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ecstatic

(32,786 posts)

25. My dad and uncle had to remind me of that when trump emerged

Wed Mar 13, 2024, 09:13 PM

Mar 13

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.

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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