Ankh

The ankh has always been at the root of ancient Egyptian history. It is a symbol of life and one’s time on Earth as well as in the afterlife. I believe the ankh is also at the core of Egyptian culture to this day. People may not believe in ancient Egyptian Gods or the Egyptian afterlife anymore but it is still a part of their important history. Many things other than flags can also act as national symbols and the ankh is one of them.

Egyptian Flag

Just as the American flag is extremely important to national pride, I would imagine the Egyptian flag is as well. The colors all have meaning too. The black represents the period of foreign occupation. The white represents peace. The red represents the bloody sacrifices of Egyptian martyrs. Lastly, the eagle of Saladin represents strength. All of these values provide great remembrances for the Egyptian people in forming their national identity associated with their homeland.

Islam

Egypt’s most prominent religion by far is Islam. A key aspect of the Islamic faith is the hajj- a trip once in your lifetime to Mecca. Each time you pray as Muslim, too, you face the Kaaba which is the black cube at the center of Mecca. Religion affects the identity of all people and in Egypt, I would think most of the citizens consider Islam a major part of their identity (if they are religious).

Cats

Back in ancient Egyptian times, cats were extremely respected. This is because they were believed to be good luck and a representation of the cat goddess Bastet. Cats were even mummified back in ancient times. Today, I believe that though modern-day Egyptians don’t hold cats in the same regard, they still see cats as friends and worthy of good lives. Architecture and hieroglyphics of the animal probably influenced this as well as general domestication. Ancient Egyptian history undoubtedly corresponds with cultural identity and cats are very much a part of that history.

Pyramids of Giza

It’s impossible to think of Egypt and not think of the Pyramids of Giza. They are an architectural feat and a landmark across the globe. Such devotion and success in these projects emit a sense of wonder. I would think that Egyptians take immense pride in these steadfast pyramids and incorporate them into their national identity. Just as the Statue of Liberty is important to the United States, the pyramids serve as a unifying structure that displays the strength and resilience of Egypt.

Nile River

Though Egypt doesn’t rely on the Nile River like it did during ancient times, it is still an important staple in the Egyptian landscape. It’s the longest river in the world and provided life for millions of people over the years. Many of the dead were buried on the West Bank of the Nile because ancient Egyptians believed the afterlife was in the West. Your home contributes to your identity. For many Egyptians, the Nile was a second home. The Nile’s fertile ground was the birthplace of prosperity in Egypt. Today, the Nile is still fertile, and it is still quintessential in Egypt’s identity.

Tourism

Tourism is huge in Egypt. Every day there are thousands of tourists who came to Egypt to see places like the pyramids, the sphynx, and other ancient Egyptian architecture. To an Egyptian, this is a part of everyday life and instrumental in the country’s economy. Society in Egypt thrives on the money of tourists and the curiosity of people coming from distant lands. It also encourages citizens to learn more about their country’s history in order to act as tour guides or unfortunately scam unbeknownst visitors with fake relics. Regardless, tourism fills a huge portion of societal identity.

Cleopatra

Cleopatra is perhaps the most famous Egyptian ruler. This is mostly because of the various movies made about her life and love affairs with the likes of Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. At the end of the day, she is extremely prominent in Egyptian history and culture. Her beauty and smarts have been remembered to this day and it is figures like her who are figureheads of Egyptian history. Identity is shaped by historical figures. Cleopatra is one of the most well known historical figures not only in Egypt but in the whole world.

Scarab

The scarab was a vital symbol in ancient Egypt. It symbolized the restoration of life and the cycle of birth. In more modern times, the scarab has become a popular pendant on necklaces in Egypt just like the Ankh. I think that many Egyptians probably feel a connection to their history and attempt to tap into it by wearing symbols on their body.

Hieroglyphics

Language is truly beautiful. It allows us to communicate, collaborate, and learn. Hieroglyphics is the first known language of ancient Egypt. It can be found all over Egyptian architecture and monuments that are still standing. This presence allowed current day people to learn about what daily life was like thousands of years ago (using the Rosetta Stone). On top of this, hieroglyphics are infinitely more interesting than ordinary alphabets. The pictures give even more sense as to what symbols and objects were important to Egyptians. I’d imagine Egyptians grow up proud to have been so close to such a beautiful language.

Coptic Orthodox Church

Although most Egyptians are Sunni Muslims, there are still Christians in the country. The vast majority of these Christians belong to the Coptic Orthodox Church which is located in Alexandria. Religion can always be related back to cultural identities and Christianity plays just as big a role in Egyptian history as Islam. The Egyptian Christians have most likely grown up learning about their religion’s roots and influences whether they be architectural, political, or societal.

Football

Just like every country that isn’t the United States, people absolutely adore football (soccer) in Egypt. Every-year football leagues and more occasional events like the Olympics provide a platform for athletes to represent their countries. Sports are a great unifier for countries that otherwise wouldn’t be able to understand each other. Every kid sees their favorite stars and believes they can be just like them. They believe that one day they can wear their nation’s colors and try to win something for their people. And so a part of their identity becomes their love for the sport but more notably, what the sport does to show off their home and their way of life.

Baseball

Baseball is known as America’s past time so it seemed fitting to put it first on my list. Growing up, I started playing baseball at the age of six and played for eight years after that. I played games on the weekends and practiced during the week in both the fall and spring. I would watch the Philadelphia Phillies on TV all the time and would go to the games since the stadium was just 20 minutes away. Being in the baseball world always made me feel more connected to my country because I feel that it is such a staple in American culture. I also idolized people like Jackie Robinson who broke the barriers of societal norms and paved the way for anyone to be able to play the sport they love.

