What does Ameica mean to you?

Question

Not the stolen, politically perverted, stained with sickening politics, but the TRUE AMERICA mean to you?

Sorry, yes, I meant the USA. Funny how nobody questions what you mean when people curse it or chant "death to America", lol.

I also apolgize for the glaring typos. This Q came about after a debate between my sister and I - over a few glasses of wine ;)

Anyway, I'm truly happy and stunned by what amazing answers there are here so far. Choosing the best answer is going to be VERY hard!

Answer 1

As we know it, according to Philip Freneau (about 1760) America was supposed to be a country of great thinkers as well as doers. Contribution to the world should come in the form of ideas. I think this actually happened, for some years. Pity they didn't manage to eventually keep up with the plan.

To me what it really means is a country of different experiments; some pan out, others not. Law enforcement, immigration policy, collective discipline, were all experienced in that one nation. What turned out to be the right decision was followed suit in other developed nations. What didn't work is harnessed as a source of criticism of America as a whole.

You could also answer this most interesting question:

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AvImURNuDCQalkSv95QqJUvsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071126044042AAXePSw

Answer 2

A mash up. A mutt. An adolescent. America is a 225+ year experiment in human behavior.

Americans have their minds full with ideas based in cultures around the world.

This whole political and philosophical experiment happened when the ideas of the Enlightenment made it to the pioneering colonies of the Western Hemisphere. These pioneers, often on the fringe of the church or debtors prison.
Many immigrated to the West - from Europe, from Africa (well not a deliberate immigration), and from the far East. There were a lot of people sharing a lot of new ideas, some common and some strange. They learned to tolerate and accept each other's differences, and live beside each other.
The Native Americans were content citizens of Gaia, and the land owned them. They, too learned to interact and relate to the New Europeans.

This is where that "America" thing begins - is learning to live beside one another, appreciate and understand each other's differences, and live in peace. Unfortunately, America (then and now) has never completely lived up to the promise. But, we cling to the hope that one day - things will be better, and that promise will be more real for the next generation.

Answer 3

Being an American and having lived in several other countries around the globe, I think America means a place where diversity is welcomed and opportunity is available for those who try their hardest. People are protected by a constitution based on the equal rights of all people; a government of the people, by the people, and for the people. From the previous responses, I know many of you will think I'm dreaming, but these are our ideals. Many Americans don't share in these ideals and they will always complain and make life miserable for others. I have worked in countries from rich to stunningly poor, and I thank God every day that I have the opportunities that I do. I am annoyed daily by things I dislike about current culture, but I can make choices for myself.

Answer 4

Let me start out by saying I'm not American but I've been to the US and I like it. Not all, of course, just globally. Anyway, what is the true America? America is the things you like and thethings you dislike, no way of separating them. I like the landscapes, a certain sense of freedom and relaxement that used to be, the variety, the music, the movie industry despite all the gobbledigook movies we get to watch, the friendliness. I dislike the politics (but I dislike them in my own country as well), the excessive anti-tobbaco laws that have spread to Europe too, some excessive and irrational nationalism and the educational problem that leads to things such as Christian fundamentalisms and creationisms that deny all reason or to the occasional mass murders. I also dislike the selfishness that makes the poor be unprotected. That's it sincerely in rather general terms.

Answer 5

I don't know what the true America is (I assume you mean the USA). Because it gives too much power to one man. If he is an idiot, then the US becomes idiotic, if he is forward thinking, fair, intelligent and young, then he gets assassinated. You cannot separate the politics from the reality, because they are intertwined too closely. The President is the US.
This is the True America, as I see it.

Answer 6

The USA is a very large country without an internal cohesive force so political unity must continually be constructed through opposition to an other, especially to a dangerous other.

Answer 7

A place where only Native Americans (Aboriginals, Red Indians etc.) leave in peace and harmony and all emigrants including all Europeans go back to where they came from.

Answer 8

I live in the USA, but I'm English. It amazes me that Americans see themselves as the best country on the planet, yet few have been out of the USA to visit other countries to compare culture etc.

I like living here, but I have reservations about the corrupt nature of the general populace. yes, most are very nice to your face, but they will turn and bite you behind your back.

Only in the States can you sell something in a yard sale for more than you can buy new in the store. I never could understand that illogicality. In general, I like the Americans, but they can be very naive about those abroad. They have a tendency to not like the influx of Latinos, but are willing to employ them over their fellow citizens, for they will work for a lot less. Hum... There is something very wrong here.

Answer 9

Question for question - and taken you mean the USA saying America: considered the 80 % of the US citizens favourable to the illegal war against Iraq in 2003, and the 52 % of them favourable last month to an illegal war against Iran, where are you situating your "true America"?

Answer 10

We are a country that has the most people behind bars then any other country in the world. China has over 1 BILLION people, yet, we still have more people in our prison. That should tell you something about our system.