What is an American Socialist

[MKS]

Can an American Socialist (living in the U.S.) be patriotic? Or is it automatic to reliquinsh your identiy as an American while claiming Socialist beliefs?

More importantly how can one define an American, in a nation with no clear cultural identity.

In my opinion America is not a nation, but simply a land mass inhabiated by consumers and producers mostly consumers. America is not a nation its a brand name.

[cantillon]

A good socialist should not claim allegiance to any nation. A nation is a tool of the elite to oppress my brothern! It is not natural to divide the world by arbitrary lines. Down with the system! Down with prices! Up with Cantillon!

[More Fire for the People]

The socialist should not show concern for his nation but all of his fellow working men.

[JC1]

Americans are diverse cultural roup , but a common one one i think . American Popular Is diverse BUT cohessive , and there is a common psycology reflected by culture . Americans share a landmass and have a common language . America is Cohessive economicly awell. HOwever there are oppressed nations in america . The American natinol Qestion has 4 component parts 1: First Nations 2: The Immigrant Natinolaties 3: Purto Rico 4: The Jewish nation .

[More Fire for the People]

America has a Jewish nation?
And the nation is a concept of the ruling class to divide the working class, no communist should advocate the existance of another state without reason.
Also, how are the Jews oppressed in America?

[Clarksist]

Originally posted by [email protected] 18 2005, 04:39 AM
More importantly how can one define an American, in a nation with no clear cultural identity.

In my opinion America is not a nation, but simply a land mass inhabiated by consumers and producers mostly consumers. America is not a nation its a brand name.
I don't think that race or creed defines ones nationality. I think that patriotism is the idea that you believe in the country and would fight for its well being.

A socialist in America could love the idea of "freedom" in America. Also he may fight for its well being because he would be fighting for the people in America, not so much the state.

Short answer: kinda.

[workersunity]

I am a socialist, Im not an American, I am a human being, I dont fight for my government, I fight for the workers of the world

[Sukhe-Bator]

I am an American, I love my country, yet I am also a socialist who does not believe my countrymen deserve any special privilege over the people of other nations. Its culture has positive and negative aspects, like the culture of any other nation. I appreciate the government's advocation of racial harmony, but despise the racial hatred lying beneath. I appreciate the democratic nature of American politics, but am displeased by the closed two-party system. I appreciate the relatively great deal of rights afforded to workers (compared to average world conditions), but realize that some other countries treat their workers better, and I fear that the conservative trend in politics will end up dismantling the welfare state. In contrast to the opulence of some Americans stands the absolute destitution of others. In contrast to the small number of rich, the large number of poor; to the small number of large employers, the huge number of workers. In contrast to the anti-imperialist stance of the Revolution lies the ugly face of American imperialism. In contrast to America's democracy at home lies her tyranny abroad.

An American Socialist does not have to reject everything about America (as some infantile "socialists" do); he can appreciate things like multiculturalism and democracy, which are totally in line with his socialist beliefs.

[Enragé]

A true socialist does not take into account the nationality of everyone. A true socialist merely works for the best interest of the working class. This does not mean however you have to think your country is the worst there is, it means its not an issue whether it is or not.

[TC]

I think the thing with US, is that like the Soviet Union, 'its a young state built not around a historical nation like the French government is a 'nation'-state over the historic nation of France...but rather with both the US and CCCP the state *defines* the nation in terms of its ideology. To that extent i don't think you can be a communist American patriot or a liberal capitalist Soviet patriot, the way one could perhaps be a communist Spanish patriot or a liberal capitalist Spanish patriot (but, not a pro-French Spanish patriot that wants to see Spain ruled from Paris, that would go against how the notion of the Spanish nation is defined as Communism goes against the way the American "nation" is defined).

[bezdomni]

I am an American Socialist. I am more proud to be a socialist than I am to be an American. As socailists, we don't believe in petty nationalism and foolish patriotism, but worldwide worker liberation. We didn't choose to be Americans, it is therefore foolish to be proud of such a thing. We did, on the other hand, make a conscious decision to be socialists, and therefore we can feel proud of it.

I seem to recall a certain book that said "Workers of the world, unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains!"

Hence, it doesn't say workers of America/Prussia/England..etc

[Matthew The Great]

The only race that matters is the human race.

We must stop drawing these arbitrary lines around our selves.