Real American

Jackson Browne \”Doctor My Eyes\”

Every day, people are forced to face unpleasantness.  It happens.  Between the illustrated mail appeals for donations and the television commercials requesting sponsorship, we are bombarded by desensitizing images of poverty and pain.  Today, I found myself facing another sign of the world-wide hatred of Americans, and this one really hurt.  I learned that U.S. citizens are known as “septic tanks” as it rhymes with “Yanks”.  This is a common slang term among British and Australians for American citizens, variations of which include “seppos” and “septics”.  It is a term, in its strictest form, used because we are supposed to be “full of shit”, wasteful and gluttonous.  This is a term used comfortably by people we should be able to consider our allies.

My initial reaction was humiliation, followed by rancor.  It would be so easy to show hatred and disrespect for people that hate and disrespect me.  After a second, I realized I had a duty to do my best to change the world view of Americans.  This is a rather lofty goal.  It has been attempted with variable success by people better-educated and much more charming than I.  However, it is my belief that by allowing ignorance to stand unchallenged, I am as guilty as if I had fostered it.

First, I would like to make something very clear to world citizens.  Most of you have no understanding of the average American.  To begin, if you meet an US citizen outside of the US, s/he falls into very limited categories: Wealthy enough to afford travel outside of the United States, Student, Member of the Military, or an individual/couple that has saved their WHOLE life in order to experience a  week/month in a different country, and will probably never have the opportunity again.  32% of US citizens make 25K (USD) or less.  Check out this page that I have excerpted below: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Household_income_in_the_United_States

In 2007, the median annual household income rose 1.3% to $50,233.00 according to the Census Bureau.^[3]The real median earnings of men who worked full time, year-round climbed between 2006 and 2007, from $43,460 to $45,113. For women, the corresponding increase was from $33,437 to $35,102. The median income per household member (including all working and non-working members above the age of 14) was $26,036 in 2006.^[4] In 2006, there were approximately 116,011,000 households in the United States. 19.26% of all households had annual incomes exceeding $100,000,^[5] 12.3% fell below the federal poverty threshold^[6] and the bottom 20% earned less than $19,178.^[7] The aggregate income distribution is highly concentrated towards the top, with the top 6.37% earning roughly one third of all income, and those with upper-middle incomes control a large, though declining, share of the total earned income.^[8][2] Income inequality in the United States, which had decreased slowly after World War II until 1970, began to increase in the 1970s until reaching a peak in 2006. It declined a little in 2007.^[9] Households in the top quintile, 77% of which had two or more income earners, had incomes exceeding $91,705. Households in the mid quintile, with a mean of approximately one income earner per household had incomes between $36,000 and $57,657. Households in the lowest quintile had incomes less than $19,178 and the majority had no income earner.^[10]“

In general, the students that can afford to study abroad are going to be in a much higher echelon in regards to income.  55% of US citizens make less than 50K (USD) per year.  If you look at the average cost of secondary education in the US today in comparison to the average income, you can understand why.

“For the 2005–06 academic year, annual prices for undergraduate tuition, room, and board were estimated to be $10,454 at public colleges and $26,889 at private colleges. Between 1995–96 and 2005–06, prices for undergraduate tuition, room, and board at public colleges rose by 30 percent, and prices at private colleges rose by 21 percent, after adjustment for inflation.”  Excerpted from below:

http://nces.ed.gov/FastFacts/display.asp?id=76 

Many enlisted members of the military have joined the military in order to guarantee themselves a decent income and the shot at a college education.  However, when you meet them, they have a high-school education and a limited understanding of the larger world picture.  They are also children; maybe it is another sign of our softness, but americans usually do not begin to grow up until their mid-late twenties.  The couple/individual traveling on their once-in-a-lifetime vacation: they are living the biggest dream they have ever had, and behave as if everything is very kitschy because, to them at that moment, it is.

The real american is not the individual on “Jerry Springer” or “Baywatch”.  These are televisions shows designed to attract with outrageous characters.  The real american is born with his or her own political baggage.  If you are born white, you are automatically expected to feel guilty.  You are the oppressor of peoples and nations.  You are THE MAN, and you must be fought at every turn.  One of my close friends is intelligent, open-minded and eager to learn more.  She is married, with two children, and both she and her husband work.  They make decent money; plop in the middle of the median household income.  She called me last week.

“I have counted up the monthly bills, due this week… I have $1500 to pay, and $500 with which to pay.”

