Is it important to you to be American/Turkish/Egyptian/British/whatever ?
I'm trying not to jump to conclusions about what you mean by this phrase. Is it important to me PERSONALLY? Yes - I think the culture that we grow up in leaves in indelible imprint on us. So in that sense it's "important."
I also think that if you have disdain for the country you live in, you should either roll your shirtsleeves up and try to fix it in a positive way - in other words, start with your own corner of the world and try to make it a better place - or leave. Don't just sit around ******** and moaning and doing nothing to improve the situation.
Finally, I do NOT think the country we are from makes any difference at all when it comes to human dignity, the sacredness of human life, or the level of respect we should have for each other. I also think it should have no bearing on our sense of self worth. I believe we are all made in the image of God.
What does it mean to be American/Turkish/Egyptian/British/whatever ?
I've traveled and lived in many parts of the world, and I consider myself pretty lucky. These experiences have created in me an even greater respect for other cultures, and a deep curiosity in those cultures as well. But my travels have also reinforced for me that I personally prefer my permanent residence to be in the US.
My future daughter in law is here for the next two weeks. She is from South Korea and has never been to the US before. She is literally awe-struck, and is very excited about eventually moving here. In Korea, her family is upper middle class - her father manages a large distribution department for the US commissaries in South Korea. She's college educated, bilingual, and has a good job. She lives an affluent life by South Korean standards. But the US, simply put, blows her mind.
We spent the day yesterday in Fort Worth down at the stockyards. She was surrounded by Tex Mex culture. It was so fun to see things through her eyes - in fact, her visit has reinforced my pride in my country and our Texas heritage.
We also went to Koreatown in Dallas yesterday and hit up the Korean markets for groceries. She was so cute shopping and it was so much fun watching her slip into her own culture, talking a mile a minute with the clerks, taking charge of the grocery cart, and very carefully choosing all the ingredients, reading labels and minutely inspecting the meats and produce. I know that this was refreshing to her and a welcome break from a constant barrage of American culture.
Today my future daughter in law is going to cook up a huge Korean meal for us, and we're all really looking forward to it. She has really, really been excited about showcasing her Korean heritage. We've also enjoyed introducing her to Texas style steaks, fajitas, and Sonic - and livestock, the huge Texas sky, the pledge of allegiance and national anthem at the rodeo yesterday, and the wide open spaces in our beautiful country. And there is nothing much adorable than a petite, mischievous Korean girl dressed in tights, boots, a peacoat and a big cowboy hat!
The point I am trying to make is that it's OK to be proud of where you live and where you're from - as long as you balance that with respect for others.
