The image of Amerca worldwide

So many critical minds in class! Let's rewind a bit.

Statistics tells!
 
Europeans vs. Americans: Even with shared cultural roots, their values differ.
(How about American vs. Canadians?)

How do people in other parts of the world view America?
http://www.pewglobal.org/database/?topic=1

Use of military force/Unilateralism
http://youtu.be/-23kmhc3P8U



Religion
Individualism
Cultural Superiority
Homosexuality


Younger generations share similar values. Why? Has Facebook played a role?

What do you mean by "progressive"? What kinds of ideas are more "progressive"? Why?

Anti-Americanism Down in Europe

I believe Wike is correct in assuming that the values gap is shrinking in some areas, especially so with the coming of age of the younger generations. I can see within my very own family how this is true. While my parents are not so accepting of same sex marriage and hold their nationality to be above all others, my siblings and I are the complete opposite. I wonder if this difference in values occurs because of the completely different ways and circumstances we were brought up in.

For example, most of my ideas and values were shaped by the things I learned in school and the things I was confronted with both in and outside of it -- which wasn't much as I grew up in a time of peace. My parents, however, grew up in times of war or immediately after where propaganda was rampant and patriotism to one's country was absolutely essential -- where the man was a "man" and the woman was a "woman."

In certain aspects discussed where Americans and Europeans differ, I am confused and at a loss. Perhaps this is the way I was simply shaped, molded out to be, but I don't understand how most Europeans can believe that "success in life is pretty much determined by forces outside our control." It doesn't make sense to me. Maybe it's because I am "American" and have been raised with the opposite mentality all of my life where success means striving for a goal and doing everything you can to obtain it, where your failure is determined by how much you alone have yet to sacrifice for your goal.

After reading Wike's article, however, I wonder if this mentality, if this particular form of individuality, is "correct" or if there is even a correct way to think in this respect at all. It has made me view myself in respect to other lands and wonder if my values and ideologies are as right as I was initially led to believe they were.

To Understand the Anti-Americans

How many people frequently use an adjective crafted to describe all of the people that dislike you? For example: anti-Dylan. 

I believe that something has gone wrong with our place in the friendly international community when this word "anti-American" has been accepted as a part of our vocabulary. Have other nations or communities arrived at the point where they must author such a word so as to easily make quick reference to "all the people who dislike us."

In fact, we never hear about anti-Chinese or anti-Norwegian. Granted, we are here in the United States and most of our discourse focuses on ourselves, but the point I wish to make is this:

The fact that we now have this word to use means that we have become to accustomed to hurting other people, making them angry, and disregarding their opinions, beliefs, values, or even rights.

We commonly refer to anti-Americanism, but rarely support real conversation in order to decipher why the sentiment even exists. Its not as mysterious as the news would have people believe; there exists a finite (albeit quite long) list of actions taken by our nation and habits of our people which have and now continue to upset people all across the world, but we don't even know (or care) what they are.

Because of that, we now have this word to make quick reference to all those people.  If we want to fix the problem, we have to care to understand why. We must accept that other peoples are competent adults and stop treating the world as if we were one grown-up amongst children.

People in Denmark live by the American Dream, not Americans

The idea of the American dream and meritocracy is still very prevalent in our culture. It seems like behind every speech whether political or for an award acceptance, the story of someone pulling themselves up from their bootstraps is interwoven within the speech if it’s the opener itself.

Americans are very focused of themselves and need instant gratification. We believe that people who make it deserve it and those who don’t make it, deserve it as well. I think this cultural idea is what has placed us socially behind other countries. We focus too much on ourselves and our beliefs and don't consider other viewpoints. I think this is why we still argue about homosexuality and religion.

This view transcends into our health care system and welfare. Every developed nation has some kind of national or universal health care, but us. Yet, We spend the largest GDP on healthcare expenses. We tend to view it as a privilege and not a right.

Richard Wilkinson, author of The Impact of Inequality, focuses on inequality and the faults of the American dream. http://www.ted.com/speakers/richard_wilkinson.html

Anti-Americanism Down in Europe, but a values gap persists

I found this article to be very informative and easy to read and appreciate the use of heavy statistical comparison to paint a comprehensive picture.

The article suggests Americans and Europeans continue to disagree on a variety of things — identity, religion, military force, homosexuality — but that the gap continues to close.

I wonder if it's remotely important at all for this gap to close. Why is it a big deal? Shouldn't we celebrate the absence of a worldwide group-think? I don't know if I necessarily see one side as being better, with superior ideas. Is the gap closing a product of globalization and increases in technology? We certainly don't seem as far away to the rest of the world as we used to. Or is it something else?

Anti-Americanism Down in Europe, but a Values Gap Persists

I found the data from this article very useful, and I believe it gives us an accurate picture of the persistent differences and cultural status between America and Europe.

The data revealing a shift in American opinions from 2007 was interesting, especially the decline of American's view of their own cultural superiority. This could be a sign of Americans becoming more aware and knowledgeable of other cultures and the true status of their own.

Richard Wike's analysis of younger Americans is evidence of a changing nation. As he said, "if these trends continue and expand to other topics, the transatlantic values gap could someday vanish," but he foresees for now that the divide will persist.

A change in Europe's anti-American views from the Bush-era and a comparison of our contrasting views is noteworthy and important in analyzing world views, but I wonder how important people think this gap is and why.

Youth's Perspective Aligns with European Views

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First of all, I'm finally able to (b)log in! (Pun intended.)

Second of all, I think that it is ridiculous to look at history four years at a time, and then be disappointed that there hasn’t been more change. It takes an extraordinary amount of time for people to truly change their views on what are considered “controversial” institutions in our society.

I think that president Obama’s election and reelection have drastically changed how the world views our nation, as it signaled a public, proud and poignant end to the racist genocide we carried out within the past three hundred years. European countries were able to see that are not only changing, but also capable of change. However, because of our international image of a unilateralism, military views on social institutions such as religion and homosexuality, I think it is normal that they remain weary of the U.S. The only progressive part of our country is our demand for democratic nations around the world.

I think the article made a good point in noting that the younger generations are promoting a more and more progressive view, and older beliefs will eventually die out. I think this is partially due to the fact that Americans did not think of themselves as “regressive” until the social media phenomenon that has changed the world in recent years.

This country was founded on the principle that people would have sexual, religious, and civil freedom. I feel that some Americans still do not fully understand the extent of those foundations.