It seems that every American has a definition of what America as a nation is supposed to represent to the world. The only problem is, is that we Americans know shockingly little about the world of which we are a part. Usually, we are portrayed as a people completely bifurcated from the issues, concerns, worldviews, languages and religions of those around us, and, in some cases, it might be true.
This comes to pass when looking at our government and the vitriolic 'public discourse' that has been shaping our political/cultural/ social landscape for about 12 years now (I write 12 years, because I am young and I can't speak about 20 or 30 years ago). For one, the way we Americans throw words like "socialism", "communism", "nazi", "facsit" and "God" around has indicated that we are a fearful people. Ironically, the strong-willed, independent Americans who are proud of their heritage as a people who have never been ruled by a larger authority than The People themselves, seem to have lost the edge when it comes to thinking for the greater good: stockpiling arms and weapons for a future 'war' against the enemies who are trying to pull the nation away from under their feet is quite silly. These people (fearful ones) don't engage in the culture around them. They don't talk about differences of opinion on a level of respect and mutual acknowledgement that even their so-called 'enemies' are fellow Americans. They've given up on a nation that they claim to love so much because it doesn't fit their narrow, cookie-cutter view of what the 'Stars & Stripes' should represent.
Maybe the split is generational, after all, my identity of being an American doesn't come from being European descent, nor does it come from speaking English, or my strong sense of 'personal responsibility' and American individualism (my parent's generational definition). My identity as an American is rooted in the idea that I've come from a nation of many faces, skin tones, religions and, yes, languages. Now, I'd be the first to admit that attaining/living in a true 'multicultural' society is close to impossible. But, I would like to the think that with all of our problems (and we do have many) that we Americans are closer to any other nation on earth (at least from my experience in Europe) in sustaining a 'national story' of being a mixed people. Diversity, at least for me, creates problems and is very messy. There are times where blacks and whites don't understand each other. There are instances of violence and of oppression from the lowest ranks, all the way to the highest. Sometimes, we place blame. But underneath all of this is the fact that we white Americas, and all others, have been raised in a society that hasn't grown from the roots of our European ancestors. And, I find this wonderful.
Think about our culture for a few minutes and you will begin to see that it never has been any 'one's' creation; it has been 'ours': In American English, we have over 10,000 words that are not found in British English: there are over 2,000 French words, 4,000 Spanish and over 4,000 words from Native American language. I mean, without our mixed background, we Americans would have never introduced the world to the concept of the "Rodeo" (Spanish) or the "kayak" (Algonquin), or the “beaver”. Flipping through the pages of a Czech church hymnal, I'm always shocked at how many African-American spirituals are found (it has to be about 30 percent). Europeans love spirituals and are always quick to point out that they are from African, black origin. I usually respond by telling them that that might be true on a root level, but on a cultural/language level, these spirituals arose on the Atlantic piedmont of South Carolina, or in the delta of Mississippi; they are American and they have influenced my culture (that of a white man) just as much as Jazz, Rock n Roll, Bluegrass and Blues have done. I love the fact that we Americans (in theory) don't need to place ourselves in cultural boxes and compartments; we are one nation. Our white culture has influenced Black culture; Hispanic culture has influenced white (Piñatas, anyone!?); and Asian culture has infused our places of work and schools. Music, art, habits, food, you name it, arose from not one group of people, but all. This is why I feel these arguments about what is 'true' American and what is 'un-American' are extremely dangerous and shallow: for one, they are trying to put an unruly nation into boxes of clear boundaries; and secondly, they are arrogant enough to claim that their culture (generally that of the white, southern, mountain/cowboy persona) hasn't been influenced by the 'wetbacks', 'niggers', 'yuppies', 'liberals','chinx' and 'communists' that live around them.
I guess what I'm saying, is that it is about time that my generation, the ones who love community, step up and show the world (and Sarah Palin) that we Americans are not only proud of our right to "bear arms", but are proud of our messy history as a nation of 'them'.
I started this post by claiming that Americans are often woefully uneducated about the world around them. I would also add to this that we Americans are living in a glazed over, post-consumerist society where all things that can't be bought are thrown to the side. Most European nations (not that they are much different, even though they would vehemently claim to be) do a much better job of preservation. They take care of architecture, farm land, stories, plays and legends. We Americans, with our captivation of always 'headed West' seemed to have lost our cultural roots to the big box stores...
All Czech people know their cultural history; they recite the poetry, the songs, the fairy tales and the music. In America, I don't think we do a good job of appreciating our folk culture: Tall-tales, spirituals, hymns and literature. Recently I've been browsing through some Czech literature and have been attempting to read some of their famous authors. I've found the going to be tough, as my language skills are not good enough, but I've found myself becoming more attached to the nation; and yes, it's only through their writers: I understand some humor, sayings, cultural stories and historically important events. I begin to see how Czech language can be a descriptive language, not just a sterile one in text books. It is a joy. Reflecting this experience back on my own country, I'm sad to say that I've been very negligent in reading some of the American legends of literature: Kerouac, Bukowski, Hemingway, Twain, Poe, Sinclair, Cummings and Lewis, etc. My challenge both to myself and to the rest of us is to reconnect with our country by turning off Glenn Beck and the 'right vs. left' war that rages in the streets, and instead, pick up a book and learn about our nation through the prose of some of the best writers the world has seen. I think what we will find in the books and through the authors, is an in-depth struggle and discussion about what America, and the American people are meant to be. So, is anyone with me!?
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