[Brother Jonathan]

I don’t think that I’m able to seriously answer those questions — as there are over 290 million of us, there are probably well over 200 million different answers to each of those questions. (I’ll avoid giving a citizenship-type definition of “American”.) Perhaps if you have more specific questions in mind, I might be able to offer more specific answers?<br /> <br /> Please note that I reserve the right to insult myself or to make jokes at my own expense. <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/razz.gif' alt='Razz'>

[Jesse]

Hmm, you want more specific? I'll try.<br /> <br /> - How does being an american affect you in your daily life, as compared to being from some other country? <br /> <br /> - if you had to explain what the difference is between american and canadian *citizens* (not governments), how would you describe the american? <br /> <br /> And yes, I would definitely appreciate not hearing the ra-ra answers that would be expected on a citizenship application. <br /> <br /> Mostly I am curious if other people can define what it means to be a citizen in another country, and if it is just Canada that has trouble defining the national character.

[Brother Jonathan]

In my daily life, the main effect that comes from being American is the relative ease of being able to work legally in the States as compared to non-Americans. If a non-American lived in my village legally, had a job legally or a steady (not necessarily large) supply of greenbacks, a basic understanding of English, and could drive here legally, there would be little difference between our daily lives. (Or were you after a more philosophical comparison?)<br /> <br /> If I had to generalise between the average American citizen and the average Canadian citizen, I’d say that the primary distinguishing feature was described by Lao Tzu 2,500 years ago — “the farther one travels, the less one knows”. The American is surer in his beliefs because he hasn’t had as much exposure to other ways as the Canadian has; being surer in his beliefs, he is more willing to act upon his beliefs, and less likely to consider all of the possible consequences of his acts. Thus, he might see the Canadian as either introspective (in a positive light) or indecisive (in a negative light). Similarly, the Canadian might see the American as either self-assured (in a positive light) or foolhardy (in a negative light). I’m sure that other people here can come up with more colourful adjectives… <img align=absmiddle src='images/smilies/smile.gif' alt='Smile'><br /> <br /> What do you see as the largest distinction between the typical Canadian and the typical American?<br />

[Dr Caleb]

[QUOTE BY= Brother Jonathan]<br /> What do you see as the largest distinction between the typical Canadian and the typical American?<br /> [/QUOTE]<br /> <br /> I 'll give you one example. I have a friend that grew up in Edmonton and Montreal and now works in Texas.<br /> <br /> When I turn on the evening news, I see the local, national, international news. When he turns on the news, he sees the local news, sports, weather, a story about a local boy killed in Iraq, a story on Iraq, another story on Iraq, and more on Iraq.<br /> <br /> With some Americans, it's "My country, right or wrong". We Canadians just don't understand that yet. But we do tend to see the larger picture. I think that's our biggest difference.

[Perturbed]

America I think, from what I've seen is an older country with more of a sense of self, despite what you see in their media.<br /> <br /> They also have balls politically.

[gaulois]

My main experience with Americans is that their business environment is so bloody competitive if not plain nuts. They seem to have been programmed to believe that this environment is normal and that is why they can live the American dream. It would explain how they vote, what is "culture" to them and generally how they see the world. They are however having to start to deal with some of the rots that they have themselves created. Very similar in many ways to the excess of the old Soviet regime. Their "identity" is up for a rough ride and they will have to reincarnate themselves. This will be very painful to even watch and I would stay clear of this here in Canada: i.e. no "deep" integration. It makes me think of Amway: the only way for them to survive is to expand the network until somebody checks the books. There goes the identity for some serious shock therapy.

[The Saint]

I've thought about this before and I cannot fully define an American identity. But neither can I define French identity, or a British identity, or an Australian identity without resorting to stereotypes. It seems that modern, pluralistic societies, like Canada, are hard to define because its people cannot be so easily stereotyped even though multi-culturalism thrives on it (which is one reason why I am opposed to it). National myths may arise but this only provides a common ground for all to share.

[Chicago]

<br /> <br /> For me, being an American is hard to define. But in general, I think it means to be free and brave.<br /> <br /> Most Americans, myself included, have several ancestors of different ethnic groups. So like Mexico has evolved a Mestizo ethic, America has its own Mutt-ethic.<br /> <br /> I used to work with this hysterical waitress who once said she was a little bit <br /> <br /> English, a little bit Cherokee, a little bit Dutch, <br /> <br /> A little bit German and a little bit Polish, but not too much.<br /> <br />