TEACHER’S
TRAINING COLLEGE
OF
NABEREZHNYE CHELNY
REPORT:
LOOKING FOR CULTURAL ROOTS OF AMERICANS.
WRITTEN
BY A STUDENT
OF
GROUP #002
VICTOR
KOUZNETSOFF
NABEREZHNYE CHELNY 2002
The plan.
1. Introduction
2. First
impressions while in the USA
3. Modern
American is an ancestor of the frontiersman.
4. American
paradoxes
5. Why do I
like them anyway.
LOOKING FOR CULTURAL ROOTS.
1.
introduction
All societies must provide for the basic human needs of their members.
These include food, clothing, shelter, family organization, social
organization, government, security, belief system or religion, and education. How a society provides for these needs
depends on the geography (climate), resources, and history of the society.
Different cultural values develop in different societies because of the
variations in these factors and how the people view them.
In order to understand why people behave as they do, it is necessary to
look at their geographical location and the historical events that have shaped
them as a group. Because the history of the USA is rather short (relatively to
most of the world), some of these influences are fairly easy to understand.
2.
First impressions while in the USA
Some visitors to the USA
remain permanently baffled [about America and Americans]. With
despair and accuracy they point out
endless paradoxes in the typical American. Friendly on the surface,
but hard to know intimately. Hospitable and generous socially, but hard-driving
and competitive professionally. Self-satisfied, at times, to the point of
smugness but self-critical, at other times, to the point of masochism. And so
on.
They find the regional diversity of Americans confusing, too. What on
earth, they ask, can a Maine
lobsterman have in common with a Dallas
banker, a West Virginia
coal miner, a Hollywood producer, a Montana sheep-herder, or
a black school-teacher on a South
Carolina sea-island? And they give themselves a bleak
and hopeless answer; not much.
But that answer is almost certainly wrong; these people share the
mysterious and powerful intangible called nationality. They are all Americans
and, however faint, a common denominator is there, an almost invisible strand
woven out of common history, a common heritage and, underneath the surface
differences, a common way of looking at things.
3.
Modern American
is an ancestor of the frontiersman.
People never
really escape from their origins. So, to understand an American you should
focus for a moment not on the modern American, but on his ancestor, the 17th century settler who, having survived the grim
Atlantic crossing, found himself with his back to the sea facing a vast and
hostile wilderness that had to be tamed and conquered if he was to survive.
conquer it he and his descendants did, in a struggle so epic that its memory
lingers on in countless Western movies. Many of the basic attitudes and
characteristics formed in that struggle persist in Americans today. You may
find some admirable, and others less so. The point is, they are.
Everywhere he looked, that early American was surrounded by problems. To
this day, by tradition, by training – almost by instinct– Americans are problem solvers and
solution seekers. In some parts of the world, uncomfortable or unpleasant
circumstances are endured because they have always been there and people see no
alternative. To an American, a problem is not something to be accepted; it is
something to be attacked. Adaptability, ingenuity, raw physical energy – these
made up the frontiersman’s survival kit. To these qualities his descendants
have added enormous confidence in their technology and a kind of invincible
optimism. No matter what the obstacles, whether they set out to conquer polio
or land a man on the moon, Americans are convinced that initiative, intelligent
planning, and hard work will bring about the desired condition sooner or later.
A problem-solver is an achiever, and you will notice that once how
greatly Americans respect and value achievement (they have even invented a
whole industry
called public relations to make sure that achievement doesn’t go unrecognized.)
They are happiest when accomplishment can be measured specifically. A
businessman wants his charts and graphs kept rigorously up-to-date. A book
tends to be judged by the numbers of copies it sells. In sports, American’s
obsession with statistics often amazes non-Americans. No fuzzy theory here; no
guesswork. The American
wants to know exactly who is achieving what – and if he can’t measure it he’s
inclined to wonder if it’s any good.
To be an achiever, one must be a do-er, and it will soon be apparent to
you…that Americans are much better at doing that at merely being. In fact,
you’ll notice that if they’re deprived of doing for very long, they become
miserable. Some Americans grumble about their jobs, but the truth is most of them
think they should work hard and most of them like to work. It is this national
characteristic more than natural resources or any other factor that has made the USA so productive. In modern American life,
the non-worker is regarded with a certain scorn based, perhaps, on the
conviction that in pioneer days he would not have survived.
