A long-weekend patriotic survey of our readers: What do most Americans do that most other people do not?

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Saturday, July 2. 2016

A long-weekend patriotic survey of our readers: What do most Americans do that most other people do not?

It's not the old thing about the Constitution and history and all that. My survey is about what individuals, citizens, do that are far less common in other lands. This survey was stimulated by Z-man's thoughts about citizenship in The Case of the Citizen Truly Stated.

He makes good points, but I think the main one is that a nation needs some tribal aspects to function as any sort of unity. To be a nation, there has to be a common Code.

I'll start it off:

- Americans have bake sales to raise money for their kids' schools

- Americans start businesses, fail, and try another one

- Americans start charities for people who died of rare diseases and have bike rides and runs to raise money

- Americans love to support their high school sports teams just for the fun of it

- Americans have millions of clubs and churches, and join them and work at them

- Enjoy many firearm sports

- Americans are ashamed to receive charity, and ashamed when they do not contribute to their community in positive ways.

- Bitch about government constantly

What's on your list?

Posted by The Barrister in The Culture, "Culture," Pop Culture and Recreation at 13:18 | Comments (20) | Trackbacks (0)

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In my reading Americans are peculiarly patriotic when compared to most countries. To them having a feast day to celebrate the Constitution, the Founding Fathers is something they would not consider for themselves.

#1 lovejoy on 2016-07-02 14:00 (Reply)

We recognize that we are the first people in the history of man to have a government of the people. Up the rebels.

#1.1 Jack Walter on 2016-07-02 21:00 (Reply)

Americans are no longer ashamed to accept charity as evidenced by the huge numbers of families on welfare for generations and individuals on it for their entire life. Immigrants quickly learn to get on the dole and learn how to beat the system.

Years ago, Americans did not want charity, but now that is not true.

#2 Dave on 2016-07-02 14:02 (Reply)

We create awesome things to entertain like monster truck rallies, crash car derbies, lawn mower races and NASCAR.

We create new sports like snowboarding, mountain biking, frisbee golf, and spartan races.

Our kids have lemonade stands in the summer and shovel walks in the winter to make cash and learn the value of hard work.

#3 MissT on 2016-07-02 14:37 (Reply)

Americans especially like to signal principled patriotism through the juxtaposition of girlie pics and allusions to God. I guess it's cultural. Probably keeps undesirables perplexed.

#4 Ten on 2016-07-02 14:55 (Reply)

Get any bile on you?

#4.1 SweetPea on 2016-07-02 15:42 (Reply)

Well, see, of the previous two comments, yours and mine, yours is the presumptive one. Mine is merely factual and speculative, and asks for informed input from members of the ilk. Pics of somebody else's scantily clad daughters in point of fact can be a staple of God-fearing rightist lifestyle blogs. Simple observation.

Get any on you?

#4.1.1 Ten on 2016-07-02 16:15 (Reply)

Hey, Ten. I'm worried you done got us figgered out.

#4.1.1.1 Bird Dog on 2016-07-02 16:47 (Reply)

Quite the opposite...

#4.1.1.1.1 Ten on 2016-07-02 18:03 (Reply)

Nope, definitely bile.

#4.1.1.2 Texan99 on 2016-07-02 19:57 (Reply)

That's what you raise 'em to be down there, Tex? I ask because I wouldn't know.

#4.1.1.2.1 Ten on 2016-07-02 20:25 (Reply)

The post really had nothing to do with promoting God. I think it shows you don't understand the eclectic mix here on Maggie's Farm. All the contributors bring something different. Some patriotism, some God... and some mild cheesecake. Not sure why the snarky comment. Just makes you look like a self-righteous prig.

#4.2 Bradley on 2016-07-04 01:40 (Reply)

You're offended. One mustn't question the singular talent responsible for both extremes - if you'd care to compare signatures - or risk being labeled a spoilsport carrying on in bad faith. Is that about it?

Prig, I mean?

For the sake of sport I'll accept being what around here is apparently thought a self-righteous irritant, but I don't really see how any of this is pointlessly precise conformity, fussiness about trivialities, or an exaggerated propriety when, had you asked, I was really just trying to genuinely see how it all fits together, this generous scope of expression and liberal extension of what more than a few in such a community would themselves find at least a little contradictory if not downright improper.

I genuinely don't know how girlie pics fit with religion. Never have.

#4.2.1 Ten on 2016-07-04 02:02 (Reply)

"I genuinely don't know how girlie pics fit with religion. Never have." I totally agree that pictures intended to incite lust are incompatible with traditional Christianity (I'm assuming this is the religion you are talking about). Yet you still miss the point. This site has multiple authors with multiple views. Are you saying that any site that has posts on God can't also have, by separate posters, cheesecake? So here is the answer you keep asking and I have answered. They don't have to be "compatible" just because they are on the same site. Oh, and yes, prig is the right word.

#4.2.1.1 Bradley on 2016-07-04 10:24 (Reply)

I'd add that Americans are an independent and adventurous lot. Their ancestors are the ones who left the home country for "independence" and infrequently looked back. They don't like to be told what to do (real Americans at least), and as MissT said, love creating and being innovative.

#5 Mark on 2016-07-02 15:28 (Reply)

If it wasn't for other people's scantily clad daughters, none of us would be here. You should really give them more credit.

#6 talnik on 2016-07-02 18:10 (Reply)

"I am apt to believe that it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated, as the day of deliverance, by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward, forevermore." Mr. Adams to Mrs. Adams.

#7 Jack Walter on 2016-07-02 21:01 (Reply)

Our church has saved for and recently received an almost life sized marble statue of St Michael the Archangel, Patron saint of military & all first responders. It's being dedicated on July 4th at the Independence Day service, and all the police and firemen in town are invited to come and be thanked for their service with a reception afterwards (Food!!).

I'd consider this a typically American thing to do - church and state relying on each other with hospitality mixed in.

#8 Susan Lee on 2016-07-02 21:10 (Reply)

It may be a Canadian tradition, but I'd add "potluck dinners" to that list.

#9 Frances on 2016-07-03 00:54 (Reply)

Give hundreds of thousands of our sons and daughters to die for the freedoms of others, and ask nothing in return.

#10 Honordads (Link) on 2016-07-03 13:12 (Reply)

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Saturday, July 2. 2016

A long-weekend patriotic survey of our readers: What do most Americans do that most other people do not?