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

[crashbb]

Ever heard of "The American Dream"?

Are people flocking to Canada all the time so they can live a better life and become rich? I know lots of people come to the U.S. for that reason, or at least they used to.

People (including Americans) are flocking to Canada looking for a better life. In fact, as a per capita number, Canada has far more immigrants than does the US.

Just because you guys gave it a name, does not mean it is uniquely yours.

 

[bavaria]

Note that the survey was a relatively small sample size; 17,000 people total from a number of countries. The India response doesn't surprise me from an economic standpoint, but it differs from my own personal experiences in that country and the responses I receive to the same question.

I suspect that as crashbb pointed out, on a per capita basis the immigration from India to Canada is equal or greater than that to the US, especially due to the recent job losses and subsequent departure of Indians from America in the last two years.

http://origin-www.rd.com/your-ameri...d-sees-the-2008-election/article102257-2.html

Who Would Move Here if They Could
Asians and Africans consider the United States a path out of poverty. And while most Eastern Europeans would stay at home, the French see us as the land of second chances.

Speaking of which, a majority of the French—the French!—express an interest in relocating to the United States. To some, this number might seem like a typographical error. Philippe Labro, a well-known French writer and filmmaker, told Reader's Digest that to the French, "the reality of the American Dream" is embedded in the life stories of both presidential candidates. "America is still that land of the second chance, of multiple opportunities, where anyone can succeed," he attests.

This view certainly prevails in India. Some 73 percent of respondents there express interest in relocating to the United States, which begs the question of where we'd put another, oh, 800 million people. Perhaps there's some room in Canada, even though only about 25 percent of the Canadians surveyed say they'd consider moving south.

In Mexico, the nation that already sends the most immigrants our way, one third of those polled say they'd relocate here—a number that would surely be larger if the millions who have already voted with their feet could have been polled before they made the trip.

 

[crashbb]

Note that the survey was a relatively small sample size; 17,000 people total from a number of countries. The India response doesn't surprise me from an economic standpoint, but it differs from my own personal experiences in that country and the responses I receive to the same question.

I suspect that as crashbb pointed out, on a per capita basis the immigration from India to Canada is equal or greater than that to the US, especially due to the recent job losses and subsequent departure of Indians from America in the last two years.

http://origin-www.rd.com/your-ameri...d-sees-the-2008-election/article102257-2.html

Note, though, that question was not "where would you move if you could?", but "would you move to the US"? At least, I think so, the article titles the section "Who Would Move Here if They Could?"

I suspect an open ended - "If you could move, which country would you like to move to?", would give different results. Someone might move to the US if they could, but would prefer to move to Germany (or somewhere else).

 

[bavaria]

Hmm, crashbb may be right

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/i...igrant-population-immigrants-percentage-state

Immigrants as percentage of state population (most recent) by country
Canada 18.76
US 12.81

 

[bavaria]

Note, though, that question was not "where would you move if you could?", but "would you move to the US"? At least, I think so, the article titles the section "Who Would Move Here if They Could?"

I suspect an open ended - "If you could move, which country would you like to move to?", would give different results. Someone might move to the US if they could, but would prefer to move to Germany (or somewhere else).

Yes, it is a very leading question.

My question is 'If you were not living/working here, and could choose anywhere in the world, where would it be?'

That tends to elicit a different response because it removes barriers such as visa restrictions and quotas.

 

[crashbb]

Hmm, crashbb may be right

http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/i...igrant-population-immigrants-percentage-state

Immigrants as percentage of state population (most recent) by country
Canada 18.76
US 12.81

MAY be right?? MAY??
Hmph.

 

[bavaria]

MAY be right?? MAY??
Hmph.

You are the numbers expert - I may be misreading them or having issues with translation.

 

[bavaria]

So going back to my link, I strongly suspect that the primary reason for immigration to countries 2-19 on the list is economic reasons. Most of those countries have a large immigrant work force which performs less desirable jobs and sends money back to family in developing nations, are growing at a more rapid pace and thus have more job opportunities, or have opportunities in unique professions requiring a certain skill set, or are somewhat of a haven for the wealthy.

Country number 1 has a very different reason of course.

