American Worldview

In the last post, we were talking about understanding African culture. However, before we can really understand any other culture, we must first understand our own culture (i.e., point of reference on life). So how do people in American culture generally view life? What are the rules that govern the average American's worldview? For this post, I am going to borrow from a book that I recommend to you on this subject of cultural complications, "American Cultural Baggage - how to recognize and deal with it" by Stan Nussbaum.

In his book, Mr. Nussbaum, highlights 10 cultural values in the American society. He calls them the 10 Commandments of American Culture. Though there are varying degrees of these values in different individuals, I think you will agree and chuckle at the resemblance that you will see.

1. You can't argue with success (Be a success!)
2. Live and let live (Be tolerant!)
3. Time flies when you are having fun (Have lots of fun!)
4. Shop till you drop
5. Just do it
6. You are only young once (Do whatever you can while you have the chance!)
7. Enough is enough (Stand up for your rights!)
8. Rules are made to be broken (Think for yourself!)
9. Time is money (Don't waste time!)
10. God helps those who help themselves (Work hard!)

Americans, by and large, tend to be very ethnocentric people. After living abroad in a foreign country for 3 years, we can usually spot an American visitor at a moment's notice. And not because everyone over here is black-skinned. To the contrary, there are many caucasian English-speaking people in our very community. However, Americans in general, have a unique ability to proclaim their presence in foreign lands, by virtue of their ethnocentricity. Not all cultures have the same 'values' as American culture, and many Americans cannot seem to understand or appreciate that fact! Thus Americans are often seen as loud and brash. Though I am American through and through, sometimes the 'loud American' makes me want to curl up and hide my true identity :-).

I am working on a list of the 10 Commandments of African Culture for my next post. We'll keep you in suspense for now:-).