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Are all Americans racist? (pg. 3)
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| Renegade |
| quote: | Originally posted by imokruok
I have a problem with that statement. Here's why. Americans, for some reason, are expected to know everything about the rest of the world.
The fact is that most students around the world learn about America in school. I have friends in Hong Kong, the UK, and Holland, and all of them have a great deal of knowledge about the US because after learning about their own nations, they learn about America.
Do Americans, in turn, learn everything about every single other nation in the world? No, they don't. But most Americans know a great deal about one or two countries, at least. This puts them on the same level as the rest of the world.
For example, my family is of German and Italian heritage, and we are quite knowledgable about what goes on in those nations. But when someone from, say, Austria comes up to me and automatically expects me to know all about their government, that's unreasonable. |
It's not about knowing everything about every country, or about knowing as much about other cultures as they know about yours, it's just about being aware of what lies beyond your own borders: not being willfully ignorant. As the biggest nation in the world, it should come as no suprise that people know more about you nation than you do about theirs, but it's still no excuse for cultural ignorance which, in itself, gives way to racial intolerence and xenophobia. There's no excuses, with the media availble in this technological age, to not have a basic, functioning grasp on geography and foreign cultures.
So, haveing said that, I don't know whether the popular perception of the US being full of culturally ignorant individuals is accurate (you tell me), but it's pretty hard to justify things like this:
| quote: | The survey asked 56 geographic and current events questions of young people in nine countries and scored the results with traditional grades.
The surveyed Americans got a "D," with an average of 23 correct answers. Mexico ranked last with an average score of 21, just three points from a failing grade.
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"Someone once said that war is God's way of teaching geography, but today, apparently war or even the threat of war cannot adequately teach geography," said John Fahey, president of the National Geographic Society.
"More American young people can tell you where an island that the 'Survivor' TV series came from is located than can identify Afghanistan or Iraq. Ironically a TV show seems more real or at least more meaningful interesting or relevant than reality." |
http://edition.cnn.com/2002/EDUCATI...quiz/index.html
| quote: | | People all too often call defending one's own culture racist or intolerant, but at some point you need to defend your history, your government, and your common culture. Or it begins to turn into the same sewer of a culture that the immigrants were trying to escape. |
My culture only exists because it was forcefully created by a bunch of foreigners and same with yours. The notion that we have to "protect" our culture from foreigners implies that we believe ours to be in some way "superior" and thus that we cannot afford to surrender it to those of an "inferior" culture. Now, I know that's probably not what you intended to say, but that's what it amounts to.
Culture evolves dialectically, it isn't stagnant. If people want to introduce new viewpoints to "my" culture then I'm all for it: it's a way of viewing our own commonly held belief systems objectively (i.e. from the perspective of an outside culture) and working towards improving them. |
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| trancaholic |
| quote: | Originally posted by NeoPhono
I'd like to comment about other countries learning about America. True, it may not be a subject in school, however I'd imagine much of what you see in your daily life comes from America. I know from my time in Europe that American news is displayed there much more than European news is shown here. Also, although you may loathe the idea, much of the music, movies and television shown in Europe is American. Therefore, although not expressly "taught," Europeans as well as those from other countries, are exposed to America, American culture and Americans much more than Americans are exposed to outside sources and cultures. We simply don't have as much outside influence as outsiders have American influence. |
True. I do not deny that the rest of the world is exposed to American culture and news more than Americans are exposed to news and culture from the rest of the world. And I do not "loathe" that we are exposed to this, as most people I know are well aware of this fact and do not uncritically embrace your way of life as their own.
My comment was directed at the (implicit) arrogance in assuming that the US is the main topic of interest for non-US people. Admittedly, the US has become hard to ignore under the Bush-administration (which ironically was described as practicing isolationism in its early days), but in general we do tend to look at more/other nations than the US for inspiration. |
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| NYCTrancefan |
I suppose that I am a rare breed indeed here is my profile, to get an idea of Americans and stereotype
!. Born in Georgetown, Guyana - Afro-Guyanese (11.5yrs)
2. Migrated to the U.S.A - Naturalized American citizen (11.5yrs)
3. Graduated high school and college in the U.S.
4. Interested passionately in the cultures of other nations
5. Learned French, German, Italian, Spanish and Dutch, and would love to learn the Scandanavian languages and maybe Portuguese.
6. Would love to travel the world, I enjoy seeing, feeling and hearing of the customs of different nations and peoples around our world. The Music, traditions, languages all attract my interests.
