What Exactly Is American Culture?
America is often referred to as "the greatest nation on Earth" by its patriots and by those overseas. For many, the United States is a sanctuary of new beginnings and opportunities that are available to everyone, not just a select few. America is home to a melting pot of over 300 million citizens, each equipped with the knowledge of what it means to be a true American.
Most countries have a distinct culture that can be identified quickly and easily by foreigners looking from the outside-in, but what exactly is American culture? What defines what it means to be an American? Western culture can be difficult to define when taking into account that American citizens come from all walks of life, however this country was founded on a number of values that enables everyone to live their life as they please.
One of the values of American culture is the importance of one's independence. A true American takes pride in the absolute control they have over their choices, motives, morals, and their life. Individualism is firmly embedded in American culture and is why many Americans shoot for the stars in an attempt to make something of themselves.
Another key element of the American way of life is directness. Foreigners may be surprised at how direct Americans can be when explaining their values or beliefs. Those who are not accustomed to such free speaking often coin an American's bluntness as inappropriate or rude based off of their own culture. The freedom to voice your own opinion, no matter how bizarre, is all part of what it means to be an American.
Being an American is all about being you, for the sake of pleasing only you. The importance of self-expression and living your life the way you would like to live it is the core of the American way of living. Some people in other countries don't have the luxury of expressing themselves in their own unique way, and in the eyes of foreigners, this may seem odd. The fact of the matter is, America is all about being free and living life according to your morals and values.
I wish I could agree with you on the idea of independence here, but I think that has always been reserved for those with power/wealth. Women who lose access to health care don't have as much power over their choices as those with the money or resources to get access, for example. Politicians are often limiting access to reproductive choices for women but will often say that freedom exists. It just depends, even, what state one lives in or in what location in that state. Think about national voting, too. Some states limit the time early voting exists so that those who have less access (ride a bus, work an hourly shift), have fewer opportunities to vote. Or think about all the hoops one has to jump through to vote (but not, at the moment, buy a gun at a gun show). I think the idea of "freedom" is more an idea than a reality for some.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you on the balance of your argument, though. Compared to other places, Americans have *significant* freedoms. One can protest the president or someone else without fear of repercussion as long as they don't threaten, libel, slander, the other person. But even these protests come with risks.