What does American mean to you?

[Azael]

For non-Americans:

If offered American citizenship, would you take it?

If you can't trust Americans, what foreign power do you put your trust in?

As a non-american...

I would probably not take a american citizenship. There is nothing I can do in america that I can't in sweden or the other EU countries. Someone mentioned that USA is the only science superpower. But what about CERN, ITER, The Max Planck Institutes, ESA ect...

I don't put my trust in any foreign power. Why should I??

About equal oppertunity, in sweden anyone(with good enough grades offcourse) can attend any university education without ever having to pay a dime and acctualy beeing paid to do so...

 

[Kurdt]

I would not take american citizenship as I have all the oppourtunity I need where I am.

Selfishness is what I think of when I see the word American. A desire to only progress American values and ideals at seemingly any cost. If the US operated a foreign policy of non-interference I suspect they would have a lot more respect throughout the world.

 

[denverdoc]

Thats what I don't like about Americans.
If they actually tried to experience other countries and cultures they could learn a lot, but their arrogance prevents them from learning and they therefore make the same mistakes time and time again.
When traveling it is interesting to talk about different cultures and how the local people see them. There are a lot of cultural idiosyncrasies, but the Americans are always considered arrogant and afraid to experience anything new.
Just because some American did it doesn't make it right or better than what the rest of the world did.

This notion of the "Ugly American" isn't new. I entirely agree with the sentiment above, that it depends on ones attitude while traveling--if one has to stay at the local plastic palace and eat at US franchises, all the while holding the local culture in disdain for being so well, "uncivilized"... Contempt prior to investigation at times seems like an American mantra.

OTOH, my mom with her great love of life and insatiable curiosity traveled well and made dozens of friends everywhere she went. She didn't have a great education, but always left more learned, than my dad, the scholar.

 

[Panda]

To be fair DenverDoc...
When I was last in Florence stuck in a really grotty hotel with broken Air-Con in the hottest August on record, there was an American woman there with two teenage sons who were very understanding about the fact that you couldn't get an Air-Con engineer in Europe during August. They were trying to learn the basics of Italian and ate in a different local restaurant. We had a really nice time chatting over breakfast...
...Compared to the really annoying American who was in my local pub being really loud and saying how quaint everything was but why was this 250 year old building so primative. She sadly was my Aunt who was born in the East End of London, but moved to Kansas 30 odd years ago.
So it seems that being "American" can be both Learnt and Unlearnt (Unless you come from Alabama of course then your a lost cause :-) )

 

[denverdoc]

In Utah, the term for unlearnt is "ignert," which is a synonym for rude as well. I had to bite my tongue the first few times I heard this idiom.

 

[SticksandStones]

What responsibilities to the world does one have as an American citizen?

The same responsibilities as every other human being on this planet.

 

[grant9076]

So you weren't a Pilot in Europe? You were a piolt before and after living in Europe?

Yeah it would be, but who is saying the USA is evil?

Just to remind you:

That is what I said.

You then went on to say:

I then said:


Now, can you or can't you handle some critisim? Just because I am criticizing your country doesn't mean I think you are all evil, does it now?

Two people on this thread, and you are included seem so arrogant of your own country you find it hard to believe that other places are equally as nice, and as prosperous as your country. You can't believe that your story could have come from the lips of a Jamaican 1st generation City Merchant Banker in London for example. And the other person seems to think, Ireland is some sort of poor country like it was 50 years ago. Both are false and both to me wreak of preprogrammed misconceptions.

With all due respect. I was a pilot for 7 years prior to living in Europe, 3 years while living in Europe, and 7+ years after. That is 17+ years total (please do the math). The correction was only for the periods before and after living in Europe.

What I observed was also pointed out to me by an RAF Pilot who was puzzled by the same observation. He did not think that his country is racist and neither do I. The only logical explanation that I can think of is that most countries (Whether in Europe or anywhere else) will give first priority (officially or unofficially) to people who are actually born there for certain positions. And frankly, I don't blame them for doing so. If you can come up with a better explanation for what I observed, then I am very interested in finding it out.

