In honor of 4th of July. "It's uniquely American"

[Robinrs]

I'm going to try to articulate one of my favorite things about America and I hope that it is clear and not some weird, rambling, jumbled mess.

I love that we love to celebrate the culture of our ancestors here and it no one feels that it somehow takes away from how American we all are. For example, towns that were primarily founded by Germans might have a giant festival in October to celebrate Oktoberfest with traditional music, dancing, and food, but when the Olympics roll around, these people are still chanting "USA! USA! USA!" Families of Scottish descent might have a kilt made of their family tartan, but they still set off fireworks on the fourth of July. From where I am in Texas, I knew many first generation Americans whose family was from Mexico. They held tightly to their culture which always made ti so much fun to visit their houses, but they were never more proud when they told people that they were Americans. I absolutely love it! Because our country is so young, so many of us come from other cultures in Europe, Asian, Africa, etc. and we are able to celebrate those while still being so proud to be Americans.

 

[luvsJack]

Uh, no...

I live in a very urban part of the South. I'm sure my Dad would've known what that was or maybe I would've if I grew up here but I'm strictly a Yankee who MOVED here.

I remember Neil Boortz got mad at me because I didn't know what cow tipping was I told him "why bother a cow? He doesn't have a wallet" (stuck to the stereotype)

Now, see I know many folks from Atlanta and they all know what watermelon spitting contests, cow tipping and tobacco spitting contests are. Being from Atlanta doesn't make it any less Southern.

Being transplanted to the south may make a difference though.

 

[disney212]

Rock-n-Roll

 

[minkydog]

You live in Georgia and have never heard of a watermelon spitting contest???

If not for watermelon spitting, I would have never met my future husband.

My friends and I had been sitting on the porch outside my dorm, eating contraband watermelon and spitting the seeds. A sudden thunderstorm came up and we moved inside. About that time this really cute guy came running up to get out of the rain. He hit that watermelon-spit-slush and fell right on his butt, skidding toward the double glass doors. We opened the doors and he slid almost 15 feet into the building. And the rest is history.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Duplicate type post.

 

[Robinrs]

Now, see I know many folks from Atlanta and they all know what watermelon spitting contests, cow tipping and tobacco spitting contests are. Being from Atlanta doesn't make it any less Southern.

Being transplanted to the south may make a difference though.

Oh I'm sure my ex knows all about it and he was born here. He's about as country as Larry the Cable Guy I came to Atlanta at 31 and seriously have only met about 10 people FROM here. Nearly everyone here is from somewhere else.

 

[Robinrs]

If not for watermelon spitting, I would have never met my future husband.

My friends and I had been sitting on the porch outside my dorm, eating contraband watermelon and spitting the seeds. A sudden thunderstorm came up and we moved inside. About that time this really cute guy came running up to get out of the rain. He hit that watermelon-spit-slush and fell right on his butt, skidding toward the double glass doors. We opened the doors and he slid almost 15 feet into the building. And the rest is history.

See, I missed out on having stories like this!

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

I'm going to try to articulate one of my favorite things about America and I hope that it is clear and not some weird, rambling, jumbled mess.

I love that we love to celebrate the culture of our ancestors here and it no one feels that it somehow takes away from how American we all are. For example, towns that were primarily founded by Germans might have a giant festival in October to celebrate Oktoberfest with traditional music, dancing, and food, but when the Olympics roll around, these people are still chanting "USA! USA! USA!" Families of Scottish descent might have a kilt made of their family tartan, but they still set off fireworks on the fourth of July. From where I am in Texas, I knew many first generation Americans whose family was from Mexico. They held tightly to their culture which always made ti so much fun to visit their houses, but they were never more proud when they told people that they were Americans. I absolutely love it! Because our country is so young, so many of us come from other cultures in Europe, Asian, Africa, etc. and we are able to celebrate those while still being so proud to be Americans.

I can relate to the above post so much.

My grandfather was born in Spain, and I'm close to my cousins there.

One once told me, "You're a Spaniard living in America," and I corrected him, "No, I'm an American with Spanish ancestry."

My Spanish cousins who have visited here, tell me that they don't understand this patriotism we have because we're from all over and have come to this country. They have looked at houses with flags and asked me why we have them. They also told me that if they were to put up the Spanish flag at their house they would be egged (this is in the northern province there).

I love our country and my countrymen. Truly, I do.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I'm going to try to articulate one of my favorite things about America and I hope that it is clear and not some weird, rambling, jumbled mess.

