How do you feel about your nationality?

I’m Portuguese and I’m very proud of it. I think a few people here recognize me from always blabbering on about how greatly I think of my small country. I think we have a fantastic country, with a lot of history, incredible sights, awesome weather, great food, great people, and so on (I could literally go on for days).
The only negative thing at the moment would be our economy, and all those other financial problems.

But yeah, to sum this up I love being from Portugal and I recommend you come pay us a visit :)

I am American and it is just a fact of life to me. I am neutral about it.

I feel nothing about it.

I’m English & it makes me feel English…ish.

@bhec10 I’ve already been there. And yes, it is lovely.

Although I’m officially Dutch, I feel more European and pretty good with that.

Traveling the world and living far away from my ‘mother’s house’ have made me realize more and more how much differences we share in our European plurality and how proud we may be of our shared cultural heritage.

Born and raised in the US here. I wouldn’t describe the feeling as either patriotic or as despising it. There are aspects to be thankful for in growing up in this country, and a few that are shameful. Isn’t that the case in all countries though?

As for changing it, I’m in the process of planning a move to England. They allow dual citizenship, so choosing one or the other is not a choice that needs to be made. If that were the case, I go with the UK’s.

I feel like the one benefit of having the parents I got is that I am American and Swiss, two nationalities that have very comfortable existences. I am not “patriotic” in a sense of being blind to the political challenges these countries face and mistakes that have been made, but I generally agree with the basic democratic principles on which they were founded.

I’m British. Sometimes I think it’s boring (who hasn’t fantasised about being a more exotic nationality?! I do from time to time) but usually I don’t give it much thought.

I am an American and I love America. I have an American flag on my car.

I no longer have a clear sense of what it means to be “American”, so I can’t seem to feel one way or the other about it. Does it mean to subscribe to unbridled free-market capitalism? Does it mean to believe in social Darwinism, rugged individualism, the losers get what they deserve? Does it mean glorifying lethal power? I just can’t get behind any of that.

The version of “being American” that I can identify with is not so particular to America anymore, and I think that’s a good thing. It’s just the commitment to a society whose guiding principle is inclusion. Our history is full of violations of that principle, but when we look back on that history I think we see a halting and non-linear trend toward inclusion. We feel good about those moves we’ve made to include those who’ve been excluded, even though each step has involved a battle.

So maybe to be American is to have no particular idea of what that means, so that it’s expansive and flexible enough to accommodate more and more. That commitment to inclusion has been adopted elsewhere, and often with greater success. In that respect, many places are now more “American” than America. Good for them!

I’m American and I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I’ve traveled the world quite a bit and most places are surprisingly similar. It seems people are people where ever you go. Nonethelss, I have an affinity to the good ‘ole USA that I could never shake nor would I want to. I love my country, warts and all.

I don’t care and I don’t think about it.

I’m American, but I’m nearly half Swedish. I’ve never left the US, though, so it’s not very personal (and the Swedish ancestors I have all died when I was little). But I live in a very Swedish part of the country: Eastern Minnesota. The place where one town has a water tower shaped like a teapot. So it’s all around me, and it’s part of me. I enjoy the culture and the food, so I think I’d say I love my nationality!

I’m very proud to be a citizen of the United States of America. I wear a U.S. flag pin on my shirt every day at work. The U.S.A. is by far the greatest nation on Earth. I’ve been to England, Hungary, Rumania, Australia, New Caledonia, Canada, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and Taiwan. Those are nice countries to visit but I’m so glad that I don’t live in any of them.

I am a genealogist, so I know my background is Bohemian, English, French Canadian, Scottish, Irish and German. They all came to my country so long ago I never knew any relative with even an accent of a foreign land.
I am an American, and I am very proud of it.

I’m ashamed of my country. I hate the fact that I almost feel like I need to apologize to people when I’m in their country when they ask me where I’m from. Or for a while being told when traveling abroad just pretend you’re Canadian so people won’t harass you. I hate our “culture” and the whole way of doing things in this country(gov, school, consumerism etc). Growing up I always had a feeling I wasn’t meant to live in the US and would constantly get the whole propaganda bs of “greatest country on the earth” and “you can’t say you don’t like the US if you’ve never been elsewhere. Believe me, you’re lucky to live in the US” Yea well now having traveled I can say for sure this isn’t the “greatest country on earth” and I can not wait to leave…

I am American. While I am do not take any kind of pride in being from the US, I do feel fortunate to have been born here. The truth is that my problems are pretty much “first world” problems and that can pretty much be attributed to my nationality.

I am ashamed of many of the decisions made by my government and by the behavior of many who govern. I am ashamed that while we all pretend the power is with the people it truly lies with the wealthiest, most powerful 2%. So no, I take no pride in being from the United States of America.

For the record, I don’t take much pride in my Irish, Polish, French, or Scottish heritage. If I had a closer connection to any of these I might. Since the idea of being some specific nationality is so vague and abstract to me, I am unable to feel anything but apathy.

