Mirror, Mirror On The Wall...

Former Secretary of State George Shultz once said that it saddened him that as he traveled the world, he found that others usually take the worst parts of American culture.

It's so true.

Living abroad for 4.5 years and traveling even more, I have often been appalled to see what aspects of America other peoples absorb and emulate. Why did little Thai girls know all about Brittney Spears and emulate her dance routines? Why does Laos - which didn't even have an ATM the first time I went to Vientiane - have Pepsi everywhere? In France, the inventor of cafes, why do people line up at the ubiquitous Starbucks and pay 2-3 times as much for a cup of lesser quality coffee than one can find in a sit-down cafe with full-service on any block, anytime? Even worse, why do they have McDonald's?

Many scholars and people far greater than me, including Heidegger, have written tomes on the amazing all-encompassing, blob-like power of American culture. It pervades, permeates and invades.

But why is it always the worst aspects that stick? Why do they have processed American Cheese Food and processed white bread that can sit indefinitely on shelves in Bali Indonesia, and yet they pay tuition for their public schools?

Why does Singapore have "Singapore Idol", but nothing even close to a decent art museum? In fact, for a culture that heavily emulates and adopts American and British models, where is the creativity at all?

Why did I see people in Taiwan with shirts emulating American/Western styles using English with horrible grammar, spelling and syntax errors (my favorite being "Hong Wants to Buy You a Chnug")?

Why is it that the Pursuit of fast food, pop music, entertainment, and fashion are more important than the Pursuit of Happiness?

So, maybe the best question is, "What SHOULD people take from the United States?". In my opinion from my limited viewpoint and experiences, I've boiled it down to these things:

• Critical Thinking Skills - American education may be weak on many points, but we still teach people to think critically and independently. It's endemic to the culture, and it's the foundation of our success. We are one of the most individualistic cultures on Earth - for better or worse - and economically, our critical thinking has led to much of our success.

• Creativity - Along with that high Individualism comes self-empowerment. We're encouraged not to accept what is, but to think what can be. After all, the American Dream involves the ability to go from pauper to prince - to be a Carnegie or a Rockefeller when you start with nothing. How do we get there? By believing in no limits other than our capacity to imagine and envision.

• A Concept of Equality - Certainly, we have classes and division. Let's not say otherwise. But, Americans have this idea that we are on the most important, human levels, supposed to be equal. Throughout our history, we have moved ever increasingly toward breaking down barriers and promoting equality. There's a recognition that it's a higher moral level and a consciousness of where it hasn't yet been achieved. Abroad, I have seen American travelers much more often address a foreigner with respect and dignity than I have seen from British and many Europeans.

• Opportunity - there is no limit to what one can have or achieve. Although one may be born with far fewer advantages, or perhaps many disadvantages - American culture still says you CAN and will accept it if you succeed (for the most part).

• The Ability to Attract and Assimilate Foreign Talent - Lee Kwan Yew of Singapore - one of the most interesting people ever to stand on the world stage - feels this is America's strongest asset in American culture. Perhaps because of the idea of equality, perhaps as a cause of it - America has always, since its very inception taken in immigrants and turned them into Americans. From the moment someone steps foot in the United States, the culture encourages them to leave their differences at the door and to become "one of us". It's very powerful and almost always takes hold by the second generation. It has resulted in America having some of the best minds and talent on Earth.

• Individual Empowerment - For better and for worse, the individual is the center of American society. This has HUGE disadvantages as well as advantages. But, it correlates with freedom, opportunity, equality, creativity - it's the foundation for these things. Ultimately, it is what most defines American culture.

Of course, most if not all of these things are actually mortal enemies to a more communal culture. And if you're also a homogeneous culture, like Japan, Thailand, or even Germany and Great Britain - these ideas can also de-stabilize. Some of the best aspects of other cultures - like community and creating social systems that keep connection and unity - can be ultimately destroyed by American cultural values. 

So, maybe that's the answer. The "good stuff" is imbued with a specific set of values that isn't always compatible. Perhaps some things also come from a specific set of conditions, history and evolution that isn't always transferable - or even desirable to others.

After all, if Laotians became ambitious, would it still be Laos? Where would the beauty go? And would their quality of life really get any better as ambition and industrialization set in?

If Germans got too creative and thought too critically, would they still have the community and the systems that support their society? Would their quality of life increase?

Of course, it's hard not to sit in Singapore and hunger for some art and original thought. And it's hard not to see little Taiwanese kids who can do a complex algebra equation and age nine, but who can't extrapolate ideas or explain the motivations of a character in a story.

It can be frustrating to ask a Thai waiter for Thai Iced Tea only to be told they don't have it. And then when one instead asks if they have tea, milk and sweetener, to be told, "yes" - and have to suggest combining those things to complete the order.

And it can be most sad to talk to someone in so many parts of the world who truly believes - often with decent reasons - that they can and will never leave their place/lot in life. It's just the way it is, and always will be.

So, what does transfer? Apparently, Coke and Pepsi have no greater cultural implications than cancer, diabetes, and obesity. Cigarettes are an equal opportunity killer. And little teenagers around the world can share in the magic and wonder that is Justin Timberlake. Mickey Mouse is everyone's friend.

The most surface - the lowest common denominator stuff - can be broadcast, transported, and consumed by all. Because just like us, everyone can secretly - or not so secretly - find "American Idol" entertaining in that same junky way that an Oreo can be so satisfying.