A Perception of the Character of Americans

By: Leroy A. Binns Ph.D.

The premise of America as a “melting pot” of varied cultures and ideas is widely accepted as is the complexities affiliated with clarification of our psyche. To this end a concise non-monolithic treatment of orientation and influence is paramount to a related investigation.

Americans values are largely defined by experiences, environment and time. In accordance with motivational speaker and author Gene Griessman in his text “Americans Who Are They And How Do They Get That Way,” a web of diversity comprised of Yankees and rednecks, Wall Street brokers, beach bums, real estate agents and the homeless is unveiled as is their atmosphere of corporate, residential and ghetto America and the underlying beliefs of politics and religion that are often times in conflict with respect to collective classifications.

To some onlookers Griesman’s assessment of modern America is at large in tune with political and economic advantages yet lends itself to scrutiny on matters of prejudice and greed. In the words of economic historian Arnold Toybee, “America is a large, friendly dog in a very small room. Every time it wags its tail it knocks over a chair” but in contrast world renowned psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud states “America is a mistake, a giant mistake.” Could they both be true?

Albeit Americans share a vision of correctness and success the means to the ends are blurred in contradictions. Over the years our perspective on issues of pluralism, family and good fortune to name a few has changed considerably with the times as the society realigns itself with new thinking thus waging a battle with the conservative vanguard. Despite subscribers to a dated school of thought that sanctions bigotry, male chauvinism and the old boy’s business network studies have shown Americans intolerance to blacks, Catholics and Jews and equality for women has significantly decreased since the eve of World War II as more social and ethnic sects are represented within mainstream America.

The trend is also applicable to assumptions pertinent to the concept of family and social accomplishment as more Americans deplore alienation in favor of engagement and inclusive measures at home. However mixed signals abound. Whereas the church and the public in general abhor pedophilia as demonstrated by disdain towards the accused within the Catholic hierarchy, conflicting messages are echoed on abortion and gay unions. I the case of the former we have failed to arrive at a consensus to the question: When does life begin? To the contrary the latter is more perplexing as the flock mirrors heathens on the topic of homosexuality and gay marriages. Like Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey and additional states along with local municipalities the Episcopal Church of America has endorsed such proclamation amidst the prospect of its disintegration.

Our Puritan tradition has instilled within us a sense of social consciousness in the form of community, pride and work ethic exemplified by all sectors of society through moderate and exceptional achievers. Nonetheless privileges of freedom and admission to education and wealth have too often altered our outlook on merit resulting in deception and fraud of catastrophic proportions recently associated with the likes of Eron, WorldCom, Merck, Tyco and Microstrategies.

In light of centuries of political entrenchment and economic prowess our ascension to the role of the world’s lone superpower has likewise influenced our moral compass and complicated an explication of our creed and ethical behavior. While some are receptive to an understanding and in some instances acceptance of the world around us many are of the opinion that faith is compromised beyond the boundaries of Christianity. An illustration depicts the Arab/Israeli conflict that is analyzed by a large cross section of our community – the religious right synonymous with the likes of Pat Robertson, Jerry Falwell and Ralph Reed on strict biblical translation thus denying the Palestinians an opportunity for basic survival and access to a homeland.

Unfortunately our interpretation of decency fueled by conquest is in dispute with politics elsewhere. As most challenge the validity for our involvement in Iraq there is an ethical agreement among Christian and secular America that endorses as our obligation the right to establish democracy and an entrepreneurial fiber to a people in need.

               We are going to fight them and impose our will on them and we will capture or

               kill them until we have imposed law and order in this country. We dominate

               the scene and will continue to impose our will on this country.
                                                                                                      Paul Bremer
                                                                                                      former proconsul to Iraq                     

 Such worldview ignores the composition of the nation state in question and is accordant as witnessed in Chile, Nicaragua, Grenada, Iran, the Philippines and other Third countries with our obsession to reshape the world in our image.

In the wake of September 11 Americans rose to the occasion by unifying behind a common cause – a safe and sound America nevertheless a commendable endeavor at comradeship that supposedly transcends race, class and religion in an effort to eradicate terror is flawed by perception. Fear has transformed our rationale and portrayed negatively through lens of misconception particularly in relation to groups of Middle Eastern origin damaging fences of race relations we so often strive to mend.

By nature of its assembly America will forever share a wide array of convictions on issues past, present and future. Yet an attempt at glasnost is warranted on subjects of human dignity. An alternative embodies the French aristocrat Alex de Tocqueville’s frightening prediction – a collapse in the face of “potentially fatal weaknesses inherent in the American mind and soul.”