A survey, "French guy tries to understand Americans", and my answers. in The Big, Blue, House. Year two.

French guy tries to understand Americans
This survey is non academic or marketing related, just a personal project.
Don’t hesitate to go into as much detail as possible.

You are free to not answer questions/delve into specific topics if you wish, in which case feel free to specify why you are not responding.
Sign in to Google to save your progress. Learn more
Would you be open to the information provided being used in a project at later point?
Yes
No

Provide whatever basic information about yourself (ideally without doxxing) you feel is relevant to know:
In terms of being American, I've lived in several Midwestern and Southern states, and I'm a democrat.

What does it mean to be American to you?
To live in the United States and embrace its culture. One of the better aspects of the US is that anyone who acts American is accepted as such. Speak reasonably fluent American English, eat burgers, celebrate the same holidays as everyone else, and hopefully vote, and you're American. This truly is a "melting pot" country.

How important is being American to your identity?
I'm not *proud* of being American, but I couldn't fit in anywhere else, so I guess it's pretty important. I hate the way our government and politics have been going since Trump, but I was born and raised here, so this is who I am, unfortunately.

Do you feel there is a singular American culture or experience?
Not really. There are a lot of things that are common for *most* Americans, but there are a LOT of different cultures here.

What is an American family?
Any group of two or more people who live together, love each other, and consider themselves a family.

How do you perceive the US?
As a deeply divided dumpster fire, that was ONCE a really nice place, and has the potential to hopefully be again.

How do you think other countries perceive the US?
A gun ridden, ultra-violent hellscape.

How do you perceive other countries?
As probably better than here, to varying degrees. Norway looks amazing. Canada seems pretty sweet. China and Russia look like different flavors of the US. I hear France doesn't live up to the hype, but at least it's not full of idiots shooting each other for no reason.

How long has your family been in the US? How does that impact your relationship with the country?
My mother's ancestors came over on the Mayflower, and my Father came from Irish sharecroppers. So I'm entrenched here.

What state do you live in? What role does it play in your identity?
I'm in Ohio. So I'm a Buckeye. I'm supposed to hate Michigan, so screw you, Michigan! I don't know why. It's some stupid sports rivalry thing.

Have you ever left your state, or been interested in leaving it? Why or why not?
I've lived in several states. It's a diverse country, why not see some of it? We moved to Ohio because property is cheap, and politically it's a lot better than Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, or West Virginia. We bought a 5 bedroom house for $37,000. I'd leave if we could ever afford to live in California, Washington, or Oregon. They're the best places to live, and the most expensive. Ohio is the best that we can afford.

Do you feel your state is rather insular, or more open to other states? What relationship do you have with other states?
Ohio is part of the Midwest. It's not insular at all.

Would you consider the state that you live in as diverse? Is there healthy discourse within it?
It's very diverse, yes. There is a large Arab community in the northern cities, approximately 20%-50% of the population of the inner cities is black, and there are a lot of Mexican immigrants. Indians, (as in from India, not Native Americans), are less common, but there are many operating small businesses here. It's always exciting for me to meet someone fresh from another country. Sadly, I've met several refugees, driving taxis.

In the cities, I think the "discourse is healthy". The cities are predominantly Democrat. In the rural areas, it's more republican/conservative, and there are more racists and Trump supporters.

Do you feel that the institutions within your state are robust, representative, and fair? Why or why not?
Oh hell no! They're trying their best to outlaw all abortions!

Are there grievances you have towards your state that you wouldn’t have towards other states?
What I just said. Women's rights are seriously threatened.

How invested and knowledgeable are you vis-a-vis the American political system?
I'm fairly invested. I always vote. I'm not as knowledgeable as I should be. I always vote Democrat. They're the "good guys".

Do you feel that American politics is in a healthy state? Why or why not?
Hell no. We have two parties, and one has turned into stereotypical evil, and is threatening to take over.

Do you identify yourself with one political party? Why or why not?
Democrat. Because I'm not a xenophobic christian fundamentalist.

How functional is discourse between political parties?
It's non-existent, as far as I can tell.

Do your opinions generally match those of your peers?
Some. I unfriended and blocked several people I had considered friends because they supported Trump. I only associate with other decent people.

Do you feel like you are capable of being friends with someone who does not share your views?
If by "views" you mean someone who votes republican, no. I depend on Medicaid and SSI to survive. I'm disabled. They want to take away my health care, my income, and my food. So no, we cannot be friends.

How do you feel about the last few election cycles?
It's been a nightmare.

What kind of media and content do you consume?
I read the news on Reddit. That's it. I do not trust our media, it's all skewed.

Do you follow the news? Through what means?
Reddit. And I sometimes watch John Oliver.

Do you trust the news cycle?
No. Under Reagan, the "fairness doctrine" was repealed. It kept the news fair and unbiased. Now it's all flavors of propaganda.