Christianity

My family was originally Catholic. But, my grandfather on my mother’s side divorced his first wife and as you probably know, the Catholic church isn’t that tolerant of this and even less so 60 years ago. So my family became Episcopalian and that’s how I grew up. My relationship with religion has been on and off, I hated going to church as a child like most kids do and we started going less and less as my parents had high-stress jobs and just wanted to rest on Sundays. As I got older I essentially became an atheist mostly because I didn’t agree with many of the Christian values that I felt alienated others. More recently, I’ve begun to reexamine religion and have found some practices and goals within Christianity that I do agree with. I determined that I could shape my own religious identity while remaining a faithful person. It’s always been interesting to me how ingrained religion is with our national identity.

New Jersey

I spent most of my childhood in a town named Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It is about 20 minutes outside of Philadelphia. I would not be who I am today without Cherry Hill. My best friends in the whole world are there and every time I go and stay with my best friend’s family, I feel as if I actually am in their family. They’re my home away from home if you will. This is more of a personal identity because I believe a large portion of my personality was formed here in New Jersey. My old neighborhood and community shaped a lot of who I am and what I believe in.

9/11

I was born on February 2, 2001. My parents have told me stories of the day of 9/11 and I think that even if I personally wasn’t affected, it’s still a huge part of my and most of America’s national identity. Such tragedies are some of the only things that band people together, and everyone has their “where was I” when 9/11 happened. My parents told me they had to pick me up early from daycare as no one knew if more attacks were coming. They, just like everyone else, were deathly afraid. My own cousin was a firefighter in New York City but coincidentally had the day off. There’s a chance I could have never gotten to know him if he had been one of the heroes rushing into the building to try to save lives. A world-changing event like this undoubtedly has a place in my identity.

Hip Hop

Hip hop has played a big role in my life. I’ve been listening to it since elementary school and I think it’s influenced how I see the world. It’s hard to see how a white middle-class kid could relate to rappers from the hood. But music is a universal language and I think it’s the most beautiful way to connect to one another regardless of backgrounds, cultures, and values. Hip hop has taught me open-mindedness, the importance of family ties, loyalty, and many other things. I have an appreciation for the whole genre and especially the ones who pioneered it. (NWA is just one example). The genre has also had a massive impact on American culture and identity.

Video Games

I thought it’d be remiss of me to not include video games in my personal identity. This one was my first “real” game and I played it with mostly my neighborhood friends. But I also would play online with complete strangers and I attribute a lot of my speaking and interpersonal skills to my interactions online. I don’t love video games that much but I really enjoy competing against other people and making friends with people I wouldn’t have otherwise. I still play games today with my friends and it’s a great way to stay connected now that everyone is in college. A lot of my societal identity was built right there in the virtual world.

Apollo 11

Here I have a picture of a man on the moon. I think it is a perfect representation of national pride. Everyone in the world wants their country to be the best, and the United States putting a man on the moon created a sense of national identity. It proved that we are a nation of thinkers, scientists, innovators, risk-takers, and dream setters. Moments in time like this shape civilizations for years as citizens can look back on them and feel a sense of fuzziness, a sense that they were a part of something greater than themselves. As a kid, I was dazzled by things like astronomy, archaeology, and marine biology. I believe I gained my curiosity by learning about human feats such as this one.

Film

Cinema and Hollywood have shaped a lot of who I am. The lessons you learn from them are invaluable and they also give the viewer the ability to see places and situations they wouldn’t normally see. Whether it’s a coming of age story or an action film, I would argue that they all provide some value to the human experience and contribute to our identity. I know my identity has changed over the years (albeit minutely) after watching certain noteworthy films. There’s also uniqueness to American cinema that can’t be found elsewhere.

Revolutionary War

The Revolutionary War is instrumental in every American’s national identity. It’s a symbol of our free-spiritedness and desire to govern ourselves. Democracy prevailed after the Revolutionary War and led to how government runs today. With all the issues involving the government over the years, it is still at least partly responsible for our growth as a nation and the protection of our families. The Revolution sent the rest of the world a message, the United States is not to be trifled with. We are a nation of lovers but also one that protects liberties. This message is vital to our identity.

Ellis Island

This picture is the inside of Ellis Island. The United States is a nation of immigrants and I’m obviously no exception. On my mom’s side, I have Czech and Irish ties. On my dad’s side, I have mostly German roots. My great grandparents and great-great-grandparents came through Ellis Island to the United States looking for a better life and I have my life to thank them for. Though I have a strong national identity with the United States, I also see my identity through where my family came from. The United States is not the United States without immigrants and so it is imperative that the mixing pot culture be apart of national identity.

Judaism

The town I grew up in is predominantly Jewish. I actually even went to a Jewish pre-school. It was the best one in town and my mom joked that it was the Old Testament anyway so I’d be learning the same stories as the ones in a Christian pre-school. A large majority of my friends were Jewish and I went to about 17 bar/bat mitzvahs, give or take. This interesting situation played a huge part in my religious identity as I was able to get a deeper look than most into another religion. I feel that being around others with different beliefs strongly influenced my identity and openmindedness.

Sports

The last image relating to my national identity is the four major sports leagues. My dad introduced sports to me at a very young age and ever since I’ve fallen in love with them. I’ve played and watched sports all night. They instill such important values in you such as teamwork, dedication, work ethic, and confidence. There’s a reason why sports are so important to people in the United States. They are a huge part of our national identity. Competition is in our DNA and sports offer that. Even my societal identity was influenced as I formed relationships with people solely based on meeting them while playing sports. Some like to deem sports as a waste of time, but I believe they are quintessential to life as we know it in one form or another.