Snip
I think here it helps to separate a man from his country. To be "American" is different from "America" the state.
"America" conjures the vision of flag-waving white Yankees, the power of the American industry, it's rolling fields and plains. At least, that what it means to me. So when Trump says he's going to bring that back, he's hoping to bring back that idyllic state of Liberty. It's honestly a good slogan.
But, to be American... It's hard to say just what that means. An American is industrious? No, they are fat lazy slobs apparently. Americans are just? No, they just meddle in the affairs of international politics. Are they attuned to technology? No, most people struggle to just turn on their Iphones. Are we white? No, we've got a blob of different people. Everyone is different. Everyone is special.
So what is an American?
It's a fill in the blank that changes on your mood.
-Snap-
Indeed. To be multicultural and accepting is important, but there has to
be an underlying identity for any acceptance to happen. We have to have our house in order, or at least, in a phase of stable flux. But because we don't share any identity, we don't trust one another as well as we should. Because we don't trust each other, we don't feel socially responsible for one another. That's a big, big problem.
-Snop-
Aye. But at least when you say Canadian, it tends to conjure positive motifs. Maple syrup, apologizing, general friendliness; all that is good eh? Hockey being the sole sport in existence tends to help as well I imagine. There may be some storms to weather up north... But I don't think it will be nearly so bad.