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OPINION & EDITORIAL

Americans unite via cultural evolution, pursuit of wealth

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Also by Rob Rossmeissl:

Trolley proposal deserves thought (May 1, 2007)
U.S. should re-evaluate free trade agreements to improve economy (April 24, 2007)
High quality city inspires progress (April 17, 2007)
Comic relief important in movies (April 9, 2007)
Shout outs harbor hatred (March 26, 2007)

by Rob Rossmeissl

Wednesday, October 4, 2006

One of the classes I'm taking this semester, Educational Policy 460, deals with cultural differences and the curricula of U.S. schools. Discussion in this class recently delved into the issue of cultural integration — specifically, the concept of an obligation for children of recent immigrants to adopt the customs of their new home. It wasn't long before my mind wandered into a daydream (sorry, Professor Olneck!), contemplating what exactly it is that can be considered representative of American culture.

Growing up in the United States, children often learn about the fabled 'melting pot': the theory that this country's populace is one of shared values and characteristics, as if all of the factions comprising it have seamlessly bonded to form a national identity. It's doubtful that most of us are naíve enough to believe that some harmonious culture can have been borne of this country's colonial foundation and have come to fruition over a mere 250 years. But what, then, is American culture?

Looking at the United States today, it's fascinating to reflect on the immigration patterns that ultimately shaped and are shaping American society. Strangely, while this country has always been something of a cultural amoeba, there are people who seem to feel they've pinpointed the pinnacle of what American culture is (whether they believe it to have occurred in 1850 or 1950) and who will vainly fight to restore this fantasy era. Often accompanying this attitude is the belief that recent immigrants are obligated to follow some "historical precedent" of assimilation into the American way of life — a way of life whose own admirers would not be able to define.

The United States has evolved not through the assimilation, but rather, through the rigid incorporation of various international factions. If you think, for instance, that Irish, German, Italian and Chinese immigrants of the late 19th and early 20th centuries gladly abandoned their own traditions upon arrival in the United States, you're badly mistaken (think: Chinatown, Little Italy, Oktoberfest, etc.). People of these origins emigrated for one reason: self-advancement in the material sense. In the process they brought along and maintained their respective cultures. This does not imply, however, that these newcomers did not embrace American culture.

After reviewing the motivations of various groups to leave for the United States — the British brought with them the concept of land ownership, those originally from Africa were brought here forcibly to contribute in accumulating wealth for their owners and the aforementioned Irish, German, Italian and Chinese came with dreams of personal wealth, as did most other immigrant groups (exempting those who fled their homelands because of persecution), including those arriving today — I came to the conclusion that American culture is synonymous with little more than material acquisition.

Certainly, this country has its own cultural symbols: baseball, the hot dog, the motion picture. Most of these symbols, however, tie into the undeniable, overriding American drive for material wealth. Baseball sparked the utilization of competitive sports as a major commercial endeavor, the hot dog represents the beginning of an all-encompassing fast-food industry and the motion picture spawned Hollywood. Even when America does coffee, it can't help but allow Starbucks to happen.

And it can be argued that other symbols, less related to materialism, have also come to represent American culture. Really, though, most of these symbols can be traced to specific, separate cultural groups within the United States. Take, for example, Tex-Mex cuisine, hip-hop or jazz: all are considered to be of American origin but are actually products of subcultures within the country.

For better or worse, it seems that the United States has always been held together by a common identity no more complicated than a shared desire to amass wealth.

Perhaps those presently afraid of newly arriving cultures, then, are simply afraid of sharing the wealth.

Rob Rossmeissl (rjrossmeissl@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in journalism and political science.

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Anonymous (October 4, 2006 @ 5:24am):

While wealth may be the benefit, opportunity was (and still is) the motivator). In the vast majority of the countries you named (and did not name), there is little opportunity. By the time one is in middle school, their destiny has been decided (you can never be an engineer, you are only smart enough to be an auto mechanic... which takes a lot of smarts I might add).

In any other nation, what would Bill Gates be today (he is one of many examples)? He bought an idea (for a song) and had a vision. He took that vision and managed to place it on almost every computer in the world. And he did get rich doing it.

Your sharing the wealth comment was quite insightful and dead wrong. I do not know which newly arrived cultures you are referring to (but I have a good idea), but if you are referring to illegal aliens (oh, he used the A word, for shame). The US is a land of opportunity, but it is also a land of laws. Someone comes to this country legally to work, you will hear little outcry (unless they are taking Union jobs).

Before I go, I challenge you (or anyone else) to show me one country that is as open as the US to others from other cultures. Unfortunately, many here do not know how good they have it, but always find reason to complain rather than trying to change things (which is another thing someone here can do, in many other places, they would be killed voicing an opinion).

