I’m allowed some thoughts on greater social issues than blind dates and Utah culture, no?

I wrote some thoughts down during my trip South last spring that I never posted. I’m doing so now. I titled this new post USA! USA! Part 2 because I already wrote a post called USA! USA! about an experience I had on a gondola in Austria. Read it. You’ll see I’ve come a long way in representing my country.

When traveling abroad, you are constantly reminded where you are from every time someone asks you, when you fill out a form, and (this I newly discovered) when you talk about politics.

I had a few, well, more than a few, interesting conversations with people from all over the world about the perception of the United States abroad.

Based on my experience, the perception I perceived can be divided into three P’s. (Say that three times fast!)

First: Politics.

One evening in Buenos Aires I had a passionate conversation with two German friends about America and its last 4 years. One blames the American people for re-electing Bush, and for that, we are responsible for his actions. The other defended the American people, agreeing that politics isn’t so black and white and that you really don’t know what will happen when you vote for someone.

I stepped in to say that during the 2004 election 9-11 was still quite fresh. We’d never faced a homeland attack before, nor has the world seen anything so devastating. You can’t blame America for trying to protect itself against a new enemy in a new world. Although unsure about the war, we tried to decide as best we could. The effect of that decision is for another discussion.

(I was tempted to criticize the German people for electing Hitler, and not doing anything about him, but didn’t.)

Second: Patriotism.

I was surprised how proud I felt saying, “I’m from America” while I was down there. You don’t say it much IN America, so uttering those words every time I met someone felt a little strange to the ear—but very warm to the heart.

I love to celebrate my country, but my Frenchman thought Americans we were too patriotic. He thought we went overboard every Fourth of July. Really? This comment bothered me. How can you be too patriotic? It was a sentiment I never knew non-Americans felt about us. I told him

Third: Parties.

I’m not talking about political parties. I’m talking about the drinking, dancing, stripping parties that flood our movies and TV shows.

Unfortunately, our media is what people perceive of Americans, which is Las Vegas, reality TV white trash, and girls taking off their tops at parties. I was talking to a European and some Aussies when they said they would love to see an American party because the women all flash their boobs.

I tried to explain that THAT is not America—at least not all of it.

Nevertheless, Americans can be very loud, stupid, and unaware of their conduct in public, more so than any other culture. To my chagrin, I had to agree with them. 

In the end, I don’t know if we’ll ever get over national stereotypes—such as the French are rude, the Chinese don’t respect laws, or the Americans are war-mongers—but I don’t think we really stick to them when we meet people on an individual basis. During my travels, I never met someone and thought in the back of my mind, “Oh, they are Israeli. They must be cheap.” I didn’t get the feeling others thought I wanted America to dominate the world when they met me. 

Nevertheless, stereotypes surfaced for a reason, and when I say “I’m from America” people will be watching my behavior (which I feel has come a long way since that day I rambled off in an Austrian gondola).

On that note, I will not be flashing my boobs at any parties. God bless America.

(Funny side note: The Israelis I met told me how to avoid paying for national park fees. He told me if you wake up early and get to the park entrance before 8:00 a.m., no one is at the toll booth and you can get in for free. He then smiled and said “Israelis always know how to get the deals.” Judge as you may.)