COLUMN: Questioning American pride

From Seth Lasser's "For Mass Consumption," Fall '97 "Welcome to Egypt!" "Where are you from?" While seeing young adults with t-shirts and backpacks traipsing around is not an uncommon sight, it still raises intense curiosity. "Oh, America!" they excitedly respond; our fear that they may react negatively was proven unfounded. Interaction with people from such a different culture can often be disorienting, giving one a new type of standard by which to measure things already known and understood. In the case of Egypt or the majority of the world's population, part of this disorientation is the sight of abject poverty more dramatic than anything existing at home, a chilling sight impossible to articulate or explain. It is equally unnerving to be the object of attention in a foreign land -- an ironic turnaround for the self-styled world traveler. When one is out to see another world from one's eyes and camera lens, trying to gain an understanding about this other place, being instead the object of fancy can be uncomfortable. America, The United States, Americans -- all of these terms have some kind of definition and conjure up complex images and feelings for people across the globe. Many are curious to talk to Americans, to connect with a citizen of the United States. The reason for the uneasiness of Americans is the essentially two-fold nature of perceptions across the world of the entity known as the United States. In dealing with another person, one can never be sure if the person admires or detests our country of origin. Many times people wonder how much money can be made in the States, how easy it is to find a nice apartment, good job, or perhaps how much a television set costs. There is, of course, more to their questioning than surface material concerns. There still exists a perception of the American ideal -- the entrepreneurial spirit, protection of freedom above all else, equal treatment for all members of society, or any other of a number of cliches that attempt to describe our nation and its meaning on a higher scale with some degree of accuracy. Much as it did for our grandparents and ancestors who moved a land of new opportunity to make life better for their children, America stands as a place to which many citizens of less-fortunate nations have considered coming to. Every Egyptian who knew English, it seemed, had a brother or cousin or friend trying to make it in the U.S. of A. The other way communities of the less-fortunate world, and also many in other parts of the rich fifth of the globe, perceive the United States is not positive. Our cultural influence -- the spread of American movies, television, fast-food, music, and symbols -- enrage many inhabitants of areas where local cultures are in danger of failing to survive this "invasion." The American flag decorates t-shirts and posters throughout the world; Baywatch is now seen in mainland China; George Michael and Michael Jackson can be heard coming out of cars and radios wherever they exist. For the intrepid traveler, the near impossibility of escaping American culture (perhaps better described as American anti-culture) can be annoying. For the traditionalist, this phenomena may be life-threatening. This so-called cultural imperialism may appear to be linked with our continuing role as the uninvited global policeman, a true imperialism so to speak. Or, it may exist in a vacuum. Regardless, there are plenty inhabitants of the world who have a great distaste for the presence of Americans. American citizenship is rarely something one meditates upon; it is natural for us to think of our way of life and nation as the norm, to fail to consider the alternatives, to live in a state of splendid isolation from the globe's perception of us Americans as a unified entity. When we walk through the streets of a foreign city, in a region distant both geographically and philosophically, one is forced to deal with different understandings and expectations others hold of you on the basis of your citizenship -- a seemingly unnatural characteristic but one with great meaning in the modern world. Previous to my experiences in Egypt and other places, I had never given thought to these issues, except perhaps to hold the arrogant actions of my country on the global stage in great disdain. My feelings on the positive aspects of my country of origin were located deep in my subconscious, coming out only when talking to a relative recounting life in the old country. Never before had I been able to compare and contrast a range the different attitudes towards my American-ness; my status as a citizen of the United States. Never before have I heard such ridiculous theories on the evil intent of American government. Never before have I talked to people who would give everything to have a chance at making a life in our country. The pride in being American that I have come to possess is of new vintage.