 14 #56

Actually there are quite a few people who can trace their ancestry to the Mayflower. LeftInTX Mar 14 #58

Interesting stuff! electric_blue68 Mar 14 #59

Funny when I was in Europe during the TFA administration I said I was from California instead of America kimbutgar Mar 13 #27

In the 90's. I had no issue identifying as American, because Bill Clinton was a hero. OAITW r.2.0 Mar 13 #28

Yes, Jewish American Woman. elleng Mar 13 #29

I identify as an earthling unweird Mar 13 #30

not solely, but yes, I do Celerity Mar 13 #31

Ty, never heard the term before. electric_blue68 Mar 14 #40

Yep. Iggo Mar 13 #32

I know very little about my ancestry. Demobrat Mar 13 #33

Yes proud patriot Mar 13 #34

Likewise for me! DemocraticPatriot Mar 13 #36

I am an extra-terrestrial from the planet Vulcan! DemocraticPatriot Mar 13 #35

America is a big place. Ms. Toad Mar 13 #37

I wish GAJMac Mar 13 #38

Before I add anymore replies to other posters let me reply to our OP here... electric_blue68 Mar 14 #45

Unequivocally misanthrope Mar 14 #48

Yes and proudly MistakenLamb Mar 14 #50

Yes. Silver Gaia Mar 14 #51

It's not a matter of self-identification Shrek Mar 14 #52

"I'm proud to be an Americun" Redleg Mar 14 #53

I wrote a song about being an American sunnybrook Mar 14 #55

My Grandmother wa born in Ireland. My mother was born in England. I was born in Los Angeles. Ping Tung Mar 14 #62

I don't identify as an American, I am an American. bluesbassman Mar 14 #63

Sure. Elessar Zappa Mar 14 #64