American Culture & Society

[Armenum]

I've always wondered why the American culture and mentality has turned into what it is. Why has a mentality arose which takes prides in owning guns, believing in radical evangelist ideology, and blindly supporting America's imperialistic endeavors. It's unfortunate that such a mentality has held hostage so many Americans. And what this mentality feeds on is an uninformed and unworldly mindset, which is prevalent. Has it been the education system, or is it the location of the country? Or is also embedded into the early founding mentality. Well, it's a combination of all in my opinion. My question is though how can a people live as hostage to this? How can people tolerate such right wing agendas in a supposedly developed country?

The main problem in America also is the elite. The elite class is the people who make the most money, who work in the highest positions in huge corporations which control the nation and banks which many times cut corners just to make money. In all, there's a huge emphasis in the society in making money and using that money to buy materials. The elite cannot be just a money making class. An elite of any nation which is the most influential section of people on the nation, should be comprised of academicians, intellectuals, scientists, who have the knowledge legitimacy to hold such a high and influential position in society. They are the ones who know most about the world around and thus a much better analytical approach to the issues of the nation.

[43rdFoot]

The United States does not have one single culture. It's a mix of many different cultures, creeds, and histories. Methinks you do not understand our country like you think you do.

Why has a mentality arose which takes prides in owning guns,

The country has always been a gun owning one. It's only in the last 40 years or so that gun control has been a topic of any import. QUite frankly, people don't like being told what they can or can't do if they aren't hurting anybody. 90 years ago you could live your entire life with barely a notice that the government did anything, at least compared to today. This country has historically been one of small government, unlike Europe, where large governments have been the norm for centuries.

believing in radical evangelist ideology,

I have not once met an evangelist. WHat would it matter how they worship?

and blindly supporting America's imperialistic endeavors.

I think you are forgetting a full half of the political spectrum.

The elite class is the people who make the most money, who work in the highest positions in huge corporations which control the nation and banks which many times cut corners just to make money.

Every nation that functions has a social order. Unlike many other nations, moving down is just as possible as moving up, and a family's dominance can only expect to last a generation or two.

[removeduser_052420]

Biggest reason is because American's don't know jack didley about the rest of the world, and up until 9/11, didn't really need to. The government protected them like a bunch of spoiled little babies, and they learned the hard way that America isn't the only country in the world.

And yeah, American work ethic = pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. Which is why the poor over here are equated with leeches and laziness by conservatives.

[Armenum]

I believe that the age of small government, rural agricultural politics is long gone. In this day of age, such a political system is ridiculous and highly inefficient for a nation.

Regarding the guns, I have seen in videos how passionate a good portion of Americans get regarding guns and their right to use it. It is like they dedicate their whole lives to weapons? Weapons are nothing to be glorified or protected. Only to be used in extreme situations by authorized state users like police, not every day people. There is no need to make guns available to average citizens.

[43rdFoot]

I believe that the age of small government, rural agricultural politics is long gone. In this day of age, such a political system is ridiculous and highly inefficient for a nation.

Regarding the guns, I have seen in videos how passionate a good portion of Americans get regarding guns and their right to use it. It is like they dedicate their whole lives to weapons? Weapons are nothing to be glorified or protected. Only to be used in extreme situations by authorized state users like police, not every day people. There is no need to make guns available to average citizens.

As long as you refuse to take a historically, culturally, and governmentally open minded approach to the question of weaponage, you will never understand the U.S.'s gun culture.

[★Bandiera Rossa☭]

I believe that the age of small government, rural agricultural politics is long gone. In this day of age, such a political system is ridiculous and highly inefficient for a nation.

Regarding the guns, I have seen in videos how passionate a good portion of Americans get regarding guns and their right to use it. It is like they dedicate their whole lives to weapons? Weapons are nothing to be glorified or protected. Only to be used in extreme situations by authorized state users like police, not every day people. There is no need to make guns available to average citizens.

I disagree, as do most communists..We are almost all for an armed populace.

[removeduser_052420]

Mov, this country was basically founded on people that were tired of government telling them what to do. You can't expect it to have the same standards as europe. Not to mention this country was extremely rural for most of it's history, which is another reason why people valued guns so much.

[♔DeusVult!♔]

Firstly, I fail to see why Americans should give a about your take on American culture. Because you obviously have no legit experience with America and Americans. If you want to know why Americans feel the way they do, read our Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments to constitution).

What is the point of this post, to tell everyone of your dislike of America? I guess I might as well make a thread on Germany and preach to all Germans that their nation is a Nazi backwater where everyone hates jews. And german's have no sense of humor. And they all either wear toothbrush 'staches or are 6' 5", blond, and bench 400 lbs. And the women have hairy armpits. Its true, I saw it all on TV, man.

