I’ll admit it, I have a soft spot for Americans. I married one. So this article might not be completely objective. But don’t worry, I have done some research to support the arguments.
I’m very aware that any attempt to describe people from a country with a list of characteristics is a generalization. The U.S. is a diverse and vibrant nation with many cultures and subcultures.
However, there are certain values and beliefs that most Americans share, regardless of their backgrounds. They are at the core of “American culture.” For example, most Americans value convenience, hard work and honesty. These are values the majority of people share in the United States.
This article is based on my observations of American society since I first moved to the U.S. almost thirty years ago. It covers three key traits that I have seen in my spouse and friends, in my students and co-workers, and even in my 8-year-old son.
I hope this analysis will help you better understand your current or future American friends and lovers.
Optimism: Americans will make you feel better
Optimism is one of the most attractive qualities that Americans have. You can feel it in the air. It’s contagious. The U.S. is the land of superlatives: “I’m doing great!” “Awesome job!” “It’s super exciting!”
According to data collected by the American Enterprise Institute in 2020, 71% of Americans feel that they have either achieved the American dream or are on the way to achieving it. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, this number was 80%.
American optimism is not new. Alexis de Tocqueville, the 19th century French author who travelled all over the U.S. and wrote about American life in his four-volume collection Democracy in America, noted:
De Tocqueville’s sentiment was echoed by Irish philosopher Charles Handy, who retraced de Tocqueville’s trek across the United States. In a 2001 article in the Harvard Business Review, Handy noted:
So when you’re feeling down, expect that your American friends and lovers will make you feel better with their optimism.
Generosity: Americans will show you their love with gifts
My first experience with American generosity dates back to my college years. At the time I used to live in Paris and had a part-time job as a tour guide. I remember that when I had American tourists in my tours, their tips were much higher than those from tourists from other countries.
If you’ve been a waiter or a tour guide somewhere outside the U.S., you know what I’m talking about. Americans like to tip. And if they feel the service is good, your efforts will be rewarded with a very generous tip.
In the U.S. people love to give gifts. It happens not only in birthdays and weddings, but also in special occasions such as graduations, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day, Christmas, someone leaving a job, teacher appreciation day, and so on.
But American generosity doesn’t stop there. According to the World Giving Index, which is based on Gallup’s World Poll surveys of 1.3 million people around the world, Americans are the most generous people in the world.
For the past ten years the U.S. has consistently ranked at the top of the index, followed by Myanmar and New Zealand. Some of the metrics in the index include data on whether the respondents have helped a stranger, donated money to charity, or volunteered their time to an organization.
So expect gifts, cards, and more gifts from your American friends and lovers.
Innocence: Americans will inspire you with their naiveté
Innocence is not a virtue, but it is related to simplicity. I see it as a quality because of the absence of guile or cunning it implies.
American innocence is about naiveté. Most people in the U.S. believe that their country is a force for good in the world. They are convinced that they are on the side of freedom and justice. They think that the wars that Americans have fought have been noble.
Obviously these naive beliefs are very controversial to say the least. They show a lack of knowledge and critical thinking. But at the same time, they contribute to keep the nation together. They fuel the American dream and keep it alive.
American innocence is at the core of the country’s pride. It is contagious and fosters unity (“united we stand”). The unconditional love that Americans have for their country is an admirable and very attractive quality.
So expect to be inspired by Americans’ passion for their country.
Final thoughts
If you are from the United States, you know that when you go abroad everyone you meet has a strong opinion of your country. You’ll find people who think it is the land of hope and opportunity, while others see it as a ruthless imperialistic power.
The same thing will happen with this article. Some readers are going to interpret American optimism as fake (people pretending to be optimistic), American generosity as transactional (gifts creating an obligation), and American innocence as ignorance. Different strokes for different folks.
But for me these three qualities are real. I see them everyday. The optimism, generosity and innocence of the American people are now part of my life. Hopefully this article will allow readers to see and appreciate these qualities in their current and future American friends and lovers.
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This post was previously published on Hello, Love.
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