This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2014/jul/04/american-expats-fourth-of-july-abroad
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| 'I am not a gun-toting, flag-waving, red-blooded American but a world citizen': US expats on the Fourth of July abroad | 'I am not a gun-toting, flag-waving, red-blooded American but a world citizen': US expats on the Fourth of July abroad |
| (2 months later) | |
| The Fourth of July – a day to drink a beer, grill a burger and light a sparkler for the Land of the Free. Right? Alas, to far-flung Americans who have declared their own independence, the question of whether and how to celebrate their homeland's liberty and justice is not so easily answered for all. | The Fourth of July – a day to drink a beer, grill a burger and light a sparkler for the Land of the Free. Right? Alas, to far-flung Americans who have declared their own independence, the question of whether and how to celebrate their homeland's liberty and justice is not so easily answered for all. |
| We asked American expats from around the world how they've chosen to celebrate the national holiday, whether the out-of-country experience has changed their feelings, and how non-Americans react to their patriotism – or lack thereof. Their responses were at once skeptical and wistful, but many came back to the same remembrance: America sure does celebrate itself with unparalleled zeal ... on its own birthday, no less. | We asked American expats from around the world how they've chosen to celebrate the national holiday, whether the out-of-country experience has changed their feelings, and how non-Americans react to their patriotism – or lack thereof. Their responses were at once skeptical and wistful, but many came back to the same remembrance: America sure does celebrate itself with unparalleled zeal ... on its own birthday, no less. |
| In the Netherlands: a 'love exile' no more, an American always | In the Netherlands: a 'love exile' no more, an American always |
| Each Fourth of July barbecue, I can never escape the question: "What do you celebrate, exactly?" I have my stock answer: to celebrate freedom and liberty, and to enjoy some good BBQ with friends. What's funny is that I left the US because I didn't have the freedom to marry my now-Dutch husband of 10 years. I'm what is considered a Love Exile, one of thousands of LGBT Americans who moved abroad to countries where those laws do exist. Now that Doma has been struck down, this marks the first year I can celebrate my true freedom and liberty as a gay American. This hasn't changed my patriotism for America or love of country, though. Just like my parents needed time to come around after I came out, I expected the US to eventually come around for the millions of Americans coming out for their freedom. –David N Torres, Sluis | Each Fourth of July barbecue, I can never escape the question: "What do you celebrate, exactly?" I have my stock answer: to celebrate freedom and liberty, and to enjoy some good BBQ with friends. What's funny is that I left the US because I didn't have the freedom to marry my now-Dutch husband of 10 years. I'm what is considered a Love Exile, one of thousands of LGBT Americans who moved abroad to countries where those laws do exist. Now that Doma has been struck down, this marks the first year I can celebrate my true freedom and liberty as a gay American. This hasn't changed my patriotism for America or love of country, though. Just like my parents needed time to come around after I came out, I expected the US to eventually come around for the millions of Americans coming out for their freedom. –David N Torres, Sluis |
| In New Zealand: ideas of national pride are 'just ... different' | In New Zealand: ideas of national pride are 'just ... different' |
| Last year my husband (a Kiwi) and I (an American) BBQ'd on our Weber grill and set off fireworks, just as if we'd been in America. But generally, New Zealanders do not seem to understand patriotism the way Americans celebrate it. To me, patriotism is being very proud of one's country – getting dressed up in red, white and blue or saying the Pledge of Allegiance is nothing strange. But I have never seen my husband (or anyone in New Zealand) celebrate patriotism with outward pride, like dress up in a flag and proudly point out that he's a New Zealander. Americans seem to "celebrate" a bit better, while Kiwis ten to "relax" a bit better. We have parades to celebrate America and being American; we have huge firework displays that everyone goes to; we have massive parties that entire towns attend. Yanks look at America differently than Kiwis look at New Zealand. It's not better or worse – just ... different. –Meagan Wairama, Auckland | Last year my husband (a Kiwi) and I (an American) BBQ'd on our Weber grill and set off fireworks, just as if we'd been in America. But generally, New Zealanders do not seem to understand patriotism the way Americans celebrate it. To me, patriotism is being very proud of one's country – getting dressed up in red, white and blue or saying the Pledge of Allegiance is nothing strange. But I have never seen my husband (or anyone in New Zealand) celebrate patriotism with outward pride, like dress up in a flag and proudly point out that he's a New Zealander. Americans seem to "celebrate" a bit better, while Kiwis ten to "relax" a bit better. We have parades to celebrate America and being American; we have huge firework displays that everyone goes to; we have massive parties that entire towns attend. Yanks look at America differently than Kiwis look at New Zealand. It's not better or worse – just ... different. –Meagan Wairama, Auckland |
