What is "America?"

[djmcmath]

I keep hearing people talk about what is or isn't good for "America," or I see people accusing other people (or policies, or ideas, or actions) of being "un-American." I think "patriot" falls into the same category -- "So-and-so is a true patriot," or "thus-and-such is just unpatriotic."


But I'm not at all sure we're on the same page, so I thought I'd ask: What do we mean with these terms? What is this "America" thing that we keep talking about? Has the definition of "America" changed over the last 200 years? Is there something that it should mean that it doesn't, or something that it means to you that you wish other people understood?

[Rick Lee]

This is definitely a question for Fastpat. Strap on your helmet.

[scottmandue]

You talking abou north, south, or central?

[techweenie]

Originally posted by djmcmath
I keep hearing people talk about what is or isn't good for "America," or I see people accusing other people (or policies, or ideas, or actions) of being "un-American." I think "patriot" falls into the same category -- "So-and-so is a true patriot," or "thus-and-such is just unpatriotic."


But I'm not at all sure we're on the same page, so I thought I'd ask: What do we mean with these terms? What is this "America" thing that we keep talking about? Has the definition of "America" changed over the last 200 years? Is there something that it should mean that it doesn't, or something that it means to you that you wish other people understood?

Its a fair and timely question, considering yesterday's poll results showing Americans are something like 500 times more likely to be able to name all five Simpsons characters than the five rights of the first amendment.

Further, I think, put to a vote, the first amendment rights might not get majority approval today.

So, America is following the trajectory of most every other government born in revolution: slowly becoming what our forefathers rebelled against.

[gaijindabe]

The more time you spend outside of the USA, you realize what it is not... It is not all bad out there - people are basically people - but you really begin to appreciate what we have... And yes, this thing known as "America" has been pretty consistant for over 200 years - and so have the sub-cultures (before MTV anyway) that make up these United States.