JOINING AND PROTESTING

In movies and in literature, Americans love a story about a person who, all alone, fights a social evil and wins. But in the real world, Americans are mоге likely to organize a group when they want to bring about social change.

These groups can be divided into three types, based upon their goals. First, groups have bean organized to protest some government action and demand a change of policy. For example, the groups that protested American involvement in the Vietnam War during the 1960s were quite influential in persuading the government to leave Vietnam. Groups have also protested the go­vernment 'a large stockpile of nuclear weapons and pleaded for nuclear disarmament.

Second, many groups protest social evils, such as drunk dri­ving, pollution, and the sale and use of handguns and illegal drugs. These groups urge the government to pass more laws res­tricting dangerous behavior and to punish more severely those who disobey the laws. Some of these groups accomplish a great deal. For example, those fighting pollution have created recycling centers for glass, metal, and paper, and have encouraged local governmental agencies to check automobiles and factories to be sure that they are not excessively polluting the air.

The third type of group is the one that campaigns for the rights of minorities. In resent years, women, blacks, American Indians, and Hispanics have all given their versions of Americ­an history and destroyed any illusions that this nation really offered justice and equality for all. Homosexuals have campaigned actively not to be discriminated against, especially on the job. Handicapped people have fought for the installation of ramps and other devices so that they have access to public buildings and public transportation. Senior citizens have organised to promote their interests. And women (who have been discrimina­ted against although they are in the majority) continue their or­ganised efforts to obtain equal opportunity in the working world and to defend their right to obtain legal abortions.

In general, these various groups have two main goals. The first is to educate the public. The second is to influence govern­mental bodies to pass legislation that will benefit their causes. These groups reflect the American belief that the efforts of or­dinary citizens can improve conditions, especially if people unite in a common cause.

HURRY, HURRY, HURRY

Almost every American wears a watch, and, in nearly every room in an American home, there's a clock. "Be on time". "Don't waste time", "time is money". "Time waits for no one". All of these familiar sayings reflect the American obsession with promptness and efficiency. Students and employees displease their teachers and bosses when they arrive late. This desire to get the most out of every minute often affects behavior, making Americans impatient when they have to wait. The pressure to make every moment count sometimes makes it difficult for Americans to relax and do nothing.

The desire to save time and handle work efficiently also leads Americans to buy many kinds of machines. These range from house­hold appliances to equipment for the office, such as calculators, photocopy machines, and computers. One popular machine is the -video cassette recorder (VCR), which gives Americans a new kind of control over time. Baseball fans don't have to miss the Sunday afternoon game on TV because of a family birthday party.

They simply videotape it. Then, for them, the Sunday afternoon game occurs on Sunday evening.

ARE AMERICANS MATERIALISTIC?

Americans have one of the highest standards of living in the world. Because they spend so much money for goods and services, Americans are often accused of being materialistic, of valuing above all else money and the things it can buy. Of course, ad­vertising encourages people to keep buying things far beyond what they need. Sometimes purchases are made in order to "keep up with the Joneses",- to show friends that one can afford a big­ger house or a fancier car. Expensive possessions are symbols of the owner's financial success. In the mld-19th century, the American author Henry David Thoreau advised his readers, "Sim­plify your needs!" But 20th-century Americans have moved in the opposite direction. Now, just as Thoreau predicted, many find that their possessions own them. They must work hard to make enough money to pay for and maintain the house, car, TV, stereo, computer, and many other things they consider necessities.

In defense of the materialistic American, one expert on Ame­rican culture points out, "... however eager we are to make mo­ney, we are just as eager to give it away. Any ... disaster finds Americans writing checks to relieve distress ... Genero­sity and materialism run side by side".

STRAIGHT TALK

Most people agree that the direct, assertive American perso­nality is a virtue, but it sometimes surprises foreigners. In many cultures, respect for older people or those in positions of authority keeps others from expressing their true feelings. But in the U.S.A., children often argue with their parents, stu­dents may disagree with their teachers, and citizens may express opposition to the actions of the government. If the soup has a fly in it or the meat is too tough to chew, the diner can com­plain to the waiter. If a teacher is wrong or confusing, a stu­dent will say so. If the boss makes a mistake, an employee will politely point it out.

