Myths about American life. American life. Many overweight people

There is one basic point in my essays on the American collapse. Americans - ordinary, average Americans, not Jeff Bezos, for example, teachers, truck drivers, accountants - should live richer, happier, healthier and calmer, and not like they are now. Absolutely in all directions. They should not live in endless anticipation of a possible collapse, which makes them disillusioned with democracy.

However, as soon as I write about this, accusations that I “hate America” (and therefore I’m just a terrible person) periodically arise. It's funny because it's completely absurd. No one enjoys knowing that their society is heading towards decline.

My friends, does the assumption that Americans should live better indicate hatred of America? Looks like you're the one who's confused, not me. Don't you think that everything is just the opposite? And that we should all want this? (By the way, this is why I write that America is becoming a backward place - we are increasingly divided into diametrically opposed camps - but I digress.) So, let's start with one of the funniest and most ridiculous myths.

If you criticize America, it means you hate America - and Americans! Is it so? I think that my statements seem paradoxical to many of you. I am someone who wants a better life for Americans, but at the same time I am very critical of America. But is it possible to act differently? You see only one sentence in the entire text - that the American way of thinking is failing. But if we want to make America better, then we must criticize it and study the reasons why it stops developing. In particular, I suggest that one of the reasons for the lag is the various forms of stupidity woven deep into the fabric of everyday American life. And among the nonsense is this myth that if we criticize America, then we must hate Americans, and therefore people who criticize America should not be trusted. This is one of the greatest stupidities, because the absence of criticism makes progress impossible. We continue to believe those people who do not criticize America, and we think that only they are going to make our lives better, but the combination of both cannot be true.

So let me lay out seven more myths that I keep hearing all over the place that just can't be true. If these strange and stupid myths were true, then America would not be the country that it is - both are incompatible.

Americans are the most virtuous people! (Because they give the most to charity, often attend church, etc.) This myth - the strangest of all - speaks of the moral exceptionalism of Americans. But is this true? Wait - didn't America have segregation until 1971? So how can this myth be true? Well, okay, let's ignore this question. In America, philanthropy is indeed at the highest level - but only because charitable expenses are tax deductible, and the super rich use philanthropy as a way to avoid paying taxes. Charity in America is a reflection (and cause) of inequality, not a proof of virtue. How could this happen? The average American lives paycheck to paycheck—and so while he may be able to donate a few dollars to charity, it's not the kind of money that can make a difference in social change.

I want everyone to understand this fundamental difference: when the richest people on the planet use charity as a way to evade taxes, this hardly speaks of the high moral principles of society. This only exacerbates one of America's main problems - people are unwilling to support each other through a real social contract and provide public goods through "taxes" - and this necessarily entails social problems. Likewise, being religious is no guarantee that a person will be likable or likable. Think about the Spanish Inquisition. Or about Iran and Saudi Arabia - they are also religious societies. Does this mean that they have become the most humane? Hardly.

So let's rely instead on what we see with our own eyes. If Americans are extraordinarily virtuous people, why do they allow each other to die because insulin is unavailable and turn their own children into school shooters? Why don't they support mothers who dedicate themselves to caring for children, exclude older people from public life, and don't give young people the opportunity to get an education without going into exorbitant debt? I'm not saying that Americans cannot in principle be virtuous or that they are particularly bad people. What I'm saying is that the idea that Americans are historically unique, that they are the noblest people on the planet, is simply a myth. It is a form of arrogance that blinds us. Giving up the belief that a better life is possible somewhere impoverishes America across the board. Virtue is a thing that leads to social welfare - but at the same time, America lacks public goods, from health care to retirement. So, where do we see nobility, virtue, brotherhood, equality? Do you get my point? “Virtue” and “public good” are not mere abstractions for philosophical speculation; these are acute socio-political realities that are absent in America.

Virtue leads to the public good. Therefore, the public goods deficit suggests that Americans are not particularly virtuous, and we should think about such things as compassion, modesty, kindness, loyalty, manliness, honesty, and so on. It saddens me to say all this, but it seems to me that the reality is that Americans are traumatized, broken, and paralyzed by the unrelenting horror of life in an unjust capitalist state. Americans are constantly and relentlessly exploited by capitalism—and find it difficult to be particularly virtuous when they are under constant stress. Now you have a choice: start "hating" me for talking about this - or think: "Wait, why aren't more people discussing this point?" The fact that someone does not want to understand the above does not make it any less true, and therefore I say this not to offend anyone, but to draw attention to the issue. If you want to improve society, then whenever there is a problem with the public good, you need to pay attention to the deficiency of virtue. This deep and pervasive puzzle of the breakdown of morality, social order and culture requires resolution.

