American Fear

[SummerMorning]

I'd like to think of this post as a bit of a research project, maybe a bit of a qualitative poll. See, I just came across an interesting position regarding American culture and I'd like to hear what, well, Americans think of the topic.

Namely, what is it that makes America function as a society?

It is, to a neutral observer, a bizarre and unwieldy hodgepodge of people of different ethnic, religious, sexual and whatnot backgrounds, speaking a fair medley of languages (tho' mostly American English). So what keeps it from fragmenting and disintegrating?

Now, one element would certainly be that much vaunted American patriotism, which expresses itself in rituals like saluting the flag and ceremonies like the 4th of July and Thanksgiving. This element is not what I'm asking about.

The other element that holds America together is fear. Fear not just of the Other - be it of the Evil Empire, Saddam Hussein, Sars, Tsunamis or Bin Laden - but also fear of each other. Essentially, this position holds that America is a society of fear, maintained and prevented from collapse by pervasive fear which it has to continually manufacture (Note that I'm not saying somebody is scaring Americans, but that they have a continuing need to be afraid in order to be Americans - that is, they scare themselves). It is for this reason that America constantly needs foreign and internal adversaries (muslim terrorists and drug dealers, for example). If it doesn't have them, it manufactures them. It also constantly needs new enemies for new fears, because people get bored of being scared all the time.

Do you think this is so? Are Americans in fear?

 

[dr_mabeuse]

There's certainly fear in America, but I think that's more a heritage of our Puritan roots. I don't think it has much to do with social cohesion.

What keeps America together is that everyone still believes in the Dream. Whether it's true of not, the idea of success through hard work still is a dominating idea in American society, and most people are too involved in the vertical struggle for upward mobility to get involved laterally in group identity
conflicts. Also, material success demands that you adapt yourself to the prevailing Business model in terms of dress and behavior, so it's a big factor is rewarding assimilation and discouraging separateness through ethnic or cultural identity.

In other words: it's the pursuit of the Almighty Dollar that keeps us together, and there's nothing wrong wth that.

I think most of the places where you have ethnic conflict, you have people fighting over limited resources--land, water, oil, waterever. The USA is so rich in land and resources that these conflicts never really happened.

 

[78th Degree]

I think that, as a general rule, you may be correct. In many places there is a desperation to keep a sense of community. The old saying about keeping your enemies closer than your friends comes to mind.

That might also explain the sensationalist media that this country is known for. Everything tends to be blown out of proportion. People try to stir the mob into a frenzy over things that 'could' or 'might' happen. An example: though there has been one measureable earthquake of any size within the past five years in this area, the local news had a ten minute story on the dangers of the nearby faultline. Their reasoning was that because there was a quake a hundred years ago that rang bells a thousand miles away, we should expect another one soon. The next day that was all the people in the community were talking about.

There's also the tensions between races, sexes, sexual orientations, political affiliations, etc. that is perpetuated by gossip. All of it is geared toward everybody keeping an eye on the neighbor 'for their own good' and for their own protection.

However, there are the few that don't rely on gossip or sensationalized media. We look at things and make our own judgements. I, for one, won't do so much as read a newspaper or watch a news program. If something is going to have an effect on me it will happen either way, and it's simply best to roll with the punches as best as possible.

 

[hugo_sam]

I think most of the places where you have ethnic conflict, you have people fighting over limited resources--land, water, oil, waterever. The USA is so rich in land and resources that these conflicts never really happened.

Don't let Cloudy hear you say that!!!

 

[rgraham666]

And it's fear of the Almighty Dollar that currently dominates American society.

To my mind, in many ways, the current significant fault lines lie along class boundaries.

Chiefly, that area of politics known as 'The Right' or 'conservatives' are afraid that the other side ('The Left' or 'liberals') will take their money away from them. Mostly this is the richer part of America with some poorer parts such as much of the rural portions of the nation.

'The Left' or 'liberals' are afraid that the changes the 'conservatives' are making will cut them off from the possibility of climbing into the upper classes.

To my mind, it's a rather classic Marxist class war.

Not surprising as the nation agrees with Marx on how a capitalist society works.

 

[TxRad]

RG... I'm here to boot ya in the butt.... now stay away from the political threads.....

 

[Guest]

There's certainly fear in America, but I think that's more a heritage of our Puritan roots. I don't think it has much to do with social cohesion.

What keeps America together is that everyone still believes in the Dream. Whether it's true of not, the idea of success through hard work still is a dominating idea in American society, and most people are too involved in the vertical struggle for upward mobility to get involved laterally in group identity
conflicts. Also, material success demands that you adapt yourself to the prevailing Business model in terms of dress and behavior, so it's a big factor is rewarding assimilation and discouraging separateness through ethnic or cultural identity.

