National Unity
I can’t help but acknowledge that part of the identity shift I mentioned yesterday is due to the fact that it is becoming difficult for me to see myself as fully American in the current political situation. Part of it is due to the foreign policy and the propaganda circulating to support it, which I reject completely on both ethical and political grounds. Another part is due to the essentialism proposed by the extreme right (in an American context that never means the neo-nazis or associated groups, it means super-duper-conservatives and sometimes neoconservatives). Another is the militant religiosity that is so common here. And I’m not alone. I’ve seen a lot of LiveJournal posts lately voicing sentiments of alienation, from all kinds of people. So much for national unity.
tiva said…
just be glad that you’re not fully american. that way you don’t have to feel ashamed about having a moron like Bush being the leader. don’t blame me, i voted for kerry. anyway, even though i am an american, i don’t feel like i belong. i think i’m meant for either canada or japan. i haven’t decided which country to move to.
2:04 PM
emma5280 said…
The problem is that the people who do speak their minds are the crazy wacked out extremists. Even when the middle ground people speak, the media does not report on that as the crazy people make for better stories. In America, there is not just one group of people either. Since the United States of North America is such a large country there are going to be differences region to region. I find it fascinating to see how different regions of the USA respond to ideas. Region is not the only thing to effect ideas/change. Another thing that makes a difference to identity is age. I am not the same person now as I was at 18. I have lived through so many situations both good and bad, which have reshaped my identity and ideas. Although I may have similarities to the previous me, I am much more aware of myself and the progression of change at 23. I do not fear change, but I do fear the people who may corrupt the process for the “common good”.
6:39 PM
Global Girl said…
that way you don’t have to feel ashamed about having a moron like Bush being the leader.Ah, but I do, by association. Unless I disassociate myself completely from the US, he’s my president too, to some extent. At least, that’s how most people seem to see it. You represent the political leaders in your country to the rest of the world, even if you hate them and didn’t vote for them. That just sounds like a cop-out to most.
10:56 PM
Global Girl said…
Even when the middle ground people speak, the media does not report on that as the crazy people make for better stories. It has been proposed that the middle ground has shifted to the right, as both neoconservatives and neoliberals stand to the right of their respective non-neo counterparts.
10:58 PM