YES, @SuperMouse!!! Except for the heritage part (mine is Russian/German), my answer is the same as yours, word for word!

It took several trips abroad—China, Germany and England (three times)—to make me realize how fortunate I consider myelf to be living in the USA.

I was born in France, but I haven’t been there since I was six, when my family moved to Canada. they forgot to forget me, suckers
So legally I’m Canadian now. I’m not patriotic about either where I’m from or where I currently live, and don’t really care about that kind of stuff. But I will say that I appreciate very much living in a free country. Our prime minister sucks though.

I identify more with California than I do with America as a whole. I take pride in being Californian and my Slavic heritage. I don’t care much about being American, though. I don’t have negative feelings about it; I just don’t really care.

American and patriotic. I travelled but haven’t lived elsewhere. Our history is interesting.

I think it’s great that the government allows me to put Native American artist on my work, which seems to make it more valuable than just using my name.

American and not sorry about it in the least. Yes, there are things that I wince about, there are things I hate, and yes I have contemplated leaving. However, I don’t think I ever will. There is something about America. The geography and people are varied and always good to get to know. I’m not going to start with the propaganda B.S. because it is all in your perspective. There are a lot of misconceptions about the US out there and I hope people slowly realize it. We have a problem with the silent majority and the screaming minorities. I truly believe that America is a great country (maybe that’s because I have almost always lived in New England) and that it will someday become the country it really wants to be. I may not be alive for that day, nor my children, but I believe we will get there someday, one step at a time.

For the purpose of the question, I will answer that I am British, as my birth certificate suggests. However, normally if people ask me what my nationality is, I will respond that I don’t have one.

I dislike the idea of nationality, and if I could, I would officially make it so that I have no nationality of any kind. I don’t like the idea of being owned by any government.

I don’t collaborate with or obey any government, and despite having a birth certificate, I refuse to recognize it, as I suspect birth certificates are a form of proof of ownership. No one owns me.

I feel fine, thank you.

I’m a citizen of Earth. My nationality is no better or no worse than anyone else’s. I’m sometimes embarrassed by my government, and sometimes proud. I just enjoy the ride with all you other peeps and love the diversity. We all bring something to the table of life. (Wow, waxing poetic tonight.)

I am proudly American and Australian. Both countries have their problems but when you take the inhabitants of either country one at a time, they are mostly good, generous, thoughtful etc. people. There is no such thing as a perfect country when you discussing how a country is run, they all have draw backs. But I have never traveled anywhere that I would rather live than the USA or oz.

I have dual nationality. British and Australian. One doesn’t cancel out the other. Like @Rooey, I am proud and love both countries. If asked, I would probably say I’m a Brit but that’s because I sound British and that’s where I grew up and many of my attitudes and values were formed. It would also seem odd to say “I am Australian” when I am so obviously a pom! However, I’m also very Australian in many ways. I don’t love my adopted country or its people any less than my birth country. If the poms were playing the Aussies at Rugby, I could support either side or neither. Given I’m married to an Aussie, I’m more likely to go for the poms, purely to be a pain in the arse!

Im Aussie and English. Im proud to be both. I have a lot of connection with my English family and I do identify as english a lot of the time. But I’m also an Aussie and with that love my land and where I live. This is my favourite Aussie singing about nationality , if you have the time have a look at it he’s brilliant.

Although Australia is a young nation and has a lot to learn she spends too much time sucking up to the big boys and needs to take a leaf out of NZ book and stand up for herself.
Our aboriginal history is superior than the white colonialism and our land is part of Gondwana very ancient very stable. Australia is very diverse demographically and geographically.

I am ashamed of many things about this country in particular the way we treat refugees as criminals and the resistance to marriage equality to name two. Our brothers next door New Zealand are much better at dealing with issues than we are and live in a spectacular part of the world. We are about to go into a national election and will most likely have a change of govt. this is our next prime minister cringe a very unfortunate photo but he does that a lot. Despite saying we are a proud multicultural nation (and We are to a degree) many Australians are xenophobes and rather parochial. those of us who have travelled broaden our horizons and return home for the most better well rounded people with a greater appreciation for what we have here.

When my family emigrated to Australia we were 10 pound Poms and had the choice of S Africa Canada or Australia. we came to Australia as my mum had family here, but I often wonder what my life would be like if we choose one of the other destinations.

When I was travelling my NZ friends kept saying “ooo this is just like home!! every where we went in Europe, from the fjords to the alps and everywhere in between. It wasn’t until a few years ago I went to NZ I understood what they meant, the place is magic.

I hear you sister on “I am ashamed of many things about this country in particular the way we treat refugees as criminals and the resistance to marriage equality to name two.” and the thought of Tony Abbott as PM is too scary. I agree that’s where we’re going though.

I don’t feel that my nationality as an American makes me superior, nor do I feel that my nation’s political, economical or culteral ideas make my country necessarily better than that of other countries.