Anonymous (October 4, 2006 @ 7:41am):

I think it's a stretch to call Americans who celebrate Oktoberfest with a few Liters of Brew as Germans. Any born American of German descent who goes to Germany will be rudely mistaken if they for some reason think that they are any more "German" as the next American to there.

My passport says I'm American, and that means something beyond "This guy really likes money!" Culture is the stuff of heroes, myths (even in the 1950s), and history (The experience of Americans on the Frontier, which is related to ethics of self-sufficiency, rugged individualism, etc, still shapes the national character--apart from the Fantasyland of Madison, there isn't much of a socialist movement.) Being an American is also about traditions--voting, taxes, de-centralized government). English as a language is integral to the American psyche (yes, there are other languages out there, but English has a tradition of being the dominant language here). So, yes, my ancestors came here for a variety of reasons. But I'm not here because of wealth. I'm here because I'm an American, and no amount of white-washing is going to take that away. If I lose my wealth, I'm still just as American as before. If I move to another country--guess what--I'm still American. And if I go and fight on foreign soil, I'm still American, not some wealth-o-crat whose kultur is different from everyone else's back in the US.

I've fought in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have lived in Germany while on an exchange program in high school. I hold a BA from UW-Madison. And I'm an American. I know what that's about.

I know that when I go overseas and I see some rich magnate, I don't see an American.

Not only that, this drivel about Americanism is about pure wealth-creation is something Marxist. Wasn't he the historical determinist who said essentially that economics is everything?!

Anonymous (October 4, 2006 @ 8:01am):

"Perhaps those presently afraid of newly arriving cultures, then, are simply afraid of sharing the wealth."

Moreover, those people are afraid of everything. Fear consumes their thoughts every waking moment. They're afraid their marriages will be destroyed by civil unions, their grand children will be murdered by abortion, and their rural farm house will be bombed by Osama Bin Laden. They think credit cards and television are tools of the devil. Hollywood, to them, has an agenda to destroy their families and their imaginary "Leave it to Beaver" lifestyle.

Their only consolation is that they're sure they'll be going to heaven and everyone else is bound for eternal damnation. As long as they keep pointing their fingers at everyone else, they can temporarily forget about their life in fear.

Mr. Rossmeissi, real Americans are brave; they live with their heads held high and courage displayed proudly for the rest of the world to see.

Anonymous (October 4, 2006 @ 10:27am):

Greed, religious insanity, and fear of free thought are the three main keys to the understanding of the modern American Way. Ain't life wonderful?

Anonymous (October 4, 2006 @ 10:42am):

MESSAGE FROM ROB ROSSMEISSL:

For the record, the wording "I came to the conclusion that American culture is synonymous with little more than material acquisition." is not my own. It was altered from its original form somewhere in the Herald's editing process.

I merely mean to suggest that, traditionally, people have come to this country for opportunity, which, traditionally, has implied the ability to be successful financially.

Also, I am not portraying various cultural icons (i.e. tex mex cuisine, hip-hop and jazz) as not being American - they obviously have come to represent American culture. I am simply saying that they have come from subcultures within America, rather than some general American culture.

The point of this column was only to challenge the hypocrisy of people who are established in this country yet don't wish to see others gain a similar establishment.

Anonymous (October 4, 2006 @ 11:38am):

Why did we oppose communism so hard? Communism would require us to give up our lust for personal wealth and adopt the idea of a common good. Giving up personal wealth would take away our motivation to strive for success and thus hurt our gross domestic product value.

Now, thanks to our victory over communism, we can go about our everyday lives. Two incomes per household just to make ends meet, no money in savings, no investment for retirement, no guaranteed health care, a McMansion partially filled with 0% interest furniture, two weeks of vacation per year, and two kids in day care. Now that's what I call livin'.

Anonymous (October 4, 2006 @ 11:42am):

Hmmm, greed, show me a culture that does not have greed. It may not be monetary, but reward, whether it is power, money, stature, etc drive the world and it will not change. Need may breed invention, but it is greed that puts invention in the homes of everyone.

Religious insanity... you are absolutely right, it is insane to purposefully violate the first amendment of the Consititution to ensure public places are void of any remnant of Christianity... those athiests are just nuts.

Free thought is a great idea... as long as that thought is in agreement with your ideology. I wonder who is doing the most to supress thought...

Anonymous (October 4, 2006 @ 1:23pm):

Political intolerance, socialist outlook, lack of retrospect! Ain't UW wonderful?!

Anonymous (October 4, 2006 @ 2:17pm):

"Greed, religious insanity, and fear of free thought"

The jihadis beat americans hands down on two of these. None of the Christian fundies want to cut off my head for being a blasphemer and an apostate.

Anonymous (October 4, 2006 @ 5:08pm):

EDITORS NOTE:
"I came to the conclusion that American culture is synonymous with little more than material acquisition."

Was changed during editing from:

"one comes to the conclusion that American culture is synonymous with little more than material acquisition"