Americans are not self-serving egoists; they succeed thanks to their personal qualities. Indeed? And what does America “succeed” in? The Germans make better cars, the best media comes from the British, the best food comes from France, the best designers come from Italy, etc. America doesn't do anything better than anyone else—in fact, it doesn't do anything at all. It is ahead only in terms of the level of material consumption and the amount of capital. It is Europe that is investing the most in tomorrow's great scientific research - from clean energy to life extension and quantum physics. In America, only billionaires invest in such research, which is why Americans have Tesla and these weird startups that allow people to buy blood from teenagers, while Europeans have cleaner energy and advanced healthcare. Try to name one area in which Americans are truly leading at the moment, and you will fail. It is the huge foreign debt that leads the country to isolationism and attempts to glorify its “greatness” by demonizing Mexican children.

In fact, the term "excellence" has a moral connotation - it is about excellence in an area where it is needed by everyone and benefits others. This is what distinguished the ancient Greeks, who coined the term “excellent” in its current Western sense. But it is clear that this kind of virtue no longer exists in America, because life is not getting any better, it is only getting worse. If Americans were "superior" to others, people's lives would be happier. Instead, people are taught to be predators with sharp teeth, such as a hedge fund manager or a private investor, which is lucrative but has no relation to the word "excellence" in its broad, moral sense of classical moral virtue. And this is the merit of capitalism. America, unfortunately, has replaced "superiority" in the broad sense with "superiority" in predatory capitalist competition based on personal rather than public interest. Being the most successful and intelligent predator is not only not superiority, it is its direct opposite.

America is full of people striving to live right!!! May be. But hasn't it always been this way? And yet, time and time again, people have slipped into the opposite direction. What is this connected with? In my last essay, I discussed a street surgery scene that took place a block away from me here in Europe. Someone will say angrily: “In America, too, there is an ambulance!” Of course, this is true - it is also in Pakistan. And what? Not a single doctor from this system will perform an operation right on the street. Let me get the point across. There are many Americans who are trying to do the right thing. But on a personal level, when it comes to systemic change, Americans too often stall. And yet, without change on this scale, people will never gain the freedom and opportunity to actually do what they think is right - they are only trying to do it. Consequently, America is stuck in a vicious circle where people try to fix things but are thwarted by social institutions, laws, codes, rules or norms. Until Americans challenge the status quo at this level, little can change. Trying to do something good will not replace the development of social institutions as a whole, when a normal, correct action becomes the norm. What is needed is not romantic individualism, but social transformation.

America is not in decline at all! She is not heading towards death! What associations do you personally have with the word “collapse”? Delight? Delight? American culture has always been full of predictions of the apocalypse, and this trend only intensified when America first slowed down and then began to roll back in its development. Why? Because thinking about what could be worse brings us relief. It's a nice comparison, but the facts speak for themselves. Life expectancy is falling, the income of the vast majority of Americans is declining, people are unable to save $1,000 for emergencies, mass shootings have become a common part of everyday life, people are forced to refuse health care, and suicide rates are rising. I could go on. If your idea of ​​"collapse" is based on the movie Mad Max, then of course America hasn't collapsed yet... to that extent. But we see a collapse in three key areas that are really important, contrary to everything that science fiction shows us. The collapse of the idea of ​​a wealthy society - most Americans are no longer members of it. The collapse of democracy - it no longer reflects the real desires of people. And the collapse of society - Americans no longer have that social contract that really united the entire society, because, as we have already said, the concept of “virtue” has ceased to be associated with benefits for society. The collapse in these three fundamentally important areas is as truly destructive as climate change. Of course, you may not agree with me, but reality doesn't care whether you agree with it or not. She laughs at what we “think” and remains as she is.

Americans love freedom! They can't compare to us! "They"? Let me give you an example. In London, people can go to a free clinic or to a private doctor. They can watch a lot of BBC channels - or Fox News and Discovery Channel. Don't you think Londoners are freer than Americans? Even if we go by the American definition of freedom as freedom of choice, in reality the inhabitants of countries with social democracies are much freer, because they can choose between capitalist and socialist institutions, between goods, services, and this is better for all of them - and not because I I think it’s because they live objectively better in almost every respect. Americans don't like freedom - they love capitalism. They think they are equivalents, but they are not. This is why they limit their choices to capitalism again and again. But capitalism never gives you much freedom—that's what America's sad history tells us: it gives you a wage with which you can buy certain things. But prices rise and the quality of things falls every year, so, as a rule, your life becomes more and more difficult. Freedom is a much more complex thing than Americans realize, and until they think about what “freedom” really is, they will remain prisoners of a one-sided view of it.