On the subject of Geography I am one of those anal people who could name you the capital of almost any nation including East Timor:),
7. I take the liberty everyday, to read and see the newscasts from outlets all over the world on the internet, ( BBC, Deutsche Welle, TV5, RAI, NRK Forsida, DR.dk, Radio Canada, Radio Sweden, Radio Netherlands, etc )
8. For all these reasons is why I became pissed off at LouisLabelle because he saw I was black and immediately spoke in an ignorant manner about I should go listen to Snoop Dog, just be myself, etc, etc, I realize his arrogance, but if he accuses Americans of being ignorant of others then he should look in the mirror. After all do I fit his image of a black person in America, hmmm :gsmile::)
Admittedly most Americans don't share all these interests, but I confidently feel that I can discuss subjects with almost any European on whatever cultural issue they want to argue and that is why I am on the TA forum in the first place :tongue3, that and I love EDM music of course. By the way Tranceaholic I noticed you were Danish, Gjør De taler Norsk? Hva del av Denmark er De fra? Since I know that the two languages are mutually intelligible. |
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| NeoPhono |
| quote: | | My comment was directed at the (implicit) arrogance in assuming that the US is the main topic of interest for non-US people. |
Well, I wouldn't say that the US is the main "topic of interest," but it is probably the single largest influencing factor in most countries (maybe not China) other than what is endemic of its own society. I hope that doesn't sound arrogant, but from my travels and time spent in Italy, that has been the case. In fact, in Europe many times I sought to find a way of life completely devoid of American influence, but I found that entirely impossible.
That being said, I don't think it is arrogant for Americans to assume that other countries are influenced much more by America than we by them. I think America's great influence is what leads to much of its feelings of superiority. |
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| Mikado |
| UH yeah allot of people HATE french canadian political parties who spew allot of crap about spliting up the country cuz noone "respects" frenchcanadian ways. By default they hate the 40odd percent of poeple who voted to split the country up not too long ago. I wonder if the french canadian in here vote for or against the split and why ? |
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| anuneventrade |
| quote: | | It seems there is alot of American hate for French and Canadians? Why is this, you Americans just can't swallow the fact you are starting wars and how many racists are in your country. |
| quote: | | how can I be racist towards Americans? Are you kidding me Americans are not a race! |
The implication that American's are not a race is ridiculous. As it was defined a few short posts below, I hope you realize the error in your ways.
Asking if American's in particular are racist, is also a moronic question. Any country is full of racist people because there are many people in each society who are ignorant. My heritage lies with Poland, and I assure you, there are some racist people there as well. Just like with Germany, England, Canada, and many other countries.
Attempting to bash on America simply because you have a dislike for the country or certain people in this forum that are from America, was a horrible decision. As you can see, your arguments are getting flamed left and right.
*edit* Maybe you and 2hardcore4u should get together and have lunch! |
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| dj adagnitio |
| quote: | Originally posted by Mikado
UH yeah allot of people HATE french canadian political parties who spew allot of crap about spliting up the country cuz noone "respects" frenchcanadian ways. By default they hate the 40odd percent of poeple who voted to split the country up not too long ago. I wonder if the french canadian in here vote for or against the split and why ? |
Do you think you could be a bit more ignorant? |
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| trancaholic |
| quote: | Originally posted by NeoPhono
Well, I wouldn't say that the US is the main "topic of interest," but it is probably the single largest influencing factor in most countries (maybe not China) other than what is endemic of its own society. I hope that doesn't sound arrogant, but from my travels and time spent in Italy, that has been the case. In fact, in Europe many times I sought to find a way of life completely devoid of American influence, but I found that entirely impossible.
That being said, I don't think it is arrogant for Americans to assume that other countries are influenced much more by America than we by them. I think America's great influence is what leads to much of its feelings of superiority. |
I agree that American culture is the most influencing factor on a global scale, but would claim that individual countries are more influenced by other countries (such as their neighbours).
About you not finding areas devoid of American influence in Europe: Can you please elaborate on that? I know that we have quite a few McDonalds over here but you must be referring to something else?! |
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| NeoPhono |
| What I mean by American culture being "everywhere" is that it is very easily findable. Turn on the TV and you see American shows and old movies. Go to the movie theaters and see American movies. Turn on the radio and you hear American music. Go to stores and restaraunts and see at least some American foods, such as Coke, Pepsi, etc. I also see alot of tabloids and attention being spent on American celebrities. Also, as I said before, much of the news in Europe is dealing with America and American issues. I just don't see that kind of cultural saturation by other nations. You may think I am trying to exaggerate to make a point, but honestly the first time I went to Europe I was shocked by how much of America I saw in it. It was actually quite disappointing seeing McDonalds, Burger King and other American "icons" what I thought to be such a different land. |
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| Mikado |
| quote: | Originally posted by dj adagnitio
Do you think you could be a bit more ignorant? |
care to explain? |
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| tathi |
interesting article:
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http://www.newscientist.com/news/news.jsp?id=ns99994388
People with implicit racial prejudices are left mentally exhausted after interacting with someone from a different race, perhaps because they are trying to quell their feelings.
The new study, the first of its kind, shows that areas in the brain associated with self-control light up in white people with implicit racial biases when they are shown images of black people.
Furthermore, the study showed that the level of this brain activity correlated very closely with poor performance in a test of thinking ability given right after a face-to-face interview with a black person. The researchers believe this indicates that the subject's mental resources have been temporarily drained by their efforts to suppress their prejudices. |
due to a recent event i hate the english :whip: |
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| MrSquirrel |
| quote: | Originally posted by tathi
interesting article:
due to a recent event i hate the english :whip: |
That made me laugh :D
I too am disappointed in the outcome of that event...but I was not expecting the "good guys" to make it that far.
Oh yeah..I actually get to watch that today..damn tape delay.
MrS |
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