What are some of the most misunderstood parts of American culture?
Brian Maskell, President at BMA Inc. (1994-present)
Before I moved permanently to the USA, I had an expectation that American people were brash, noisy, opinionated, self satisfied, and under educated. This was based on watching TV and reading snobby British and European books, journals, and journalists.
When I emigrated to America I soon learned my deep ignorance of American society. While the USA - like other countries - has it’s share of Trump’s and idiots, the majority of people are caring, interesting, thoughtful, open minded, hardworking, and decent.
When I thought about it some more, I realized that the contribution of many people in the United States are extremely creative and have developed vibrant culture in almost every aspect of western life - from Elvis to Georgia O’Keefe to Reinhold Niebuhr to Langston Hughes to Michael Jordan to Thomas Edison to Heisenburg & Oppenheimer, Bill Gates, the Wright Brothers, Bob Dylan, Steve Jobs, Joseph Pulitzer, Aaron Copeland, Martin Luther King, Thomas Jefferson, Mark Twain, and countless others.
Speaking for myself - and perhaps for a lot of other Europeans - I did not think that America was as intellectually vital as the UK & Europe. When in fact the USA is at least the equal and probably way ahead of most other countries in these most important aspects.
Another Quora post ... one which liberals will hate. |
