Caleb Martin
UWRT 1102 014
2/10/2017
Major Assignment #1: Literacy
I communicate about American Identity in many ways. Many people in my life view their
identity differently. Some see their lack of freedom and oppression while others see their identity
as a proud asset. I personally incorporate my sexuality and belief system into every
communication practice. I use my past experiences to shape my current experiences. Being an
American Is something I usually see as an asset. I am a white male living in a country controlled
by a white male majority so the only place I feel a lack of pride would be the lack of rights for
LGBT citizens.
I see myself as someone who actively seeks justice for gay people and people of color. I
am currently not proud of my country due to the recent decisions the government has made and
will probably make with a new administration in the executive branch of government. I enjoy
speaking politics to people and I feel as an American I feel it is important to be aware of whats
happening. I have been primarily focused on how I speak in conversations, and I will now talk
about how I write.
In my formal writing, I tend to use large words and try to get my point across concisely. I
use common American English that most Americans would understand. I dont use slang in
my writing to social media posts but I do in my daily lingo. I view using slang on paper is
unprofessional and I never know who will view my work. My daily language is different because
Im aware of the listener/recipients. I use profanity around my close friends while a professor
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will never hear me utter inappropriate language. As a business major, I need to come off as
professional to people who may be my future writers of recommendation letters.
I personally communicate differently to every single person I speak to and know. You
could possibly say Im Multi-Faced but to feel a connection to someone, I level with them on
what they believe and how they think. When Im speaking to someone whos political party is
Republican, I lean towards conservatism. When I speak, I try to find ways to make it less tense
and find things in common. I do the same when I speak to a liberal. I personal view myself as an
independent so I just simply lean both ways depending on who Im around.
I concluded that finding common ground and similarities in my belief system vs another
persons is the best was to avoid verbal conflict in conversations. An example of this would be
when I interact with a Christian. We both believe in God, but most believe Im going to hell for
being gay. I find talking about the loving and caring aspects of God instead of the rules will
result in no argument or clashing.
Comfortability is very important in a conversation so finding a common ground is the
first step I take. My parents arent aware that Im gay so I become a whole new person when Im
around them. I was raised in a Christian home and was told from a very early age that being gay
is wrong. I once told my mother I was bisexual recently and she said At least I can be proud of
my other two kids. This comment really hurt and I put an even taller wall between her and I
than before. I created this person who they like so I can be financially supported by them. I tell
them the reason I dont have a girlfriend because Im focusing on school. There is a lack of
comfort when Im around them. I have to watch my every move.
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In relation to the type of American I think I am, I view myself as a non-denominational
Christian, White male, Homosexual, 19-year-old. I dont fit the stereotypes of any of these
demographics, but they do shape my life and the way I communicate. Im obviously not going to
post something on Facebook in support of banning gay marriage, or Im not going to be profiled
by the police. Im also not going to shove religion down peoples throats when I talk about my
religion. According to American culture, Im supposed to have a feminine walk, voice and be a
God hating liberal. I would argue I dont have any of these characteristics.
Comparing my use of language to other Americans, I dont have an accent or slang I
regularly use or convey. I speak relatively quickly while others speak slower. I dont use Star
Wars or Friends references or try to make jokes when I speak. I tend to have a generic way of
communicating. I do however add however unnecessary words and make things awkward when
there was no need to do so. I am very opinionated and Im the opposite of chill. I dont use a
buck for a dollar and I dont use zonked to say Im exhausted. I do use lighten up and
hang out. Another word I use on the daily is low-key. In summary, I do use a lot of
American slang, but I dont use a lot of words or phrases another may use. I was raised to be
respectful of people older and people of importance. I try not to use slang around professionals
either, but I mainly focus on staying away from profanity like I mentioned prior.
Growing up, I was homeschooled so I didnt know what slang terms were being used for
my generation. I started high-school in the public system so I felt alone and isolated because I
didnt speak like the cool kids. I also didnt have well-developed social skills so It made things
harder for me. I am happy to say I no longer feel this way.
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As of now, I dont like to consider myself an average American, but I probably am. By
average, I mean someone who is patriotic or into fast food. I dont like labels so I would argue
there may not even be a such thing as an average American.
In conclusion, I would say I am an active supporter of LGBT rights and see that one thing
thats great about being an American is that we can voice our dissent without being prosecuted. I
would argue that everyone in the U.S. is like me in that they are multi-faced and reserve
different versions of themselves depending on the person they are communicating with.
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Works Cited
Smith, Rob. LGBTflagAmericanFlag. Digital image. Queerty.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 10
Feb. 2017. <https://www.queerty.com/most-americans-just-dont-get-angry-about-lgbt-people-
anymore-20160106>.
