Are Americans different?

Question

I feel Americans are the most broad minded people ever! (I am an Indian btw).I am at times astonished how the Americans are always ready and willing to accept people with any kind of background, even the weirdest of people are not that weird for them. Americans never detest anybody just because of thier strange customs, infact I feel that the Americans are genuinely interested to find out about other cultures and traditions. Whereas the people in other countries would only mock and ridicule if somebody is different and not like them, it seems so very difficult for them to accept changes. What do u think?

Answer 1

no

Answer 2

As an American I wish I could share your opinion. I do not feel we are, as a people, very broad minded at all. Our nation is moving more and more towards being a conservative Christian dominated society. There is some tolerance towards professional classes of people from other countries. There is far less tolerance of anyone who does not share this the Christian beliefs held by the majority here. Gay American, hispanics, and in some cases women and Americans of color experience discrimination. We have the capability to be an open, warm and caring people. We do not always live up to that capability though. The irony is the more we move towards the Christian right the less open, warm and caring we become. Not exactly what Christ had in mind I would guess.

Answer 3

It may come from the fact that we have (no history)


Our history is but 200+ years

England has 1000 + years
Egypt has 6000+ years
India has what 6000+ years
Rome has 2000+ years

We Americans deal in the now, we look at the last 10 years and see into the future maybe 5 years.
Where Japan looks at 1000 years back and 100 years into the future.

We love trivia - knowledge - Information.
Education is high on our list (but execution of education is lacking)

We love to know things, but we do not like to study things.

In a way:
To be a potter to make vases, pots, etc, takes at least 10 years to even get to understand the clay- we throw clay on the wheel make a pot, NEXT were done.

But most we love to know about people, In America everyone has come from somewhere else, except for native Americans, and they may have come from somewhere else!

Answer 4

There are definitely a lot of open-minded, friendly and curious Americans. However, there are also entirely too many close-minded, racist, bigoted Americans. And many of them seem to have radio talk-shows.

While there are some cultures that are pretty good at acceptance and tolerance of other cultures (in my experience, we Canadians are near the top in this field), there are still elements of many of these societies that still don't seem to get it. I also know quite a few Canadians who are poisonously prejudiced, and I'm always stunned and saddened when someone I thought was a rational, caring person comes out with some ignorant comment about homosexuals, Moslems, Chinese or people from Pakistan (which seem to be the top targets in my neck of the woods).

So I don't think Americans are really different. I think as global communications and travel increase, and more people are exposed to other cultures and other ways of thinking, that all societies are becoming increasingly cosmopolitan and accepting. Conservative elements in most of these societies see this as a bad thing, and are digging their heels in. Their stubborn refusal to accept change may result in a great deal of pain before they're finally dragged over to acceptance.

Answer 5

A very big country and I think that impression would vary dramatically depending on where you were. Some (many) parts of the country are not very open minded about people with different beliefs and traditions. Have you heard about this war on Christmas thing just because some stores wanted to say Happy Holidays to include people celebrating different things? Or about the family who was Christian and moved to another town and had other Christians burn their house down because they didn't believe the same brand of Christianity? There are tolerant people and areas but I am afraid its not possible to generalize to Americans.

Answer 6

Don't typecast! Some US-of-A'ers are that way, some not. Some Peruvians (South "Americans") are that way, too, some not. I find some US-of-A'ers are all-too-willing to distinguish between Mexicans and "white people" when, in fact, most "Mexicans" are white-skinned. Many US-of-A'ers are all-too-willing to build a silly fence on parts of the south border (you can walk around the edge of a fence, que no?) when, where is the fence along the Canadian border? And, as the Cherokees pointed out, when the Euros landed on these shores, looking for India, they named the folks here "Indians". The Cherokees say, they're glad the Euros weren't looking for Turkey! (How well do the US-of-A'ers tolerate their "Indians"?)

Answer 7

community individuals aren't to any extent further one team, they examine with any of the indigenous human beings of North or South us of a of america, which comprise Mexico. some Mexicans are descended from those peoples and are technically community individuals. although is the u . s . a . we've a special view and picture community individuals are literally those portrayed in Pocahontas or stay in u . s . a . actually. to respond to your questions, the unique Mexicans are community individuals, yet no longer all community individuals are Mexican. keep in innovations, the Americas are an massive and distinct position, so that you'll actually assume version. some Natives will seem darkish, gentle, short, or tall. It only is going back to geography and evolution.

Answer 8

Oh I wish we Americans on a whole were that way. But this is a large country, and within it are many bigots, fanatics, close-minded, full of hate people who relish in lashing out on anyone who doesnt conform. In a perfect world, we would all get along no matter what. I wish it WAS a perfect world, but it is not.

Answer 9

I am always interested in learning about anothers background or culture. That's what makes us different. I think it's great, so many different cultures living in America.

Answer 10

Thanks, but it isn't all true. Maybe in India there is a close mindedness, I really don't know, but there are many other countries that are as open minded or more open minded than America. I love my country, but I'm not delusional about it either.

Besides have you ever read people bashing eachother on this forum? Stick around and it will change your mind.

Answer 11

Your opinion to me is a yes and no.. Some Americans are that way and some are not. As in every different group of people there are some who hate and some who learn.