American Cultural History - Great Changes in the Turning Period of 19th-20th Century America

Author: Shi Yuanxi
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-09-01
Features: In the United States, people are more actively demanding political equality than desiring political democracy. Wealth is not the sole foundation for those who aspire to politics, while the concept of equality is regarded by the public as a crucial condition for political involvement. In the U.S., politicians' gentlemanly demeanor does not necessarily attract the masses. Take Harrison and Berlen as examples: Berlen's use of a pure gold highball glass for drinking left a poor impression on the public, despite his wealth being legally earned, as people were still unaccustomed to it. In contrast, Harrison's behavior was praised because he drank strong liquor from a large. This detail illustrates the role of the concept of equality in politics. For some individuals from humble backgrounds to become the President of the United States, a certain level of education, courage, and boldness are sufficient. If a candidate has a habit of wearing formal attire, the public may create around it, as Americans generally do not want politicians to differ too much from themselves. The nature of the U.S. military is completely different from that of other countries. European armies are often controlled by powerful senior officers, whereas this is not the case in the U.S. U.S. soldiers only receive special treatment during wartime. Northern families no longer follow the traditional practice of designating their children's careers, while in some Southern families, this tradition still persists, such as having one child study law and another become an officer, though such practices are becoming less common in the South. After the Civil War, the organization of 400,000 old soldiers was formed, while the officer association formed during the War of Independence did not attract much response. The U.S. does not fully trust the military, as traditional armies have often been involved in coups. However, the concept of equality has raised the overall level of the military, even in the South, as evidenced by Davis's relationship with the military. Most American customs are shaped by the environment. They are generous and warm, especially hospitable. When strangers arrive, they are always greeted with welcoming smiles rather than suspicion. Americans enjoy communal living and are sociable. They often have a covered porch in front of their homes, a feature invented out of their hospitality. Americans hope to turn their neighbors into a community, as a collective can reduce loneliness and provide a greater sense of security, making organizations like social clubs particularly popular. This hospitable atmosphere is not nor a result of moral or social norms; it naturally occurs, and they derive joy from various interactions. The U.S. has numerous private charitable organizations, and religious donations are entirely voluntary, as there are no provisions for churches to pay taxes in the U.S. Europeans view American social organizations as a waste, yet these organizations have persisted through generations. Americans have distinct characteristics in their daily lives, approaching everything with a casual attitude, which is evident in their language, clothing, and interactions. Perhaps this casualness and unconventional style have become a fashion in American life, and they have embraced it as their daily way of living. In terms of language, Americans are even more casual. They do not adhere to traditional English, despite some lamenting this, especially conservative literary figures in American society who look down on such unrefined tones. However, Americans' disregard for grammar and language has brought a fresh breeze to the language. They have created their own language based on their personalities. The U.S. has experienced many flaws in its entrepreneurial endeavors, with many tasks being done carelessly, as seen in farming, construction, railways, and landscaping. Farming is not meticulous, and scientific agriculture is not their strong suit; unfinished buildings are common in towns, and rebuilding structures every decade is a characteristic feature; Americans are proud of their railways, but they often require frequent repairs; and landscape art is considered a European product that Americans cannot match. Culturally, this habit of doing things carelessly and without precision has also taken its toll; similarly, in education, there has been no focus on specialization; philosophers in the U.S. have also been influenced, as Transcendentalism and Pragmatism originated here but lacked systematic and comprehensive writings. In authority and regulations, U.S. administrators and discipline supervisors are often troubled, as the public has a casual attitude toward them and does not adhere to rules. In contrast, British people have the opposite attitude, always being ambiguous about regulations. Americans believe that human nature is more important than rules, and some regulations are seen as challenges to human nature. School discipline in the U.S. is not as terrible as Europeans imagine, but neither teachers nor students pay much attention to it. Families also maintain consistency in this regard. The concept of discipline is not seen by parents and elders as necessary for maintaining family dignity. Disciplining children is equally distasteful and avoided in both schools and families. Losing parental dignity does not lead to unhappiness, as Europeans might think. This environment and atmosphere do not hinder the growth and life of good and outstanding citizens. Although the U.S. military often faces scandals due to discipline, soldiers always fulfill their duties during wartime, and people forgive their mistakes. The Civil War also reflected the democratic nature of the military, as senior officers were elected by soldiers. If high-ranking commanders lost opportunities due to being too firm or too lenient, soldiers did not resent them. Although Lincoln criticized soldiers for lacking morale during guard duty, most generals were not as serious, even viewing soldiers' lack of emphasis on discipline as a virtue. These situations are difficult for foreigners to understand but are unique to the U.S. Americans have their own principles, which can be called active rules. Active rules are almost their primary consciousness. People can forgive cunning behavior in politics and business but find it unacceptable in daily life. The standard of values is reflected in this consciousness, and material interests are not always placed first. This active rule is not as evident in professional life; for example, Americans hunt for game to eat rather than for entertainment or boredom relief. P15-17