Needless to say, the USA did the following for me (and many others):

Extended an invitation for me to live there

A few years later, granted me citizenship

Accept me into one of the top military academies

Spent well in excess of $1,000,000 to ensure that I had some of the best possible pilot training available


Unless you can provide me with a better explanation for what I observed, I am not convinced that many countries (Europe or elsewhere) would be willing to do all of this for an immigrant. And I am not blaming them.


Oh, BTW, I never accused you or anyone else here of calling America evil.

 

[denverdoc]

I would not take american citizenship as I have all the oppourtunity I need where I am.

Selfishness is what I think of when I see the word American. A desire to only progress American values and ideals at seemingly any cost. If the US operated a foreign policy of non-interference I suspect they would have a lot more respect throughout the world.

I have to agree. It's our way or the highway. If it were only about peaceful self-governance and adherance to some least common denominator of human conduct, there would be no argument. America show us the way the world said, and in response, it became more about what can you do for us economically? We have shown support for everything from despotism to martial law, meanwhile freely overthrowing legitimate democracies wherever there is economic self-interest or its first derivative, strategic military advantage at grabs. Which can be defended strenuously, but don't be a hypocrite in the process.

Just an exercise, no need to buy into the assumptions or details:

George enters stage right. Says on TV, my fellow americans, we got a problem. This oil which brought this country to its present greatness is running out. We face two alternatives. We either exploit our advantage now--unopposed by any superpower and basically able to loot the world at small cost, or we wait for the stuff to hit the fan--by then it may well be a free for all, and the costs in american lives much higher--to say nothing of th real risk of hitting a trip wire for a nuclear war.

Or we dramatically reduce consumption and we all suffer severe privation? Even then we still need the stuff to feed us, and the economic consequences in the meantime, disastrous. American's I ask your support in voting for A.

 

[J77]

For non-Americans:

If offered American citizenship, would you take it?

No way!

In the front of my passport, it says something along the lines of the Queen wishing the holder have freedom to go where ever they want, unhindered - that's a high recommendation

 

[vanesch]

For non-Americans:

If offered American citizenship, would you take it?

I don't know, it would depend on the occasion. For instance, though I live for about 10 years in France, and could, if I wanted, acquire French nationality, I don't, for a very silly reason: if I do, I loose my original nationality (it's the law in my country), which I won't (for several reasons, one is rather cute: I get extra money because I'm working in a country which is not my native country ).

But if required for some or other opportunity, I wouldn't say no up front, it would depend on the situation.

If you can't trust Americans, what foreign power do you put your trust in?

My own

 

[Loren Booda]

Some well deserved stereotypes of Americans (represented by a minority):

xenophobes

country music morals

NASCAR dads

Manifest Destiny

cowboys

military solution - bullies

"world leaders"

"representative government"

some more equal than others

"holier than thou"

 

[denverdoc]

Some well deserved stereotypes of Americans (represented by a minority):

xenophobes

country music morals

NASCAR dads

Manifest Destiny

cowboys

military solution - bullies

"world leaders"

"representative government"

some more equal than others

"holier than thou"

Holier than thou, and thou is an infidel--certain symmetry there in the eqn. The part that didn't get quite captured is the bizarre paranioa of the right:
http://enews.earthlink.net/article/nat?guid=20070218/45d7dd50_3ca6_15526200702181480790370

 

[Art]

For my family, I can say without fear of contradiction that we are much better off than the average Belarusian. I think for instance that the average Irish-American is better off than the average Irish, etc. Can you think of a country where the average person is doing better than the average among the immigrants and their decendants in the US from that country?

I'm basing it on this. I did not base my view of the national average by visiting the capital.
http://www.worldfactsandfigures.com/gdp_country_desc.php

Your data is out of date. Latest figures are

Ireland GDP per capita = $43,600; GDP growth rate = 5.2%; Unemployment = 4.3%

USA GDP per capita = $43,500; GDP growth rate = 3.2%; Unemployment = 4.6%

source https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

Thus as you can see amongst other superior measures the Irish have a higher average GDP than the US. We also have far better social welfare programs which improve the overall standard of living; oh and nice scenery too

Although there were strong protests against Bush when he visited here we certainly do not hate (or envy) Americans as I am sure the many thousands who visit our shores each year will testify not least because many of them are our relatives.

