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Rachel Best
Ms. J. Robinson
AP Language and Composition
12 April, 2008
Stupid Americans! : Wherein the Stereotype of the American Idiot Shall Be Either Proved, Disproved, or Merely Contemplated Upon
“Pretend that you’re Canadian.” I heard this phrase so many times during my trip to France this summer that it became a mantra. Why, you may ask, should an American teenager, not on the run from the law, nor wanted by a dangerous crime syndicate, be traveling throughout Europe pretending to be Canadian? Aside from geographical and political differences, not to mention the way their policemen get around, Canada and the United States are not particularly different. Canadians and Americans buy their clothes from the same retailers, watch the same television shows, and even have similar currencies (“Canada”). Americans are no more shallow than Canadians, so why is it that I was told to subtly drop around phrases such as “eh?” or “aboot the hoose”?
The difference between a Canadian and an American is that the stereotype of the “American idiot” is prevalent across the globe (“American Stereotypes”). While there are just as many Canadian idiots as there are Americans, Canadians do not face this issue when traveling abroad. Canadians, with their Mounties and their bacon/ham are able to (nearly) freely traverse the globe, unfettered by any cultural stereotypes. Of course, as many will say, stereotypes exist for a reason, and I will not disagree with that. There are indeed many Americans who come across as rude, pushy, and inconsiderate, but that does
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not mean that all, or even most are like that. In fact, in most instances, it does seem to be more of a cultural misunderstanding than any actual rudeness on the part of the offender.
I have seen many large, loud American groups, taking up sidewalks, gaping at the place where the Sun King’s head was so ceremoniously separated from his body, but I have seen just as many groups like these from all corners of the Earth (“American Stereotypes”). Some Americans have respect for the country they visit. Some don’t. Some Japanese people have respect for the country they visit. Some don’t. Some citizens have respect for the people visiting their country. Many don’t. A large number of these stereotypes actually seems to stem from a country’s desire not to be blamed. No country wishes to be seen as rude, and so they loudly proclaim that another country is far worse. It doesn’t matter to me how these stereotypes came about, because they are still hurtful and insulting.
At the beginning of our journey, we stayed in a fancy international hotel, and flipped through some of the French-language picture books in the children’s area. Imagine our surprise and horror upon discovering that one of the books was about Americans. And not just any Americans: spherical Americans! Indeed, every American portrayed in the book was short, blonde-haired, pale-skinned, blue-eyed, and spherical. They were shown on moving sidewalks leading into McDonalds’, and having to climb ladders to get in the driver’s seat of their Hummer. Of course, the pure, pristine, and sterile French visitors looked on in shock. We were not merely angry that this horrible piece of propaganda was being displayed in such an international hotel, but that it was
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marketed toward children. There was obviously a market for it, or else it would not have been printed in the first place.
Although the way other nations encourage this stereotype of Americans seems atrocious, the worst enforcers of all are other Americans. Not, however, those stereotyped, but those who are “different.” Everyone, it seems, is trying to separate himself or herself from the rest of the country. “Oh, yes, they are idiots, but I’m different.” People seem determined to prove that they are not idiots by pointing out that they are able to tell the brainless from the brained: “Look, I am so special that I can point of the idiots out for you right now! Oh, we, the extremely vocal minority, are so oppressed by our obese fellow man.” Instead of trying to correct the cultural faux pas of their brothers and sisters, they distance themselves from them, and laugh at them, along with the rest of the world.
The main issue, as I have said previously, is communication. In the American culture, we have been raised to posses certain values: rugged individualism, a strong work ethic, a belief that anyone can better themselves, directness, equality, and the desire to expand. All of these values stem from occurrences in our past, and all have their virtues. They can, however, be perceived as insulting when seen from the contrasting viewpoint of another culture. Our belief in equality seems abominably rude while in Japan, where they believe that if you encounter your better, you must show him or her the respect deserved. The informality of Americans is abrasive when contrasted with the quiet formality of the Swiss. The entire world, certainly not excluding the United States,
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needs to educate itself on other cultures; thus would these stereotypes be avoided (“Practical Planet”).
I have been traveling since the month after I was born, and, on my journeys, I have encountered many different people, cultures, and countries. Most of the people who I met were polite and friendly, and everyone has something to share. Luckily for us Americans, most people you will come across as you travel are as I have described: polite, congenial, and friendly. Almost all seem to understand that a stereotype is just that: a broad, general picture of a much larger group. They understand that they don’t want to be folded into a cliché, and you probably don’t either. As long as you do your best to respect other people, you have no reason to worry about what they might think of you.
Works Cited
Dodson, Mike. “Confronting stereotypes of American culture: American Stereotypes.” 2006. College Publisher. 11 April 2008. http://media.www.uwtledger.com/media/storage/paper642/news/2005/11/03/Opinion/Confronting.Stereotypes.Of.Culture.American.Stereotypes-1113101.shtml.
Hooliator. “American Stereotypes.” 2006. 11 April 2008. http://www.hooliator.net/yanks/dumyanks01.html.
Hutchison, Tania. “Canada eh?.” 2002. 11 April 2008. http://www3.sympatico.ca/taniah/Canada/.
Wederspahn, Gary M. “Practical Planet: Avoiding the ‘Ugly American’ Stereotype.” 11 April 2008. http://www.talesmag.com/tales/practical/ugly_american.shtml.