Since we were on the topic... I read an article recently about how quite a large number of countries are very concerned about the overt use of the English language in media and technology and the pervasiveness of American business around the world. Many of them are afraid they will lose their own language and culture because American businesses and media outlets have become so dominant even in their part of the world. Some countries have even put bans on the amount of media outlets allowed on television or the number of American businesses allowed to operate within their borders. Since many of us are concerned about the loss of American culture to others, how do you feel about the concern other countries have about us?
I believe it is a very real problem in the world. I know that many of the European counrties already feel some sort of an identity crisis since the creation of the Euro. Currency is a big part of their culture and, while the Euro will make things easier, it is a sad thing. I went to London this summer for the first time (although I almost moved there when my mom remarried about 12 years ago) and it amazed me to see a Starbucks and McDonald's on every corner. As I said in the thread on immigration, French and English are the two international languages. I think that everyone should learn one, or both, of them. Part of European culture is to teach young children another language. I don't think it means they loose their identity, but rather opens doors. Americans are not required to learn another language until high school and by then it is almost too late to really master it. I've been taking French classes for 6 years now (in high school and in college) and I still have a very limited knowledge of it. My last two professors have even been French. I've decided to minor in it, partly because I like the language, but also because it is very widely spoken. I don't know if that really answers the your question or not. I don't think any one thing will make a culture lose it's identity. As the world grows in general, it will be more important to preserve customs and languages, but perhaps try to integrate it into the changes. Again, I don't know if this is even possible, but that's my opinion.
This would be a really interesting topic for a linguistic anthropologist, of which I am not. However, I do remember reading in a few places that the link between language and culture is a very strong one. On the one hand, you have to worry about your culture and heritage. On the other, cultures change all the time. Even the Italian culture of the early 1900's, as an example, was way different than the Italian culture of the early 1800's. Change is a part of life. The key is not for these countries to worry about "getting taken over by American culture", but to ensure that their own society changes in a way so that it continues to embrace important cultural aspects of their nation while simultaneously adapting to the influences of other peoples.
Interesting topic, Jeff, I know the one time I went to Europe, it sure made it easier that all the tourist oriented people spoke English in France, Germany and Italy, though I could talk basically to the Italians with my Spanish. I know I'm glad that we "enjoyed" the confusion of mistakenly trying to buy some firuit in Paris with the money from Italy. The French of course took great offense at this. I'm sort of ambivalent toward this. On the one hand it is very interesting to observe other customs, languages and cultures. On my last trip to Mexico I visited a couple of the UNESCO world heritage sites. I would love to go to russia, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia etc. However, in the long run we need to become one world to avoid continual wars, wipe out world poverty and accomplish other important tasks for all mankind. How do you promote and enjoy these cultural differences and yet not have the type of xenophobia that has recently been seen on both sides of our latest war in the middle east.
Acceptance? Sounds easy, right? I would take culture over peace because I don't think peace can be acheived. For example, if America interfers with a "developing" country to give aid, food, and government, we're bad for not minding our own business. On the other hand, when we don't help out, we're selfish and should be doing something. Cultures will inevitablly change over time. Perhaps it is better to preserve history instead?
Here's a topic for a Canadian to wade in on. I don't have time now, though, so I'll come back to it. There is a well known saying in Canada that being situated next to the US in North America is like "being in bed with an elephant." You sleep lightly, and if the elephant rolls over, you pay attention. We have done a lot of naval gazing over the years about what makes us culturally Canadian, and not American. I think there are clear differences, more than just your disrespect for the sacred "u" D) but I'll have to post my thoughts later. I hope the other politically shy Canadians on this board, and the lurkers, speak up on this one.
From a culture standpoint we have Canadian Content laws (CanCon). A certain percentage of the music played on the radio has to be Canadian (the definition of what is Canadian is fairly involved). A certain percentage of the programming on our TV stations has to be Canadian. There are restrictions on publishing magazines and the ownership of our media as well I believe. I don't really see it as a threat, because that's the way it's always been for us. There are such a huge volumes of these things produced in the US that we have to have these laws or our content would get drowned out. They are more like anti-dumping laws than cultural protection laws.
