What represents American (U.S.) Culture to you?

[Aisling]

If anyone here is old enough to have seen the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, you'd have seen a very nice opening ceremony of American Culture. It didn't include mini histories of every single ethnic group in this country, but it did have points that we all as Americans can be proud of, like jazz music, and as I said in an earlier post, the westward ho movement of the early pioneers that showed courage and the free-spirit that is to me the backbone of American 'culture'.

I see America as definitely having a culture, and it has nothing to do with ethnicity. For those of you who have never seen it or felt it, I feel sad for you, truly and not in a sarcastic way.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I don't know?? My take on it is different than yours..
My daughter attends school in New York City..I am often concerned for her as she goes about her day to day life and when she comes home, I breathe a sigh...

That's a bit more information than the New Years Eve event.

I'd be concerned too. The crime rate alone would probably put me on edge. But then I have a good friend that has a daughter in school in NYC and she isn't concerned at all. Go figure.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

That's great, if you were a white, upper class male, you had all of the freedoms you wanted to...since then it's taken nearly the entire existence of the country to have true freedom for everyone, and even that isn't finished yet.

See, now you have exposed your complete lack of understanding of history. You cannot judge history by current social standards. Their understanding and beliefs were so fundamentally different that it is beyond unfair, it is incorrect...

 

[NikitaZee]

Here you go http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2361583&highlight=surprised+america

First response?

'How old fashioned things looked'

And lots of chatter about the gaps in the bathroom stall - something which surprises many of us from Europe when we go to America. Again, just a fun way to look at it from the other side - nothing too deep there, but the responses may surprise people.

What a fun thread to read! I wish it was longer than 2 pages - I'd like to read more ...

 

[OceanAnnie]

What a fun thread to read! I wish it was longer than 2 pages - I'd like to read more ...

I thought it was fun too. I'm glad you posted it, bavaria. For the most part, complimentary. (I don't like gaps in the stalls either.)

Nice to read about "friendly" Americans. I knew there was such a thing!

 

[bavaria]

I thought it was fun too. I'm glad you posted it, bavaria. For the most part, complimentary. (I don't like gaps in the stalls either.)

Nice to read about "friendly" Americans. I knew there was such a thing!

'Bathroom talk' seems to be a hot topic when travelling. Did you read the one about the water level in the toilet? That one still surprises me, after all the time I have spent in the US. A toilet with only a few centimetres of water in the bottom will still do its duty, and usually we have two flushers - one for 'small waste' and one for 'large waste'

What a fun thread to read! I wish it was longer than 2 pages - I'd like to read more

I bumped it for you - maybe you will find more responses!

 

[OceanAnnie]

'Bathroom talk' seems to be a hot topic when travelling. Did you read the one about the water level in the toilet? That one still surprises me, after all the time I have spent in the US. A toilet with only a few centimetres of water in the bottom will still do its duty, and usually we have two flushers - one for 'small waste' and one for 'large waste'

I missed the water level. Interesting difference.

When I visited England, I was surprised they gave away the newspaper and there was a fee to use the restroom! That was either in the airport or train station. I can't remember which. Anyway, it's the opposite here in the states!

 

[golfgal]

'Bathroom talk' seems to be a hot topic when travelling. Did you read the one about the water level in the toilet? That one still surprises me, after all the time I have spent in the US. A toilet with only a few centimetres of water in the bottom will still do its duty, and usually we have two flushers - one for 'small waste' and one for 'large waste'



I bumped it for you - maybe you will find more responses!

That was fun-I hope people do post more. I did have to comment about the Florida grass. Around here we call that crab grass and that is a WEED that we kill .

Bavaria--I went to Germany when I was in high school and as we walked out of the airport one of the kids commented on all the "foreign" cars--I just laughed and said the only foreign car here is the Ford parked over there .

 

[Robinrs]

Here you go http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2361583&highlight=surprised+america

First response?

'How old fashioned things looked'

And lots of chatter about the gaps in the bathroom stall - something which surprises many of us from Europe when we go to America. Again, just a fun way to look at it from the other side - nothing too deep there, but the responses may surprise people.

