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urbanlife78, clearly, based on your posts, you have not traveled or lived in many parts of the US.
You are not credible.
Bye.
Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by urbanlife78
Then I guess you haven't listened to a word I have said, there is no national American Culture, you CAN NOT go to random parts of this country and expect to see the same culture because it is made up of several different cultures rather than one unifying culture.
Not sure how many different ways I can say this to you before you get it......
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Originally Posted by SimplySagacious
Yes you can go to random parts of the country and find unifying American culture. Try it sometime.
Culture, as defined by Webster:
: the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time.
We don't need cultural briefings to travel or move to another state or region because we will find unifying culture.
Language. You will find American English used to teach in the schools, in private business and in local and state government. This is part of our national culture.
Sports. The US is very sports-minded. You can go anywhere and find baseball, football, basketball, etc. This is part of our national culture.
Holidays. You can go anywhere across the nation and find people observing Thanksgiving. Other national holidays observed throughout the nation, Independence Day, Memorial Day, Presidents' Day, MLK Day, etc. We also unofficially observe others throughout the country such as our own version of St. Pat's day. This is part of our national culture.
The Arts. You can go anywhere and find the same American movies playing in theaters, the same American programs on television, the same plays, the same concerts, the same American music on radio, etc. This is part of our national culture.
Food. You can go anywhere and find foods that are commonly identified as American, such as American comfort food like mac and cheese and fried chicken. Also hot dogs, hamburgers, meat loaf, potato chips. This is part of our national culture. Sad, I know, but it is what it is.
Religion. Most known religions are practiced in the US, but you can go anywhere and bump into Christians and find Christian churches. More than 80% of Americans identify as Christian. It's part of our national culture.
Like it or not, these things are identifying characteristics that make up our national culture. A list of all national cultural characteristics is too long for a forum post.
urbanlife78, clearly, based on your posts, you have not traveled or lived in many parts of the US.
You are not credible.
Bye.
Yes I have, I was born in Ohio, lived in Washington, grew up in Virginia, lived for years throughout the Northwest, lived in the NYC metro, and now back in Oregon. I have driven across the country 4 times now, and have visited all of the states up and down the east and west coast. I have visited a number of states through the midwest.
So yes, I have an understanding of this country and well aware the culture of this country is that of subcultures that make up this country, not a national culture.
Maybe it is you who needs to venture out into the country more.
I dare you to compare the current crop of (D) candidates positions vs. those of just the 1990's much less the days of JFK.
For that matter look at how the (D) platform has changed vs. the (R) platform and you will see how far to the left the (D's) have gone.
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The Democrats haven't gone that far to the left, most are still fairly moderate, but when you push the Republicans so far to the right that just makes even a moderate liberal look like a far left liberal to you guys.
Someone in the US who was not born there is an IMMIGRANT regardless of their nationality. You can be both American and an immigrant at the same time.
Seriously, I don't see why you find this concept so challenging.
I'm not the one who finds the concept of immigrants being Americans challenging. You apparently do, though, because this is what you said originally -
"Absolutely, I do.
I get sick and tired of going shopping in stores like Sam's, Wal-Mart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, even middle class shopping malls...and not hearing a word of English because I'm surrounded by mainly Hispanic, south Asian (mostly Indian), and Chinese immigrants."
So exactly what did you mean?
If you feel like a stranger when you are surrounded by other americans who are bilingual, then maybe you are poorly suited to being an american yourself.
I'm not the one who finds the concept of immigrants being Americans challenging. You apparently do, though, because this is what you said originally -
"Absolutely, I do.
I get sick and tired of going shopping in stores like Sam's, Wal-Mart, Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, even middle class shopping malls...and not hearing a word of English because I'm surrounded by mainly Hispanic, south Asian (mostly Indian), and Chinese immigrants."
So exactly what did you mean?
If you feel like a stranger when you are surrounded by other americans who are bilingual, then maybe you are poorly suited to being an american yourself.
It's not about being bilingual. Nothing wrong with that. It's about not speaking English in public when you know how to or refusing to learn English. In other words, it is linguistic non-assimilation out in society. I am speaking of those who reside here not tourists. Is it any wonder that native English speakers feel like they are living in a foreign country? However, I don't care what language one chooses to speak in their own homes.
It's not about being bilingual. Nothing wrong with that. It's about not speaking English in public when you know how to or refusing to learn English. In other words, it is linguistic non-assimilation out in society. I am speaking of those who reside here not tourists. Is it any wonder that native English speakers feel like they are living in a foreign country? However, I don't care what language one chooses to speak in their own homes.
They don't have to speak English. They don't have to speak English if they are talking to their friends or family. They don't care that you only want them to speak it in their home. This is America, they have the freedom to speak to each other in whatever language they want. Move elsewhere if it's such a hindrance to delicate sensibilities. The rest of us could care less.
It's not about being bilingual. Nothing wrong with that. It's about not speaking English in public when you know how to or refusing to learn English. In other words, it is linguistic non-assimilation out in society. I am speaking of those who reside here not tourists. Is it any wonder that native English speakers feel like they are living in a foreign country? However, I don't care what language one chooses to speak in their own homes.
There is nothing wrong with speaking another language in public if they are speaking it to someone else who also understands that language. If this bothers your precious ears so much, then either learn more languages or buy some noise canceling headphones so you don't have to be bothered trying to listen to other people's conversations.
Yes I have, I was born in Ohio, lived in Washington, grew up in Virginia, lived for years throughout the Northwest, lived in the NYC metro, and now back in Oregon. I have driven across the country 4 times now, and have visited all of the states up and down the east and west coast. I have visited a number of states through the midwest.
So yes, I have an understanding of this country and well aware the culture of this country is that of subcultures that make up this country, not a national culture.
Maybe it is you who needs to venture out into the country more.
Bye.
What a great journey man
Keep posting!
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