She’s one of those white oppressors.  I am too.  Although, any individual that has made a slur regarding any category of person in front of me knows that I will call them on it.  I will explain that every comment builds up the walls on both sides.  A single slur quickly forgotten justifies prejudice and allows individuals to overcome their inborn shame at the ignorance and cruelty of prejudice.  Now, I just need to teach the people who aren’t doing it directly in front of me.

 

Offensive American

I realized today, in a more concrete form than any other day, that Americans DO cause their own problems.  Usually, I see the rampant Anti-Americanism of American citizens as one of the ways we cause these problems.  I recognize that many people care, and I try to respect that consideration when I hear or see these comments.  However, my most integral response is these American “Bush sucks”, “America Sucks” comments are the whinings of shallow-minded individuals who are just following the sheep in order to remain world popular.  I think anyone who thinks a President can fix our country has a limited understanding of our government and a more limited understanding of economics.  I also feel that some of these individuals Really CARE, and just want to make a difference and make the world better.  They are not whining, they are truly trying to affect change, and that is something I respect.

This is an idea in which I have always believed, but I saw something that increased my understanding of other ways we cause our own problems.  We do have an integral feeling that we have the right to cast judgement on other governments.  In the December 2008 issue of Reader’s Digest there is an article written by Joseph K. Vetter entiteled “Hotheads of State”.  In recognition of the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, this article spotlights nine world leaders who, it is believed, infringe on these rights or have the potential to infringe on these rights.  Here is the sentence that made me think:

The nine men listed here, ranging from full-fledged dictators to emerging strongmen, are currently being watched by human rights groups and the U.S. State Department.

Are other countries’ State Departments watching these men?  Do other countries just rely on the human rights groups or the UN?  Eight of the men listed, if they have done what is written, strike fear in my heart.  The ninth, Evo Morales of Bolivia, appears to just be doing what he feels is right, although it is causing unrest in Bolivia.  I have to research more, before I can understand his inclusion in this list.  That being said, why does America feel we have the right to call these men on their leadership styles?  Are we control freaks who fear what these countries can do to how we think things SHOULD be or is it that we feel that if we don’t do anything, nobody will?

Should we stay on the offensive or just step aside as it appears many countries do?  As US citizens, do we only feel that other countries step aside because we are only educated about our own activity?

I think our sense of responsibility is seen as hubris among the countries of the world, when it may only be naivete.  Americans are raised with a strong sense of what we believe is fair, and even if it is tarnished through time, it still guides our actions subconsciously.  We believe that we can fix what is wrong.  That is HUBRIS.  Of course, our politicians promise us these achievements in order to get elected, and we reject people who do not promise to fix the problems of the world.  The funny thing is that, as with any country, the people who actually achieve power, have a very flexible sense of right and wrong.  They HAVE to, to achieve what they achieve.  Perhaps this sense of fairness is manipulated by our politicians in order to achieve their own means.  Ie.,  do politicians use the average citizens desire to help people when they want to get a foothold in a country with a resource we desire.  Perhaps not.  Perhaps politicians suffer that same naivete and really think they can fix things.

How does that differ from the typical world citizens belief?  I would love to know…

 

Who is Responsible?

Being from the United States, I have a very limited world view.  If I could afford to travel, I would.  I do not truly understand the opinions of world citizens regarding me… and I use the term “me” both as an american and as an individual.  In this blog, I can approach sanctimonious although that isn’t my intent.  In real-life, I’m flawed and typical.  I smile a lot.  I once heard a British citizen explain that they didn’t trust Americans because they smile too much.  He would’ve hated me.  I close my eyes to things I cannot change.  The weight of that pain would cancel out my ability to fix the things I can.  I am largely ignorant of many world problems because my news comes in pre-chewed morsels prepared for my consumption.  For a country that values freedom, we allow our media to direct our thoughts rather easily.  As an American, I am aware of some of my faults, but I am beginning to believe I have no real concept of the flaws that truly create the Anti-American feelings.  I don’t even know if the depth of those feelings have been exaggerated by our media, althought I think not.

We are seen as arrogant.  We stick our noses into places it doesn’t belong.  On the opposite side of the spectrum, we are seen as ethnocentric isolationists who refuse to help the people who need it.  So, as Americans, could we walk away from everything tomorrow, truly embrace isolationism?  To so many we are seen as rolling in abundance, but our country’s national debt is a standing joke around the world.  If we separated ourselves from the responsibility of policing over and providing for the entire planet, we could definitely decrease that debt and the rest of the world would have nothing worse to say about us than they already say.