These people weren't talking about America, they were talking about Disneyworld...

Tell them to take a trip to Brooklyn and tell me what they think!!

Personally I could've written a list of things about what surprised me when I left NY and and came to Georgia. I felt like a MARTIAN!!

Pop instead of soda, people calling me Ma'amall that darned NICENESS...

I've been here since 1987 and I STILL am shocked!

 

[crashbb]

These people weren't talking about America, they were talking about Disneyworld...

Are you reading the same thread that the rest of us are?

I've seen mention of Las Vegas, department stores, grocery stores, the Grand Canyon, and LA. And I'm only on page 1.

 

[wdwgirl03]

This is an offshoot of the Vancouver Opening Ceremonies thread...someone asked what would American culture look like.

Honestly, I don't remember much of the Salt Lake City or Atlanta Opening Ceremonies to know what was featured.

But I'm just going to ask the question. What do you think American culture means to the rest of the world. What do we "export" as far as what people think of as being uniquely American?

Also, please lets try to keep it civil, no politics

This is a really interesting thread because I've wondered what the US would do too. I just remember thinking after the Beijing Olympics how they had soooo much culture, thousands of years...the US is just a "baby"! For the record I don't remember the Atlanta or Salt Lake City ceremonies either. I do know we have some of the Atlanta closing ceremony on tape somewhere because that was the year the women's gymnastics team won gold so my sisters and I were pretty into those Olympics. Sorry to go off on a tangent...

 

[MizTink]

I am not from USA, but have lived here so long and am married to native citizen so I am used to most things in the States. However I have tons of family that visit on a regular basis, so I get to hear all sorts of things.

The number one thing they ask about is safety. I am in Naperville, IL a suburb of Chicago that is VERY safe, and they always ask if it is safe to walk around outside. They have seen so much media coverage regarding gun violence and also movies that they think all of the USA is a continuous gun shoot out. The older relatives 70+ also have lots of "gangster" Al Capone impressions of USA.

They also view everything here to be BIG: cars, houses, people, stores, food portions, and also loud. Additionally the emphasis on possessions tends to be very unsettling. My uncles teases me that the only culture of USA is fast food, shopping malls, and getting something new. I have pointed out that this is not always true, but it is hard to be convincing when driving around my town they see tons of SUV's with Rhino bars and as far as I know (and I have lived here 7 years) there are no Rhino's running free in my town.

Also the foreign policy decisions of the USA are not well received the world over. One thing that they always point out to my husband is that America is two continents and USA is a country. When someone asks you what country you are from, you sound like an idiot saying "America". Yet most of this nation identifies themselves as Americans but they don't really mean persons outside of USA.

those that i have known who have come to this country have been very clear in saying that they DO NOT consider americans the same as american government. they dislike our foreign policies, not american people.

I always feel a lot sorry for you every time you post.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

This is a really interesting thread because I've wondered what the US would do too. I just remember thinking after the Beijing Olympics how they had soooo much culture, thousands of years...the US is just a "baby"! For the record I don't remember the Atlanta or Salt Lake City ceremonies either. I do know we have some of the Atlanta closing ceremony on tape somewhere because that was the year the women's gymnastics team won gold so my sisters and I were pretty into those Olympics. Sorry to go off on a tangent...

For some reason, I am remember a covered wagon in one of those.

Of course I could also be remembering the last time I went to Dixie Stampede.


Yeah--America is a baby. But this baby has hosted a number of times. And I don't recall a single opening ceremony.

The things I associate: Red, White, Blue; Colonization, some tribute to Native Americans (even though we....took over), cowboys and indians...that kind of thing.

Stuff you see celebrated on any patriotic occasion.

Olympics hardly ever focuses on the negative. For any country, it is an opportunity to showcase the best of what they have to offer. For example--China is a really cool country, but I bet you "communism" never came up in their pageantry and don't forget their strive for perfection when they fired the "ugly girl' in lieu of a "pretty girl" for the one part of the ceremony that I have long since forgotten except for the Donald Trump handling of it like it were a beauty pageant.

