Features That Define The American Nation

Just as Jimmy Carter said, American society is a melting pot of people, nationalities, beliefs. However, there is something that unites them all. Some would say freedom, some – democracy. I have not answered for myself, but after the research and assessment, I can make several conclusions about American culture and America itself.

Unlike the European countries, which have differentiated throughout history a lot, the United States had its origins as a democratic country with immanent ideas. Puritan pilgrims founded Plymouth colony in 1620 after being prosecuted by Church of England. Even though they have formed a completely new society, that was built upon example, in Mayflower Compact they have agreed to collaborate, with a concern of each other freedom – just as it is in democratical societies.

Another significant issue that I have observed is American identity. Americans see themselves as the citizens of one country, despite the state where they are living in. Ask any Alaskan or Missourian – they will proudly proclaim themselves Americans, even though the culture of their states differs. The Europeans’ mentality is different – each person identifies as the citizen of their own country, and rarely one calls himself ‘European’. In my opinion, that comes since the ages of the founding of the United States – people came there to start a new life; they fleed from persecutions (Puritans in the 1600s) or were seeking for prosperity (‘forty-niners’ in 1850s). They were all diverse but later were unified in the name of citizens of the new country.

The next issue I will be covering is close to the identity. It is American patriotism. As we all know, Americans are proud of their country. ‘America is the best country in the world’ – you can hear this exclamation from Americans very often. However, what amazes me the most, that many do not have any support for that. If you think about it, it is clear, that economically-wise it is probably China, they have got strong economic growth, at the other end of the spectrum if you are looking at the level of state support countries give to citizens you can probably look at Norway or Sweden to be the greatest. However, many Americans firmly believe that their nation is the best, and for me, it resembles some North Korean ideology.

What about American humour? It does not stand out of the crowd, but, if we would like to compare it with, we would notice several differences. For instance, Americans love sarcasm. They use it a lot, and many may see this offensive, but, in fact, it is the American self-defence mechanism. They avoid sincerity unless it is necessary. The second feature, I noted, was how diverse American humour is. Americans may laugh about classism, sexism, elitism, racism and immigration issues- all diseases of society. It is through jokes that Americans overcome their anxieties and discomfort over these issues. The excellent example of that is George Carlin, the stand-up comedian. He was known for his black comedy and reflections on politics- and many were not for it.

The next key feature of Americans that I discerned is individualism. As the Webster dictionary proposes, individualism is ‘the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant’. That is exceptionally true if we are talking about the American nation. Since the very young age, kids are taught to become self-sufficient – taking care of their rooms and clothes, helping to cook and clean–and to begin thinking themselves. The importance of ‘thinking by oneself’ may appear to be selfish or uncaring behaviour, but itš not meant to be. It is assumed in the States that individuals will take the initiative, develop individual perspectives and approach life in their particular manner.