We should not compare America with any other country! Especially with countries like Scandinavia or France! Shouldn't we? Why not? How else to achieve progress if you do not adopt the experience of others? Americans are told that other countries are “single-national” and therefore America cannot be compared with them, but the reason for their prosperity does not lie in “single-nationality.” There are many other mononational countries that are very disadvantaged, just look at Asia and Africa, so this cannot be considered the reason for successful development. This is still the same myth about exclusivity, only in a negative form - “comparison is impossible.” But when it comes to politics and economics, comparison is the best help. Have you ever wondered why you don't (probably) know how the French pension system works? How does the British healthcare system work? How does the Swiss government work? Americans have not yet learned much, and the myth of exceptionalism suggests that there is no need to learn further. But how can we understand what makes countries successful if we don't study it?

Just go away! We don't want to listen to people who criticize America! They will never help us in any way! Listen. I am not writing about the American collapse to convince you of anything. I am a simple observer and I describe what I see. I am absolutely powerless to change anything about America, so there is no need for you to threaten me in any way.

Although, of course, as an observer I am not impartial, this is true. My observations are emotional, I have lived in many poor countries, failed states, social democracies - and I have studied the economics, politics and psychology of other countries, not just America. This is important because when you only study American versions of many things, your views become one-dimensional. Have you ever wondered why American economists never say, “Hey, maybe we should do public health?” It's like a bottleneck, like a small closet. Which you can't really put anything in. You end up believing the age-old myths that American economics is the pinnacle of capitalism and American psychology is basically behaviorism. However, there are many people and opinions outside of America, and they are much broader than that. Many things are possible. Life, ideas, thoughts are not so limited and narrow - “we can only be what we have always been! Capitalism, leadership and patriarchy forever! I'm trying to expand your freedom.

So I think that in some ways you are lucky to have an outsider like me, even if some of my words are clumsy or stupid. It's not that I'm particularly smart - I'm just a regular guy. There are simply not enough people in America who are willing to look at the world from different perspectives, and not just hold “different beliefs.” In other places, both people and societies can be very different. There are not many people in America who try to look at the world the way I do, because many people have old American myths stuck in front of their eyes. Notes about America were compiled mainly by those people who have ever lived, studied, worked or vacationed in America. I'm not one of them - and so you're right that I look at the world differently than, for example, Tucker Carlson or Jake Tapper. I am different. But why do you think that all these people really know the world outside of America? Or what do they want to know?

One of the most reliable truths I have learned from watching some societies prosper and others decline is that society, like people, needs critics, not sycophants and flatterers, to stay out of trouble. This was true of the collapsed Soviet Union, Weimar Germany, and fascist Argentina—and it is just as true of America in crisis today. This is fundamentally important, especially when the world around you suddenly begins to collapse - to be able to see how the cracks turn into an abyss, and understand what the reasons for this are. It's complicated. And I don't blame you for the fact that many people are angry with me. It is at that moment when everything suddenly begins to fall apart that we tend to desperately cling to what is left. But still, it’s better for us to be able to detach ourselves from the past so that it doesn’t drag us into the abyss after itself.

A regular contributor to the site, the French philosopher Nicolas Bonnal discusses the imperialist ambitions of the United States: where it came from, how it exists and what it can lead to. The United States itself considers itself an elephant, and other countries (even strong ones) are fleas. In contrast, Nicolas Bonnal debunks historical myths about the United States of America.

"The US has reached its limit of strength"

To hell with your parliament and your constitution. America is an elephant. Cyprus is a flea. Greece is a flea.

Lyndon Johnson

Since 1945, America has been in an extremely precarious position. Being an American is almost a crime. Just like being a fascist, chauvinist, communist, fanatic - you can continue it yourself. That's why the great director Fritz Lang compared Truman's society to Hitler's Germany and decided to return to his home country, where he left his cinematic legacy. Those Americans who had the courage always condemned the atrocities of their powerful and cruel country. I am reminded of US Navy General Smedley Butler, who in one of his wonderful (and short) essays compared war to racketeering.

“We shouldn’t forget about the bankers who financed the First World War. If anyone skimmed the cream, it was the bankers. During the war years, at least 21 thousand US citizens became millionaires and billionaires.”

Butler explains why America got involved in this war. Here is what he writes about the meeting between the military and bankers:

“There is no need to cooperate anymore. Now we, the Allies, owe you, the bankers and industrialists, five or six billion dollars. If we lose, we will not be able to pay you these debts. But Germany will not either.”

American bankers wanted their money back. And the newly created Federal Reserve ballooned the national debt from $1 billion in 1898 to $25 billion by 1920. And today the national debt is already 16 trillion dollars! The gods were merciful to democracy, but not to the debt system. Germany was defeated, destroyed, crushed, but recovered faster than anyone could have imagined, becoming Hitler's springboard. And he, in turn, started a new profitable war. The same American bankers helped the Bolsheviks by financing them. Poor humanity...

