Comments on: How I Made Peace With My American Identity http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/23/how-i-made-peace-with-my-american-identity/ Online travel magazine dedicated to exploring travel in the 21st century. Offering travel news, compelling interviews, online travel tools, and more. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 04:14:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Liz http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/23/how-i-made-peace-with-my-american-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-80776 Liz Mon, 05 Jan 2009 03:58:20 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=540#comment-80776 Love this conversation. Can anyone recommend a book that deals with similar American-abroad self-identity? Thank you! Love this conversation. Can anyone recommend a book that deals with similar American-abroad self-identity? Thank you!

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]]> By: Rebecca http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/23/how-i-made-peace-with-my-american-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-62744 Rebecca Tue, 29 Apr 2008 14:24:26 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=540#comment-62744 Great article! In August 2007, I went to Edinburgh, Scotland (third time to UK) for the International Fringe Festival. It was a blast! I stayed in a hostel and met people from Spain, Germany, Japan, Australia, England, and Los Angeles. The people from L.A. were not personable at all. The were the epitome of the "ignorant and rude" American stereotype. Great! When they left, everyone in the room was happy; this includes myself. I found myself apologizing for their behavior. I immediately stopped this once I realized that I can only control my behavior. I am not responsible for other peoples behaviors. Unfortunately, the actions of other Americans tends to make people "lump" all Americans into one category. I've learned to be who I am when I travel. Yes, I am an American. However, I know that I am neither ignorant nor rude. I actually read up on my travel destination and look forward to meeting and conversing with people. I love art and culture, and I cannot wait until my next adventure! Great article! In August 2007, I went to Edinburgh, Scotland (third time to UK) for the International Fringe Festival. It was a blast! I stayed in a hostel and met people from Spain, Germany, Japan, Australia, England, and Los Angeles. The people from L.A. were not personable at all. The were the epitome of the “ignorant and rude” American stereotype. Great! When they left, everyone in the room was happy; this includes myself. I found myself apologizing for their behavior. I immediately stopped this once I realized that I can only control my behavior. I am not responsible for other peoples behaviors. Unfortunately, the actions of other Americans tends to make people “lump” all Americans into one category.

I’ve learned to be who I am when I travel. Yes, I am an American. However, I know that I am neither ignorant nor rude. I actually read up on my travel destination and look forward to meeting and conversing with people. I love art and culture, and I cannot wait until my next adventure!

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]]> By: Rosanne http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/23/how-i-made-peace-with-my-american-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-62347 Rosanne Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:00:34 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=540#comment-62347 I cannot speak to what makes an American an American since I am Canadian, but your reference to my nationality made me think of how I expect to be perceived when I travel. I assume that we are considered nice and polite and everyone likes us. We have reputation of being peacemakers. I do not consciously behave in ways that live up to that reputation, but I am aware of it and so far have not disgraced it. Your article made me realize that it's fairly easy to do since the image is positive and how it might a sight more difficult to live down a negative one. This should be the end of my comment, but I have a twist to this. I am also First Nations and have faced all the conflicts of identity as well as the negativity that comes with it within my own country. The only way I have found to deal with it is show two faces. Within my own country I do not flaunt my heritage (this is easy since I do not physically resemble the stereotypical "Indian") but I freely 'admit' to who I am outside of it. If that isn't a sad commentary on my own country I don't know what is. To the point....or not I have met many, many Americans and some of my very good friends are from places like Alaska and Texas. I have to admit (with some chagrin) to thinking the "loud" reputation might be deserved a time or two. I should know better as one who can only find acceptance by showing two faces. My sincere apologies about that and I'm not just being nice! I cannot speak to what makes an American an American since I am Canadian, but your reference to my nationality made me think of how I expect to be perceived when I travel. I assume that we are considered nice and polite and everyone likes us. We have reputation of being peacemakers.

I do not consciously behave in ways that live up to that reputation, but I am aware of it and so far have not disgraced it. Your article made me realize that it’s fairly easy to do since the image is positive and how it might a sight more difficult to live down a negative one.

This should be the end of my comment, but I have a twist to this.

