NationStates Jolt Archive

As I was thinking about immigration the other day, I remembered arguments about how immigration is "un-american" (yes, a stupid argument contrary to American history). But that got me thinking. How would you define the United States? What exactly does it mean to be American? Who fits into this category and what does it mean to be in it? Or does it mean nothing at all?

My opinion is this: anyone who resides within the borders, affirms the laws, constitution, and political traditions of the US is American.

American = adjective or noun used to denote phenomena of or relating to the Americas.

That was easy.

As I was thinking about immigration the other day, I remembered arguments about how immigration is "un-american" (yes, a stupid argument contrary to American history). But that got me thinking. How would you define the United States? What exactly does it mean to be American? Who fits into this category and what does it mean to be in it?
Agreed, it is a stupid argument. ;)

To me, to be an American is to be a natural or naturalized citizen of the USA. that's it. no other qualification needed.

Main Entry: American
Function: adjective
Date: 1580

1 : of or relating to America
2 : of or relating to the United States or its possessions or original territory

http://m-w.com/dictionary/american

http://m-w.com/cgi-bin/audio.pl?americ03.wav=Americanness

this is pretty much what it means to me.

American: Anything/one of or relating to the Americas, particularily the United States.

(For more, see Unioner or Statesmen)

blind patriotism comes to mind otherwise you wouldn't of made this thread because defining what separates one group of humans from another through lines is absurd

either that or being a stuck up puritan who doesn't like are European sex (http://youtube.com/watch?v=koRlFnBlDH0)

blind patriotism comes to mind otherwise you wouldn't of made this thread because defining what separates one group of humans from another through lines is absurd

either that or being a stuck up puritan who doesn't like are European sex (http://youtube.com/watch?v=koRlFnBlDH0)

Not really. People naturally seperate themselves into groups and stereotype. You did it just now when you called an implied American a blind patriot for making a rather simple statement.

American - Civil, Christian, white.

Not really. People naturally seperate themselves into groups and stereotype. You did it just now when you called an implied American a blind patriot for making a rather simple statement.

1) however they do not follow imaginary lines do they otherwise Kansas would be normal etc

2) see definition of joke

My definition of an American:

Anyone born in, or legally inside of, the United States.

Simple.

1) however they do not follow imaginary lines do they otherwise Kansas would be normal etc

2) see definition of joke

That sounded distinctly un-joke-like, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. My bad.

American? More like American't!

*drum roll*

:D

An American is a citizen of the 50 united States of America who adheres to the Constitution of the United States of America and stands willing to defend it from enemies foreign and domestic.

My definition of an American:

Anyone born in, or legally inside of, the United States.

Simple.

tourists?

Well, I mean... like, went through the strenuous process of becoming a citizen. Many I know would not consider them "American" even though they're legally Americans.

I consider them full blooded Americans.

An American is a citizen of the 50 united States of America who adheres to the Constitution of the United States of America and stands willing to defend it from enemies foreign and domestic.Oops, I guess I'm not American then. :rolleyes:

American? More like American't!

*drum roll*

:D

You remind me of this toon:

http://www.lefthandedtoons.com/toons/drew_goodonedad.gif

Of course, I'm a bit more concerned about the enemies domestic at this point. Call me crazy, but that Constitution I refer to has been shredded over the past century. Nutty terrorists don't need to destroy America - our own politicians are almost done doing that job themselves.

Ron Paul 2008!

Ron Paul 2008!

oh God another one *gets out the libertarian spray*

oh God another on *gets out the libertarian spray*

Get it awaaay!

*hides behind CtP*

oh God another on *gets out the libertarian spray*

Be sure to get the heavy duty stuff, these Ron Paulites are a resilent bunch.

Click Stand;13327051']Be sure to get the heavy duty stuff, these Ron Paulites are a resilent bunch.

this is what happens when people throw away unused spam, who is going to the basement to wipe out the nest (http://www.ronpaul2008.com/)?

I appreciate the tolerant, open-minded responses you exhibit regarding my political preferences, but please consider my point: Being an American is more than geography. It's a philosophy. The label "un-American" in its rightful sense means "opposed to liberty" and it's unfortunate that it has become a deroguatory name to be thrown around like "racist" and "sexist", etc.