And here we are in 2014. More than a century has passed. Every day the French, British, Italians, Americans are brainwashed: Putin is the new Hitler, and Russia is a hungry bear devouring Europe, behind which stands an army of invisible Cossacks. Cheap propaganda always works. Here's what Butler says about this:

"Young recruits are carefully processed. They are remade from head to toe. They begin to regard murder as something ordinary. They stand shoulder to shoulder - an army of new people who have been subjected to strong psychological indoctrination. We trained them not to think about how they will kill others or die themselves. We only gave them a couple of years.”

I watched Oliver Stone's very brave but unfinished documentary about a part of American history that is not usually seen in the public eye. Stone insists that American imperialism was created literally out of nothing, and that the stupidest war against Spain was initiated by newspapers and their false reports of insulting the Spanish flag. Stone also states that America overthrew at least ten regimes, and after World War II intended to enter into a Cold War with Russia, which, in fact, continues to this day. To strike terror into Stalin, Truman bombed an already destroyed Japan. The military-industrial complex has shown itself to be worthy.

Let me remind you that Nagasaki was the only Japanese city where there was a cathedral. Let me remind you that according to the Treaty of Peace and Friendly Relations signed in Tripoli in 1979, it was noted that the United States was not founded as a Christian nation.

Article XI: Whereas the Government of the United States of America is in no way founded on the Christian religion...

We are already aware, thank you.

However, Stone forgot that in 1939 Churchill and his American colleagues gave Stalin the right to shoot captured Polish officers in Khatyn and seize the Baltic republics. Our highly moral democratic allies wanted only them to oppose Germany! And America simply manipulated Poland. The Wehrmacht army captured it in just two weeks. By the way, Poland still wants to take revenge on Russia.

The most vile American president - not counting Nobel laureate Obama - is Texan Lyndon Johnson. In his brilliant documentary, Stone shows us Johnson's brilliant oratory. He revealed this gem during a meeting with the Greek ambassador:

"To hell with your parliament and your constitution. America is an elephant. Cyprus is a flea. Greece is a flea. If two fleas bite an elephant every now and then, he will simply kill them. We pay good money to the Greeks, Mr. Ambassador. If your prime minister - the minister will want to tell me about democracy, parliament and the constitution, your democracy, parliament and constitution will not last long."

Obama is choosing exactly the same rhetoric today: America is an elephant, Russia is a flea (and this is Russia, a powerful force!); America is the elephant, Brazil (recently insulted by an absent-minded Israeli president) is the flea. America is God, the rest of the world is a garbage dump. Europe, however, agrees with this point of view.

Another interesting documentary ten years ago showed the face of America that it is trying in every possible way to hide. This is a series of interviews with good old McNamara (note: Robert McNamara - US Secretary of Defense in 1963-1968)- a man who bombed Vietnam for five years (that's three million "forgotten" deaths), and also developed a great population plan with Johnson and accelerated the decline of industry.

In the eyes of foreigners, any country is shrouded in an aura of prejudice, stereotypes and speculation: in Russia they wear earflaps and train bears, in France they eat frogs, in England everyone drinks tea at 5 pm.

The USA is no exception. They, too, are surrounded by myths and legends, which, upon closer examination, have very little in common with reality.

Myth No. 1. Americans are a nationality.
An interesting fact: if you say the words “America and Americans” in society, 100% of those present will think about the United States and its population, despite the fact that America consists of two continents, dozens of countries and millions of inhabitants.
The population of the United States, Americans, appears to foreigners as a single whole, one nationality. In fact, the USA is a multinational country, in addition to the descendants of European settlers and African Americans, there are many Indians, Arabs, Chinese, Filipinos, and Latin Americans. Each national group has its own traditions and culture. They are united by the common concept of “US citizen.”

Myth No. 2. Americans always support the decisions of the authorities.
Americans try to follow the letter of the law: if a president is elected, it means that his proposals and decisions are supported by the majority. A minority of the population may disapprove of this choice, but not out loud. In the United States, it is not customary to discuss politics loudly with strangers. There are laws to solve political problems.
Moreover, almost all residents of the United States are ardent patriots. American patriotism has always been at a very high level. It is instilled in citizens from childhood. The most striking example is the military-patriotic movement of scouts.

Myth No. 3. The USA does not have its own culture.
If people in Russia know nothing about American culture, this does not mean that it does not exist. There were and are many talented people in the USA; there are many cultural centers, museums, and institutes in the country. Americans are close to specifics and practicality, but they are also interested in art and literature.

Myth No. 4. There is no national cuisine in the USA.
In ordinary life, the American diet is truly impersonal: hamburgers, pizzas, steaks and other fast food products. However, on special holiday days, every housewife tries to surprise and delight her guests with traditional national dishes, primarily turkey, potato and pumpkin dishes.

Myth No. 5. America is a depraved country.
Free and loose morals are a stereotype of the film industry. In the USA, Puritan worldviews are still strong, the further from big cities, the more so. The country has a ban on alcohol until the age of 21, there is strict censorship of sex scenes in films, and adultery is condemned. In America, you can be put on trial for having sex in the forest with your own wife or for examining a sick person who is not dressed in special clothes and is excessively exposed.

