Common Assumptions Of American Culture

The most problematic dilemma in American Culture is that the United States of America is “the land of the free” and a place of endless opportunity. As an American, I respectfully stand in the middle because in certain aspects, America is “the land of the free” and a place of vast opportunities; in other aspects, America is a place filled with limitations of freedoms and opportunity. Common assumptions of the American culture are usually equality, informality, and outstanding individualism. While a majority of the population would agree with these assumptions, there are parts of the population that know what truths lie deep under these assumptions. Equality is the one of the characteristics people assume about America: “all men are created equal”—but in my opinion, there was never a time in America where everyone was equal (in rights or status. I do believe everyone should be equal, but equality and equity are different. I think equality and equity go hand in hand. Equity is giving everybody what they need to become successful and equality is promoting fairness which can only work if people all come from the same general area of inequality. Compared to other countries America may be looked at as more equal than someone else’s home country, which is in fact false.
As a nation, individual states have devised their own “slang” or idiomatic speech, it seems that the only times we use formal speech during formal events and situations; for example, weddings, meeting someone who holds a high position, and public forums. While in other countries, formal speech is a part of daily life unless you are talking to a friend or a sibling, it’s considered rude to not speak formally to an elder, a co-worker or etc. Posture is another informality in American Culture; we slouch or lean on wall while talking to someone instead of standing or sitting up