In other words: it's the pursuit of the Almighty Dollar that keeps us together, and there's nothing wrong wth that.

I think most of the places where you have ethnic conflict, you have people fighting over limited resources--land, water, oil, waterever. The USA is so rich in land and resources that these conflicts never really happened.

I am a dreaming realist. So while I agree with what you are saying, part of me wants to say that maybe belief in community or something a bit more altruistic comes into play as well.
As I can only speak for me, that's just what I will do.
I only want comfort, not riches...that being said, i do believe in helping out my neighbors and those who are in need. I am not the only one, obviously. look at the responce to hurricane Katrina. Slow in going but it finally did get a boost. If we were all seeking success, this might not have been such an issue.
ok. I might be looking at this from a different angle but I would like to believe that good will has some kind of factor here.
let a blonde chick dream a little?

 

[yui]

Deleted.

Edited to add: You're not wrong, Vella.

 

[CharleyH]

I am a dreaming realist. So while I agree with what you are saying, part of me wants to say that maybe belief in community or something a bit more altruistic comes into play as well.

I am a realist realist (optimistic) I am simply sorry that my LONG post did not get through to Summer (this is my shortened response to you, my other post was better )

Katrina?

There, of course have not before and since been disasters? They only happen in the US?

Did your country come together? NO. Patriotic? Is that not a part of the American creedo? There was a handful of good people who helped when even their own homes were destroyed, but twice as many people sitting wondering "why I am not being fed, I have not eaten in 3 days, I am going to SUE the government". I have never seen such selfishness on the news (news mind you ) in any other country that has been devestated by nature. I have never been so embarrassed for a country. I am sure I am not alone.

 

[Guest]

Deleted.

Edited to add: You're not wrong, Vella.

i wish you hadnt done this.
i really appreciated what you had to say and i NEVER post in threads like these. i am far too naive and get trampled every single time.
thank you beautiful.

 

[Guest]

I am a realist realist (optimistic) I am simply sorry that my LONG post did not get through to Summer (this is my shortened response to you, my other post was better )

Katrina?

There, of course have not before and since been disasters? They only happen in the US?

Did your country come together? NO. Patriotic? Is that not a part of the American creedo? There was a handful of good people who helped when even their own homes were destroyed, but twice as many people sitting wondering "why I am not being fed, I have not eaten in 3 days, I am going to SUE the government". I have never seen such selfishness on the news (news mind you ) in any other country that has been devestated by nature. I have never been so embarrassed for a country. I am sure I am not alone.

yes, i know. it wasnt even close to a good example. but yui had a post right after me that said what i would have loved to have been able to say.
kudos to her. i just wish she hadn't deleted it.

 

[CharleyH]

yes, i know. it wasnt even close to a good example. but yui had a post right after me that said what i would have loved to have been able to say.
kudos to her. i just wish she hadn't deleted it.

Is ok - its what I feel and thats always a good post. As are your opinions.

PS: I never had the pleasure of Yui's post, she deleted before I saw :| I had the pleasure of yours, though.

 

[yui]

Did your country come together? NO. Patriotic? Is that not a part of the American creedo? There was a handful of good people who helped when even their own homes were destroyed, but twice as many people sitting wondering "why I am not being fed, I have not eaten in 3 days, I am going to SUE the government". I have never seen such selfishness on the news (news mind you ) in any other country that has been devestated by nature. I have never been so embarrassed for a country. I am sure I am not alone.

Americans also donated over $2.7 billion in private donations to the victims of Katrina.

Do you think that the news reported every single act of one person helping another? Every volunteer that donated their time and risked their lives to help those survivors?

Catch a clue, Charley, what you see on the news isn't the entire story. Is the entire nation of France burning cars and living in slums? I mean, that's what I saw on the news …

 

[CharleyH]

Catch a clue, Charley, what you see on the news isn't the entire story. Is the entire nation of France burning cars and living in slums? I mean, that's what I saw on the news …

Catch a clue, Yui, I never paragraph, wink or smile for nothing

 

[yui]

i wish you hadnt done this.
i really appreciated what you had to say and i NEVER post in threads like these. i am far too naive and get trampled every single time.
thank you beautiful.

Thanks, Vella.

Shall I repost? No one will read it anyway.

I like naïve; because I am, too. I'll kick in the head anyone who tramples you. Just point me in a direction.

 

[CharleyH]

Thanks, Vella.

Shall I repost? No one will read it anyway.

I like naïve; because I am, too. I'll kick in the head anyone who tramples you. Just point me in a direction.

STOP BEING SO DAMNED PASSIVE! We enjoy your posts. I say repost. Maybe after reading I would not have posted what I posted for example?