ETA: Another thing that can be focused on is the things that America helped invent.....or improve. Technology--at least in its infancy, to me is a very American thing and that could be a focus. Even if countries have caught up or even surpassed us in capabilities.

 

[crashbb]

One thing that they always point out to my husband is that America is two continents and USA is a country. When someone asks you what country you are from, you sound like an idiot saying "America". Yet most of this nation identifies themselves as Americans but they don't really mean persons outside of USA.

What are they supposed to say? United Statesian just sounds stupid. I find it weird when people refer to the country as "America", but I don't think anything of it when people refer to "Americans".

 

[Robinrs]

Are you reading the same thread that the rest of us are?

I've seen mention of Las Vegas, department stores, grocery stores, the Grand Canyon, and LA. And I'm only on page 1.

They were basically discussing vacation sites. Of COURSE the people there were friendly?? My point was they were visiting, heck, people who come to visit Atlanta sees a completely different city than the ones who live here.

 

[bavaria]

What are they supposed to say? United Statesian just sounds stupid. I find it weird when people refer to the country as "America", but I don't think anything of it when people refer to "Americans".

I say 'the US' most of the time in real life but here I often say 'America' because that seems to be more common here on this website to say that? It sounds odd to my ears to say that verbally.

But the people who live in the United States of America call themselves 'American', don't they?

I don't call myself a Federal Republican of Germany.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think the "freedom" thing is overblown honestly...when I was a young kid in school, the way they taught us history, they acted as if the U.S. was the only country in the world that was "Free"...then I was told later on that there's a lot of "Free" countries now, so I was confused about why the U.S. tries to hold on to that label.

Having said that, the idea of coming here to be able to do anything if you work hard enough, that is possibly a uniquely American thing.

I agree with most of what the others have said and I'll have to find that thread about what surprises people most about visiting the U.S.

I have some friends/co-workers from the Philippines who have been here in the U.S. at different times, I love asking them what surprises them the most. So far the only real answer I've gotten is we have no rice anywhere, and there's lots of fat people compared to where they live.

That's a tough one.

It was formed based on Freedom as its colonist desired to no longer be under rule of a monarchy and have religious freedom and not be persecuted for how they wished to worship.

So it's very formation was based on that.

Beyond that, many countries have acheived freedom where its citizens do have a say and its citizens have rights--certain inalienable rights.

I'm week on my European history, I admit--but much of Europe's countries were under monarchy. Its citizens were not "free" as Americans would call themselves b/c they couldn't do anything about governing the country.

I'll bow out to someone with more extensive knowledge of world history. It all blurred in junior year of high school and I burnt out on it and pretty mcuh avoided any further course work in it.

But all i'm saying is--yes, there are many democracies today throughout the world--but that doesn't mean that "freedom" is not an important part in the creation of our own nation.

 

[Briarmom]

But the people who live in the United States of America call themselves 'American', don't they?

Yes we do, but sometimes I've gotten in trouble from people from South America. I apologize to them, and then have no idea where to go from there. I can't just say 'you're right, we're North American' because that doesn't work either.

 

[crashbb]

I say 'the US' most of the time in real life but here I often say 'America' because that seems to be more common here on this website to say that? It sounds odd to my ears to say that verbally.

But the people who live in the United States of America call themselves 'American', don't they?

I don't call myself a Federal Republican of Germany.

Well, the demonym for the US is "American", so it makes sense they people refer to them as that. Though, I do think United Statesian would be fun.

I'm safe - we are just plain old "Canada".

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Yes we do, but sometimes I've gotten in trouble from people from South America. I apologize to them, and then have no idea where to go from there. I can't just say 'you're right, we're North American' because that doesn't work either.

In that case, I'd refer to my state--and then sometimes, someone (not from south america) will say "oh, american, eh?"

You can't win.

But they have their own "non-american named country" to be proud of. I guess like them, we should break it down to the smallest common denominator like in math.

Maybe we should only refer to the county we live in.