Comments on: What it means to be an American

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By: Talon Windwalker

Talon Windwalker — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 09:44:34 +0000

In reply to Mary @ Green Global Travel. You are definitely correct that it isn't always true. Sometimes it seems like it's even less true now than when I was younger.

By: Mary @ Green Global Travel

Mary @ Green Global Travel — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 16:41:59 +0000

Talon, I think you summed up what it means to be an American beautifully. I didn’t realize until I started traveling that not everyone thinks/believes that “if you want something bad enough and are willing to work hard to achieve it, you can do and be anything you want.” While I believe that statement is wonderful, I think it also causes a tremendous amount of discontent for Americans because it’s not always true. Thanks for helping to clarify a difficult question.

By: Talon Windwalker

Talon Windwalker — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 10:57:47 +0000

In reply to Shelly. And I love celebrating those differences. They are part of what makes the world so exciting!

By: Shelly

Shelly — Sat, 11 Jan 2014 13:54:32 +0000

I do consider my nationality while living at home- all the time! I am Canadian, and we tend to analyse cultures and their blessings constantly, because we are made up of thousands of different cultures. When I travel and people hear me speak, if they don’t know many North Americans, they’ll think I’m American. It is only when they get to chat with me and talk about culture that they understand that I am from Canada. People assume that my own politics are the same as my country’s, and usually, they assume most of my beliefs align with American politics…wrong on both accounts! I usually consider myself a global citizen. At home, I teach international literature, and it’s analysis of humans, and I also teach Canadian lit and it’s analysis – I do have to say, there are differences- not better/worse, but beautiful, human differences- thank goodness we’re not all the same!

By: Talon Windwalker

Talon Windwalker — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 22:16:43 +0000

In reply to Sam. I had never really thought about it until he asked me the question. I, too, value my passport because it's one of the top ones to have for travel. I don't generally feel all that connected to my nationality and never really have. To me it's such a small piece of who I am compared to all the other stuff.

By: Talon Windwalker

Talon Windwalker — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 22:15:28 +0000

In reply to wandering educators. Definitely a multifaceted question. Yeah, I don't think people really consider their nationality when they're at home. You don't really realize the cultural differences and issues until you're in a foreign environment.

By: Sam

Sam — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 22:51:41 +0000

Interesting. I, perhaps unusually, feel no patriotism towards my country of birth whatsoever (for the record, I’m British). For me, i *is* just the nationality on my passport, and something I’m neither proud nor ashamed of. It’s convenient, and I’m grateful for having this citizenship over many others in terms of the freedom of movement that grants me, but beyond that, it’s more or less meaningless to me.

By: wandering educators

wandering educators — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 16:04:19 +0000

I think being an American really hits home when you’re overseas and being asked. When you’re home, you don’t even think about it! To me, it means choices, really. Not that those aren’t available elsewhere, but that our “american dream” promotes that. Whether that really happens? Depends on circumstances, I think.

By: Talon Windwalker

Talon Windwalker — Thu, 09 Jan 2014 09:58:27 +0000

In reply to Carol Reese. Cultural identity is an interesting thing, and cultures can vary widely from city to city much less state to state.