| In England: 'it's all tongue-in-cheek over here' | In England: 'it's all tongue-in-cheek over here' |
| I usually celebrate Independence Day by playing the national anthem first thing in the morning ... through my computer speakers at work! I then refuse to drink tea for a day in support of the Boston Tea Party. This year, however, I will be celebrating by marrying an English girl on the Fourth! What better way to keep up foreign relations? | I usually celebrate Independence Day by playing the national anthem first thing in the morning ... through my computer speakers at work! I then refuse to drink tea for a day in support of the Boston Tea Party. This year, however, I will be celebrating by marrying an English girl on the Fourth! What better way to keep up foreign relations? |
| It's all tongue-in-cheek over here. I jest about our war for independence, and the English try to tell me certain words aren't spelled with a "zed". All in good fun! –Kevin Hall, London | It's all tongue-in-cheek over here. I jest about our war for independence, and the English try to tell me certain words aren't spelled with a "zed". All in good fun! –Kevin Hall, London |
| In order to respect the British fine art of understatement, I normally only wave a tiny American flag at work when colleagues mention the holiday to me on the day. Then I go eat burgers with my token expat friends. It has to be done. Most of my non-American friends and family here treat my nationality as a light-hearted aside. I am often teased as being from 'The Colonies' by my father-in-law. People here just want to know where I'm from and why would I choose to live here in rainy and cold London, when I could live somewhere like New York or Los Angeles. –Lindsay Faller, London | In order to respect the British fine art of understatement, I normally only wave a tiny American flag at work when colleagues mention the holiday to me on the day. Then I go eat burgers with my token expat friends. It has to be done. Most of my non-American friends and family here treat my nationality as a light-hearted aside. I am often teased as being from 'The Colonies' by my father-in-law. People here just want to know where I'm from and why would I choose to live here in rainy and cold London, when I could live somewhere like New York or Los Angeles. –Lindsay Faller, London |
| I spent the formative years of my childhood in the US. But the Fourth of July was a non-event for us – I literally have no memories of it. Even if American society can be very exclusive in so many ways – it doesn't always celebrate difference or non-conformity at its conservative core – these holidays help immigrants and old Americans feel emotionally tied to and invested in a cultural identity forged by immigration. –Sinead Galvin, London | I spent the formative years of my childhood in the US. But the Fourth of July was a non-event for us – I literally have no memories of it. Even if American society can be very exclusive in so many ways – it doesn't always celebrate difference or non-conformity at its conservative core – these holidays help immigrants and old Americans feel emotionally tied to and invested in a cultural identity forged by immigration. –Sinead Galvin, London |
| In Germany: a patriotic attitude is 'rather unwanted' | In Germany: a patriotic attitude is 'rather unwanted' |
| I have chosen not to celebrate this year. I must admit, it is simply not the same without the fireworks and the family members I've left in California. In addition, the overall patriotic attitude seems rather unwanted here given the recent NSA debacle. In Germany, many people seem to have an opinion on the USA, and I have spent past holidays arguing with people about America rather than celebrating. I try to urge people to know what we as citizens can and can't do to change our image in the world. | I have chosen not to celebrate this year. I must admit, it is simply not the same without the fireworks and the family members I've left in California. In addition, the overall patriotic attitude seems rather unwanted here given the recent NSA debacle. In Germany, many people seem to have an opinion on the USA, and I have spent past holidays arguing with people about America rather than celebrating. I try to urge people to know what we as citizens can and can't do to change our image in the world. |
| I think more about this holiday than ever. I am an African-American, and the Founding Fathers did not extend this notion of freedom to my ancestors. I have started to have mixed feelings about why I should be celebrating something that was not meant to truly benefit me. –Kimberly Butler, Berlin | I think more about this holiday than ever. I am an African-American, and the Founding Fathers did not extend this notion of freedom to my ancestors. I have started to have mixed feelings about why I should be celebrating something that was not meant to truly benefit me. –Kimberly Butler, Berlin |
| In Italy: substituting America for the good life and fries for ... fries | In Italy: substituting America for the good life and fries for ... fries |