Some straight talk about the American character must include the admission that Americans have their faults. The extremely competitive nature of Americans is probably their worst fault. Of course, competition isn't always bad. In fact, it promotes excellence by encouraging individuals (and businesses) to try to do their best. But the desire to get ahead of others some­times causes people to do things that are unkind and even dis­honest.

Also, Americans admire what is practical, fast, efficient, and new. Sometimes they fail to understand and appreciate cultures that have greater respect for more traditional, leisurely ways of doing things. Conversely, people from other cultures may dislike the practical, hectic American lifestyle.

Despite cultural differences, most foreigners give Americans credit for their virtues. Americans are generally viewed as friendly, adaptable, energetic, and kindhearted. Most newcomers to the U.S.A. like Americans, and the feeling is usually mutual, perhaps the greatest American virtue is a deep interest in new ideas and new people. In a nation of immigrants, the foreigner does not remain an outsider for long.

EQUAL ITY

Americans are also distinctive in the degree to which they believe in the ideal, as stated in their Declaration of Indepen­dence, that "all men are created equal". Although they sometimes violate the ideal in their daily lives, particularly in matters of interracial relationships, Americans have a deep faith that in some fundamental way all people (at least all American people) are of equal value, that no one is born superior to anyone else. "One man, one vote", they say, conveying the idea that any per­son's opinion is as valid and worthy of attention as any other person's opinion.

Americans are generally quite uncomfortable when someone treats them with obvious deference. They dislike being the sub­jects of open displays of respect —being bowed to, being de­ferred to, being treated as though they could do no wrong or make no unreasonable requests.

It is not just males who are created equal, in the American conception, but females too. While Americans often violate the idea in practice, they do generally assume that women are the equal of men, deserving of the same level of respect, Women, ac­cording to the viewpoint of the feminists who since the 1970s have been struggling to get what they consider a "fair shake" for females in the society, may bе different from men but are in no way inferior to them.

This is not to say that Americans make no distinctions among themselves as a result of such factors as sex, age, wealth, or social position. They do. But the distinctions are acknowledged in subtle ways. Tone of voice, order of speaking, choice of words, seating arrangements— such are the means by which Americans acknowledge status differences among themselves, people of higher status are more likely to speak first, louder, and longer. They sit at the head of the table, or in the most com­fortable chair. They feel free to interrupt other speakers more than others feel free to interrupt them. The higher status per­son may put a hand on the shoulder of the lower status person; if there is touching between the people involved, the higher sta­tus person will touch first.

Foreigners who are accustomed to more obvious displays of respect (such as bowing, averting eyes from the face of the higher status person, or using honorific titles) often overlook the ways in which Americans show respect for people of higher status. They think, incorrectly, that Americans are generally unaware of status differences and disrespectful of other people. What is distinctive about the American outlook on the matter of equality are the underlying assumptions that no matter what his or her . initial station in life, any individual has the potential to achieve high standing and that everyone, no matter how unfortu­nate, deserves some basic level of respectful treatment.

TIME

One of the more difficult things many foreign businessmen and students must adjust to in the States is the notion that time must be saved whenever possible and used wisely every day.

In their efforts to use their time wisely, Americans are sometimes seen by foreign visitors as automatons, unhuman cre­atures who are so tied to their clocks and their schedules that they cannot participate in or enjoy the human interactions that are the truly important things in life. “They are like little machines running around", one foreign visitor said.

The premium Americans place on efficiency is closely related to their concepts of the future, change, and time. To do some­thing efficiently is to do it in the way that is quickest and requires the smallest expenditure of resources. American busi­nesses sometimes hire "efficiency experts" to review their op­erations and suggest ways in which they could accomplish more than they are currently accomplishing with the resources they are investing. Popular periodicals carry suggestions for more efficient ways to shop, cook, clean house, do errands, raise children, tend the yard, and on and on.

In this context the "fast-food industry" can be seen as a clear example of an American cultural product. McDonald's, Ken­tucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, and other fast-food establish­ments prosper in a country where many people want to minimize the amount of time they spend preparing and eating meals. The millions' of Americans who take their meals at fast-food restau­rants cannot have much interest in lingering over their food while conversing with friends, as millions of Europeans do. As McDonald's restaurants have spread around the world, they have been viewed as symbols of American society and culture, bring­ing not just hamburgers but an emphasis on speed, efficiency, and shiny cleanliness. The typical American food, some obser­vers argue, is fast food.