I love that we love to celebrate the culture of our ancestors here and it no one feels that it somehow takes away from how American we all are. For example, towns that were primarily founded by Germans might have a giant festival in October to celebrate Oktoberfest with traditional music, dancing, and food, but when the Olympics roll around, these people are still chanting "USA! USA! USA!" Families of Scottish descent might have a kilt made of their family tartan, but they still set off fireworks on the fourth of July. From where I am in Texas, I knew many first generation Americans whose family was from Mexico. They held tightly to their culture which always made ti so much fun to visit their houses, but they were never more proud when they told people that they were Americans. I absolutely love it! Because our country is so young, so many of us come from other cultures in Europe, Asian, Africa, etc. and we are able to celebrate those while still being so proud to be Americans.

My grandfather came to the US from Scotland at 14 with his father. It took 2 years before they earned enough to bring my great grandmother over to join them. Grandpa was always proud of his heritage, but he was even prouder to call himself an American.

 

[CdnCarrie]

I'm going to try to articulate one of my favorite things about America and I hope that it is clear and not some weird, rambling, jumbled mess.

I love that we love to celebrate the culture of our ancestors here and it no one feels that it somehow takes away from how American we all are. For example, towns that were primarily founded by Germans might have a giant festival in October to celebrate Oktoberfest with traditional music, dancing, and food, but when the Olympics roll around, these people are still chanting "USA! USA! USA!" Families of Scottish descent might have a kilt made of their family tartan, but they still set off fireworks on the fourth of July. From where I am in Texas, I knew many first generation Americans whose family was from Mexico. They held tightly to their culture which always made ti so much fun to visit their houses, but they were never more proud when they told people that they were Americans. I absolutely love it! Because our country is so young, so many of us come from other cultures in Europe, Asian, Africa, etc. and we are able to celebrate those while still being so proud to be Americans.

That's not unique to the U.S. It describes Canada as well.

 

[keiraliz]

I'm going to try to articulate one of my favorite things about America and I hope that it is clear and not some weird, rambling, jumbled mess.

I love that we love to celebrate the culture of our ancestors here and it no one feels that it somehow takes away from how American we all are. For example, towns that were primarily founded by Germans might have a giant festival in October to celebrate Oktoberfest with traditional music, dancing, and food, but when the Olympics roll around, these people are still chanting "USA! USA! USA!" Families of Scottish descent might have a kilt made of their family tartan, but they still set off fireworks on the fourth of July. From where I am in Texas, I knew many first generation Americans whose family was from Mexico. They held tightly to their culture which always made ti so much fun to visit their houses, but they were never more proud when they told people that they were Americans. I absolutely love it! Because our country is so young, so many of us come from other cultures in Europe, Asian, Africa, etc. and we are able to celebrate those while still being so proud to be Americans.

Beautiful post! I feel the same way.

 

[portia9]

I am Australian and watermelon spitting competitions were a much loved part of my childhood.

 

[Unas]

Using the Imperial system of measurements.

I was in elementary school in the mid 80's, and were taught the metric system because we were switching soon. Yeah...

Although I think technically Commonwealth nations still use some of those measurements.

Imperial measurements include stone and hundredweight we don't and an imperial quart and gallon have more volume than the US gallon.

And for technical things and international trade, we use the metric system. What is your Zanex or Tylenol dosage? Milligrams or grains? Gemstones are sold by the metric caret. Cars are manufactured using metric fasteners and engine size is also metric.

It would be incredibly easy to make the switch to metric . . . Most of it is already completed. For most of our day to day activities, precise conversions are not necessary. Who really cares whether my car has a 13 gallon or 50 liter gas tank? What does it cost it fill it when the idiot light comes on?

 

[minnie56]

That's not unique to the U.S. It describes Canada as well.

Absolutely!!

 

[CaliBear]

Can we just have a nice America thread this week in honor of the 4th? Why are there so many contrary posts in the thread?

 

[U2_rocks!]

Can we just have a nice America thread this week in honor of the 4th? Why are there so many contrary posts in the thread?

Maybe because some of the things being touted as "uniquely" American aren't?

Sure, have threads about how great America is, list your favourite things about America etc., but if you're going to state something as fact when it isn't, expect rebuttal. This is a DIS message board after all - rebuttal is almost expected!

 

[sunshinehighway]

I wasn't going to stick my nose in but I take exception to one point here....
In actual fact when it comes to television/ movies I believe the Brits do the best productions and in fact, the USA copies many many many Brit TV shows and won't deny that.

That's all

I totally agree with you on that. Even when we make our own version of a British show it's never as good.

Would our love of peanut butter count? I've always heard it's an American thing but I don't know if that actually true.

 

[lizabu]

I totally agree with you on that. Even when we make our own version of a British show it's never as good. Would our love of peanut butter count? I've always heard it's an American thing but I don't know if that actually true.

I just read today that peanut butter was invented in Canada. Maybe Americans love it more though.

 

[sunshinehighway]

I just read today that peanut butter was invented in Canada. Maybe Americans love it more though.

Didn't know that. Thanks for the fun fact.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Monster Trucks!


Sure, they exist in other countries now, but not to the extent this St Louis invention exists within the US