Is there media / content you feel is universal to all Americans? If so, why?
No. Rebulicans and democrats follow their own, equally biased, sources.

Do you feel like discourse on divisive topics is functional within the US?
No.

How do race and being American interplay?
If you're not white and christian, and you live in a conservative/republican state, you are constantly in danger.

How do you feel race is framed in America? Do you feel that the topic has been well handled? Do you feel that it is currently an issue in the US?
Black people, (and to a lesser extent Mexican immigrants), are political bargaining chips. Democrats give them concessions to get votes, and republicans take away their rights to get votes. The democratic/liberal media portrays them as victims, the republican/conservative media portrays them as criminals. Saying that this is a "racist" country is true, but an oversimplification.

How do sexual orientation and being American interplay?
Same as with being black, but worse. I have a gay friend who moved from Florida to Maryland last month, out of fear for his personal safety.

How do you feel sexual orientation is framed in America? Do you feel that the topic has been well handled? Do you feel that it is currently an issue in the US?
The republican/conservative media is pushing the idea that the LGBTQ community is full of child molesters, and putting gay people at real risk of harm. Hell no it's not being well handled.

How do gender and being American interplay?
In liberal/democrat states, it's fine being gay or trans or just a woman. In conservative/republican states, it's dangerous.

How do you feel gender is framed in America? Do you feel that the topic has been well handled? Do you feel that it is currently an issue in the US?
See above. This country is divided in TWO. Basically the southern half is one country, and the northern half is another. The civil war kind of never ended, only now it's a media and political war. If you live in the south, you better be a WHITE CHRISTIAN.

How do religion and being American interplay?
Same as above. The "Bible Belt", the SOUTH, that is Texas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, Alabama, Virginia, Florida: They are VERY Christian, Conservative, Republican states.

I was personally fired from three jobs when we tried to move to Kentucky years ago, because I wouldn't go to church.

The rest of the country isn't like that. The West Coast states, California, Washing, and Oregon, and the least religious, and the best places to live.

Where we live, in Ohio, and the Midwest in general, is sort of in between. It's not great, but it's a LOT better than the south!

**This map shows it rather well: https://imgur.com/gallery/UYvu2 <----**

How do you feel religion is framed in America? Do you feel that the topic has been well handled? Do you feel that it is currently an issue in the US?
Please see my last answer.

US gun culture is widely criticized by non Americans. Do you feel these criticisms are valid? Can you understand these criticisms with no guns?
Absolutely they're valid. The sad reality at this point is that you almost *need* a gun for self defense, because absolutely everyone else has one.

How does the welfare state work within the US? Are there any specific areas which overreach? Are there areas which need to be strengthened?
It varies GREATLY by state. Ohio has PIPP, a program that sets our gas and electricity at 6% of our income each. No other state does that. Colorado has a LOT of nice programs, California, Washing, and Oregon are well known as the best places to go if you're poor, that's why all of the homeless people in the country flock there.

Do you feel the US educational system works as it should?
Hell no. Southern states have defunded schools so no good teachers want to work there, and they teach creationism!

When you compare the US to other developed nations, are there elements that you feel you could benefit from? Anything we could benefit from?
Honestly? I think we should've LOST the civil war. Let the South be its own country. Then they'd only be destroying themselves, instead of all of the US.

The rest of the states, without the Bible Belt. would create a decent country to live in, comparable with better countries, like yours.

What could you benefit from? Customer service at restaurants here is top notch, much better than yours from what I've seen on YouTube. And France needs to celebrate Halloween, it's awesome.

Do you identify yourself with a particular subculture? If so, what brought you to it and what is your experience within it?
I'm pagan. Neo-pagan. It's environmentalism with religion. Pantheism, the idea that the divine is in all living things. The people are the kindest and most accepting that there are, the festivals are unbelievable, and the friendships are real. And we stand for all good causes. Love animals, share everything,and help each other and the Earth.

I met my husband of 26 years in a carpool to the Real Witches Ball in 1996. Pagans are the best people I've ever met.

Is there anything that you feel you would want to add about your relationship to the USA?
There is a lot of good here. In over 300 million people, we can't all be assholes. Trump supporters are only about 37% of the country, but they get all of the news because they're so loud.

Seriously, look at that map I linked above. If we excised the red part, the remaining states are *mostly* reasonable people, who want what's best for everyone.

I love the expansive wild places, (people get lost and die in the national parks, they're so huge), the variety of nationalities that I've met, the variety of international foods at restaurants run by immigrants, (so the dishes are genuine), the holidays, (I don't think any place else does Halloween like here), how friendly people are, (I gather most places, strangers don't talk, which is sad). It's just a tragedy that we're letting the worst elements in our society have so much power.

This is my home. I hope it doesn't get any worse.

Last updated May 08, 2023