PS: I will read

 

[yui]

Catch a clue, Yui, I never paragraph and wink for nothing

Charley, I don't know why you do anything, honest. I do read your posts and try to understand, but your phraseology throws me sometimes, and without visual cues (like huge signs with what the hell you mean on them), it's occasionally difficult for me infer what you are implying. I apologize if I misconstrued.

 

[Wildcard Ky]

I think the biggest thing that keeps us together is freedom. Everything that we do revolves around freedom in one form or another.

On the money issue, we're free to earn as much money as we can.

We have a freedom to say what ever the hell we want to say. We have the freedom to go where ever we want to go, and do what ever we want to do.

Freedom is a very powerful thing once people get accustomed to it. Perhaps the fear you speak of is fear of losing any of our freedoms.

 

[rgraham666]

A country, like an individual, is not a monolithic entity.

To say either is thus or so is almost automatically a lie.

There's problems in America. Here in Canada too. All over the world in fact.

But there's good as well.

We have to learn to pay as much attention to the good as the problems.

On the other hand, the good doesn't have the potential to destroy us. Usually.

 

[yui]

STOP BEING SO DAMNED PASSIVE! We enjoy your posts. I say repost. Maybe after reading I would not have posted what I posted for example?

PS: I will read

What holds any country together? There aren't a great whopping lot left who are comprised only of indigenous populations with exactly the same societal agendas, are there?

Regarding what hold the US together; a relatively strong central government with defined limitations and a system of checks and balances? The fact that the population has somewhat of a voice in that government? The writ of habeas corpus? Abundant natural resources (as Dr. M alluded to)? Freedom of speech? Freedom of Religion? Freedom of the Press (not to say there isn't a bias with certain networks)?

I know someone is going to rip me to shreds over the above, and I would like to state publicly that I am aware that there are a thousand and one exceptions to the ideal.

Personally, I believe The Constitution is primarily responsible. And the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States is, in my humble opinion, the most spectacular mission statement I have ever read.

"We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Have you read China's Preamble? I mean, blah, blah, blah …

Fear? That's probably some of it. In my mind, many Americans still have a bit of a noncompliant attitude and a survivalist mentality that makes them quick to circle the proverbial wagons if they perceive an attack from an outside source. Having said that, I don't personally think fear is the primary reason that the US still exists.

I ask again, what holds any country together?

I deleted this post originally because I thought I might have strayed from the actual question; but to my mind, ultimately, these are the fibers that hold American Society together.

 

[CharleyH]

Charley, I don't know why you do anything, honest. I do read your posts and try to understand, but your phraseology throws me sometimes, and without visual cues (like huge signs with what the hell you mean on them), it's occasionally difficult for me infer what you are implying. I apologize if I misconstrued.

I am always interested in opinions. Vella knows I respect her greatly, and I ADORE when she posts on a thread like this because she never does.

To understand me? LOL Unfortunately I write like I talk, but without banter it can make no sense. I LOVE metaphor, I post sometimes that is specific to a person? Shall I start sending you pictures with my posts?

 

[lucky-E-leven]

Did your country come together? NO.

This is simply false. The country came together in a big way. The government dropped the ball, yes, but the individual citizens pulled together and began making things happen.

Patriotic? Is that not a part of the American creedo? There was a handful of good people who helped when even their own homes were destroyed, but twice as many people sitting wondering "why I am not being fed, I have not eaten in 3 days, I am going to SUE the government". I have never seen such selfishness on the news (news mind you ) in any other country that has been devestated by nature. I have never been so embarrassed for a country. I am sure I am not alone.

I'll be the first to stand and say I am frequently embarassed by the actions, or lack thereof, of my government. I will not, however, say that on the whole American society rushed right out and looted every hurricane ravaged city nearest them.

Selfishness, when tragedy strikes, is not a word I would use to categorize American society.

 

[CharleyH]

I know someone is going to rip me to shreds over the above, and I would like to state publicly that I am aware that there are a thousand and one exceptions to the ideal.

Great post. Still if there was an ideal, would we need to rip it? Don't we all have the same ideals when it comes down to it. Whats to rip but semiotics.

 

[R. Richard]

What holds any country together? There aren't a great whopping lot left who are comprised only of indigenous populations with exactly the same societal agendas, are there?

Yui:
In order to understand what holds the United States together, a person needs to understand the real history of the country. The only book that I know of that even attempts to analyze what built the United States and what holds the United States together is a tome entitled, "The History Of The American Frontier." The book was written by J. Frank Dobie and is out of print. The book is a master work and was written many years ago so it has no current political agenda. [By the way, the book is NOT about cowboys, indians and shoot 'em up.]

I will wager that, aside from myself, not one Literotica member has ever read the book.

 

[CharleyH]

I will wager that, aside from myself, not one Literotica member has ever read the book.

Well I have no concept about what I read or read. Is not history written by winners, though? Does not that make half a story?