| All expats are like heat-seeking missiles – we tend to find our likeness wherever we land. For the Fourth, we usually gather like heathens around whatever BBQ-looking device we can find and grill anything we can get our hands on. Living in Italy, where the food is part of la dolce vita, I have substituted hot dogs for salciccia, steak for bistecca fiorentina and fries for, well, fries. | All expats are like heat-seeking missiles – we tend to find our likeness wherever we land. For the Fourth, we usually gather like heathens around whatever BBQ-looking device we can find and grill anything we can get our hands on. Living in Italy, where the food is part of la dolce vita, I have substituted hot dogs for salciccia, steak for bistecca fiorentina and fries for, well, fries. |
| I am not a god-fearing, gun-toting, flag-waving, red-blooded American but a world citizen, and always have been. For myself, holidays such as Fourth of July and Thanksgiving are always celebrated for what they mean to me: a time for friends and family to share a wonderful meal and a beautiful moment in time together. | I am not a god-fearing, gun-toting, flag-waving, red-blooded American but a world citizen, and always have been. For myself, holidays such as Fourth of July and Thanksgiving are always celebrated for what they mean to me: a time for friends and family to share a wonderful meal and a beautiful moment in time together. |
| Italy is a place you come for redemption of sorts, where sins of the past are washed away. Most questions asked are about wages, cost of living, if we can cook anything but hamburgers and why I would leave Los Angeles to live in this messed-up place. I just tell them how lucky they are to have a quality of life, and that's why I chose to be here instead of there. –Lynn Cole, Italy | Italy is a place you come for redemption of sorts, where sins of the past are washed away. Most questions asked are about wages, cost of living, if we can cook anything but hamburgers and why I would leave Los Angeles to live in this messed-up place. I just tell them how lucky they are to have a quality of life, and that's why I chose to be here instead of there. –Lynn Cole, Italy |
| In Mexico: 'is it true everyone has guns?' | In Mexico: 'is it true everyone has guns?' |
| We've been in three different countries on the Fourth. In a couple of them, there was absolutely no recognition of the holiday. In Mexico, it depends where you are. It's a bit odd to see another country's interpretation of how you might celebrate in the US. When we were in Australia, July is winter, so a BBQ wasn't practical at all, and they didn't have watermelon, berries or other things we would normally eat. Made it feel even more weird! | |
| I think most of the non-Americans we've come across have been surprised that I'm not jingoistic. I'll readily recognise the things that are wonderful about my country and its culture as well as the things that I feel could be greatly improved. And the main question we usually get asked is, "Is it true everyone has guns?" –Talon Windwalker, Playa del Carmen | I think most of the non-Americans we've come across have been surprised that I'm not jingoistic. I'll readily recognise the things that are wonderful about my country and its culture as well as the things that I feel could be greatly improved. And the main question we usually get asked is, "Is it true everyone has guns?" –Talon Windwalker, Playa del Carmen |
| In the United Arab Emirates: unsettled by 'blind patriotism' | In the United Arab Emirates: unsettled by 'blind patriotism' |
| I did celebrate the Fourth of July once, while living London. I must admit, I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of it all as we donned our red bandanas and downed cheap beer out of red Solo cups while listening to Bruce Springsteen in the middle of Hyde Park. | I did celebrate the Fourth of July once, while living London. I must admit, I couldn't help but laugh at the irony of it all as we donned our red bandanas and downed cheap beer out of red Solo cups while listening to Bruce Springsteen in the middle of Hyde Park. |
| Before leaving the US, I was certainly convinced that every country had an Independence Day that they, too, celebrated with such ferocity. But it wasn't until I left that I realised this isn't the norm everywhere else. Now, I look at the holiday with a bit more scepticism. I am grateful for the country I grew up in and the freedoms I was allotted; however, there is something slightly unsettling about this blind patriotism that seems to follow along with holidays like the Fourth. | Before leaving the US, I was certainly convinced that every country had an Independence Day that they, too, celebrated with such ferocity. But it wasn't until I left that I realised this isn't the norm everywhere else. Now, I look at the holiday with a bit more scepticism. I am grateful for the country I grew up in and the freedoms I was allotted; however, there is something slightly unsettling about this blind patriotism that seems to follow along with holidays like the Fourth. |
| The most common questions I get are typically to do with guns ("Do you feel safe walking down the streets?"), life in an American high school ("So, is it really like what's shown in films?") and whether I'm from the "Tony Sporano or Snooki" part of New Jersey. –Ashley Lane, Dubai | The most common questions I get are typically to do with guns ("Do you feel safe walking down the streets?"), life in an American high school ("So, is it really like what's shown in films?") and whether I'm from the "Tony Sporano or Snooki" part of New Jersey. –Ashley Lane, Dubai |
| • From the other side: Emma Brockes on the funhouse mirror of Independence Day as a British expat in America | • From the other side: Emma Brockes on the funhouse mirror of Independence Day as a British expat in America |