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I think its true that many New Yorkers identify first with NYC and secondly with the United States. However, I don't think that's an unusual position across the country since most of us have more contact with our local government than national.
That being said, when 9/11 happened I saw American flags everywhere--and in plenty of places where you wouldn't expect people to be particularly patriotic.
I know that New York is in America and so technically you guys are American. But when I think of New York, I don't think of it as an American city or state. I think of New York much in the same way that I think of a place like Hawaii or a place like Alaska, their residents are technically considered American, but really?
So, do New Yorkers generally consider themselves to be American? And if not exactly American, what do you guys consider yourselves to be?
I think its true that many New Yorkers identify first with NYC and secondly with the United States. However, I don't think that's an unusual position across the country since most of us have more contact with our local government than national.
That being said, when 9/11 happened I saw American flags everywhere--and in plenty of places where you wouldn't expect people to be particularly patriotic.
So did I. When push comes to shove most people I know who express cynicism or criticism towards the American gov't rally around when under attack. I don't think America is perfect but I wouldn't want to live anywhere else.
I know what the op is saying. I know so many people who would rather root for team Italy during the World cup (or whatever country their ancestors were from) before they root for the US team. It's sad really. Who cares where your ancestors are from, obviously it wasn't so great if they immigrated here. No offense, but seriously. I highly doubt your ancestors wanted you to hold on to your roots for several generatioms after they got off the boat, plane or whatever.
I know that New York is in America and so technically you guys are American. But when I think of New York, I don't think of it as an American city or state. I think of New York much in the same way that I think of a place like Hawaii or a place like Alaska, their residents are technically considered American, but really?
So, do New Yorkers generally consider themselves to be American? And if not exactly American, what do you guys consider yourselves to be?
This question is the weirdest thing ever asked on this forum.
When answering this question, I think of how people would identify themselves to foreigners in a foreign country. I'd say that a greater percentage of New Yorkers than elsewhere, especially recent immigrants regardless of racial/ethnic background, would tend to say that they are wherever their country of origin/parents' country of origin. For instance, I'll get a lot of "I'm Jamaican/Russian/Bangladeshi/etc." True, they'll say that to other New Yorkers/Americans also, but in that case the people asking the question knows that the people answering are Americans; they are simply digging deeper and want to know more about ethnic background.
2. The vast majority of NYC residents show through their voting patterns that they have no clue what it means to be American. The United States Constitution has no place in this city according to most of its inhabitants. They want the government to dictate everything, which is not freedom by any measure of the word.
So no, NYC is not an American city, except for the fact that it undeservedly enjoys the protections and prosperity which come with being a part of the greatest country in the world.
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