Anyone living in the US legally. It's really that simple despite what the Xenophobes would have you belive.

Then I'm not American.

Interesting.

My opinion is this: anyone who resides within the borders, affirms the laws, constitution, and political traditions of the US is American.
Well what about the politians? Then they wouldn't be Americans!

this is what happens when people throw away unused spam, who is going to the basement to wipe out the nest (http://www.ronpaul2008.com/)?

I say we take off, nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure.

As I was thinking about immigration the other day, I remembered arguments about how immigration is "un-american" (yes, a stupid argument contrary to American history). But that got me thinking. How would you define the United States? What exactly does it mean to be American? Who fits into this category and what does it mean to be in it? Or does it mean nothing at all?

My opinion is this: anyone who resides within the borders, affirms the laws, constitution, and political traditions of the US is American.

"American" = Any person or thing related to the America(s).

"United States" = A Union of States, usually implies "The United States of America"; but could also imply other nations, such as "The United States of Mexico".

American = adjective or noun used to denote phenomena of or relating to the Americas.

That was easy.

Exactly. I and my children are Americans, though we are not US citizens.

If you wish for a definition of a US citizen, then I suggest you consult the proper government definition, whatever that is. The wiki article (http://http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_nationality_law#Acquisition_of_citizenship) is pretty good for that.

Then I'm not American.

Interesting.

err.. by which definition of American are you going by?

1) however they do not follow imaginary lines do they otherwise Kansas would be normal etc

2) see definition of joke

well i live in kansas, and we are normal. i could care less about what is american. but as long as you are a legal inhabitant of the US, it doesn't matter to me.

Anyone who lives in the america's

Well what about the politians? Then they wouldn't be Americans!

That makes me even more OK with that definition then

Anyone who lives in the continent of America (North and South). Yup, even those who live in Nicaragua or Paraguay or St. Kitts and Nevis.

In common parlance "American" = a person from the U.S. of A. However, I saw what I recall as a secretary's handbook or something saying that one should refrain from using this meaning. For example, you should avoid, more especially if you are in other American countries, to use the phrase "the American ambassador"; use "the ambassador of the United States of America" instead. Much more longer, I suppose, but demonyms for the USA are hard to get... so I'd fall back to the simple "American" regardless of the sensitivities I step on...

Also, Mexico's official name is "United Mexican States", so I guess we can use "United Staters"? :D

My opinion is this: anyone who resides within the borders, affirms the laws, constitution, and political traditions of the US is American.I violate the first two of those, and I'm still American.

Oops, I guess I'm not American then. :rolleyes:


I guess not.

If who lives in the United States is an american, who lives in Europe is an european, then who lives in the continent of America is what? And why the continent is often called The Americas, and the country is called America?Is America one of The Americas?Then how come there is only one country called America? Boggles the mind.

I imagine a new nation in this continent naming itself

"Hey, what about America?"
"Nah, it's taken"
"Oh...but it was so catchy!"
"I said it was taken.Now go on saying some native names and we'll pick one."

Anyone living in the US legally. It's really that simple despite what the Xenophobes would have you belive.You mean that overseas military personnel aren't American? Gosh, way to hate the troops.

I imagine a new nation in this continent naming itself

"Hey, what about America?"
"Nah, it's taken"
"Oh...but it was so catchy!"
"I said it was taken.Now go on saying some native names and we'll pick one."Sounds a bit like how Columbia got its name...

well i live in kansas, and we are normal. i could care less about what is american. but as long as you are a legal inhabitant of the US, it doesn't matter to me.

only madmen claim normality :D

I've got to stop playing with my psychology books now its getting unhealthy

If who lives in the United States is an american, who lives in Europe is an european, then who lives in the continent of America is what? And why the continent is often called The Americas, and the country is called America?Is America one of The Americas?Then how come there is only one country called America? Boggles the mind.

I imagine a new nation in this continent naming itself

"Hey, what about America?"
"Nah, it's taken"
"Oh...but it was so catchy!"
"I said it was taken.Now go on saying some native names and we'll pick one."

Let's see. There is no continent called America. There's North America and South America, but none simply called "America".

American is most often used to refer to a citizen of the United States, so I use that. I mean, I don't hear French people telling me they're from Eurasia. Lumping Europe and Asia makes a LOT more sense than lumping North and South America together. What's seperating Europe and Asia? A few inland seas and a mountain range. What's seperating the Americas? A small narrow strip of land and a LOT of water.

