[UA] American attitudes and things

[Joshua Clark]

It's because of two connected, but contrasting parts of American culture.

1) America as melting pot. Although it's coherent to talk about 'Italian
food' or 'French food' or 'English food' (although the latter, only in
hushed tones), using the term 'American food' is nearly meaningless. Much
more than is traditional for European countries, America is a blend of
cultures, and its citizens will often identify themselves through those
cultures. Irish-American is another way of saying "I'm Irish historically
and culturally, and that's what I bring to the American experience."

2) The American historical amnesia. Someone once said that the basic
difference between America and England is: In America 100 years is a Very
Long Time, and in England, 100 Miles is a Very Long Way. This is true. For a
lot of Americans, our pasts are sort of lost. I know where my grandparents
came from (Ohio), but before that, there's nothing. For Americans searching
for a historical identity, the sense of connection to ancient cultural
traditions can be seductive.

---JRC

On 1/11/07, Fco. Javier Rubio <fjrubio at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>
>
> > really seems to be the basis of it - identification of
> > community.
>
>
>
>
> ---BUT, you have been generations living in the USA, why do you not
> identify yourselves as "I am from Ohio" or "Bostonian"... i just don't get
> it.
>
>
>
>
>
> --
> /////////////////////////
> Fco. Javier Rubio
> Somewhere on that rocky thing third from the Sun
>
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