This is something I've been wondering and hopefully the people of this forum will help answer my questions.
The basic question is:
How much does one's State (e.g., Alabama) define one's identity?
Do people associate themselves more with a region, such as seeing themselves as a Southerner or a New Englander or is it common to identify with their state?
I know people from Texas and other such large states identify with their state, but I'm not sure about smaller states.
If so what does being a Nebraskan, e.t.c. mean to you?
Finally I am aware that there are many who do not identify with such things.
Yes, to some degree that happens in the States, but doesn't that happen everywhere with cities? I imagine it's like this: Manchester and London have tongue-in-cheek rivalries with each other... that is, until an outsider of their country, like Berlin, comes storming in. All of a sudden the fact that Manchester and London are in the same country is grounds for unifying against the Berliner.
Texans see themselves as Texans before they see themselves as Americans. They're Texans first, Americans second. Most other states don't really think this way. It is definitely a strange thing going on with Texas. This, of course, does not encompass all Texans. I have an uncle who's a Texan and he doesn't give a crap about all of that.
New Yorkers are really prone to it too. Some places in the US are just really prideful about their city or state. There does not seem to be much rhyme or reason to it.
In some cases it's regional, as inquired about. Southerns might be hostile to Northerners and West Coasters hostile to East Coasters and vice versa. All in all I don't think most people care, especially when a common goal unites them in perfect harmony... Like September 11th. Boston and New York may have a sports rivalry, but you know that Boston put aside the trivial rivalry and grieved with New York on a day like that.
I guess it's kind of like that Son Goku. Hope that helps.
Edited by Hyroglyphx, : Spelling errors
"An idealist believes the short run doesn't count. A cynic believes the long run doesn't matter. A realist believes that what is done or left undone in the short run determines the long run." --Sydney J. Harris--
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