Myth No. 6. There are no queues in America.
In this regard, the United States is an ordinary country. They also stand in line at stores, government offices, and amusement parks, wasting a lot of time.

Myth No. 7. Americans are workaholics.
Among the residents of the United States there are workaholics, but not more often than in other countries. The average American works to provide themselves and their families with a decent living. He will work exactly as much as is required to pay for all needs, but no more. If the salary is enough, an American will never take on an additional part-time job; he would rather go on vacation or do charity work.
There is an opinion that in America everyone is obsessed with money, any service must be paid. You should not suspect all US residents of self-interest. The volunteer movement is popular in the country. Selfless help to those in need is prestigious.
Neighbors and acquaintances help each other look after their children, repair their cars, and give each other rides to work, including for free.

Myth No. 8. In the USA, everyone is obsessed with political correctness.
America is a multinational country, and any incorrectness can provoke conflict. That's why Americans prefer prevention to treatment. Naturally, any resident of the United States may have his own racial prejudices, but he will never talk about it out loud.
In addition, feminist movements are strong in the United States. Women in America are in a privileged position. However, while defending her rights, she does not forget to give birth to children (at least 3) and take care of her family.
The most serious problems can arise from sexual harassment. Even a free look or word can be regarded as a violation of the law. Male doctors suffer especially because they are afraid to look at their patients once again: you can only look at the part of the body that hurts, and not a centimeter more.

Myth No. 9. Americans are very fat and eat only fast food.
Today, the United States is the leader in the number of people suffering from obesity. It is worth noting that Russia ranks second.
However, as a rule, those who suffer from excess weight are immigrants who earn little, eat fast food and exercise little. Native Americans typically exercise, eat healthy foods, and lead a healthy lifestyle. In general, sports in the USA are easily accessible, so the movie myth about people running in the morning is true.

Myth No. 10. Americans are stupid.
In the USA, as in any other country, there are people who do not know the simplest things. These are mostly Americans from the poorest strata of the population who graduated from not the best schools.
Average Americans who have graduated from a good school and a good university are smart, educated people. They do not like empty talk, they are inquisitive and specific.
Education in the USA is no worse than in Russia, it’s just different: it’s not extended over time, it’s not loaded with general education subjects. At American universities, they study only those subjects that are necessary for the chosen profession and are applicable in life.
The USA ranks first in the number of scientific discoveries; Americans have received the Nobel Prize 326 times (Russians only 27).

Myth No. 11. Americans dress poorly and tastelessly.
Americans know how to be elegant and sophisticated if there is a suitable occasion. Work or shopping is not included in this list.
In ordinary life, American residents dress simply, even casually, and rarely use cosmetics and perfumes. The main criterion when choosing clothes is comfort. People are not embarrassed by their figures or excess weight and wear any clothes they like, regardless of their build.
Her hairstyle and manicure evoke contemptuous glances from surrounding feminists. Few Americans take care of their hair and nails.
The only reason for concern for US residents is a snow-white smile. In America it is common to smile. Therefore, teeth are carefully monitored and cared for.

Myth No. 12. The USA is a country of informers.
In America they really “knock”.
However, if the law is broken, there is no shame in reporting it to the police. Concealing a crime entails serious consequences, including prison.
Denunciations come in different forms and in different situations. Children are taught about honesty and responsibility from childhood, but a sneaky child will always be an outcast. They often knock at work in order to advance their career, especially if such behavior is encouraged by their superiors. Whether friends and neighbors will engage in denunciation depends on them, but more often conflicts can be resolved through negotiations.

Myth No. 13. Americans love to sue.
There is an opinion that Americans are constantly suing and making crazy money from it.
In fact, a lawsuit is an expensive matter, and whether it can be won is unknown. Even a just case can be lost if you get a bad lawyer. It is very difficult to find a lawyer without good financial support and with a questionable outcome of the case; lawyers willingly take on only easy winning claims.
Therefore, few people decide to go to court with real grounds.

Myth No. 14. In the USA there is a cult of family.
Indeed, family means a lot to Americans, but without fanaticism. If possible, all relatives try to get together on holidays and significant dates. However, they also quarrel, swear and stop all communication with each other, just like in any country.

Myth No. 15. All Americans are wealthy people.
The standard of living in America is quite high, however, everything is known in comparison.
The average family has a car, insurance, electronics and the like, as well as bills, loans, daily expenses for food and gasoline, and some money for a rainy day. There is no longer any money left for travel and serious trips. In order to receive an average salary, you need to work at least 8 hours and rarely rest (there are much fewer holidays than in Russia). People from the poor layer of the population work in 2-3 places and, in general, seven days a week.

