What it Means to Be a Citizen of the United States of America (Part 3 of 3)

Culture 

 I don’t believe you can fully discuss the American experience without exploring its culture and customs in their many forms, and how they shape the image of Americans—who we are. I’ve heard many different responses when I try to explain what it’s like to live in my country. What defines our culture, and how does it influence our lives and behavior? Is it ethnicity, lifestyle, geographic location, employment, or something else? It’s all those factors combined, expressed in various ways across our vast geographic landscape, which stretches from Guam in the far Western Pacific to Puerto Rico in the Caribbean Sea.

From the northern Arctic frontier of Alaska to the southern tip of Texas and several Caribbean islands, our influence extends globally through a network of military bases around the world. From Australia, Africa, Japan, Korea, multiple European countries, and beyond, we’ve carried our culture and customs with us, impacting these distant places with American ideas—some initially different from theirs—that have grown more similar over time through music, clothing styles (like blue jeans and NIKE shoes), movies, and, of course, the idea of freedom.

The influence of media, movies, and music has been profound, especially today, with social media and the Internet expanding our reach even further. American influence is everywhere—it’s unavoidable. If you’ve ever flown on an airplane, chances are it was made by Boeing. My English language students in Mongolia didn’t speak much English at first, but they knew all the words of The Beatles’ classic songs. When I was in Mexico, I stopped for a haircut at a barber who didn’t speak English but was listening to all-American rock and roll. Enough.

 More thoughts – 

How do Americans feel about their lives? How do they view the freedoms they still believe they have? What are the effects of social media and the invasion of all our lives by the media, TV, and the Internet? Much of what has developed over the past 50 years wouldn’t have been possible without technology. 

The list continues to expand. Labeling parents and people of faith as terrorists and censoring free speech based on who controls the dissemination methods. Using race to suppress discussions through the media that constantly bombards us. ‘All lives matter’ is unacceptable to some, yet every opinion should be heard. Replacing traditional social norms with XYZ and threatening consequences if we don’t comply.

Facial recognition is now mandatory in nearly all banks, even my smartphone credit card links, video cameras are everywhere, medical mandates are in place, and our taxes seem wasted rather than used for their intended purposes. Unborn babies sometimes have no rights, even minutes after birth. You can’t travel without a vaccine shot, mask, or other medical test. Three-letter agencies withhold or heavily redact unclassified information, telling us nothing. There is much more—seemingly different treatment by the FBI and law enforcement, increasingly driven by political considerations, many believe.

Considering all these factors, the role of geography in our republic’s success is essential. Our relative success wouldn’t have been possible in older, more established countries with densely packed populations.

Here are a few more thoughts and a question I don’t have an answer to.

• Horrific events against humanity have taken place in our country before and will likely happen again. Remember, “the past is prologue to the future.” It makes you wonder—what could come next?
• Politicians might even justify the crucifixion of Christ, yet we keep falling for these false prophets repeatedly. They say or do nearly anything to outshine their political rivals and cling to power. Winning at any cost. Democracy can be, and often is, very chaotic.
• My question is: Will we continue to ignore our best instincts by succumbing to our most brutal impulses, such as mankind’s inhumanity to man, shown through war, violence, murder, rape, genocide, and so on? 

Conclusion

I’d like to consider an interesting quote from General Charles De Gaulle of France expressing his own thoughts about what it means to be a citizen of France –

“All my life, I have had a certain idea of France, thus inspired by sentiment as much as by reason. The emotional side of me tends to imagine France as the princess in fairy tales or the Madonna in frescoes, as dedicated to exemplary fortunes, to an exalted and exceptional destiny. Instinctively, I have the feeling that Providence has created her for complete success or exemplary fortunes. If, in spite of this, mediocrity shows in her acts and deeds, it strikes me as an absurd anomaly to be imputed to the faults of Frenchmen, not to the genius of the land. But the positive side of my mind also assures me that France is not really herself unless in the front rank, our country, as it is, surrounded by others, as they are, must aim high and hold itself straight, on pain of mortal danger. In short, to my mind, France cannot be France without greatness.”

I am reminded of a casual conversation I recently had with a U.S. citizen, a friend living overseas, who, when I asked whether they knew of a single word that could describe what it means to be an American, said, “fortunate .” Over many years of living abroad, he saw firsthand how people in other countries live and how lucky we are to be born in this great country, the United States of America, where anything is possible despite its flaws. Much like De Gaulle, if his comment about France were applied to the United States, I would share his feelings about my own country. I couldn’t have said it more eloquently.

Even with its flaws and occasional chaos in our democracy, I also feel incredibly fortunate and proud to be a citizen of the United States, just like my friend.