National Identity

As we have spent more time here and talked with more people, we realize this second Independence Day more than our first just how weak a sense of national identity exists here. Especially in comparison with America. Maybe by now we shouldn't have been, but we somehow found it surprising to realize that only certain Namibians will celebrate this public holiday and what it means.

Namibians tend to find their identity in their tribe, mother tongue, or even shade of skin color. And America is largely the opposite in that most people have a greater sense of their national identity rather than their ethnic one. As an example, I may not even know if my friends' families come from England, Italy, Germany, Ireland, Poland, etc... unless they are particularly proud! Even then, it seems that the majority of Americans identify as Americans first and foremost.

And if identifying mostly with our greater nationality means highlighting our similarities with most of those with whom we live and work, whereas identifying more specifically with our ethnic background means highlighting our differences (which I would argue is usually the case), then I have to say that the benefits of the former seem to outweigh those of the latter. For one thing, we can certainly attest that racism and tribalism is very high in this country, which seems to be not just a matter of correlation but one of cause and effect. 

So while a part of me still somewhat envies Americans who have a strong connection with the countries where their families came from (and not just because they like the food!) since being of Polish, German, and British descent never made much of a difference to me, our experience here has made me prouder to be an American at least!  (Now don't get me started on "stateism" in America!)