that everybody wants to be perceived to be American anyway? I'd have to say (not that I'm American) that the idea of conforming to some national stereotype doesn't particularly appeal to me.
2007-11-29 12:18:35 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Like this chap:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgjsaYmPc1c1KFpgjM8KFDLsy6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20071129170802AAfPqyu&show=7#profile-info-AwIFXelzaa
2007-11-29 12:25:27 · update #1
And the 41st President, George Herbert Walker Bush:
http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/scarstartframe.htm
2007-11-29 12:28:10 · update #2
It depends on your outlook of the stereotype. Since you don't live in the US, you probably have a much different view of the US than a lot of Americans do. Maybe we're all fat, or we love everything in excess, we push our beliefs and our ways onto every other country out there, or we're loud and tacky.
I have to say that, as an American myself, patriotism is very important to me. You have to understand that all of my ancestors came here looking for a better way of life during a really difficult time in their home countries. Being an American, to me, doesn't mean pigging out on fast food, invading Iraq, and everything else that the rest of the world is associating us with. To be honest, I don't agree with a lot of what our gov't chooses to do right now, I never eat fast food, and I'm not loud or tacky. But I don't mind big houses and clothes in excess...
Anyway, for me, It has to do with being a part of a big melting pot, freedom of religion, freedom of choice, democracy, having the opportunity to make your own way and become as successful as you want to be. Making the most of the opportunities that my ancestors wanted me to have. That's what I consider American and that's why being called 'Un-American' would be insulting to me.
2007-11-29 12:36:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I myself am an atheist and kind of find it funny. People are always a little uncomfortable talking to me when they found out (which is okay, I'm kinda anti-social anyway), and one of my friends is making an attempt to convert me now, though it won't happen. But I believe that people feel it's un-American because of the large amounts of christians. The problem with the situation is that people use this situation to their advantages(*cough*politicians*cough*), and I doubt anyone nowadays really is real christians. My friends believe word for word of the bible, and don't even think of the possibility that whoever wrote those parts of the bible may have used a common literary tool known as an analogy. So I definitely agree with not wanting to be part of the national stereotype, and personally, I'd like to move to france, being that our country is very power hungry. To answer your actually question, I think people want to be considered an American is a combination of things such as everyday influences(friends), the way they were raised, and ignorance. People can't try new ideals if their belief is locked to a specific religion.
2007-11-29 20:36:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My boyfriend is athiest, and I think it's a horrible misconception that atheists are 'bad people'. He's an amazing person with a great heart, he just simply doesn't believe there's a God. I'm a firm believer, and he respects that. Being atheist has nothing at all to do with being an American.
2007-11-29 20:26:17 · answer #3 · answered by Paranormal Investigator in Ohio 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
These are the same people who equate ANYONE who is not Christian with atheists. They conveniently forget that the US Constitution is a secular document and that the Treaty of Tripoli specifically states that the United States of America is NOT a Christian nation.
2007-11-29 20:29:06 · answer #4 · answered by Anne Hatzakis 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It has become the fashionable thing to say to try to force people to follow someones opinion. What is being American, having the RIGHT to freedom of speech and freedom of opinion. Amazingly there are people who use that coined term un-American when someone disagrees with them. Trying to brow beat them into changing their opinion, because nobody in America wants to be referred to as un-American. However, the people who are using the term un-American are actually the most un-American people as they are not wanting to allow anyone to have freedom of choice and freedom of speech.
2007-11-29 20:25:30 · answer #5 · answered by disturbed001500 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Un-American? In what way?
That we refuse to take part in a cult?
The only christian perspective I find ignorant is the
one that assumes that just because an atheist lives
their lives free of superstition, they are criminals who
live a daily free-for-all.
And the boring, never-ending "Hitler" reference. Yawn.
2007-11-29 20:30:55 · answer #6 · answered by wuvie 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm a citizen of the world. I don't mind if people think of me as american but I don't strive for it. In my opinion it's not an insult to be called "un american". It suggests compassion and intelligence, in my opinion, to think beyond our borders.
2007-11-29 20:24:19 · answer #7 · answered by No Chance Without Yo Mama 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Never heard anyone say that it was un-American to be anything or even not to be anything. We have enough people that supposedly want to be Americans anyway. At least I guess that is why they moved to America. If you are not or don't want to be, that's good . I will have trouble sleeping knowing that but, that's good.
2007-11-29 20:29:45 · answer #8 · answered by Ava 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Well I was in the Marines with Atheists and I know Atheists that died in Iraq so I don't think you can be anymore American than that.
Don't listen to ignorant people like that. Jesus did'nt say hateful things like some of todays Bible thumpers.
2007-11-29 20:22:52 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 11⤊ 0⤋
They are already lost for words. Just like 3-year old children during quarrels.
2007-11-29 20:26:34 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