What's Un-American?

[Fetus4188]

We already have a thread on Anti-American, so why not un-American? What do you consider to be un-American?

I consider it to be something that is not within the normal range of American culture, politics, economics, whatever. It does not necessarily carry a negative connotation.

for example: Calling soccer football is un-American because that is not the cultural norm for Americans.

 

[Bronx Warlord]

Hmmmm... to give one example

Calling the Terrorists and Insurgents killing our Soldiers and Marines " Minutemen " or " Freedom Fighters "

 

[newfangle]

I'm Canadian. That makes me un-American I presume.

 

[ComradeDavo]

I'm Canadian. That makes me un-American I presume.

And i'm British, which also make me un-American.

 

[Bronx Warlord]

They both have a point

 

[nonconformist]

Un-American is a term used for people who do not conform with patriotism.

 

[Dr. Yoshi]

Thinking differently than the Great Plains states makes one un-American and a terrorist from my perspective.

 

[newfangle]

Un-American is a term used for people who do not conform with patriotism.

That's not clear.

Un-American refers to the set: A={ not a | a is an American attribute}

 

[Perfection]

Wouldn't it be better if it refered to to the set A={not an element of B | B is the set of all Americans}

 

[JohnRM]

un-American = non-comformist
American = conformist

 

[Keirador]

Pah. Terrorists conform quite nicely to the the edicts of their particular sect. Bush refused to conform to popular opinion (rightly or wrongly), and he is considered to represent what America is.

 

[JohnRM]

un-American

Adjective:
1. Considered contrary to the best interests of the United States

 

[Matrix]

The first thing that comes up in my mind is social security.

 

[SeleucusNicator]

I would make a distinction between "anti-American" and "un-American", with "anti-American" meaning something that is actively hostile to or contrary to the interests of the United States, and "un-American" meaning something that is not American.

You can be pro-American and un-American at the same time. Look at Poland, for instance.

 

[Winner]

Kerry-voters are un-american regarding to thinking of some radical Bush-voters, i suppose. That word is probably some kind of insult for not-so-patriotic americans.

 

[PantheraTigris2]

un-American = non-comformist
American = conformist

The last thing I am is a conformist, yet I am definitely pro-American (to put it mildly). So that theory is completely absurd.

 

[Capulet]

I believe George Bush and his 'Void the Constitution' goonies are un-American.

But that is just my opinion.

 

[King Alexander]

Eating french-fries with mayo???? Really, not all people like french-fries with mayo, so I don't know if that's un-American.

 

[Strider]

Un-American is saying your do something, and then actually do it.

 

[Alvaro da Luna]

Un-American is a term used for people who do not conform with patriotism.

Well that's somewhat self-contradictory. There are differing expressions of patriotism, which don't prove to be mutually inclusive. I can say that I wont support my government for the better of the nation... or I can say I would support my government for the better of the nation. Either arguement has a fundamental idea around its basis as to what is "unpatriotic," and hence unAmerican.

On a side note, if you want to define American-ness based on political affiliation you've completely ignored the concept of democracy, which was one of the literal founding blocks of American identity.