Cultural Numbness

The concept of subcultures and cultural values were the main focuses of class this week. The discussions in class orbited around how we, as Americans, view our culture and how it subconsciously influences our character and decisions.


Although I thought being bicultural would elevate my perception of American cultural and values, I discovered how these values shaped me as a person much more than I hoped. Reading Kohl's "Values American's Live by" in class, Kohl explains for Americans to more direct, honest, and casual in their manners and habits than other cultures. When I'm greeting my friends or meeting my parents' work friends, I often use the same greeting--usually a form of 'hello' or 'how are you.' Whereas in Russian culture, there are different forms of saying hello that should be appropriately used depending on different types of situations and what is deemed more respectful.


Kohl also points out that Americans are in no way humble in their opinions, as they're eager to deliver their evaluations, and "...consider anything other than the most direct and open approach to be dishonest and insincere and will quickly lose confidence in and distrust anyone who hints at what is intended rather than saying it outright." Ironically, Americans are good at tucking cultural issues under the carpet just well as they deliver evaluations. For instance, Chris Jordan in his TED talk points out that more than 400,000 people die from the addiction of cigarette smoking every year. We seem to look at this number lacking empathy because the statistic is so great and intangible that it doesn't register in our minds. Compared to the response that reverberated around the world of the 3,000 deaths of Americans in 9/11, and will continue to be talked about through history. Jordan makes the connection that 1,100 Americans died due to cigarette smoking on the same day of 9/11, and 1,100 Americans will continue to pass away each day from smoking; though as a culture we dismiss the cigarette statistic and create excuses that the tobacco lobbyists are too powerful, or that it's out of our personal control to regulate. He also advocates that one third of all deaths caused by overdoses are due to the overdoses of over the counter prescription medication. Such statistical data Jordan points out is measured on such an enormous scale, that we're unable to perceive how largely it affects our culture; and as a result, we don't do much about it. Americans tend to dismiss these cultural phenomenons as it has numbness our sense of assertiveness. Although as Americans we may take pride in our verbal directness and honesty, it's important to approach these values from an opposite angle, and comprehend how they affect us on a larger, cultural scale.