<p>I apologize, I should have been clearer. Although America is very diverse, the point I was trying to make was that no one who identifies as American seems to be able to criticize anything within their own culture, but readily criticize others, which is often due to a lack of understanding.</p>
<p>Personally, I think that’s complete crap. Even on here, people complain about aspects of “American culture” all the time.</p>
<p>For example, go to any gun thread and you’ll find many, many Americans who complain about our gun culture. Or our obsession with prestige at all costs.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Plenty of Americans are critical of the mainstream American attitude toward education (i.e. slackerish attitude). Of course, it is a mistake to believe that the only choices in bringing up the kids are tiger parenting versus encouraging educational slacking. For example, some parents start from an early age to get their kids to associate reading and learning with fun, so that they do well educationally on their own (often self-educating through recreational reading and learning on things not part of the typical school curriculum) without parental pressure the way tiger parents feel they have to apply to the kids.</p>
<p>Then have it, don’t beat around the bush. What aspects of mainstream American culture are problematic, IYO? For starters, one might talk about high-school-popular-culture not valuing academics as much as sports.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Hitting kids is deeply ingrained in American culture. It is often reported as a source of grim pride how someone’s grandpa or whatever tarred their backside with a switch and they turned into such a marvelous citizen.</p>
<p>
You can replace “American” with a lot of different countries…</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Or the practice of getting into a car to visit friends just a couple of blocks away/across the street in many US suburban communities and physical disabilities/hauling heavy objects isn’t an issue. Part of this is due to design of some towns/neighborhoods with little/no sidewalks making walking a hazardous enterprise.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Let’s see if we can compile a list:
- High-school-popular-culture not valuing academics as much as sports
- Respect for elders</p>
<p>There is no single American culture. I say this as someone who drove 1800 miles over the past five days. I do think there are some common threads among rural communities and often among urban/suburban areas, though.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>He’s a stud. She’s a slut.</p>
<ol>
<li>No respect for teachers - they are treated as hired helps by most students. </li>
<li>It is all about me - parents feel their own well being and enjoyment of life greater than their obligation to their kids. Kids in turn feel they do not owe anything to their parents. My independence trumps all else.</li>
<li>Instant gratification - I need it and I need it now.</li>
<li>The whole world revolves around US - What do you mean I can’t get coke and big Mac? What kind of backward country is this?</li>
<li> Divorce - if we are not happy, there is no reason to stay together. Family, kids? What is important is that I am happy.</li>
<li> Entitlement - we are entitled to have a job, a 3 bedroom house with 2 garages, 2 cars, 2 kids and work from 9-5. We should all be able to go to college for free.</li>
<li> Reality TV - need I say more.</li>
<li>Walmart, Target, Sears, Olive Garden, Outback Steak House, California Pizza, Starbucks…every where.<br></li>
<li> Elderlies living by themselves.</li>
<li> Job security - none. Everyone is dispensable. “It’s not personal, just business.”</li>
</ol>
<p>
Unhappy parents do not make a happy household.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>I kind of like this part. Especially California Pizza Kitchen.</p>
<p><em>slinks off in shame</em></p>
<p>With #3, I’ll add on “students AND parents”. </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>While I agree with this in theory, I know many, many divorced kids who were MUCH happier after their parents finally split. Dealing with two households is much better than constant fighting.</p>
<p>Oh, I am not advocating for parents to stay together if they are really unhappy. But a lot of people from another culture think Americans get divorced too quickly. They think Americans will leave their wife/husband if they meet someone new. There are some people who do that, but is it the case with most Americans? Probably not.</p>
<p>Gotcha. I’m with you on that one.</p>
<p>For all the perceived negative things I listed about Americans, I can list twice as many positive things about Americans.</p>
<p>Oh, I’ll list the first one!</p>
<ol>
<li>Bacon.</li>
</ol>
<p>
</p>
<p>By what value you determine what is “right” thing? </p>
<p>Look at the big picture - comparing China and US - which country would you say has the higher % of tiger mothers? In next 30 years, which country will be the world’s leading economy? </p>
<p>I saw on CNBC that someone is setting up a $300 million scholarship to enable more Americans to study in China. Think about it, just 30 years ago, so many of us trying very hard to come here.</p>
<p>My point - setting up high expectations and strict discipline in a family should be a good thing and the “right” thing.</p>
<p>Wowza, oldfort. Seems like we touched on a hot topic here for ya.</p>
<p>But to be fair, I think an equal long negative list can be drawn up for Asians. But perhaps we save that for later.</p>
<p>I, myself, am a slacker tiger mom and not until finding cc, am I realizing that my kids should be doing more. I think we could probably find many cc-parents to have tiger traits and not even know or admit it.</p>