May Contain Peanuts

Geographical Hyperbole

For those of us living in the United States, we proudly consider ourselves "Americans". As a whole, we make up a wide variety of shapes, colors, attitudes and beliefs. I feel like this is an understood point. However, if you were to pose a similar statement in the context of politics, I feel the clarity of understanding disappears.

I do not doubt that those that consider themselves "Americans" have great pride in their country. I also agree that everyone living here in the U.S. has a right to call themselves an American. My issue arises when these Americans speak out to say that someone or something is not American, or 'anti-American'. What I have noticed is that this is coming up too often when discussing or debating politics and the issues. For such a 'melting pot' of histories and traditions, labeling these actions or ideas of other American people as 'anti-American' seems to be an intrinsic fallacy. What makes them un-American? Is it simply the fact that they differ from your own point of view or your own vision of what America is?

I feel like this type of reasoning is a result of what I would like to call 'geographical hyperbole'. Too often I hear the off-hand quote of 'this is America, it isn't (other foreign country)'. While this is inherently true, I don't think people realize the great totality that comprises what is America, not just their small area. It is not just your town or community. It is not just your nearest city and the accompanying suburbs. It is not just your state and your neighboring state. America is a collection of 50 states (and more territories) , thousands of cities and neighborhoods, and more than 300 million people, all of which are just as different as the next. There is no chance that there could be a collective agreement amongst all of these different pieces. There are so many different lifestyles, choices and ethics that are part of America, it is almost foolish to declare your individual situation as the benchmark for what America is. This may come as a shock, but all Americans do not speak English. Not all Americans own a house and a minivan. Not all Americans go to church and not all Americans believe organic food is best.

I also feel that this 'hyperbole' is a result of people not having experienced the rest of America outside of their comfortable home. If you have lived in the same place your whole life, how can you judge what is American? You can give your knowledge and experience to add to the pie, but you have no right to start excluding ingredients. When Americans are polled, every response is an American response. No matter how small the percentage, each response came from an American and thus is so. No one deserves to be discredited simply by majority rule.

This all may sound very idealistic and maybe even socialistic, but I say it not in a matter of policy or ethos. I say it as a matter of knowledge and consideration. Ignorance may be bliss, but it also makes you ignorant; and if you are ignorant on the base level of what makes up your own country, how can you be expected to be heard when you have a point to make about America?
It is perfectly fine to be ignorant and have whatever opinion you want in the privacy of your own home, but if you are attempting to be part of society and make decisions for what is best for that society, then please, educate yourself as to what actually encompasses that society. Your views may be shared by those immediately around you, but there are miles and miles of others beyond you that still make up the great land that is America.