Harry Guerrilla
DP Veteran
- Joined
- Dec 18, 2008
- Messages
- 28,951
- Reaction score
- 12,422
- Gender
- Male
- Political Leaning
- Libertarian
Thanks to modern public education.
I had a friend in an online game who came back to the US after 4 years in Japan, and he said the culture shock coming back to the US was greater than the culture shock when he went over to Japan.
All the damn time.
I was born in this country, raised in this country, and raised to love this country. I grew up saying the Pledge of Allegiance at school, in the Boy Scouts, and even at home, and I've meant every word of it.
This is my country and these are my people. (Even if I tend to include Canadians.) My blood has been spilled on this land for fourteen generations, more than three centuries. I love this land, and I love these people.
But I never feel like I belong here. I feel like I am an alien among my own people. I cannot understand their values, and all too often I am disgusted by them. My people are, on the majority, hostile to everything I believe in-- religiously, politically, philosophically-- and I feel like I am watching them commit suicide.
I know that the government of this country will never be what I want, what I think this people-- my people-- need. And I know that my people will never turn away from this disastrous course until it is far too late.
But where am I going to go? I may be an alien in America, but at least I am an American. I've been told more than once to leave this country, to go to a country like China or Iraq, or another country with a government more to my liking... but I'm not Chinese or Iraqi. Alien or not, this is my country. And if I don't belong here, I do not belong anywhere.
I have never felt I did not belong here. I have been in places that I did not feel that I belonged such as a goat roast in Paron, Arkansas
:rofl
I can't imagine who would fit right in at a goat roast.
:2funny:
Hey, I am German. Don't talk to me about "uber" anything, okay buddy? You haven't got a clue.Sounds like your being an uber nationalist.
Some people never feel connected with their fellow citizens or their country.
Hey, I am German. Don't talk to me about "uber" anything, okay buddy? You haven't got a clue.
My people are, on the majority, hostile to everything I believe in-- religiously, politically, philosophically-- and I feel like I am watching them commit suicide.
The first time I felt like I did not belong here was the period right after 9/11. Because of my heritage, I was made fun of and compared to the Muslim extremists who conducted the attacks.
I will be honest, there was actually a time when I hated Americans, specifically white Americans. Yes I'm admitting it. This was because the people who made fun of me were all white and they instilled in my mind that white people believe they are dominant in the world.
Yeah it was wrong, but stuff happens.
Recently I've been thinking more like Korimyr, in that I feel I will never belong to this country because of the personal issues I have with so many of my countrymen.
The first time I felt like I did not belong here was the period right after 9/11. Because of my heritage, I was made fun of and compared to the Muslim extremists who conducted the attacks.
I will be honest, there was actually a time when I hated Americans, specifically white Americans. Yes I'm admitting it. This was because the people who made fun of me were all white and they instilled in my mind that white people believe they are dominant in the world.
Yeah it was wrong, but stuff happens.
Recently I've been thinking more like Korimyr, in that I feel I will never belong to this country because of the personal issues I have with so many of my countrymen.
This needs to be framed somewhere.
Initially, I was going to agree with Reverend, and say that your question is far too broad, and ask you what you were getting at. Obviously, the below was what you were getting at. I am curious as to why you didn't come out and say it, rather than get all secretive, but to each their own, I suppose.
To answer your question, yes, I have always felt that I belonged here. The diversity of this country not only fits in with my ideology, but reminds me that there is a place, here, for nearly anyone.
Well when I make a poll I usually wait a while until I respond. I like to see the different perspectives that others take.
I agree with that, this is a place for everyone. I love living here (not East Texas, just the U.S.) because its the best place to live that I know of. Its just that for years I have felt that despite the fact that the U.S. is considered a place for everyone, its not necessarily a place that completely accepts anyone. By that I mean the country can accept someone as a citizen and resident and et cetera but their views, appearance, traits and such will never be completely approved by society.
I'm gonna 'pull Specter' here and say that I find myself increasingly at odds with the people around me, but if I were to write a huge pros/cons list, I still like living in the U.S.
Hey, I am German. Don't talk to me about "uber" anything, okay buddy? You haven't got a clue.
I'm not fascist by nature.Are you uber-German? :2razz:
:rofl
I can't imagine who would fit right in at a goat roast.
:2funny:
Yes you do, you just don't seem to realize it. You have the independent nature of Aussies and a similar belief in liberty. I'm proud of my German heritage, but I'm American and am proud to be here. I know I belong here. American culture is unique in that it evolved from the cultures of the Old World and a few others, but now has it's own flavor. I think Australians share that with us, and are liberty-minded like Americans. That's why when I meet Aussies I feel some kinship, though we're different because our cultures evolved in similar manners.I was only a wee boy when I left Scotland, about 6 years old when I came to Australia
I still have memories of primary school (elementary school) and I have very clear memories of the house I lived in, or my Grandparents house.
To me I am Australian, but there is a part of me that still feels a little bit Scottish. There are certain cultural elements of Australia that seem foreign. I don't appreciate Australian Rules Football, I prefer to watch football (soccer). I drink beer from pint glasses not half pints, I like words such as prat, git and bollocks. I don't understand the new phenomenon of hyper-patriotism surrounding ANZAC day.... When in my opinion, Remembrance Day is a for more appropriate avenue of remembering the war dead. I don't like the beach nor am I am the stereotypical sporty Australian.
But then I have been out of Scotland so long, that I am not sure that I could culturally call myself a Scot or a Brit, but nor do I associate strongly within Australian culture. Don't get me wrong I am a loyal Australian citizen, its just that I have a weird disjoint with country..... But then again, I do not long to go back to Scotland.
All rather weird.
The first time I felt like I did not belong here was the period right after 9/11. Because of my heritage, I was made fun of and compared to the Muslim extremists who conducted the attacks.
I will be honest, there was actually a time when I hated Americans, specifically white Americans. Yes I'm admitting it. This was because the people who made fun of me were all white and they instilled in my mind that white people believe they are dominant in the world.
Yeah it was wrong, but stuff happens.
Recently I've been thinking more like Korimyr, in that I feel I will never belong to this country because of the personal issues I have with so many of my countrymen.
Thanks to modern public education.
Have you ever felt, at any point in your life, that you did not belong in the country you live?
Please explain your decision.
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