Our Future Environment

The cultural national identity argument claims that Americans are united by an inherited Anglo protestant culture (Huntington, 2004). Cultural proponents do not deny that Americans share a commitment to certain principles, “liberty, equality, democracy, individualism, human rights, the rule of the law, and private property” (Huntington, 2004, 59).  For Huntington, the American creed was not born in a secular environment but is an extension of the liberal individualism and work ethic of Anglo protestant culture and new immigrants should assimilate to this traditional Anglo protestant culture. This culturalist argument claims that those who do assimilate are more likely to succeed in the social and economic realm.
Overall, to the culturalists what has tied Americans together is a common geographic fatherland and the belief that it is a worldview worth assimilating to. The culturalist view has also included the argument that any cultural influence that is rapidly changing America should be stopped. The cultural argument can be said to be flawed in two ways: defining American identity by its Anglo roots leaves no room for innovation and experimentation. Secondly, if America is rapidly changing in the present and will most likely continue to do so then pushing to adapt to the past instead of combing the past and present may not be the best policy.
The civic or creedal national identity argument states that if a shared genealogy, sense of geographic fatherland and a single set of inherited cultural traditions is stripped away what remains is the American Creed:
“I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the People, by     the People, for the People; whose just powers are derived from the consent of     the governed; A democracy in a republic, a sovereign Nation of many Sovereign     States; a perfect Union, one and inseparable; established upon those principles of     Freedom, Equality, Justice, and Humanity for which American Patriots sacrificed     their Lives and Fortunes.
I therefore believe it is my duty to my country to Love it; to Support its     Constitution; to obey its laws; to Respect its Flag; and to defend it against all     enemies.”
The American Creed does not claim that each citizen should participate in government but it does emphasize that its “just powers are derived from the consent of the governed”. This is where the role of the citizen and an encouragement to engage in public life springs.

Filed under: fostering identity on May 25th, 2008