The USA is a distant, large, multinational and rich country. It has its own cultural and historical characteristics, therefore it arouses constant interest from foreigners and gives rise to many myths.

31/03/2011

I’ve been reading some of the thoughts of our people about the nature of Americans and decided to write some educational program on the most frequently discussed issues. Of course, this is not the case everywhere, and in general your impression of Americans largely depends on how often you communicate with them. If you live in America and communicate exclusively with Russians, then your opinion about them will remain “Russian in nature.” People will look alien and incomprehensible, and their actions will be absurd. Yes, and remember that “little America” may be very different from New York, but there is much more of it in the country.

1 . Americans are a nationality. When they talk about Americans, for some reason they imagine that they are such a homogeneous white mass with the same qualities and culture, in which blacks are interspersed here and there. No, everyone imagines that being an American means being a citizen of the country, but few people think that due to the huge flow of immigrants, America is extremely multinational. These are not only Italians and Irish, these are Indians, Arabs, Chinese, Filipinos. And of course “Latinos”. They are the majority in some states. Each nation has its own culture, customs and rules, as well as the level of emotionality and characteristics of social interaction. From this diversity it is quite difficult to draw any conclusion about how Americans react to this or that event. Do they show their feelings or hide them, do they always smile or cry. There are things that the average person is not supposed to do.

But this does not mean that people do not have the opportunity to express themselves in their national environment, according to their national temperament. So don't think of Americans as a homogeneous community hemmed in by rules.

2. Americans are all fat and eat hamburgers and all other junk food while sitting in front of the TV. Their obesity rates are really high. Type 2 diabetes mellitus affects up to 9% of the population in some states. But here the question is rather not about hamburgers and lifestyle, but about genetics. We have different genetics with them. Here, for example, there are a lot of diseases that were described to us at the institute as casuistry. At the same time, we also have something that they don’t have. Naturally, there are those who are exclusively hamburgers and TV, but there are not as many of them as it seems from Russia. In general, Americans lead healthier and more active lifestyles than Russians. Here, in principle, the reasons are not only that they are so thoughtful and correct compared to us. Sports here are more accessible and varied. And in our outback, of course, you can engage in sports solely on your own enthusiasm, but this can be fraught with health risks. Those with hamburgers and TV are called “potatoes” and are generally disapproved of. As for the TV itself, some people don’t have it for ideological reasons. Because you can watch films at the box office or buy them, but on TV there is only advertising and you can’t watch anything (on some channels this is indeed the case).

5. Americans do everything just for money. Not at all. Volunteering is very common and is encouraged in society if you spend your free time helping those in need for free. Often neighbors or acquaintances sit with children for nothing or help fix something in the house or car just as a friend. There are, of course, those who make money from this. However, it is customary for a person to declare his intentions regarding the financial side from the very beginning. Such a thing that first “how can I take money from you, you’re like family to me”, and then from friends “this bitch didn’t give me a penny” is rare. Moreover, it is common that if someone knows about the poor financial situation of the family, invite children to all sorts of lunches and dinners, take them along on entertainment, offer their help if, for example, those in need do not have a car.

6. America is a country without culture. I won’t write much about this, I’ll just say that in Russia they know very little about US culture and even less want to know. It's just nice to think we're better. In general, upon arrival, I was amazed at the presence of a large number of very good films that we in Russia had never heard of.

7. Americans stupidly agree with the president in any decision. Here, of course, if a president is elected, it means the people trust him. But that doesn't mean everyone is delighted with this choice. For example, Obama disappointed many; more was expected from him, and first of all for the country. Not happy with US involvement in Libyan problems. Some people sympathize with the rebels, some believe that if there are problems in their country, there is no point in throwing money away, some say that although in general there was no need to get involved, this is a matter of US prestige on the world political stage. Well, someone agrees. It’s just that it’s not very common to discuss politics with the first person you meet. Moreover, unlike us, they prefer a more peaceful solution to the issue of the superiority of one party or another. Talk about “shooting and outweighing” the opposing party is very unwelcome.

8. Political correctness. For us, this is synonymous with softness. You have to hit the truth right in the eyes so that sparks will fly. I met a man with Asian features and told him straight to the point that he was narrow-eyed. This is our way. But it must be said that, hand on heart, no one expects a real rebuff from the “narrow-eyed” one. And when some national minorities begin to behave unpredictably, it simply disarms us. Here everything is clearly aimed at ensuring that national conflicts do not arise. People understand perfectly well that just one careless word can spark unrest. But it will be very, very difficult to extinguish them later. Moreover, everyone has the same rights before the court. Not to say, of course, that this is “honestly” everywhere. There are places where if you are the wrong color, then on average you have a better chance of going to jail for nothing. There are judges who are biased based on nationality (of course, not explicitly, but by indirect signs). There are places where national conflicts are smoldering, caused by the careless actions of security forces. But in general, the national issue... is a matter that is better to be “prevented” in every possible way, rather than “treated”

9. Americans constantly snitch on each other. Firstly, what is considered snitching? Secondly, the reporting of certain facts depends greatly on the situation. On average, it is quite normal in society to report “to the right place” if the law is broken. Here they don’t consider it shameful to go to the police or testify in court. There are, of course, nuances:

Although children are taught civic responsibility, in a children's environment a child who is always complaining and informing adults is not honored. They don't like snitches. Much depends on the environment where the child grows up. In areas with youth gangs, children tend to remain silent rather than report violations of the law to the authorities.