 

[Polly]

Gottcha Art!

 

[Mallignamius]

I am American. It is a word I now fear. Only because there are some who would kill me just for the word.

I am an individual. I am not a politician, nor do I have much say over our international affairs and policies. But I would be held guilty anyways by those who are hurt by my government's actions.

I wish I could make things better. But I think I can say that we all have faults. I won't point my finger at yours if you don't point yours at mine. Deal?

I am afraid for my country's future, my posterity, my work. I have some ambition, plans to study science, to help make a better world. But my resources are limited now. So it's all a matter of hope and will.

 

[Kurdt]

I am American. It is a word I now fear. Only because there are some who would kill me just for the word.

That is true for almost every country. there is always someone who will have some sort of gripe with a country to the extent where they would harm the citizens of that country.

I am an individual. I am not a politician, nor do I have much say over our international affairs and policies. But I would be held guilty anyways by those who are hurt by my government's actions.

The government acts on behalf of the citizens that elect them. Unfortunately its impossible to know who voted for who so the whole population gets tarred with the same brush when a government does something that is unpopular to others. In the eyes of the people that do this, that is not unreasonable since a government must be elected by a significant proportion of the population.

I wish I could make things better. But I think I can say that we all have faults. I won't point my finger at yours if you don't point yours at mine. Deal?

Criticism is how we all learn from each other. If you take away the right to criticize others then we cannot progress and modify our behaviours. It may be hurtful to hear some things but it is necessary to understand oneself better and to perhaps learn from them.

I am afraid for my country's future, my posterity, my work. I have some ambition, plans to study science, to help make a better world. But my resources are limited now. So it's all a matter of hope and will.

 

[drankin]

Your data is out of date. Latest figures are

Ireland GDP per capita = $43,600; GDP growth rate = 5.2%; Unemployment = 4.3%

USA GDP per capita = $43,500; GDP growth rate = 3.2%; Unemployment = 4.6%

source https://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/index.html

Thus as you can see amongst other superior measures the Irish have a higher average GDP than the US. We also have far better social welfare programs which improve the overall standard of living; oh and nice scenery too

Although there were strong protests against Bush when he visited here we certainly do not hate (or envy) Americans as I am sure the many thousands who visit our shores each year will testify not least because many of them are our relatives.

I sure would love to spend a summer in Ireland. Maybe find where my distant relatives are at ;)
"D. Rankin from the clan Rankin!"

 

[Mallignamius]

That is true for almost every country. there is always someone who will have some sort of gripe with a country to the extent where they would harm the citizens of that country.

The government acts on behalf of the citizens that elect them. Unfortunately its impossible to know who voted for who so the whole population gets tarred with the same brush when a government does something that is unpopular to others. In the eyes of the people that do this, that is not unreasonable since a government must be elected by a significant proportion of the population.

True, but it's still wrong to hold every individual in a group accountable for the actions of the majority. It's only convenient to nail the whole to get the most. My gripe is more with the usage of any word that groups people, like the word 'American.' -When people who didn't know me --told me-- that I elected X politician, and just because I'm American, I deserve a certain fate.

Criticism is how we all learn from each other. If you take away the right to criticize others then we cannot progress and modify our behaviours. It may be hurtful to hear some things but it is necessary to understand oneself better and to perhaps learn from them.

Good point.

 

[Kurdt]

True, but it's still wrong to hold every individual in a group accountable for the actions of the majority. It's only convenient to nail the whole to get the most. My gripe is more with the usage of any word that groups people, like the word 'American.' -When people who didn't know me --told me-- that I elected X politician, and just because I'm American, I deserve a certain fate.

I agree that it is wrong but unfortunately that is what many people do. There is no real way to combat that either as it is down to the individuals country of origin to hopefully educate these people to the point that they can see why that is wrong for themselves.