Поиск культурных корней Американцев (Looking for cultural roots of Americans)
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.