American identity
What does it mean to be American? Part of my motivation for going to Japan was not only to learn about another culture, but to learn about myself. To find my “identity” in a country where national identity is promoted and individualism discouraged. Japan is an odd place to find out who you are.
This weekend past I had a debate with a young Japanese lady, I will call her Chika, about what it means to be American. Chika believes that if a foreigner comes to America and after adapting to American culture and having lived here for some time, that person can validly say they are American, and I agreed with her.
However, I had a hard time agreeing with another point she made. Chika believed it is fine if an immigrant hides and otherwise misleads people to the fact that they were born in America. In my opinion this is not OK, in fact it may even be un-American.
My stance wasn’t as extreme at the time but I personally find it hard to respect a person that would live in America, all the while hiding the events that brought them here. So for me this discussion really hit home. America is the home of immigrants and our differences is what makes this country great. Many Americans have emigrated here from corrupt and horrible countries, but that does not make them any less American in my eyes. If a new comer does not understand this concept, how can they contribute to the social well being of the country?
Do they truly understand the concept of America or are they only interested in the benefits of having the title “American”. I wonder how someone contributes to the social makeup of America in secrecy.
This concept is difficult for me to understand but after thinking about my experiences in Japan, I can understand why Chika easily accepts this. While living in Japan I met Koreans and Chinese that had to hide their cultural identity and backgrounds in order to blend into a society that is not very tolerant of differences. This is a country where you are not Japanese, even if you are born in the country, unless you marry a Japanese man or otherwise give up your identity by taking a Japanese name. There are many positive aspects of Japan, but diversity and tolerance for people who are different is not one.
Of course America is not perfect, but we have a process in place. This process includes explaining, debating and yes, embracing differences. Becoming involved in some small way will move this country and process forward. Hiding will only hurt it. This is why we have national debates about bilingual education, same sex marriage and equal opportunity. No where else in the world is there such an ongoing process.
Being American is not only about holding a US passport, spending a certain number of years in the country or knowing the theme songs to your favorite TV show. It is about understanding the process and being willing to contribute to it, hiding is not American. Feel free to tell people you live in America, but don’t lie and say you were born in a country you have yet to fully appreciate.
This is what I argued. Was I wrong?
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April 12th, 2005 at 10:09 pm
“Many Americans have emigrated here from corrupt and horrible countries, but that does not make them any less American in my eyes. If a new comer does not understand this concept, how can they contribute to the social well being of the country?”
I disagree with this statement because at least for me people who emigrate into the United States don’t come from currupt and horrible countries only. Yeah they choose to come to the United States but its because of opportunity to have a better future. What I think you mean is that the government of certain countries are currupt and horrible not the country itself. Anyways about the way immigrants contribute to this country isn’t always based on what they know or what they don’t know. I think that just working for this country and being loyal to what they are is enough to classify them as American. I think an American is anyone who choses to be different, once in this country you learn to adapt to life here and you broaden your mind to many topics concerning who is American or not. It’s hard to comprehend what is an American because this country has done a very good job in keeping that “culture” alive. Not to be driven by an “outsider culture” but kept in its boundaries of what is ultimately “American”. Well thank you for this article it is a way to share this phenomenon. And I hope my opinion is of help to you.