St Andrew's day ink

[Bugbear]

I know. For a nation which has existed independentlyfor over 200 years not to mention its colonial past before that it is puzzling. Is it because many Americans only see their culture as a reflection of the various cultures imported by immigrants? I don't believe that is entirely true, however the culture that is perceived as peculiarly American is all fairly recent. Coca-Cola, Hollywood, Jazz, cowboys etc..

Well, I look at the underlying framework of those things you just listed and see roots going back centuries. I live in the desert South West which has a cultural flavor going back eons. Corn (maize) and beans as a traditional food, for example.