Plus, who refers to the "Americas"? How many times has anyone had to use one name to describe two continents? Outside of school, I mean, because school doesn't count. They're always teaching people things they'll never need to know, especially college. Underwater basket weaving theory ftl.

In English, its American means someone from the US, someone living in the US permanently or close to it, US citizen, or any combination thereof.

Note, this is in English, in Spanish "American" is "estudiarense" or something close to it.

As I was thinking about immigration the other day, I remembered arguments about how immigration is "un-american" (yes, a stupid argument contrary to American history). But that got me thinking. How would you define the United States? What exactly does it mean to be American? Who fits into this category and what does it mean to be in it? Or does it mean nothing at all?

My opinion is this: anyone who resides within the borders, affirms the laws, constitution, and political traditions of the US is American.

Anyone whose ancestry within the United States can be traced back at least as far as the person offering the definition.

Anyone who fits the legal definition of one and self-identifies as such.

I know a number of people who were indeed born in the USA but do not consider themselves to be American.

On the flip side some of my former Japanese junior high school students thought that they should have been American. :eek:

My definition of an American:

Anyone born in, or legally inside of, the United States.

Simple.So a Brazilian Indian is not an American?

So a Brazilian Indian is not an American?

By Maraque's definition, no

err.. by which definition of American are you going by?

The OP's.

So a Brazilian Indian is not an American?...

Why not? :confused:

The OP's.

we need to correct that... where are you so that the US can come by and set up it's borders there. :D

...

Why not? :confused:

Because what we have here is another thread being sucked down into the sewage that is "Americans vs USians" argument.

we need to correct that... where are you so that the US can come by and set up it's borders there. :D

I am within its borders. But I'm not sure if I "affirm" its laws and Constitution on anything but a very flexible definition of "affirm", and I certainly don't affirm its political traditions.

As I was thinking about immigration the other day, I remembered arguments about how immigration is "un-american" (yes, a stupid argument contrary to American history). But that got me thinking. How would you define the United States? What exactly does it mean to be American? Who fits into this category and what does it mean to be in it? Or does it mean nothing at all?

My opinion is this: anyone who resides within the borders, affirms the laws, constitution, and political traditions of the US is American.

Here's how *most* of the world defines American:

http://xip.nu/pictures/redneck.jpg

I am within its borders. But I'm not sure if I "affirm" its laws and Constitution on anything but a very flexible definition of "affirm", and I certainly don't affirm its political traditions.

ah, well yes, it does depend on what definition of "affirm" he's using.

It's a pity the real Americans (the natives who were around before they got invaded) seem to get forgotten.

Let's see. There is no continent called America. There's North America and South America, but none simply called "America".

American is most often used to refer to a citizen of the United States, so I use that. I mean, I don't hear French people telling me they're from Eurasia. Lumping Europe and Asia makes a LOT more sense than lumping North and South America together. What's seperating Europe and Asia? A few inland seas and a mountain range. What's seperating the Americas? A small narrow strip of land and a LOT of water.

Plus, who refers to the "Americas"? How many times has anyone had to use one name to describe two continents? Outside of school, I mean, because school doesn't count. They're always teaching people things they'll never need to know, especially college. Underwater basket weaving theory ftl.

Well you and other americans were taught that way, but I was taught and always used and so did people surrounding me, the denomination of the american continent. But that does not matter. Historically at one point the continent was named America by most europeans, but then after the naming of your country, the target of most of the immigrants to the Americas (See? Sometimes it is needed), the use of the name America towards the continent became largely forgotten. I was just questioning a little the historical progression of the name.

Ok, the topic.What is an american (nowadays)? Someone who was either born in the United States (an US citizen under all cases), or who moved there, lived for quite a while and embraced the place. No matter how polarized its population is, there are a few values that must be common to all americans. I hope so at least..

It's a pity the real Americans (the natives who were around before they got invaded) seem to get forgotten.

who forgot them?

*re-reads thread*

Nvmd... I didn't tho.

American = adjective or noun used to denote phenomena of or relating to the Americas.

That was easy.

Why does this thread still exist? This was the second post people!