EDIT: I was gonna put a smackdown on every assertion in the OP, but it is so hopelessly misguided that I will just leave you to your fantasies of ignorant Americans who shoot poor people for sport and torture baby rabbits. Oh, if only we was enlightened like dem sofistercated Uropeeans! If'n only we dum folk culd reed n rite we culd understand the superier noledge of LORD MOV. Two bad I half to cling to my ignorant religion instead of listnin to them Scientifics over yonder cross the Artic Ocean. Guess i'll go n be a slave to them evil corporate aristo-cats. If only i could count i would no how much they was a'steelin from me. Please LORD MOV, TEACH ME!!!

[Armenum]

Firstly, I fail to see why Americans should give a about your take on American culture. Because you obviously have no legit experience with America and Americans. If you want to know why Americans feel the way they do, read our Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments to constitution).

What is the point of this post, to tell everyone of your dislike of America? I guess I might as well make a thread on Germany and preach to all Germans that their nation is a Nazi backwater where everyone hates jews. And german's have no sense of humor. And they all either wear toothbrush 'staches or are 6' 5", blond, and bench 400 lbs. And the women have hairy armpits. Its true, I saw it all on TV, man.

EDIT: I was gonna put a smackdown on every assertion in the OP, but it is so hopelessly misguided that I will just leave you to your fantasies of ignorant Americans who shoot poor people for sport and torture baby rabbits. Oh, if only we was enlightened like dem sofistercated Uropeeans! If'n only we dum folk culd reed n rite we culd understand the superier noledge of LORD MOV. Two bad I half to cling to my ignorant religion instead of listnin to them Scientifics over yonder cross the Artic Ocean. Guess i'll go n be a slave to them evil corporate aristo-cats. If only i could count i would no how much they was a'steelin from me. Please LORD MOV, TEACH ME!!!

This thread is more an assessment of my view on the American mentality that I find is a rather prevalent assessment on America from the world. I know in few city centres in America such as New York it is a little different story. But this assessment is more for the majority who live in the middle America, farms, etc. I'm not trying to tell everybody I dislike America or dump America, rather encourage an analytical discussion on why such a mentality arose in the American people, you can decide if the mentality is good or not.

[43rdFoot]

This thread is more an assessment of my view on the American mentality that I find is a rather prevalent assessment on America from the world. I know in few city centres in America such as New York it is a little different story. But this assessment is more for the majority who live in the middle America, farms, etc. I'm not trying to tell everybody I dislike America or dump America, rather encourage an analytical discussion on why such a mentality arose in the American people, you can decide if the mentality is good or not.

Again, unless you've been here for extended periods of time, you will not understand this place. You especially won't understand it if your entire American experience is media and forum posts.

[Armenum]

Again, unless you've been here for extended periods of time, you will not understand this place. You especially won't understand it if your entire American experience is media and forum posts.

Then enlighten me. What is this special understanding that is attained by being immersed in American society, which justifies this mentality for the better?

[43rdFoot]

Then enlighten me. What is this special understanding that is attained by being immersed in American society, which justifies this mentality for the better?

Simply put, America is ing huge. It is a big, big place, with many different cultures and histories. Hell, a 15 minute drive from where I am now will put me into a terrain and environment that is completely different. That is the nature of the United States; everywhere is something different. One thing that most of these places have in common is that they've got big wide open spaces. Big, wide open spaces are conducive to an outdoorsy, sporty culture. One aspect of that is hunting, and other forms of sport shooting.

Also, considering the fact that this country was born out of revolution. One of the legacies of that is the belief that the right to defense is a human right, not a state right. Unlike many other nations, where people have always been cogs in the machine of government, people's individual liberty is at a much higher premium.

Again, you really won't understand this place unless you spend a great deal of time here. The U.S. is unlike any other nation on Earth, save maybe Canada, and even Canada has substantial differences. Unless yout ake a great deal of time to understand the history and nature of the United States, you have about as good a chance of understanding it as I do of understanding Armenia.

[Nevins]

This thread is more an assessment of my view on the American mentality that I find is a rather prevalent assessment on America from the world. I know in few city centres in America such as New York it is a little different story. But this assessment is more for the majority who live in the middle America, farms, etc. I'm not trying to tell everybody I dislike America or dump America, rather encourage an analytical discussion on why such a mentality arose in the American people, you can decide if the mentality is good or not.

