Cross-American Passions

The 1980’s is one of the most interesting decades that was experienced in the United States. Dealing with the stock market, the coming up of new inventions, all the way to the types of music people listened to. During the 1980s, the only thing that made Americans be “Americans” was because of the things they were provided with. Many Americans had fun throughout the 1980s with materialistic, glamorous, and technological life styles; therefore there were different economical problems that Americans faced.

Europeans felt that civilization was the pinnacle of human achievement. When they began settling across Canada, they began making assumptions about the First Nations, Inuit & Metis people. It was assumed that the aboriginal culture was unable to adapt to a rapidly modernizing society. The aboriginals were viewed as ignorant, savage, uncivilized and quite possibly rivals. Essentially, the native ways were viewed childish. The settlers realized that the natives culture, faith, education and trade were drastically different to European ways. Their ways appeared primitive. Duncan Campbell Scott, who was the Deputy Minister of Indian Affairs in Canada in 1920, has been quoted on the record saying, "I want to get rid of the Indian problem. I do not think as a matter of fact, that the country ought to continuously protect a class of people who are able to stand alone... Our objective is to continue until there is not a single Indian in Canada that has not been absorbed into the body politic and there is no Indian question, and no Indian Department.”

Oftentimes the children of immigrants to the United States lose the sense of cultural background in which their parents had tried so desperately to instill within them. According to Walter Shear, “It is an unseen terror that runs through both the distinct social spectrum experienced by the mothers in China and the lack of such social definition in the daughters’ lives.” This “unseen terror” is portrayed in Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club as four Chinese women and their American-born daughters struggle to understand one another’s culture and values. The second-generation women in The Joy Luck Club prove to lose their sense of Chinese values, becoming Americanized.

Known as the land of possibilities, the United States of America encourages dreams to become reality. Many people immigrate to America, seeking the opportunity to create a better life for themselves. Americans take pride in the principles of liberty, expression of values, freedom, and equality their country was founded on. These elements set the stage for the United States and explain why so many citizens have an immense love for their promising country.

Ever since I can remember, I have grown up in a bi-lingual and bi-cultural environment. Having lived in Mexico City for the first 13 years of my life and holding dual citizenship, I learned at an early age to juggle between my Mexican-American cultures. Consequently, because of my background, I always knew that I wanted to dedicate my career in the international sector. On top of everything, my paternal side comes from Spain, whereas my maternal side comes from Poland. They were Jewish immigrants that fled during World War II in search for a better life for my grandfather. They eventually arrived in Mexico and that is how my family began their legacy in Mexico.

Throughout the 1960s there was a cultural phenomenon that started in the United States and spread like wildfire to multiple other cultures in the world. This phenomenon was also known as countercultures. This decade raised the 76.4 million Americans born during the baby boom generation. The babies of this boom entered their teen years during the 1960s and they definitely embraced a multitude new standards, dramatically different from the way their parents were raised. While some encompassed new ideals in dress, music and movies others joined countercultures and rebelled against the social norms with poetry, novels and art. Three of the most altering countercultures were the Hippies, the Sexual Revolution and the Gay Liberation.

Moreover, going along with how European features are often coveted, when there are mixed people who share features of Asians and whites a microaggression against monoracial people of color arises. I am half Chinese and half Cambodian but I get told things like, “You have such big eyes,” and asked, “Are you half Asian and half white?” It’s offensive because they are implying that it’s impossible to 1.) Have big eyes as an Asian person 2.) Be beautiful with “standard Asian features.” Mixed people are assumed to be more attractive, and this negates the beauty of monoracial people of color and always rewards people who have European features. It also exotifies mixed people because they deviate from the American society’s traditional beauty standards

Exposure of the indigenous people of North America to Euro-American cultures reflects within Native American art. Euro-Americans here being used as term for Europeans and their descendants who emigrated to North America. From the point Europeans traveled in large numbers to America they caused severe changes in the peoples who lived in North America. Due to the trade with Europe and the crops they brought to North America, indigenous peoples were able to expand the materials they used for their art. Forced integration, migration, and fighting with Euro-Americans created changes within the stories represented in their visual culture. Examples of changes caused by trade can be seen in a Potawatomi bag from