In different corporations and firms, the issue of snitching is posed differently. In some, the owners rely on the snitching of workers. The more and better you knock, the faster your career goes. But by society, such an environment is considered unhealthy, since you get excessive stress at work. Moreover, there are “family-type” companies where an employee who has stumbled will always be offered support and help and allowed to improve, without official sanctions.

Whether friends snitch on each other depends on the quality of the friends. It should be taken into account that the punishment for concealing a crime here is quite significant, up to and including imprisonment. So, covering for a friend and not informing on him is quite a brave fact. How much risk can you realistically take for a friend? Some take risks and even go to prison for their friends. By the way, for House fans. It just shows the attitude of Cuddy and Wilson to the issue of “snitching on a friend and not getting into trouble.”

Where you live also plays a role. You will be surprised, but it is a good area or a respectable town that can play a cruel joke on people. Sometimes they can snitch because of nonsense (since in our town this cannot be left unpunished), and sometimes they can hide a serious crime (so as not to spoil the reputation of the city). And this is also often played out in American films. Either about a stranger who went to prison because he was dressed incorrectly, or about some corpse behind a barn, which the whole city knows about, but remains steadfastly silent. The locations of youth gangs are usually not conducive to informing, because it can be fraught.

Neighbors generally try to resolve differences through peaceful negotiations. If negotiations reach a dead end, they resort to the help of the authorities.

Depends on the individual. There are natural-born informers. For example, yesterday my husband’s eldest daughter called and said that they have new neighbors who have already exhausted everyone with complaints to all authorities. Since there is essentially nothing to complain about, the complaints are basically: “the neighbor had a tape recorder on his porch and was playing a Bach recording, but I can’t stand Bach, so I suffered mentally” or “at 9.15 the neighbor comes out to his kitchen in his shorts and pours coffee. This can be seen from our attic window when hung at a 45 degree angle to the northwest. The sight of my neighbor in his underwear offends me.” How are they treated? Usually both the authorities and the residents are treated as unpleasant assholes. The reaction is different, depending on how sick these people are.

10. Americans endlessly sue each other, win and make decent money from it. Despite the fact that quite often there are reports in the press that some John Smith won several million from the corporation, this is far from the rule. You can even be completely right in some matter, but lose in court. Depends on the lawyer. There are many lawyers, there is a lot of competition, but this does not mean that they all work better because of this. Sometimes a lawyer may simply sit out time in court, formally interjecting "yes, your honor" with "no, your honor." So finding the right lawyer is an urgent problem here. At the same time, companies and organizations that citizens sue usually have very strong lawyers who can tear up a rag in court. And in order for you to make an unpleasant impression on the jury or judge, they can shake out all the dirty linen from your past without feeling any remorse. It happens that there is actually something to sue for (often claims against insurance companies), but they are not sued.

On the other hand, the population is really very provoked into legal proceedings. In Florida, almost every kilometer there is a banner with the face of a kind and honest man who offers you an inexpensive opportunity to hire him to solve some problem. More often these are accidents, industrial accidents and side effects of drugs (especially regarding the birth of sick children while taking the drug). Those. situations where the defendant cannot escape. Not all lawyers take on dubious cases. For example, several people told me about the difficulties of hiring a lawyer when dividing responsibility for children between parents. The matter is slippery and does not promise victory. All kinds of harassment at work and sexual cases depend on the skill of the lawyer. A skilled specialist can turn any bullshit into a chilling story. But even if there are real problems, you can mediocrely blow it and end up up to your ears in the mud .

I honestly admit: before my first trip to the United States, America seemed to me to be somewhat of a half-real country. That is, naturally, I knew that somewhere in the Western Hemisphere, on the other side of the planet, there was a state recognized as a superpower and influencing the whole world. But I associated the United States itself only with images from Hollywood films, technology giants Google, Apple and Facebook, as well as hackneyed cliches. I had little idea how life works here.

There have always been many myths around the USA in general. The States are too far away - you can’t come here, like in Europe, for a few days to wander the streets and look at the local residents. At the same time, you need to understand that New York and, for example, the outback of Utah or Texas are two completely different Americas. Over the 2 years of living in California, I formed my own idea of ​​the country. And based on it, I want to tell you what is true in the common myths about America and what is not.