I am also First Nations and have faced all the conflicts of identity as well as the negativity that comes with it within my own country. The only way I have found to deal with it is show two faces. Within my own country I do not flaunt my heritage (this is easy since I do not physically resemble the stereotypical “Indian”) but I freely ‘admit’ to who I am outside of it. If that isn’t a sad commentary on my own country I don’t know what is.

To the point….or not

I have met many, many Americans and some of my very good friends are from places like Alaska and Texas. I have to admit (with some chagrin) to thinking the “loud” reputation might be deserved a time or two. I should know better as one who can only find acceptance by showing two faces. My sincere apologies about that and I’m not just being nice!

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]]> By: Russ Rogers http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/23/how-i-made-peace-with-my-american-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-62344 Russ Rogers Fri, 25 Apr 2008 18:11:04 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=540#comment-62344 I agree with your sentiments. And to a large degree, I have to agree with the perceptions of your Irish friends. If you take an example from Muslims and the perception of them in the US after the WTC tragedy, you can understand how points of view can be skewed. For instance, from my experience, I have never met a mad, angry, disgruntled, or violent Muslim. Ever. Period. But the point of view of most "non-traveled" Americans after 9/11 was a sheer fear of them. It was a generalized understanding based on the actions of a VERY small minority of a group of people. Americans are perceived in much the same way. We have the same issues any other group has. There are loud, obnoxious, uneducated, and ignorant citizens in the US that put forward a bad face for our country. We're not all like that. But the only way ANY person, in ANY country, will ever truly understand this is by traveling around the world, meeting people, and learning. First person experience and knowledge about other races, cultures, and nations is the only cure for suspicion, fear, and ignorance. Just my .02 cents. I agree with your sentiments. And to a large degree, I have to agree with the perceptions of your Irish friends. If you take an example from Muslims and the perception of them in the US after the WTC tragedy, you can understand how points of view can be skewed. For instance, from my experience, I have never met a mad, angry, disgruntled, or violent Muslim. Ever. Period. But the point of view of most “non-traveled” Americans after 9/11 was a sheer fear of them. It was a generalized understanding based on the actions of a VERY small minority of a group of people. Americans are perceived in much the same way. We have the same issues any other group has. There are loud, obnoxious, uneducated, and ignorant citizens in the US that put forward a bad face for our country. We’re not all like that. But the only way ANY person, in ANY country, will ever truly understand this is by traveling around the world, meeting people, and learning.

First person experience and knowledge about other races, cultures, and nations is the only cure for suspicion, fear, and ignorance.

Just my .02 cents.

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]]> By: Daniel Harbecke http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/23/how-i-made-peace-with-my-american-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-62332 Daniel Harbecke Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:29:29 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=540#comment-62332 Hi, all - Thank you for the kind words. Eva, no woman no cry. =) You know the lyrics: "Eva, ting's gonna be all right..." (Maybe Bob's really saying "everything," but that's not quite as funny.) Rachel, thanks for writing this. The comments come when someone writes a piece that catches them just right - you did a nice job relating the awkwardness of seeing your country through other's eyes. Americans love to feel bad about themselves, but it gets depressing if you don't remedy it without feeling like you're BSing yourself. Your article points to a good-sized Elephant in the Room - that's a first step. Thank you. Turner - what an awesome name you've got! - I've got a quote for you to compliment your lines of thought: "'My country, right or wrong,' is a thing that no patriot would think of saying. It is like saying, 'My mother, drunk or sober.'" - G. K. Chesterton, from "The Defendant." (You're not from Austin, are you? Great place, I hear....) Lola - just after 9/11, all flights to the States were cancelled for a few days. American travelers were stuck in a strange limbo with no way to go home. When French papers declared that "Today We Are All Americans," those of us abroad felt much more at ease for being with people who grieved with us. At home, with all that was going on, folks didn't all feel that as keenly as we did. Regrettably. I hope you and other non-Americans understand that all your goodwill was never forgotten nor brushed aside - not by all of us. For all those who didn't hear it, there were many more who did. THANK YOU. If that hasn't been said before, it truly should have. Hi, all -

Thank you for the kind words. Eva, no woman no cry. =) You know the lyrics: “Eva, ting’s gonna be all right…” (Maybe Bob’s really saying “everything,” but that’s not quite as funny.)