I am a product of the motherland. I was born in Monrovia, Liberia on the twelfth of January 1994. For a good portion of my life, the combination of violence and poverty help shape my perception of society. Thirteen years of civil war introduce me to the brutal nature of humans, and how one can neglect the power of humanity. Growing up in Africa expose me to the struggle while instilling in me the power to outcome whatever is threw in my direction. The educational system of Liberia is and was damage during my youth, we were instructed to learn topics that did not suit our interest. Majority of what we learn was given down from American curriculum. I grew up thinking America was a heaven of earth. I learned more about White Folks then I did about Dr. King or Rose Park. In all honesty, I was more familiar with Dr. King’s birthday than the history left by one of the greatest leaders to grace this planet. Liberia and its government have an obsession with American culture. Since we were colonized by America, it’s acceptable for us to look upon America as a source of comfort. What I never understood was, why wasn't our teachers focus on educating us on

The study of American exceptionalism and cross-cultural communications has the ability to improve U.S. military effectiveness in USPACOM. Understanding these two cultural principles will improve effectiveness in three ways. First, it allows USPACOM personnel to understand their biases. Second, it gives USPACOM personnel a perspective on how nations in their area of responsibility may potentially view their actions. Finally, cross-cultural communications provides tools for USPACOM personnel to overcome their biases and skepticism from potential partners or adversaries, setting the stage for more effective military engagements.

Being achievement oriented, volunteering and believing in progress are three of the American values that resemble my own philosophy of life. My beliefs parallel American values given that I am methodical. I am convinced, as the popular saying goes, people without aspirations and dreams are dead; therefore, setting goals and measuring are activities included in my routine. For instance, after I organize my duties, I use checklists to scope my accomplishments. Another significant precept in my life – included in the American values - is volunteering. Helping others contributes to realize equality and, consequently, social improvement. As an illustration, I have volunteered tutoring teenagers of juvenile correction centres, because if I lead them

What is an American to you? To me, an American is someone who believes in freedom and follows the way of life that the Constitution laid out for us. An American is someone who thinks freely and doesn’t let anyone tell them who they have to be. Americans believe everyone has the opportunity to do the things they love. Americans are different from than everyone else. We have different outlooks on life. We value everyone no matter their ethnicity, race, religion, or political views.

During the early 1900’s, The United States government was ruled by white men that have captivated the American patriotism. The patriotism of the American society was greatly enchanted by the white superiors wanting to establish a strong American values and culture. The era of the time gave little hopes and dreams of living in a land that its purpose was to give the opportunities to all newcomers. However it was a different scenario among the Mexican American community. The Mexican communities within the United States are force to adapt to a new tradition due to the defeat of Mexican-American War. The Mexican government efforts to persuade its people to leave the United States were no effect because of their disloyalties to its government. From here on the Mexican-American community in the United States will decide its own self recognition of identity.

Culture is a behavior that consists of several critical elements, such as language, religion, race and ethnicity, clothing and politics. Culture is what one does in his/her daily life. In order to understand others, we must first keep in mind that every culture carries its own set of values and assumptions. Culture is an evolving, ever changing civilization, which includes several different groups people. For immigrants, America is a land of opportunity; for others it is just the best country in the world because of its economic success and/or its democratic political system. Americans usually value independence a lot, believe in equal opportunity, and have a direct communication

    Before traveling through Europe last summer, friends advised me to avoid being identified as an American.  Throughout Europe, the term American connotes arrogance and insensitivity to local culture.  In line with the foregoing stereotype, the unnamed narrator's use of the term American in Margaret Atwood's Surfacing is used to describe individuals of any nationality who are unempathetic and thus destructive.  The narrator, however, uses the word in the context of her guilt over her abortion and consequent emotional numbness.  The narrator's vituperative definition of American as an individual who is unempathetic and destructive is largely attributable to the narrator's projection of her own