You have not clue what you are talking about do you? You are basing all of your opinions off what you have read, or what people have put up on forums, as 43rd has said. Go ahead and come and visit small town America. I guarantee that you will find it full of some of the nicest people you will ever meet. I remember when I was like you and just assumed blanket statements about other peoples where true, and then I finally got out and traveled. I visited the Normandy beaches, and while staying the night in Paris I was struck by two things, the first being that nailing street signs to the buildings is stupid, the second being that there were no snooty arrogant frenchmen sneering at the American, they all seemed pretty nice to me and the few I asked directions from were kind enough to help me.

About Gun culture, its really based in both the manner in which our nation was founded (just look up quotes by the founders on firearms) and the fact that much of America has been rural, and so a rifle has been a part of our cultural fabric for generations. Its simply the way it is, its different than Europe.

[Mr. Scott]

America is not ruled by an elite class. Our upper class is massive and the classes fold over one another. In my school there are upper, lower, and middle class men. All evenly distributed. The only way I can tell what class they are from is if I go to their house directly.

American culture is the combination of all the cultures of the world. Rock n' roll is based of carribean/african beats that transferred to new orleans and mixed with more white music. Our music, our architecture, our society, is all based of the combination of the world cultures.

The United States is not imperialistic in the traditional sense. It is economic imperialism. But this kind of american imperialism is not bad like the european imperialism. It does not drain a country of its resources. Rather, it creates a mutual benefit between the two. Look at what the marshall plan did with western Europe, or look at what the US did in South Korea. Western Europe's economic ties with the US dramatically increased and it benefited greatly, as did the US. In South Korea and Japan the US influence brought the US economy to intermingle with the Japanese and Korean economies. Korea became a first world country and Japan became one of the mighty economic powers of the world

In Iraq, a dictatorship was changed into a democracy. Yes, much blood was lost, but the end goal was met and the Iraqi's have a stable nation under a free regime. Afghanistan is still changing so I cannot make assumptions.

America is a nice nation full of generally nice people. We all aren't gun nuts. Incredibly few are. My family has a gun, but its lying up in our attic, untouched for years.

Go anywhere in America and I doubt you'll find just one race. At my school, 54% of the population is white, 19% is asian, 7% is black, and 20% are hispanic

[removeduser_052420]

America is not ruled by an elite class. Our upper class is massive and the classes fold over one another. In my school there are upper, lower, and middle class men. All evenly distributed. The only way I can tell what class they are from is if I go to their house directly.

American culture is the combination of all the cultures of the world. Rock n' roll is based of carribean/african beats that transferred to new orleans and mixed with more white music. Our music, our architecture, our society, is all based of the combination of the world cultures.

The United States is not imperialistic in the traditional sense. It is economic imperialism. But this kind of american imperialism is not bad like the european imperialism. It does not drain a country of its resources. Rather, it creates a mutual benefit between the two. Look at what the marshall plan did with western Europe, or look at what the US did in South Korea. Western Europe's economic ties with the US dramatically increased and it benefited greatly, as did the US. In South Korea and Japan the US influence brought the US economy to intermingle with the Japanese and Korean economies. Korea became a first world country and Japan became one of the mighty economic powers of the world

In Iraq, a dictatorship was changed into a democracy. Yes, much blood was lost, but the end goal was met and the Iraqi's have a stable nation under a free regime. Afghanistan is still changing so I cannot make assumptions.

America is a nice nation full of generally nice people. We all aren't gun nuts. Incredibly few are. My family has a gun, but its lying up in our attic, untouched for years.

Go anywhere in America and I doubt you'll find just one race. At my school, 54% of the population is white, 19% is asian, 7% is black, and 20% are hispanic

Wow, it might help to take off the blindfold and realize that America isn't perfect....

[Nevins]

Wow, it might help to take off the blindfold and realize that America isn't perfect....

Where did he say perfect, he was just highlighting the best parts.

[removeduser_052420]

Where did he say perfect, he was just highlighting the best parts.

Where he talked about how America "saved" Iraq, and about how economic imperialism was helpful to other countries.

[Mr. Scott]

Where he talked about how America "saved" Iraq, and about how economic imperialism was helpful to other countries.

Did i ever say "save"?
I said that American economic imperialism creates a mutual benefit.

I know america isn't perfect. Generally the US tries to do the right thing, however, it doesn't always work out to be that way. It doesn't always end up successful. Sometimes, the US's attempt at aiding a people, only hurts them more. But the good the US does outweighs the bad.

When it comes to gun control, whatever decision comes won't effect my daily life. But, I would hate to see the day when the people fear the governmen instead of the other way around (how it should be).



So tell me what is wrong with America.

How can people tolerate such right wing agendas in a supposedly developed country?

It is because these right wing agendas that you speak of are the roots of our society. They are the basis on which America was formed.

