American Nationalism

Nationalism and especially American nationalism are the words which people hear and read a lot after the attacks of September 11, 2001.It brought support to changes of American policy toward the rest of the world. It was not as strongly as this high lightened for the past two centuries as it is a need now to keep Americans unified. The Americans got together around their flag as a symbol of national identity. A sudden attack made posed a question about American identity that who they are really. It seems the matter of identity had been ignored for years. It contains different matters like, religion, ethnicity, language, ideology and more. The American Creed something unique and originated from the experiment they got by having different governments and this creed is not far and separated from religion even in the time of wars like Iraq war. American nationalism has always been mixed with religious colors. Its root backs to Protestant beliefs that brought Americans together as a whole and to show that they are different from their origins in Europe, specifically. The combination of nationalism and religion to be exactly the American ones was developed through history by some terrible experiences such as wars in and out of the country and it still continues.
American identity has been affected by globalization and immigration a lot. The great number of Hispanics who immigrated to the US seemed to be a problem for American identity. The existence of different religions, races, cultures and ethnicities needs a linkage for creating a certain definition of identity. Images of individuality and distinctiveness are aspects of identity which can be in the groups like societies; this togetherness enables the members to claim to be different to the ones who are not in their groups. It makes different feelings, positive or negative to others with different identities. When parts or members of different identities move together to a certain place, then how the identities are defined? The problems rise then. The languages, religions, races and cultures are different; how continues their existence? The immigrants to the US have been from different nations, cultures, social classes, etc. It changed the country to be a multicultural one and created complexities across the country, at the same time land has been a link to keep them together. They define their identities by the name of America. Any name like Mexican, Chinese or Hispanic is attached to' American'; it is beyond what their origins are. Now, it is believed that the American identity keeps them together. That is not necessarily related to the origins of those who know themselves part of the American nation. The American values are much important, so anyone who believes in American values can be American. The values move across the borders and people from different ethnicities, cultures, or religions can believe in those values. After September 11 the American flag was a center to bring the Americans together as a nation; it is a symbol of the national identity. Being under threat and feeling the country is not as immune as the past from dangers supposedly surrounding it was an important element in looking backward to think who really the Americans are. The attacks of September, 11which happened in the mainland of America that was unprecedented after what happened in Pearl Harbor; that was a big shock to the existence of the US. The major part of Anglo-Protestant culture and its political Creed of liberty and democracy faced challenges to continue as it did before.

The question of identity is what they look for a certain answer. The issues like modernization, globalization, and economic development caused people to rethink about their identities.
One important element is war which was once thought is a state maker, but it seems now it is a state breaker. Some nations like the French, the English, and Germans crystallized their national identities in the crucible of war. It does not mean that the repetition of the old experiences have the same results.