Myth 1. America is a country of victorious capitalism

Yes and no. Undoubtedly, in the USA private property rules, competition is developed, all conditions for business development are created, market movement determines supply and demand. But at the same time, in recent years, the ideas of socialism have become more and more popular. The unprecedented success of open socialist Bernie Sanders during the Democratic primaries is proof of this.

There are already many social programs in the States. If you earn little, they will provide you with health insurance, free food cards, rent out housing at a significantly reduced cost, give you free baby food, give you a grant for education, etc.

For many decades, refugees coming to the United States (including representatives of Jewish immigration, who were the only ones released by the USSR) could count on social assistance. People who arrived in old age, without having worked even a day in the States, could receive a pension here.

In addition, today's strongholds of capitalism are such leading IT giants as Google, Facebook and many other companies, large and small, organize their work according to the principle All Inclusive— full ration for workers included. Almost like a Turkish hotel: you come at lunch, choose what you like from a variety of dishes, eat - and then continue to make a breakthrough in information technology. I was especially touched by the free candy store in Facebook: you can choose any cake or ice cream to your taste and they will simply give it to you, you don’t need to pay for anything. Well, this is communism in its purest form!

Myth 2. There are a lot of fat people in America

Again, yes and no. According to statistics, every third person in the United States suffers from obesity. However, in some states there are more obese people, in others there are fewer. Western states have fewer obese people, while eastern states have more.

In more than 2 years of living in California, I’ve seen really fat people here a couple of times. However, there are a lot of overweight people. This is due to a sedentary lifestyle (everyone mostly travels by car), huge portions in restaurants where Americans like to eat, and the prevalence of fast food products. However, many still monitor their health, work out in gyms and eat right.

Myth 3. Low level of education

Who hasn’t heard the humorist Zadornov’s catchphrase about Americans: “Well, they’re stupid!”? Now you understand that there was much more anti-American propaganda in it than humor.

In fact, America has the largest number of Nobel laureates in the world - more than 350. For comparison, the USSR/Russia has less than 30.

American universities consistently rank among the best higher education institutions in the world. Thousands of innovative companies were founded in the United States and modern technologies were created. At the same time, almost every tenth American cannot read. The paradox is that even if you have no education, but you have golden hands and you are ready to physically work (on a farm, in a car repair shop, as a truck driver, etc.), you will always earn a comfortable life in America.

Myth 4. Food tastes bad

But this is completely untrue. Not all food is tasty - yes. Well, it's like that everywhere. In American McDonald's, for example, the food is terrible, but no one really eats there. But here there is an unimaginable variety of other, healthier and tastier fast foods: Japanese, Chinese, Hawaiian, vegetarian, focused on healthy eating - in general, any kind. And what kind of steaks are there! Real jam. Also in the States I found bread that was tastier than I have ever eaten. Fresh fruits and vegetables - all year round. It is clear that in winter it is difficult to find a tomato or cucumber that smells as if it had just been picked from the garden. But there are a lot of organic products here, and when you buy them, you will at least be sure that you are not cramming the entire periodic table into yourself.

And yes, you can find any kind of food in America. Lard, cottage cheese, buckwheat, kefir, liver, tongues and even sweets Roshen— everything can be bought without problems in Russian stores, which are often called “European” here.

Myth 5. Unbiased media

Opinion journalism is very common in the United States, and media outlets often openly support one political platform or another. For example, in the last presidential elections the publication The New York Times officially announced its support for Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton. Including CNN, I know that the channel is quite loyal to the Democratic agenda and critical of Republicans and President Donald Trump. Opening the website of the liberal The Huffington Post, I understand that people here openly love Barack and Michelle Obama and, accordingly, Hillary Clinton, and they fiercely hate Trump. Accordingly, the selection of news and the angle of its presentation will be determined by precisely this political position of the editorial office.

On the conservative channel Fox News, on the contrary, you won’t get a kind word for the Democrats, but the work of the Republicans and President Donald Trump is covered here in a fairly positive light. At the same time, naturally, there are no stories with “crucified boys” here, but the basic predisposition of the media towards certain ideological, value and political guidelines is felt.

Myth 6. America is all skyscrapers

In fact, this is not true. In most big cities, skyscrapers are concentrated only in the center. In residential areas, suburbs and towns you will see mainly the so-called “one-story America” - private houses with their own plot. Americans have some kind of irresistible desire in their blood to live in their own home. Many people don’t even want to live in townhouses - 2-3-story houses that have 1 or 2 common walls with their neighbors.

Myth 7. On dates, everyone pays for themselves.

Everything here is very individual. Generally speaking, a man still pays for a woman on a date. However, there may be nuances. If a woman insists that she wants to pay for herself, that’s also absolutely normal. The main thing is that you both are satisfied with any of these options.