You could ask whether there are things that anger me about my government or many Americans themselves and I’d say yes. However there is not one single other country out there that I know of that doesn’t have something about it that doesn’t anger me. All in all I could never see myself living anywhere else.

I’m proud to be an American, and used to describe myself as very patriotic, but in the last few years I don’t know exactly what that means anymore. When I was young I was raised in a family gratefull for the religious freedom we enjoyed in the USA. We felt safe. America was rather unique in the world at its beginnings; an interesting project of immigrants and power to the people. Over time things have evolved and sometimes the country seems to be drifting away from its ideals. But, I still feel in my heart America is supposed to be, and still primarily is, a place of opportunity and freedom. Not only was I raised in a family that did not take America for granted, but many of my friends were immigrants themselves or had parents or grandparents who came here from other countries. All the people around me were thrilled to be in America; none of them took it for granted.

One thing that has changed was when I was young I felt like America was one of the only countries like America. A place where people were educated and prosperous and equal (not perfectly equal, bit that is a different Q). But, as I get older I see there are many countries now that are modern and people live a good life and possibly are surpassing America in some ways in terms of people living well, safely, and having opportunity.

Interesting that growing up in the northeast the diversity all around me reinforced patriotism and then when I lived in the south where many of the people had basically no recognition or attachment to the old country felt very patriotic to America because they had been here so many generations.

I grew up in and still live in New Zealand. I feel neither pride nor shame in this country but I will definitely say I am very pleased and feel incredibly privileged to be living here.

I am American, and I love America. It’s got it’s issues, but I love the founding principles of America.

I’m Canadian, born and raised. I’ve only been to the USA twice, via stop overs, to and from Guatemala.

As for pride, I used to be proud of my country for its place in the world. It’s hard to keep that pride when American companies are taking over…um…everything. And when we have such a horrible weasel of a Prime Minister. These reasons are why I have seriously contemplated moving to another country. Or even just another province, like BC (more NDP there). I’m in Alberta, which is very conservative/right wing.

I guess I take some pride in how Canadians are generally perceived by the rest of the planet (or were). I have had a Canadian flag displayed outside my home since I had my first place. I don’t think we are the greatest country in the world. I find it hard to believe any country can claim that.

I’m not proud of certain aspects of Canada’s history. All countries have their skeletons. I do count myself lucky to have been born here though.

As for my ancestry, I’m mainly a mix of Irish, Scottish and English. I do not have any real experience with those though. However, I’d certainly love to gain some experience…to learn more about the nationalities of my ancestry.

@Plucky I hate that our companies have incentives to operate elsewhere. Obama says he’s changing that.

@KNOWITALL I blame our government mostly. They make it hard for Canadian companies to compete with American ones. This results in ours being bought out by your big companies. Most recently… Zellers bought out by Target, Teaopia bought out by Teavana, Rona is having a hard time competing with Home Depot and now Lowes. Those are just the most recent ones I can think of at the moment. Then there are the ones that destroy everything in their wake…like Wal-mart. I’m not even going to go there, lol.

I’m all for having variety but I really dislike being bought out by someone bigger/richer just because they can.

America better not touch our Tim Hortons!

Tim Horton’s forever motherfuckers.

@Plucky I get it, I refuse to shop Wal-mart and have since 2007. All we can do is refuse to buy from those kinds of companies but too many people are unwilling to deny themselves the convenience and lower prices. Sad.

Maybe some people who are working hard to keep food on the table are happy to be able to buy inexpensively at Wal-Mart. Judging these people without knowing the why is unfair and well, judgemental!

@rooeytoo And I support their right to do so, but I will not participate.

@rooeytoo I’m not judging the people. I judge the company. Yes, it can be really affordable for people. I get that. But, at what cost? Why can’t we have affordable stores/products in a way that benefits humanity and the environment? Wal-Mart is exploitation in every way. They exploit their workers and their customers. All to make dollar. Capitalism at its finest.

@Plucky It’s hard because most people don’t think globally or even about what’s best for our country. How hard is it to look for a Made In America label? It’s the apathy that bothers me.

I was born and raised in the US, and feel proud of who I am, and of my heritage. My grandparents (Irish on my mom’s side and Slovene on my dad’s) came over in the late 1800’s, and found the opportunity to raise large families that developed into even larger clans. I can proudly wear the “Made in US” label.

As for my feelings about the US, sure, there are many things that are wrong, the corporations are trying to run roughshod over the political landscape, the politics are dirty, the foreign relations are less than honest, and nobody can decide whether to fix the economy or use it for political gain, but I think these problems would be universal in any other free society.

@KNOWITALL You’re right, it’s not hard to look for the “Made in USA” label, but it is getting more and more difficult to find it. I would prefer to purchase something produced locally, in a locally owned store, but except for produce, it’s becoming more and more difficult. Even “organically” raised meats have label markings like “Product of US and/or Canada and/or Mexico and/or Japan”.

@Yetanotheruser Exactly, it’s ridiculous. All of it.