What’s an American?

July 20th, 2008 Elliot

That’s the question I heard posed on American Public Media, today.

And as soon as I heard it, I was struck with the realization that EVERYTHING I grew up believing it meant to be an American is something that someone on the Left would disagree with.

Let’s just list them shall we?

1.) An American speaks English.
Say “let’s make English the official language” to someone who leans Left and watch their head explode. (I’m not saying English should be the “official language,” but I don’t think the cohesive power of language is given enough respect anymore.)

2.) Someone who went through the “melting pot.”
We’re not supposed to say melting pot” anymore. America is supposedly a salad.

3.) An actual citizen?
Many folks on the Left believe illegal immigrants are entitled to the same rights and privleges as American citizens.

4.) Someone who believes in rags to riches stories.
Progressives think the riches should be taxed away to make sure no one ever has to wear rags.

5.) Someone who believes in free speech
The Left is fine with free speech as long as it never offends anyone anywhere (except a white male).

So here’s my question, what does it mean to be an American to the folks on the Left?

Entry Filed under: Observations

7 Comments Add your own

  • 1. Nick&hellip  |  July 21st, 2008 at 6:33 am

    Why only free speech? Shouldn’t that simply read “The Constitution”? Of course, then none of our politicians would be real Americans either, and we can’t have that.

  • 2. elliot&hellip  |  July 21st, 2008 at 7:08 am

    I agree, Nick.

    Also, rereading this post this morning makes it seem more of an attack on the Left than I meant it to be.

    I just sincerely like to know how a Liberal answers the question “What an American is” since they really do seem to dislike or disagree with nearly every image or definition of an American I can come up with.

    When I say “American” I think cowboys, and guns, and G.I.s, and flags and the Pledge of Allegiance, and singing the National Anthem.

    But I’ve heard folks say we should be singing “America the Beautiful” instead of the Anthem because it’s too militaristic.

    And someone is always suing because the Pledge has the word “God” in it.

    And the Left has a long record of dislike for the military and guns.

    And to them “cowboy” means “non-cooperative with the International community” and Native-American killer.

    So, again, I’m not trying to be an aggressive ass (that comes to me naturally), I’m just wondering…what is an American if you don’t think it’s any of those things?

  • 3. No Runny Eggs » Blo&hellip  |  July 21st, 2008 at 9:32 am

    [...] Elliot explains for the benefit of the leftosphere what an American is. [...]

    [WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The comment’s server IP (69.89.25.169) doesn’t match the comment’s URL host IP () and so is spam.

  • 4. Nick&hellip  |  July 21st, 2008 at 2:04 pm

    I actually do have an issue with the pledge having the word God in it, especially when the recitation is forced in schools by state law.

    That is actually a pretty blatant attack on freedom of religion. Nobody should ever by forced to pledge allegiance to anything involving a God they don’t believe in.

  • 5. James Wigderson&hellip  |  July 21st, 2008 at 2:15 pm

    I’m for the Inquisition, myself.

  • 6. Billiam&hellip  |  July 21st, 2008 at 2:23 pm

    Anybody seen my bullwhip? James, a bullwhip is much better than thumbscrews.. Seriously dude..

    [WORDPRESS HASHCASH] The poster sent us ’0 which is not a hashcash value.

  • 7. elliot&hellip  |  July 22nd, 2008 at 8:47 am

    I understand that, Nick. After all, I’m an agnostic.

    On the other hand, I just can’t take “under God” seriously as an establishment of religion.

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