I don’t advocate isolationism.  Citizens of the United States have a large history of giving a damn.  There will always be Americans who are struggling to fix the pain and suffering they witness.  For the majority of middle and lower class Americans, sharing what you have is just the right thing to do.  There are people who take advantage and there are people who scream it isn’t enough, but it doesn’t stop or sour those that give.  Many give.  I have witnessed and been amazed by the generosity of people who have nothing.  I have been equally heartened by the people who always see the best motive in others.  If someone tells me their car broke down and they need gas money, I will give them what I have.  It is how I roll.  I’m fully aware that they may be blowing the money on drugs or alcohol, but that isn’t my problem.  My only issue is how I react to the moment.  Is my choice to see positives weak or strong?  I think it is strong.  This could be the person, the time that s/he really needs the money.  It is my responsibility to myself.

For the rest of the world… who is responsible?  The US is bad for giving, bad for not giving.  How do we achieve some kind of balance when our every action, our every motive is seen in the worst possible light?  Where do our loyalties lie?  What exactly is it that pisses everyone off so completely about us?

Perhaps this is it… At this point, a large part of me doesn’t care anymore why we are seen as villains.  We are known as arrogant, but where is our choice and how many asses must be kissed before we are humble enough to lose that label.  If we are just bowing before everyone, how could the world have any respect for us anyway.  We are in a losing battle to save face.  So, yes, I will claim arrogance in that I don’t give a damn who likes me anymore, but I still want my truth out there.  So many have just given up.  Someday, I hope we aren’t seen as the little cinderalla of the world forum: open to command, attack and criticism.  For now, I will continue to try and open minds and have mine expanded as well… I will have hope and hold onto my respect for other cultures with both hands as my hurt human pride skulks in the background, waiting to take over if my faith in humanity wavers.

 

American fat…

This posting is again largely related to citizens of the world that think Americans are basking in the sun, fat and happy from our oppression of the worlds’ masses:

In the same forum that I discovered American’s were known as “Septic Tanks” there was a picture of an obese man eating a cheeseburger on a beach as PROOF of the appropriateness of the term.  This is cruel and sad.  According to Popkin and Doak, “The Obesity Epidemic Is A World-Wide Phenomenon.” https://www.cpc.unc.edu/nutrans/pdf_files/obes%20epidemic-NR.pdf

America does have a high rate of obesity, but it doesn’t come from our wealth and privilege.  It doesn’t come from waste.  We eat what is cheap and easy to make.  Often, we eat our lunch at our desks if we eat it at all.  Obesity in America is a complex issue.  However, it often stems around the affordability of food and time.  We do not take an afternoon siesta.  Many people do not stop for lunch.  We eat a huge dinner and collapse, then wake up and do it all over again.

When I was fifteen, my mother went back to college and completed her bachelor’s in three years.  She worked in the college library to help pay for college.  I did not see her Monday through Friday.  My father worked Mon-Fri from 7:30am until around 5:30pm when he would get home from his first job as an electrical inspector.  He would eat junk food for lunch while driving around to construction sites, eat dinner when he got home (something we could afford, which was cheap and fatty), then he would leave for his second job (25 miles away) as an instructor of electrical installation at 6:30, getting home around 10:30 at night.  On Friday, the two of them would go volunteer overnight at the nearest ambulance corps, 19 miles away, so they had time together.  Both of my parents were obese.  The worked VERY hard, and I can only remember my father taking two or three vacations the entire time we were growing.  He didn’t do that to create a savings or to send us to college.  He worked his ass off to keep a roof over our head and clothes on our back.  If you see someone obese in America, there is a very good chance they didn’t get that way by being wealthy.  Wealthy people can afford diets and fresh vegetables.  The rest of us eat fast food and canned vegetables.

If you think I come from a very rare background, allow me to share some of my experiences working with the Salvation Army in Daytona Beach.  Volusia County is not a large county.  At the Salvation Army, we received hundreds of calls every week from people that could not pay their rent or utility bills.  We helped over a hundred families most months.  I personally received more than fifty calls in two years relating to families with small children living out of their vehicles or hotel rooms.  Most rentals in the United States require first month’s, last month’s and a security deposit… and they come unfurnished.  $800-1200/month for two bedrooms is probably a good average for most places other than large cities.  In most towns there are laws stating that children of different genders have separate bedrooms.  So, let’s say you are 27 years old, you have one child: boy, 5, and you have lost your home (as many people in America are doing right now).  In order to rent a two-bedroom space, you need to have $2400-$3600 for rent deposit, $300 for electric deposit, $150 for phone deposit, $25 for water deposit, etc.  That is just to move into a new place.  That doesn’t include the cost for window coverings or food for the new place. 

It says more about the individual who took the picture of that poor man at the beach and the individual that posted the picture in mockery, than the man on one of his few vacations with his family.