I got punched in the stomach in the 3rd grade because i would not condemn the Russian people as communists. I felt strongly that most Russians were not responsible for the transgressions of the Soviet government, and were just trying to live their lives. This did no go over well with one of my peers.
Speaking as a Unitedstatesian, i think that nationalism, as it exists in many places, is a bit foreign to us. My personal identity is Washingtonian, American, Virginian, in that order. I grew up in Northern VA, just outside of DC. Would i fight to defend my state? Probably not. My country? That's more likely, but my country, to me, is ideas - The Constitution - and i would fight to uphold those ideas much moreso, and more willingly, than any political unit or political strategy.
I've noticed that some states, such as the ones in New England, New Jersey, Maryland, Texas, California, for example, have much stronger state identities than many of us from other states whom i know. Oddly among the small states, most Delawareans whom i've met don't have as strong an identity as i would usually expect for people from a small state. On the other hand, i don't spend much time in small states, other than MD, and the time i lived in MA, so my understanding of such is limited.
I remember being in Spain, people would ask where i was from, i'd reply 'the United States', to which they'd say - Sé, pero ¿de dónde eres? - I know, but where are you from? The cared that i was from Washington, DC, and specifically the Virginia suburbs. At least back then, about 20 years ago, few people would respond español when asked their identity. They replied catalá, aragonés, or which ever region the were from. This was odd to me, though i came to understand it. Somehow, it did not lead me to comprehend nationalism, though.
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Date: Tuesday, 23 January 2007 01:43 pm (UTC)Speaking as a Unitedstatesian, i think that nationalism, as it exists in many places, is a bit foreign to us. My personal identity is Washingtonian, American, Virginian, in that order. I grew up in Northern VA, just outside of DC. Would i fight to defend my state? Probably not. My country? That's more likely, but my country, to me, is ideas - The Constitution - and i would fight to uphold those ideas much moreso, and more willingly, than any political unit or political strategy.
I've noticed that some states, such as the ones in New England, New Jersey, Maryland, Texas, California, for example, have much stronger state identities than many of us from other states whom i know. Oddly among the small states, most Delawareans whom i've met don't have as strong an identity as i would usually expect for people from a small state. On the other hand, i don't spend much time in small states, other than MD, and the time i lived in MA, so my understanding of such is limited.
I remember being in Spain, people would ask where i was from, i'd reply 'the United States', to which they'd say - Sé, pero ¿de dónde eres? - I know, but where are you from? The cared that i was from Washington, DC, and specifically the Virginia suburbs. At least back then, about 20 years ago, few people would respond when asked their identity. They replied , , or which ever region the were from. This was odd to me, though i came to understand it. Somehow, it did not lead me to comprehend nationalism, though.