Monday’s Mtg (4/10/23): What are Americans’ worst misconceptions about the rest of the world, and vice versa?

It is a holiday weekend, not a homework weekend.  For this topic on mutual misunderstandings between Americans and the rest of the world, let’s hope we can generate a lot of our discussion from group members’ direct experience.  We have immigrant members from many countries, people that have lived abroad, and a range of ages.  The latter is important because I do not want to get bogged down in 30–40-year-old stereotypes that newer generations have left behind.  (It is true that national/religious stereotypes often last for generations, but this is a well-rounded group so hopefully we have left in the past “all Americans are rich/arrogant” and “poor countries are hellholes,” “Arabs are violent” and other hackneyed beliefs.)

The vague wording hurts us, but not fatally, IMO.  Yes, there are 330 million Americans (225m adults), and asking what “we” believe about the rest of the world requires a lot of aggregating and generalizing.  The same is true the other way around.  The “rest of the world” is 200+ countries; thousands of cultures, ethnic groups, languages, etc.; a half dozen major religious faiths and hundreds of smaller ones; just to touch on the vast diversity of 7 billion non-Americans.  What do “we” and “they” think about each other, even at one snapshot moment in time, is not really a question with an answer.

Moreover, Americans themselves are sharply divided on core facts and beliefs about our own country, as we talked about last week.  Our country is in an internal Cold War over our history, culture, race, science, immigration’s value, the proper roles for govt/biz, and even the basic meaning of democracy and the Constitution.  As we discussed, regional sterotypes persist here.

What do “we” think about Islam and Mexico??  Many Americans are too saturated in myths and propaganda to know ourselves, much less others.   

Still, two very important reason led me to suggest this topic.

1. Americans must be able to see ourselves as others see us – whether they are right or wrong about us.  Historically we do not do that very well, and catastrophes (for us and other countries) have followed.  If U.S. influence really is ebbing, seeing ourselves through 7 billion new sets of eyes will come to matter more and more. 
2. There is always value in saying out loud our stereotypes and generalizations about others.  It helps us examine assumptions, facts, values, prejudices, etc.

Have a happy Easter weekend and I will see you on Monday.  Also, don’t forget to sign up for our spring party on April 30^th at Nick’s house.

OPTIONAL BACKGROUND READINGS –

About us –

• 2021 Pew report:  “What People Around the World Like and Dislike About American Society and Politics.”  Long but recommended, at least the highlights.
• Global map of U.S. favorability by country. (2020, so Trump soured our image.)  Easy overview.
• Ally or threat?   To some countries we are one or other; some both.
• From a travel site:  Many foreigners get false their beliefs about USA from movies, TV, other entertainment media.

By us –

• We did talk about Americans’ ignorance of other countries and cultures, in 2019.
• Video 34m – Why Americans misunderstand the world.  Former CIA agent wrote book of same name.   Focus on how our ignorance/naiveté about world warp U.S. foreign policy.  Recommended if time.
• 27 myths the West has about developing countries.  From a non-U.S., pro-foreign aid group.
• Fun comments from a Reddit thread on this subject.
• Muslims:  U.S. public opinion has moderated lately.  But half of U.S. adults still think Muslims are not part of mainstream U.S. society.  Which Amis drive these views?  Guess.

NEXT WEEK (4/17/23):  How will major world religions evolve in 21st century?