 

[Explodo]

You want to know a uniquely american Quality?

When something bad happens...we as a culture have the tendancy to run to the problem, not away from it.

And I've been all over the world...Every Continent, 129 countries. We as a country will respond like no other.

 

[bavaria]

I don't think that is a uniquely American quality.

One of the factors is simply size and numbers - the population is so large and combined with the wealth of the country you can send more troops or aid than other countries. A country like Canada cannot send as many resources when they have a population which is a small fraction of the US.

Again, I believe that America has a great PR machine. Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't mean that other countries do not do great things as well. Ask Hamid Karzai for instance which countries have done a lot for his people, and you may be surprised at what he said.

 

[crashbb]

I don't think that is a uniquely American quality.

One of the factors is simply size and numbers - the population is so large and combined with the wealth of the country you can send more troops or aid than other countries. A country like Canada cannot send as many resources when they have a population which is a small fraction of the US.

Again, I believe that America has a great PR machine. Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't mean that other countries do not do great things as well. Ask Hamid Karzai for instance which countries have done a lot for his people, and you may be surprised at what he said.

I would love to hear what a Londoner has to say about the fact that they run away from problems. I don't remember hearing a lot about running after the 7/7/7 bombings.

 

[bavaria]

I would love to hear what a Londoner has to say about the fact that they run away from problems. I don't remember hearing a lot about running after the 7/7/7 bombings.

And then there is the media impact - when I travel, I see CNN and BBCWorld and Al Jazeera. The CBC doesn't have a world wide feed. They are not telling the world about what happens in their country, or what they are doing in the world.

Canada doesn't have the same PR machine (and may not even want it?) And I don't know how many Americans watch other countries' new channels, like BBCWorld etc

 

[minnie56]

I would love to hear what a Londoner has to say about the fact that they run away from problems. I don't remember hearing a lot about running after the 7/7/7 bombings.

I'll say...the Brits are ALWAYS there!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[bavaria]

I'll say...the Brits are ALWAYS there!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at Britain during WWII and how a tiny country withstood so much for so long, essentially alone with little outside resources. They have great reason to be proud of what they achieved and how they managed to survive that period.

 

[minnie56]

Look at Britain during WWII and how a tiny country withstood so much for so long, essentially alone with little outside resources. They have great reason to be proud of what they achieved and how they managed to survive that period.

YES, they do. Small country , HUGE heart! For so long they did it alone...

 

[Explodo]

Love the Brits to no end...great culture...BUt we were talking about the american culture.

And since America was a british colony colony in the begining...I would expect to see similarities.

 

[crashbb]

Love the Brits to no end...great culture...BUt we were talking about the american culture.

And since America was a british colony colony in the begining...I would expect to see similarities.

You said that running towards a problem is something that only Americans do. We pointed out a number of different cultures that also run towards problems.

Similarities between Britain and America would be done to British traits, not American ones.

Either the trait is uniquely American (as you first stated) or it isn't. I think we'd all agree (though maybe not you) that it definitely isn't. I'm sure we can find examples of countries that were never under the British Empire that also have the trait - shocking, I know.

 

[Explodo]

And I'm saying no one does it the way we do. Sometimes I swear the brits would lay claim on breathing.

 

[bavaria]

Well, let's pick one! Germany for instance. National service combined with the limits set in the Basic Law means that we have a large number of people involved in service at home and abroad in non-military roles and many of them end up staying, or continuing in volunteer roles in first response or aid. And it is not unique to males; we women also work with such organzations. We just don't have a strong advertising department.

Many men who choose this option, become so engrossed in the developmental needs of such countries that they stay abroad many years longer than the legal requirement. The disproportionately high percentage of German nationals found in many international aid, conservation, medical and technical assistance organizations active in developing countries may be directly attributable to this trend.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conscription_in_Germany

And let's not forget UN Peacekeepers too... http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/feb/03/david-smith-india-troops-congo

 

[crashbb]

And I'm saying no one does it the way we do. Sometimes I swear the brits would lay claim on breathing.

And we are saying you are wrong - and have provided examples. And no none of us are British, so you final sentence makes no sense at all.

Sometimes I swear, Americans would lay claim in breathing.