[Azog 150]

The United States is not imperialistic in the traditional sense. It is economic imperialism. But this kind of american imperialism is not bad like the european imperialism. It does not drain a country of its resources. Rather, it creates a mutual benefit between the two. Look at what the marshall plan did with western Europe, or look at what the US did in South Korea. Western Europe's economic ties with the US dramatically increased and it benefited greatly, as did the US. In South Korea and Japan the US influence brought the US economy to intermingle with the Japanese and Korean economies. Korea became a first world country and Japan became one of the mighty economic powers of the world

In Iraq, a dictatorship was changed into a democracy. Yes, much blood was lost, but the end goal was met and the Iraqi's have a stable nation under a free regime. Afghanistan is still changing so I cannot make assumptions.

Why is American Imperialism any better or worse then European imperialism? You seem to see things through rose tinted glasses. Democracy and American culture= good. Everything else= bad.

How do you explain America propping up dictators who murder their own people (Saddam being an example)? How do you explain escapades like Iraq?

The Western World (america included) does drain peoples resources. For example we buy raw materials and whatnot of Africa dirt cheap. We make them into something useful, then sell them back at a greatly increased price. I would say that is a drain on Africa's resources.




I am not having a go at America. But you can't say American imperialism= good. European imperialism= bad. They both have their good and bad points.

As for our 'Imperialistic ways', well number one if you ever want to get an honest talk from an American about it don't call it Imperialistic, at least to me-- it just makes you seem like you have a severe case of penis envy. But regarding that, America has worldwide interests and commitments. Some of it is stuff we put ourselves in and other things we were dragged into. Either way, one cannot simply withdraw that influence. It's so obvious anyways, that when the US does not act we are villainized and if we do act it's the same outcome. The fact of the matter is that the rest of the world is much like a family and America wears the daddy pants. I'm sure you can relate this to your life to a degree. Sometimes daddy does what he wants and the children don't like it, sometimes daddy pays too much attention to some children while ignoring others--earning the admonishment of the ignored child, sometimes daddy doesn't listen to the older children and that makes them mad. In the end it's hard to be the daddy, but we're doing our best.

I am sorry to say America is imperialistic. Its just a different form of imperialism from the traditional sense.

America has a series of puppet governments across the world, it has military bases scattered world wide, it has the ability to invade pretty much any country in the world and its not afraid to put this ability to use, American culture is openly encouraged to spread, it uses its economic and military might to swing things in its favour world wide. Sure, its not quite as obvious as going to a country, declaring it yours and using its resources. But it is still imperialism and its exactly the same principle that we Britain/France/Portugal etc had back in the days of Empires I think historians in 100 years time will see it as such.

And again, I am not saying this is a bad thing (Although obviously those on the receiving end will see it as a bad thing).

[Captain Jin]

How do you explain America propping up dictators who murder their own people (Saddam being an example)?

Sorry man, America never propped up Saddam, you should probably do some more reading. Most of the rest of that was done during the Cold War which was admittedly bad but we look back upon it with 'rose-tinted' glasses as you say. With the benefit of hindsight we deem these actions to be wrong or unnecessary yet we neither lived in those times nor do we understand the context of what was occurring between the Soviet Union and the United States.

Anyways, I think what he means is we didn't directly try to conquer other countries and rule them in a manner that uplifted whoever our settlers were above the natives of that country. We have our own hegemony and we affect people greatly, but I think his meaning is it's not as evident or perhaps as destructive.

I am sorry to say America is imperialistic. Its just a different form of imperialism from the traditional sense.

America has a series of puppet governments across the world, it has military bases scattered world wide, it has the ability to invade pretty much any country in the world and its not afraid to put this ability to use, American culture is openly encouraged to spread, it uses its economic and military might to swing things in its favour world wide.

Lol, if it's not imperialism in the traditional sense; ie it doesn't fit the definition of Imperialism then how the hell is it Imperialism? It's a global hegemony based upon the fact that we were a superpower battling with another and now we are the sole remaining one.

Please list the series of puppet governments. The military bases worldwide close whenever the host government that has them there wants them to. Don't believe me? Then why did the US pull out all of it's bases in France when France asked? Why does the US worry about the fate of its base in Kyrgyzstan?

About American culture, what do you mean it is openly encouraged to spread? You mean we have Gestapo troops in your room forcing you to watch our television shows or our or movies or you willingly tune in, or go to the cinema or purchase a coca-cola?? And of course we use economic and military might to swing favor or influence, those are all an extension of diplomacy and other countries do the exact same thing, but it's on a smaller scale-- does that make other nations Imperialists too?