• This is a political forum that is non-biased/non-partisan and treats every person's position on topics equally. This debate forum is not aligned to any political party. In today's politics, many ideas are split between and even within all the political parties. Often we find ourselves agreeing on one platform but some topics break our mold. We are here to discuss them in a civil political debate. If this is your first visit to our political forums, be sure to check out the RULES. Registering for debate politics is necessary before posting. Register today to participate - it's free!

What does it mean to be a “American”?

Unitedwestand13

DP Veteran
Joined
Jan 24, 2013
Messages
20,738
Reaction score
6,290
Location
Sunnyvale California
Gender
Male
Political Leaning
Liberal
This is more of a open ended question.

What does it mean to be “American”?

What is the source of our identity and what does it mean to be American?
 
If I had to include poll options I would have to include 330 million options

OK, but if you expect a different answer from each respondent then it is a meaningless poll. Having US citizenship is my "poll" choice.
 
OK, but if you expect a different answer from each respondent then it is a meaningless poll. Having US citizenship is my "poll" choice.

But what does it mean to be a u.s. citizen, are we a country where citizenship can be given to anyone who meets the requirements? Or does being American require a unifying trait?
 
But what does it mean to be a u.s. citizen, are we a country where citizenship can be given to anyone who meets the requirements? Or does being American require a unifying trait?

There is no trait. Being a U.S. citizen is not a matter of opinion. There is a definitive way to know. No grey area there.
 
There is no trait. Being a U.S. citizen is not a matter of opinion. There is a definitive way to know. No grey area there.

The question I am asking is related to national identity. Are we a country defined by civic nationalism, or one defined by racial nationalism.


It is a question explored in Gary Gerstle’s American Crucible: Race and Nation in the Twentieth Century
 
The question I am asking is related to national identity. Are we a country defined by civic nationalism, or one defined by racial nationalism.


It is a question explored in Gary Gerstle’s American Crucible: Race and Nation in the Twentieth Century

When there is context it should be included in the OP. Makes responding a bit easier.

We are not defined by either. America, as much and if not more so than any other country, cannot be defined by racial or civic nationalism. You seem to have now narrowed it down to 2 choices. Which would work in a poll.
 
This is more of a open ended question.

What does it mean to be “American”?

What is the source of our identity and what does it mean to be American?

Most often, it means you were born in North, South, or even Central America.

If you mean what it means to be a U.S. citizen, I think misusing the word "American" is part of it.

fwfw.jpg
 
There is no bumper-sticker catch-all. It means different things to all the different people.
 
The question I am asking is related to national identity. Are we a country defined by civic nationalism, or one defined by racial nationalism.


It is a question explored in Gary Gerstle’s American Crucible: Race and Nation in the Twentieth Century

Race has nothing to do with it, though a racist might see it differently. Americans come in all races.
 
This is more of a open ended question.

What does it mean to be “American”?

What is the source of our identity and what does it mean to be American?
Something different to every person, I suspect.
 
A national identity went away sometime in the middle of the last century....
 
Quoting Comey makes you less of an American....just sayin'.

Brilliant.

Reminds me of a news bit I saw outside a Trump rally. There was a small sign-waving protest across the street and a group of Trumpsters on the lawn outside the hall. One woman, sitting in a heroic-but-groaning lawn chair, grinned at the camera and remarked to the microphone, "Those aren't Americans! They're liberals!"
Conservatives sure are smart people.
 
This is more of a open ended question.

What does it mean to be “American”?

What is the source of our identity and what does it mean to be American?
It's the easiest question there is!

It means "one who has fidelity to the Constitution"!

That's it. Nothing less. Nothing more. Anything else is fluff, and it's likely propaganda if someone spouts it off to you.
 
It's the easiest question there is!

It means "one who has fidelity to the Constitution"!

That's it. Nothing less. Nothing more. Anything else is fluff, and it's likely propaganda if someone spouts it off to you.


The “Constitution” is open to way too much ”interpretation.”
 
The “Constitution” is open to way too much ”interpretation.”
Not as it's interpreted through SCOTUS and codified through legislative statute.

Being American is respecting the courts & rule of law, including the lawful legislation that one doesn't particularly like. It also includes respecting the votes and results of the citizens we disagree with.
 
Not as it's interpreted through SCOTUS and codified through legislative statute.

Being American is respecting the courts & rule of law, including the lawful legislation that one doesn't particularly like. It also includes respecting the votes and results of the citizens we disagree with.

Many folks talk about the founders; they had no idea what the future would hold; the language is open to entirely too much interpretation. The SCOTUS should never be a political body, imo.

Is POTUS an “American” by your definition?
 
Back
Top Bottom