Rachel, thanks for writing this. The comments come when someone writes a piece that catches them just right – you did a nice job relating the awkwardness of seeing your country through other’s eyes. Americans love to feel bad about themselves, but it gets depressing if you don’t remedy it without feeling like you’re BSing yourself. Your article points to a good-sized Elephant in the Room – that’s a first step. Thank you.

Turner – what an awesome name you’ve got! – I’ve got a quote for you to compliment your lines of thought: “‘My country, right or wrong,’ is a thing that no patriot would think of saying. It is like saying, ‘My mother, drunk or sober.’” – G. K. Chesterton, from “The Defendant.” (You’re not from Austin, are you? Great place, I hear….)

Lola – just after 9/11, all flights to the States were cancelled for a few days. American travelers were stuck in a strange limbo with no way to go home. When French papers declared that “Today We Are All Americans,” those of us abroad felt much more at ease for being with people who grieved with us. At home, with all that was going on, folks didn’t all feel that as keenly as we did. Regrettably. I hope you and other non-Americans understand that all your goodwill was never forgotten nor brushed aside – not by all of us. For all those who didn’t hear it, there were many more who did. THANK YOU. If that hasn’t been said before, it truly should have.

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]]> By: Turner Wright http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/23/how-i-made-peace-with-my-american-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-62324 Turner Wright Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:11:13 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=540#comment-62324 Going back to Eva's comments as well... A wise traveler never despises his own country, but I think he's perfectly justified in hating the press. Going back to Eva’s comments as well…

A wise traveler never despises his own country, but I think he’s perfectly justified in hating the press.

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]]> By: Lola Akinmade http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/23/how-i-made-peace-with-my-american-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-62292 Lola Akinmade Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:48:31 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=540#comment-62292 Just to chime in.... Daniel, your story struck a compelling chord even amongst us non-Americans. One of my favorite quotes goes: "A wise traveler never despises his own country.” - Carlo Goldoni Rachel - Nice Article! Just to chime in….

Daniel, your story struck a compelling chord even amongst us non-Americans.

One of my favorite quotes goes:

“A wise traveler never despises his own country.” – Carlo Goldoni

Rachel – Nice Article!

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]]> By: Rachel Friedman http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/23/how-i-made-peace-with-my-american-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-62220 Rachel Friedman Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:55:29 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=540#comment-62220 Dan, I have to join the chorus of impressed "wows" here--really compelling comments. They make me want to think more deeply about the differences between nationality, ideology, and plain old personality. The conversations that get going on this site after each article is posted are so insightful. I'm just totally entranced by them. Dan, I have to join the chorus of impressed “wows” here–really compelling comments. They make me want to think more deeply about the differences between nationality, ideology, and plain old personality. The conversations that get going on this site after each article is posted are so insightful. I’m just totally entranced by them.

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]]> By: Ian MacKenzie http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/23/how-i-made-peace-with-my-american-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-62219 Ian MacKenzie Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:48:11 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=540#comment-62219 Wow, Dan, great story. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us. Having spent much of the last 6 months in the US (longer than I've ever spent there) I came to respect the "mythology" upon which America was born. The belief that you can come from nothing and earn your place in society - the belief that you can 'roll up your sleeves' and get hard things - and the clear distinction between right and wrong. Of course, as the past 8 years has shown, that mythology can be abused by those in power to sway a population that wants so badly to believe their leaders can't be wrong. But once the truth is revealed, and it will eventually, hell hath no fury like an American scorned. Wow, Dan, great story. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us.

Having spent much of the last 6 months in the US (longer than I’ve ever spent there) I came to respect the “mythology” upon which America was born. The belief that you can come from nothing and earn your place in society – the belief that you can ‘roll up your sleeves’ and get hard things – and the clear distinction between right and wrong.

Of course, as the past 8 years has shown, that mythology can be abused by those in power to sway a population that wants so badly to believe their leaders can’t be wrong. But once the truth is revealed, and it will eventually, hell hath no fury like an American scorned.

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]]> By: Tim Patterson http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2008/04/23/how-i-made-peace-with-my-american-identity/comment-page-1/#comment-62217 Tim Patterson Thu, 24 Apr 2008 16:25:36 +0000 http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/?p=540#comment-62217 Beautiful Daniel, just beautifully said. Beautiful Daniel, just beautifully said.

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