These attitudes have produced a highly kinetic society, full of movement
and constant change. If you’re accustomed to a more leisurely pace, you may
find the American
tempo exhausting. Or you may find it exhilarating. Most Americans enjoy
it; it’s a high compliment when they say of a person, “He has a lot of drive,”
or “He knows how to get things done.” Almost invariably, the 1st
question an American
asks about a newcomer or stranger is, “What does he do?” He’s interested
primarily in the person’s main achievement, his work or his impact on his
environment, not his personal philosophy or inner world.
Restless and rootless, the frontiersman had no time to be philosopher or
a theoretician, and his descendants still take a pragmatic and straightforward
view of the world. …you may feel that Americans are much more concerned
with material than with spiritual things. You’re probable right. Religion is
woven into the fabric of American
life but most people have little taste for metaphysics. Man is seen not so much
as a passive part of the schemes of things, but as a re-arranger of that
scheme. When the pioneer needed a waterwheel for a grist-mill, he built one,
and his great-grandchildren still have a unique genius for inventing machines
that can dominate or subdue their environment. Americans think nothing of moving
mountains, if the mountains are in their way. They simply combine their own
optimism and energy with unlimited mechanical horsepower and push.
Until recently, it’s true, Americans have been prodigal with natural
resources, because they seemed to be limitless, and careless about ecology,
because the traditional American
way was simple to move on when an area had been exploited. Now they are
beginning to realize that it’s better to cooperate with nature than try to
overwhelm it. A European or Asian could have told the Americans this
long ago, but he would not have listened. He learns more quickly from his own
mistakes than from the accumulated wisdom
of the past.
Regardless of where you come from, it will seem to you that the American is
usually in a hurry. Because of this, he is extremely time-conscious. He has a
strict sense of punctuality and hates to waste time by being late or having
others late for appointments. If you ask an Englishman or a Frenchman how far
it is from London
to Paris,
you’ll get an answer in miles or kilometers. Ask an American and he’ll probably
tell you in hours with his calculation based on the fastest available mode of
transport.
Partly because of this time-obsessions, Americans are impatient with
ceremony, which is time-consuming, and with protocol, which they view with
suspicion as a dubious relic of monarchist days when they were rigid social
distinctions between people. Americans are taught from the cradle that “all men
created equal,” a phrase enshrined in their Declaration of Independence. They
don’t really believe that this is true in terms of ability, but they accept it
politically. One man, one vote, with the will of the majority prevailing and
the rights of minorities safeguarded.
This is the American’s
political ideal, and it puzzles him greatly when it is not accepted or admired
abroad.
In everyday live, in a kind of a tacit acknowledgement of this official
egalitarianism, Americans
tend to be informal, in most parts of the country breezily so. Visitors from
abroad are often astonished to hear secretaries in American offices call their
employers by their first names. The American is also gregarious; he likes to
join clubs or other organizations where the backgrounds and thought-patterns of other members do not
differ too much from his own. He is likely to have friendships
compartmentalized; those he sees only at social gatherings. He enjoys the companionship of
such friends, but doesn’t offer – or expect to receive – deep intimacy or total
commitment. The rapid pace and enormous mobility of American society make
lifelong friendship difficult, although in small towns and settled communities
they do exist.
Some visitors to the USA
say that the thing they miss most of all is the emotional support that comes
from close, sharing friendships. When a Spaniard or Greek or Brazilian has some
acute personal problem, he turns to his best friend. An American is
more likely to turn to psychologist, or a marriage counselor. Americans have
great faith in “the expert,” a reflection of their conviction that specialized
training and knowledge make problem-solving quicker and produce better
solutions. Most old societies are firmly rooted in tradition. You will find
that, while they often have a sentimental attachment to the past, Americans are
not true traditionalists. To the forward-looking American, established ways are
not necessarily best. Unless your visit takes you to older parts of the country
– New England or the Deep
South – you’ll probable find that people regard adaptability as
more important than conformity with ancestral ways and customs.
