In Defense Of The United States Of America

[myfiles3000]

So our cultural identity is not defined by race, religion, or ancestry, but rather philosophy.

there is no universal cultural identity, damn it!

the only thing unifies (legal) americans is a passport. its a bureatric identity not cultural.

Speak English, send your kids to school (vs homeschool), show up at the PTA meetings and football games.  Do not isolate yourselves into little communities, do not prevent your children from mixing with others.

this is so patronizing. everyone is free to live an isolated existence as long as they're not breaking the law. I can't help but feel all this emphasis on speaking English is the product of anglophones feeling threatened by the fast growing latin american communities.

[Neil__]

What an incredibly smallminded man to write such an article.

Neil

[hobbes]

Originally posted by myfiles3000@6 July 2003 - 17:59

So our cultural identity is not defined by race, religion, or ancestry, but rather philosophy.

there is no universal cultural identity, damn it!

the only thing unifies (legal) americans is a passport. its a bureatric identity not cultural.

Speak English, send your kids to school (vs homeschool), show up at the PTA meetings and football games. Do not isolate yourselves into little communities, do not prevent your children from mixing with others.

this is so patronizing. everyone is free to live an isolated existence as long as they're not breaking the law. I can't help but feel all this emphasis on speaking English is the product of anglophones feeling threatened by the fast growing latin american communities.

Myfiles, this is very narrow minded of you. There are plenty of things that bind Americans. I could tour the country asking people what it means to be American. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and justice would be the common thread, the ideal we are pursuing. Not to mention our unity through professional sports, rock and roll, the spirit of invention, the spirit of adventure, mass production, automobiles, etc. I would say America does have a culture (with good and bad elements), but beneath this there are many sub-cultures.



To say we are strangers with a common passport is not supported by what I see everyday.

A great example is the Macys 4th of July Celebration. In the audience I saw black people, white people, asian people, hispanic people all standing shoulder to shoulder with little flags in their hands. Unified under passports, hardly, they were celebrating what this country provides them: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

That is what is so great about America, potentially. When people of different cultures mix freely, they find that although they may look different, people are basically people. The key point in "mixing" is that you must first interact (not seclude yourself in your own community) and second you must be able to communicate. A common language is a great facilitator.



My post was in no way was motivated by latin american communities. The irony is that by not learning English, these people remain limited in their ability to ascend the financial ladder. I live in San Antonio, Texas so I am not talking about statistics on a sheet of paper as you are, I live with these people.

I deal with people daily, who have lived their entire lives in the States and don't speak a word of English. These people function as nannys(sp), janitors, lawn service personnel, etc.. By failing to integrate they have left themselves in the economic cellar, with now way out.

So, I guess we could accomodate them by learning Spanish, so they can lead our corporations and pilot the US into the future, or they can learn English and help themselves.


PS: I believe it was an American who invented the Anglophone.
And what is up with the "!" and "damn it", what uncouth culture are you a product of?

[Neil__]

Originally posted by hobbes+6 July 2003 - 19:34--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (hobbes @ 6 July 2003 - 19:34)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-myfiles3000@6 July 2003 - 17:59

So our cultural identity is not defined by race, religion, or ancestry, but rather philosophy.

there is no universal cultural identity, damn it&#33;

the only thing unifies (legal) americans is a passport. its a bureatric identity not cultural.

Speak English, send your kids to school (vs homeschool), show up at the PTA meetings and football games. Do not isolate yourselves into little communities, do not prevent your children from mixing with others.

this is so patronizing. everyone is free to live an isolated existence as long as they&#39;re not breaking the law. I can&#39;t help but feel all this emphasis on speaking English is the product of anglophones feeling threatened by the fast growing latin american communities.

Myfiles, this is very narrow minded of you. There are plenty of things that bind Americans. I could tour the country asking people what it means to be American. Freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and justice would be the common thread, the ideal we are pursuing. Not to mention our unity through professional sports, rock and roll, the spirit of invention, the spirit of adventure, mass production, automobiles, etc. I would say America does have a culture (with good and bad elements), but beneath this there are many sub-cultures.



To say we are strangers with a common passport is not supported by what I see everyday.

