The American Culture

Gandhi touches on the idea about mixing cultures in his writings. He talks about the Indian culture mixing with the English culture and whether or not to accept that. He also describes how important it is to have national pride, pride in one's home country. It was interesting how this related to our discussion in class on Wednesday, how Americans have a different feeling of national pride than most countries.

Americans don't like to admit they are American. When someone from another country asks where they're from they'll say their state or perhaps where their family is from. It's interesting that we take traditions from all over the world and mix them into our society creating our own "semi-homemade" mixture of culture. It isn't completely foreign, but it's not a purely American idea. Americans, it seems, take a lot of pride in their ethnicity or family background and seem to try to celebrate that more than the fact they American. Maybe it's because our country is so new, and has yet to become established enough to create a defined culture. But for sure this sort of lack of our own culture is our culture. Also our ideas, the consumerism, the drive to succeed, the bigger, better, more, attitude. That is what fuels our country. It just is kind of funny, to see people all the time trying to separate themselves from their American roots and striving to express their individual diversity.

But then, it's sad that sometimes tragedy strikes and suddenly, everyone's "oh yeah, Go America." Events like Katrina and September 11 spurred nationalism in America that was never before seen. Suddenly everyone wanted to help, to be involved. If only this type of enthusiasm would happen during the good times as well.