Rushed this one a bit. I am very tired. Blame it on Monday. And on the three meetings I had to attend today. Only one meeting tomorrow. One really really long meeting. A few more on Wednesday. Maybe I'll sleep through Thursday. At my desk, so I look like I'm working.
Ah, one of the people running for high office started to talk about "Real America" vs. places which were "real". Those of us who apparently aren't "real americans" got a little ticked.
As for me, I already find it weird when, for example I hear Mexicans say they're immigrating "to America"... As if Mexico was in Europe, or Africa... I wonder when the word "America" came to mean "the USA" ? It's like the rest of the continent was deprived of its name.
I presume this happened because it's a convenient shorthand, and it went to the first takers. "United Statesians" is a mouthful, and "Mexican" or "Guatemalan" is easier to say. There's always "North American," but then you have to ::gasp!:: acknowledge that, yes, Canada exists.
Republican presidential candidate John McCain compounded the "Real American" issue in his reply to a woman at a rally who stated that she was worried about Democratic candidate Barack Obama because "he's a Muslim"--by not just correcting her gently, but also implying that the opposite of "Muslim" is to be a good family man and good American. I don't assume McCain intended to put those in opposition, but he did feed the idea that if Obama were Muslim, that would be a bad thing. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell took the opportunity for someone of high political prominence to address this, saying in strong terms in a major interview that he would like any young Muslim American to be able to believe, just like anyone else, that he or she can become President of the country some day.
I reveal myself as not a Palin-style "Real American" if I say something like, this is the first time it really does seem as if any United Statesian citizen can realistically aspire to that political office.
But then, I don't live in part of "real" America, or a "pro-America" part of the country. I've been told that for years now--even when people in other parts of the country were rallying around the attack on my American hometown--but it took Palin to turn it into the major part of her campaign.
My husband doesn't count as a real American because his parents are (gasp) from another country, and he speaks three languages. Also, neither of us drink beer. Plus, we approve of Science. SHAMEFUL I KNOW.
My big city (Chicago) basically shuts down by 9pm so everyone can go home and get to bed so they can be up early for work the next day. It is the most working class big city in the world. BUT WE ARE NOT AMERICANS.
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Rushed this one a bit. I am very tired. Blame it on Monday. And on the three meetings I had to attend today. Only one meeting tomorrow. One really really long meeting. A few more on Wednesday. Maybe I'll sleep through Thursday. At my desk, so I look like I'm working.
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no subject
Date: 2008-10-28 09:32 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-28 01:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-28 01:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-28 01:30 pm (UTC)Content Warning: Political Discourse
Date: 2008-10-28 01:36 pm (UTC)Republican presidential candidate John McCain compounded the "Real American" issue in his reply to a woman at a rally who stated that she was worried about Democratic candidate Barack Obama because "he's a Muslim"--by not just correcting her gently, but also implying that the opposite of "Muslim" is to be a good family man and good American. I don't assume McCain intended to put those in opposition, but he did feed the idea that if Obama were Muslim, that would be a bad thing. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell took the opportunity for someone of high political prominence to address this, saying in strong terms in a major interview that he would like any young Muslim American to be able to believe, just like anyone else, that he or she can become President of the country some day.
I reveal myself as not a Palin-style "Real American" if I say something like, this is the first time it really does seem as if any United Statesian citizen can realistically aspire to that political office.
But then, I don't live in part of "real" America, or a "pro-America" part of the country. I've been told that for years now--even when people in other parts of the country were rallying around the attack on my American hometown--but it took Palin to turn it into the major part of her campaign.
Re: Content Warning: Political Discourse
Date: 2008-10-28 02:51 pm (UTC)Re: Content Warning: Political Discourse
Date: 2008-10-28 03:06 pm (UTC)I seem to be a bit of a Roman imperialist. Also, I drink tea.
Re: Content Warning: Political Discourse
Date: 2008-10-28 03:11 pm (UTC)My big city (Chicago) basically shuts down by 9pm so everyone can go home and get to bed so they can be up early for work the next day. It is the most working class big city in the world. BUT WE ARE NOT AMERICANS.