A great example is the Macys 4th of July Celebration. In the audience I saw black people, white people, asian people, hispanic people all standing shoulder to shoulder with little flags in their hands. Unified under passports, hardly, they were celebrating what this country provides them: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

That is what is so great about America, potentially. When people of different cultures mix freely, they find that although they may look different people are basically people. The key point in "mixing" is that you must first interact (not seclude yourself in your own community) and second you must be able to communicate. A common language is a great facilitator.



My post was in no way was motivated by latin american communities. The irony is that by not learning English, these people remain limited in their ability to ascend the financial ladder. I live in San Antonio, Texas so I am not talking about statistics on a sheet of paper as you are, I live with these people.

I deal with people daily, who have lived their entire lives in the States and don&#39;t speak a word of English. These people function as nannys(sp), janitors, lawn service personnel, etc.. By failing to integrate they have left themselves in the economic cellar, with now way out.

So, I guess we could accomodate them by learning Spanish, so they can lead our corporations and pilot the US into the future, or they can learn English and help themselves.


PS: I believe it was an American who invented the Anglophone.
And what is up with the "&#33;" and "damn it", what uncouth culture are you a product of? [/b][/quote]
[/QUOTE][QUOTE]

Why does Patriotism have to be so dull.

[j2k4]

I know positively that the United States has NO culture; The BBC said so.

[Neil__]

Originally posted by j2k4@6 July 2003 - 20:30
I know positively that the United States has NO culture; The BBC said so.

That might be the problem.
NEVER listen to the T.V.
IT LIES.

Neil

[j2k4]

Originally posted by Neil__+6 July 2003 - 14:33--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Neil__ &#064; 6 July 2003 - 14:33)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteBegin-j2k4@6 July 2003 - 20:30
I know positively that the United States has NO culture; The BBC said so.

That might be the problem.
NEVER listen to the T.V.
IT LIES.

Neil[/b][/quote]
All T.V. lies; EXCEPT the BBC.

I read that right in this forum, so it&#39;s gotta be true.

[Rat Faced]

Originally posted by j2k4@6 July 2003 - 19:30
I know positively that the United States has NO culture; The BBC said so.

I disagree, it has 50 conflicting cultures.


That means the lowest common denominator is what the world see&#39;s...


McDonalds and Coke.....and not those lovely T-Bones and Californian Wine.



The only "True" America the world see&#39;s is the Foreign Policy and the Interest Rates...These are the parts that affect "US".

I have no idea about Domestic Policy in the USA; I can "assume" that it is Right Wing at the moment from the Centre, ie Government helping the Rich at the expense of the poor.... eg Major problems in Public Schools and Hospitals, linked to Tax cuts for the Richest and for Business&#39;

The States themselves, policy being decided locally by whichever party is in favour there at the moment; so some with large State Taxes and good facilities, others with low State taxes and poor facilities...so local issues will vary Hugely, depending upon your zip code.


However, i have no idea where Federal Government responsibility ends and State begins and what Tax Raising powers each has etc etc.

[Neil__]

They do have a forign policy.
Jerry said so.
Neil.

P.S. in his "Final Thought"

[j2k4]

Originally posted by Rat Faced+6 July 2003 - 14:47--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Rat Faced @ 6 July 2003 - 14:47)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-j2k4@6 July 2003 - 19:30
I know positively that the United States has NO culture; The BBC said so.

I disagree, it has 50 conflicting cultures.


That means the lowest common denominator is what the world see&#39;s...


McDonalds and Coke.....and not those lovely T-Bones and Californian Wine.



The only "True" America the world see&#39;s is the Foreign Policy and the Interest Rates...These are the parts that affect "US".

I have no idea about Domestic Policy in the USA; I can "assume" that it is Right Wing at the moment from the Centre, ie Government helping the Rich at the expense of the poor.... eg Major problems in Public Schools and Hospitals, linked to Tax cuts for the Richest and for Business&#39;

The States themselves, policy being decided locally by whichever party is in favour there at the moment; so some with large State Taxes and good facilities, others with low State taxes and poor facilities...so local issues will vary Hugely, depending upon your zip code.


However, i have no idea where Federal Government responsibility ends and State begins and what Tax Raising powers each has etc etc. [/b][/quote]
I will have to do some posting in the near future in aid of your understanding of what it means to have Republicans in charge, Rat.

Too many irons in the fire just now; I have accumulated a bit of a back-log, and am, as I type this, getting ready for a new take on the abortion issue.