2024-09-15T21-20-11Z

The speaker discusses their feelings of American identity. They feel most American before watching the Olympics and during unifying events like prom and post 9/11. However, they feel least American when hearing Donald Trump speak and when disagreeing with America's international policies. They also mention experiencing stereotypes about Americans while traveling abroad, such as being seen as sports-watching and Big Mac-eating. The speaker feels a stronger American sense when in Washington, D.C. due to its proximity to the government, compared to feeling less connected in Los Angeles. of an American identity. I like to think that we have, again, that idea of anything is possible in terms of possibility. It's not how I would hope an American identity could be, but that's an optimistic view. Yeah. And you keep bringing up this idea of American pride and putting up pride in America, so that leads me to my next question. When do you feel most American? Oh, definitely, like I said, before watching the Olympics, is when I feel the most, like, U.S.A. I'm, like, very excited and, like, supportive. Honestly, they honestly made this, like, such a, like, unifying experience across different sectors of people. I was with a group of my, like, high school friends in the center and all of our families, and when we went to prom and we were on our trips together, we were, like, everyone would sit down and watch whatever was showing. I was, like, the, you know, broadcaster at that time, and I felt, like, excited and proud and, like, rooting for, like, America, like, during the Olympics because, like, like, I can't give a lie. I think right after watching the Democrats in Princeton, I felt, like, pretty excited about, like, the prospect of having, like, Kamala Harris as president. Like, I felt really excited. I'm, like, proud to be an American now, but, again, that's not representing a hundred percent of Americans use them. But, like, in that moment, I was, like, when they did the speech roll call, and each day, like, had a song, and it's their representative, and it was their, like, delegates, like, that. I was, like, wow, look at this, like, cross-section of all these different people. I guess they're united, obviously, in our political beliefs, but, like, we have every, again, like, like, background, age, like, really gender, like, so many different viewpoints, and, like, that felt very, like, oh, this is, like, the best part of America to me. So, yeah. And then, just kind of going off that, when do you feel least American? I feel, like, when we think about that, when I feel least American, I think I have felt aspects of, like, shame for our country, and I think that makes me less proud to be an American. I think hearing Donald Trump speak a lot makes me not feel proud of America, or the idea of making America great again. I think America is great right now, and that, like, really breaks my heart at the idea of, like, his vision of when America was great was a time when, like, I wouldn't have been able to vote. You know, none of the students I was with would have had equal rights. Like, that seems terrible to me, and I think those are moments when I'm, like, not proud to be American. I think in times when, you know, looking at aspects of, like, what is America funding internationally, what policies are we supporting internationally, things that I don't personally agree with, I think that makes me feel not as proud to be an American. And I also just remembered a time I do feel proud, and I think it's also a tragic time to feel proud. I think, like, unifying tragic events. Like, I remember feeling very American, like, post 9-11, like, all over the country. That was a time, like, I felt like everyone was really united together. And I think just, you know, I felt like last week, like, we won. My husband and I, like, watched, like, a special on it, and, like, the American, like, the anniversary and the footage and seeing that, and that really was a time where it was, like, I think the shock, like, the shock and trauma of what happened collectively, like, brought people together in a way where, like, I would never want anything like that to happen again. And it was, like, one of the times in my life where I distinctly remember being, like, excited to have an American flag. Like, that was a thing, like, people felt proud of that. And it was just, like, a time where people I, like, shook would be the best way to describe, like, it shook the confidence in our country, I think, as a rally across our new lives. I just, as a country, it felt like people were suddenly, like, very united behind, like, this cause of, like, we have to protect America and our freedom. And that was, like, a time when I remember feeling, like, both proud and also afraid and unsure. But I think those would be, like, times in my life when I remember, like, feeling those ways. So, yeah, the not proud is when, like, you know, there are things that America is a leader in, and there are things that they're not proud of. And that makes me not as excited. When I traveled internationally, like, I studied abroad in Australia, and I was told all the time, tell everyone you're Canadian, because then you won't be told you're a dumb American. And I've been told that multiple times when I've traveled to different international countries. It's like, oh, as a person who's a Canadian, don't be American. And I've never felt the need to, like, hide my Americanness. That's a privilege I have is that, like, I felt comfortable and confident I could say, I'm American and not face any major backlash, but it is something that, like, I saw internationally. There's this, like, kind of sense that you might not want to tell everyone you're American, and that was hard to show proud. And it was something that I felt like it was warned by many other people not to disclose. Yeah. And then I was actually going to ask you what have you learned about America from your travels across the world, but you kind of answered that. Yeah, I think the first thing is, like, yeah, a lot of there is, you know, this perception, like, in Australia of something like, oh, it's dumb American. Like, no, it's not. And I think, you know, there's times we lean into that, and there's times that I'm like, this isn't what America is, but the, like, sports-watching, Big Mac-eating, crazy stereotype. Like, I definitely, like, saw people who had asked that or seen that or, like, it was so funny. In Australia, when I was getting ready, I'd be, like, walking to a bar, and I knew there were, like, Americans there. They would immediately say, like, we told Alabama. Like, that's what I saw. And then I think other – I saw at least the other country, like, Australia, like, that didn't perceive it as American. They would be like, oh, Leonard Skinner, America. I was like, oh, my gosh, I'm not from Alabama. What is this? It was, like, just that assumption. They're like, this is what it's like. And another thing I've seen when I've been in different, like, just foreign travels in general, America is New York City, Disney World, Las Vegas, and California. They do the Grand Canyon. But that's, like, kind of what people think of as America. It's, like, really interesting to see that. Another thing that I just had, I grew up right outside of Washington, D.C. And I felt like my childhood going to D.C., going to the bonnets, going to museums. And I felt, like, a stronger American sense. And it also might have been just because I was younger. But sometimes I think, too, like, whenever I'm in Maryland or closer to D.C., I feel, like, more of a sense of, like, understanding, like, the United States. I would call it even more, like, maybe a spelling bug, I would say. But the proximity to, like, where everything was taking place in the government, I feel that more when I'm closer, like, in D.C. I feel more connected, I guess, to our, like, government and political process. And it's, like, I feel more, like, quote, American. Then I feel when I'm in Los Angeles. I don't know if it's because Los Angeles is still, like, a more international city than Washington, D.C. does. Or just being, like, so far away from where everything is happening. And so, like, I have mostly growing up, like, if you lived where, like, most likely someone in your family was working for the federal government, or you knew someone who, like, was working for some aspect of, like, some state department or some, like, you know, like, I don't know, there were all sorts of, like, people's jobs. My dad worked for, like, the voice of America. Like, there was a lot of people whose families, like, had direct ties to, like, our federal government. And then, obviously, less so here in California. It would be, like, in Cal, like, in L.A. growing up. You probably knew somebody who might be, like, in L.A. who had to stay in the Phoenix, maybe. Yeah. In the Phoenix. Someone who was connected to, like, the, like, federal government. Yeah. And so I think being near there, it feels a little more disconnected to me. You're, like, oh, that's something that, like, the East Coast happens. It's a silly way to maybe think of it. But it is something, I think. So. Yeah. Yeah. Yes. Thank you so much. That was all my questions. Is it? Okay. Yes. That was easy. Don't just do that. Yes. Thank you so much. Yeah.