Talk about a powerhouse. I am constantly surprised at all the speeches that I hear overseas that include references to America this, America that. I mean, I know that American culture is infecting other countries, but in every area, from social to political to scientific, I am reminded again and again just how effectively this seems to be occurring. Ok, so they watch American TV dramas and movies, fair enough. Hollywood is the mecca for the entertainment industry after all. But must it also be mentioned when referencing research, political philosophies, or economic analyses? (I’m not talking about the current economy "crisis" here – I can understand how talk of that can stem from the states.)
This happened yesterday at the 30th Annual Speak Mandarin Campaign that I was given the chance to attend. The Minister Mentor (aka big shot of Singapore) was there as the guest of honor to deliver a speech encouraging Sinagporeans to continue to embrace the Mandarin language and master it as they have English. In his speech, he referenced some research done in the states and that got me thinking about how I’ve never gone to an event that didn’t mention something from America. Likewise, even my lectures in England contained US material! What a strange phenomenon. Here I thought I was getting away from all that and had to learn to adjust and relearn.
From my perspective, it’s interesting to hear about these issues and listen to what other nations have to say about my "home" country. Sometimes (actually, a lot of the times), Americans are contained within their little bubble that it’s shocking and eye-opening to see things from another angle, hear another voice. Though I generally associate myself with the US and think of myself as American (well, Chinese-American), there are times when I feel rather detached from it all. In the end though, the country has given me a lot of great opportunities and provided a life for my parents and I that would not have been possible anywhere else (as far as I know, anyway).
Whether good or bad, I like to hear news about the states. I feel more connected to it when it is talked about by non-residents, possibly because I cannot always identify with how they feel. Everyone seems to have their opinion on the US, from dumbfounded admiration to unbridled disgust. For me, it’s a matter of this journey of learning more about how the country I grew up in and the culture I grew up with fits into the world. I tend to be more on the self-righteous side just because I have a certain level of patriotism for the country that may not have been perfect, but certainly has been good to me.
I think a lot of the viewpoints we hold are due to the way we choose to interpret things. Some people may be offended by things that others find hilarious or just not a big deal. Meanwhile, others may be greatly affected by things that others don’t pay attention to. And though I have faced my own challenges and hardships, I am still so much more lucky than most of this world. Now I do think it’s kind of cool that so many American references are made, but I hope that that is not corrupting the beauty of other cultures. After all, how boring would the world be with everyone doing things the same way, believing the same ideas, and liking the same things?
