I'm unsure how it's become a debate when it's fairly simple and straightforward...
for example :
I was born in the US of US parentage and therefore my nationality *IS* American
my ancestry is an amalgam of Polish/German/French Canadian/Irish - this is my heritage
I define myself largely by my nationality, not my heritage, as I was raised in the American culture
only a smattering of my heritage affected my life, how I was raised, and the man I have become
I *AM* an American !
I'm proud of the country in which I live
I may not agree with everything and am oft saddened by the shifting anti-culture I've witnessed in my years thus far
BUT I'm still American and strive for the continuance/perseverence of this nation and what it stands for
we're still a relatively upstart nation ( though there are many other younger nations in the world )
BUT we've become ingrained into the world culture with other nations looking to us as an example of the possiblities
SO...
why in the world would we want to change or alter the culture that other nations look up to and aspire towards ?!
If you're American - be PROUD of it, be AWARE & KNOWLEDGEABLE of its history, and - yes - be RESPONSIBLE
personally responsible for your statements, your actions - don't blame others, this is cowardice...
and Americans are *NOT* cowards
I was raised into the American culture that America is a 'melting pot,' where other heritages can absorb into and become American
legally/lawfully, you can be accepted and become a part of the American language, the American ideal
Be Patriotic - it's who we *ARE* as Americans, a proud people, a free people, an amazingly adaptive people...
*IF* you come here for our freedoms and our culture, then accept it, absorb into it...
*DON'T* try to shove your culture and congeal the 'melting pot,' *DON'T* ignore the language and ways
you wanted the freedom and culture, then Let. It. In.
if you insist on being the nationality you were prior to coming here, then Why. Are. You. Here?
there's nothing to stop you - as a people - in making Your Nation a more free nation... it's happened in the past, it *CAN* be done
that way you can take the bits you like from us and instill it in Your Nation...
without trying to make America into 'your' Nation
( sorry, but no apologies for that bit, congealing the 'melting pot' helps no one - if you don't like being American, don't come )
ANYways... don't take this as a rant, but rather as a little bit of knowledge from a Proud American
take it from someone who Loves his country and Loves its culture and history, even its awkward bits
don't wash over our 'bad parts,' we need to learn from it, visually and historically, as it *IS* part of America
it led us to where we are, an upstart nation that became a worldwide phenomenon, beloved by many...
Let's not lose that American patriotism, that American culture, let's keep this 'melting pot' boiling and free !!
twittage ::
7/28 : I'm quite amused at people's responses & postings re: Olympic high-level anti-drug policies & political/religious/racial demonstration prohibitions - these aren't new rules & the Olympics *are* a greek-based *international* competition... one/single-nation 'rules' don't apply
8/1 : I've heard a few say I've been missing things/changing plans due to family lately... yes, this is true, but my girls are everything & I only have this next year where I'm guaranteed time w/ them as by next year they'll be 18 & 20 ! So, yes, my family gets priority over all...
8/4 : finally feeling better after 2days of *meh* & sleeping more than I had week prior... sleeping through beautiful heat, big storms, & a couple accidents, apparently :( ...and now it's Sunday already *sighs*
watched recently :
via rental/streaming:
Shadowhunters (1st Season)
Con Man (1st & 2nd Season)
That '90s show (2nd Season)
IF
Space Cadet
Star Trek: Prodigy (2nd Season)
The Beekeeper
The Boys (4th Season)
Peacemaker (1st Season)
Gotham Knights (series)
Abigail
The School For Good And Evil
Shoresy (3rd Season)
Hot Ones (series)
The Good Place (2nd Season)
Reno! 9-1-1 (series)
Cobra Kai (6th/Final Season)
Halo (2nd Season)
Night Court (Reboot, 2nd Season)
Exploding Kittens (series)
Holliston (series)
John Dies At The End
The Winchesters (series)
Todd & The Book Of Pure Evil (series)
High School DxD: HerO (series)
Star Trek: Enterprise (3rd Season)
Time Bandits (series)
She-Hulk: Attorney-At-Law (series)
Chucky (3rd Season)
Grimm (3rd & 4th Season)
The Big Bang Theory (12th Season)
Sweet Home (2nd Season)
Steve! (martin): A Documentary
SNL/Saturday Night Live (random episodes)
ownedflix:
Joysticks
Blumhouse's The First Purge
X-Men Origins: Wolverine
Empire Records
The Longest Yard (2005)
Fantastic 4 (2015)
Free Guy
Chopping Mall
-thom Wolfox sR Rhose, AK/GOT (OOP)
"Keep Living & Loving Life!"
"America needs creation not destruction, cooperation not contempt, security not anarchy, healing not hatred, justice not chaos."
President Donald Trump * June 1st, 2020