Forgive my crude title, but I think it best encapsulates what I’m curious about.
No doubt, we must not subscribe to unhelpful stereotypes, but I believe that generalisations are useful to discuss the people of a country in broad strokes since its political and economic climate and sociocultural norms shape the values and philosophies of the citizens.
For instance, I live in Singapore, a hypercompetitive and expensive city state where people seem obsessed with accumulating wealth to beat their peers and rising costs of living. Our social media platforms are replete with posts like achieving $100k by the age of 30 and attaining half a million dollars in our national retirement annuity scheme by 65. It’s all about the money!
But whenever I stay in Japan, I watch TV programs featuring senior citizens in their 70s still working the fields and making traditional crafts and local dishes. The concept of retirement doesn’t seem to exist in them. Of course, some of them might still be working because of a lack of retirement funds, but I would say generally, they embody the ikigai concept, living their lives with purpose and maybe even passion.
Which brings this question to the fore: to what extent do you think you are a typical product of your country? And does the idea of being a strong and independent individual untethered by societal norms weigh heavily in your mind?
I am a product of the U. S., but I am from a military serving family, so I have been to 14 countries. This gives me a global citizen perspective, I think.
Wow 14 countries is a lot! Are there any countries that you particularly enjoyed living in?
Also, are there aspects of the US that you struggle with because of your global citizen perspective?
Here in the U.S. too many are so ignorant and naive and blindly "patriotic." Or what they call patriotic. I consider myself a U.S. citizen and a product of the United States but I know we are not the best country in the world and we are far behind the world in so many areas that truly make a nation "great."
I find this narrative mostly comes from those that have never been overseas to Europe or Asia and they're ignorant to how a society functions or is supposed to function.
Thanks for sharing your perspective! What do you think is the most pressing challenge the United States should address?
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So.the most gun deaths in the world, severely low educational standards/scores compared to the majority of other first.world nations, the only first world nation that allows you to go bankrupt because of medical debt, the highest amount of homeless veterans, and a nation that is still trying to go back in time and take rights away from anyone that isn't a straight white male makes.us the best? And economically, we have the biggest wealth gap where around 95% of the assets/wealth in this nation are owned by less than 1% of its citizens. That's what you think makes.a nation great?
Go ask a trump.supporter when they think America was "great." They can't answer that question, never can.
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New Zealand or Australia. Just gotta watch out for those animals and insects that'll kill ya. South Korea is up there and might take the cake for me if DPRK wasn't so fucking volatile right next door. Also, nations like Norway and Switzerland and some of the other very tiny European nations.
Each country has its own issues, but we.here in the United States have issues no country has or has ever had simply because of this false narrative spread by right wing propaganda that we are the best, always have been, and always will be. We are such a young nation and we are still learning.
Global citizen. But growing up I never lived in a single country for more than 7 years. Born in the US but bounced around a lot. Pretty well planted in the US now, but I don't feel "made in the USA"
This feeling that you are describing - does it make you feel lonely like an outsider or special like someone who has been privileged? Sounds like you have had an interesting life!
Honestly, both! Never felt like I quite fit in anywhere, but at the same time it's made me a very independent person.
Sounds like a good trade-off to me haha
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I only had to learn enough to get around and order food. I went to English speaking schools the whole time
Privilege REEKS!! I bet you think those that immigrate to the United States should have to learn English though, don't ya? Hypocritical AF