In many countries, persons tend to think of themselves primarily as a
member of a group, or community, or sect, or a clan. The American sees himself
as an individual, and this individualism
makes him wary of authority in any form. He will accept military discipline in
wartime, but only reluctantly. He believes in maintaining law and order, but he
also believes that he is the best judge of what is good for him. In recent
years he has been forced to the conclusion that only centralized government can
deal with certain massive social problems. But his basic concept of government
remains unshaken; that the State exists to serve him, not the other way round…
4.
American
paradoxes
Yes, American
life is full of paradoxes. Its people and culture, values and beliefs are often
seen as contradictory and at times even absurd. But like all impressions of a
nation or people, popular perceptions do not always match to the day-to-day
reality. Here are some of the paradoxes that you can meet in the US.
Americans are fiercely individualistic.
It may seem that everyone has an opinion, whether they are informed about the
subject or not. “The every man for himself” attitude is much a part of the American
mentality. Americans place great value on the individual. They believe that individuals
are solely responsible for their success and failures in life and that they
should “earn their own way”. Due to this
belief, you may see that individual
achievements are often measured by one’s ability to accumulate material things,
rather than the quality or strength of one’s character. You will also hear
arguments in support of individual
rights over the community good. And, even though Americans tend to be very
generous in some situations, many of them are not supportive of national
programs where they think that healthy, able-bodied people might not have to
work for their benefits. Americans
are extremely patriotic. The have taken great pride in their nation’s
accomplishments and in being as “the best” or “the 1st”. whether it
to be in national wealth, discoveries or inventions, technological feats, or
sport. National symbol such as the raising of the flag, the pledge of allegiance and singing
the country’s national anthem are rituals routinely made part of public life.
However, despite their fervent nationalism and love of country, only
about half of the Americans
vote in political elections. In the 1992 presidential elections that elected
Bill Clinton, only 55% of eligible Americans voted, which was the largest voter
turnout since 1968, when 61% of citizens voted for president. Many Americans don’t
see voting as a duty but do consider it a right. While immensely patriotic, the
are suspicious of government, distrust politicians and don’t see voting doing
much to significantly impact their everyday lives.
Self-absorbed in their own particular work and activities, most Americans have
limited knowledge even about their own country.
Americans have an extremely organized approach to recreation
and leisure activities. Their weekends and vocations are prepared and managed
like any other work while shopping and watching television consume much of
their leisure time.
In a nation where shopping is considered a leisure activity, Americans
are quite proud of the their purchasing power. The popular slogan “shop until
you drop” reflects the pattern of Americans going to shopping malls filled with
every imaginable consumer good and looking for the best deal. The variety of
goods and services available to the average American consumer is staggering.
If one didn’t know better, one would think that all Americans are rich
and can purchase anything that please them. But this is hardly the case. The
number of Americans
living in poverty is more than 14%, while close to one third of Blacks are
poor. Americans
are faced with walking by the growing number of homeless people who they see on
the streets.
Crime has become a result of poverty, drug trafficking and an assortment
of social problems that only seem to grow in number each year. While crime was
once the scourge of urban America,
it has now become a major concern for suburban and rural America as
well. Millions of citizens own guns, and it is reported that deaths by guns may
soon be higher than the rate of Americans
who die each year in accidents. While the US has the largest prison
population in the world, little has been done to stop the proliferation of
lawfully owned guns among Americans who staunchly defend the “right to bear
arms” that is guaranteed by the US
constitution.
5.
Why do I like them anyway.
Despite the many serious problems they face, most Americans are
optimistic people. They have great faith in the future and believe that the future
will always be brighter.
Although they are often self-critical people, their criticism is seen as
a method by which the continue to create a better future for themselves. They
have traditionally thought that things can be “fixed” and will always get better
for the future generations. They place great faith in technology and its
ability to improve the lives of people.
SOURCES
1.
“How to Understand Those Mystifying Americans” by
Arthur Gordon.
2.
Introduction to the USA – student workbook. © 1993,
1994 by YFU Washington, DC, USA.
TEACHER’S
TRAINING COLLEGE
OF
NABEREZHNYE CHELNY
REPORT:
LOOKING FOR CULTURAL ROOTS OF AMERICANS.
WRITTEN
BY A STUDENT
OF
GROUP #002
VICTOR
KOUZNETSOFF
NABEREZHNYE CHELNY 2002
The plan.