I think that people should be allowed to choose what to embrace culturally. If everyone in Russia did not want there to be McDonalds in Russia, the McDonalds would quickly go out of business. I think that it is clear by the overwhelming success of American culture throughout the world that many people prefer at least some elements of our culture to their own. I don't think that they should be prevented from enjoying what we have to offer by a minority of stodgy fundamentalists.
Funny, but I agree with those other countries afraid of losing culture but theres nothing they can do. Its sad but true... Every culture gets dilluted over time into something else. I don't even know what America is anyhow?
It is the continent that includes North America and South America. Canadians are American, Brazilians are Americans, etc. It is the culture of consumerism that is spreading, coming out of the US. Even people on remote islands are being touched. Many are fighting, but it probably won't do anything as long as the opposition is sparse and isolated.
That reminds me of a spoof of that Molson's "I Am Canadian" ad I heard. At one point it goes "And it's pronounced zed not zee, because that's how the Queen of England told us to pronouce it." Don't know why that struck me as so funny. The whole skit is available at http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/37/three_dead_trolls_in_a_bag.html It's called "I Am Canadian" and it's somewhere on that page.
For the record: Canadians are not Americans! I'll jump on this before Grizzled does - while I accept that the "Americas" are North and South America, anyone other than US citizens, particularly Canadians, will take offense or object to being called Americans. Perhaps it's because the US culture is so prevalent, but to us Americans means people from USA. Growing up in Canada, much of our national identity was defined by saying "We're not Americans". The Molson Canadian ad you mentioned identified these feelings very well.
I beg to differ...you mention a Canadian aversion to being "American" but if people from the US hadn't adopted "American" to just mean them, then there would not be such an aversion. As to the rest of the people of the Americas, what you say is not true. I know I have seen conceptual art by Latin American artists that have challenged the US in respect to America/Americans. Further, most call themselves American artists. Just an example in the area with which I am familiar.
Interesting...I would have thought that most other cultures, being more nationalistic than Canadians, would be more vocal about the topic. Perhaps it's because Canadians could easily be mis-identified as Americans. Aside from accents and cultural mosaic versus melting pot, we do look pretty similar =)
Excellent book on the subject: Jihad vs. McWorld: How Globalism and Tribalism Are Reshaping the World by Benjamin R. Barber and Andrea Schulz
LOL! That's hilarious. How did you hear of Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie!? They are a fairly obscure comedy group from Edmonton, fairly obscure in Canada even. If you like them you should try The Arrogant Worms. http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/86/the_arrogant_worms.html This is very Canadian humour, though, full of Canadian references.
Yeah, but you did. Gutter Snipe surely got this part right. If you call a Canadian an American there's a good chance you'll get a frosty response. In Western Europe, from personal experience, there seems to be a split between those who think that "American" refers to people from the Americas, and those that think it refers to people from the United States of America. Most Canadians want to be very clear that, "We're not Americans!" …not that there is anything wrong with being American , but we're not American, we're Canadian.
I was just scouting around MP3.com one day and happened upon them and thought they were hilarious. I had also heard of The Arrogant Worms. They have some great stuff (including some stuff that is not so Canada-centric like Johnny Came Home Headless, Killer Robots From Venus, Toyko Love Song, etc). Great stuff.
Yeah, that's true. "Carrot Juice Is Murder" is one of my favourites. The mp3.com version misses the best line though. At the very end they, a cappella, break into, "All we are saaaaying, is give peas a chance."
Grizzled/Snipe, I just wanted to clarify that I agree with what you guys are saying, just that, technically, we are all Americans. If it had not been for the US stealing (hee hee, just being controversial) the term, it would have been understood more fully. I think the reason for the Latin American assertions stem from the fact that they are "non-western" (an exclusive categorization)and have been excluded from the Eurocentric canon of history. Canada has not had that problem, so you guys want to get as far away from us as possible.
