The Yin and Yang of American Culture

The Yin and Yang of American Culture: A Paradox by Eun Y. Kim is a perspective of the American way of life by a Korean American. Kim uses the yin and yang symbol to describe the positive and negatives of American culture and how it compares to Asian culture. Kim’s exposure to American culture as a young child in Korea and immigrating to the United States while also being raised in a Korean household where Korean tradition was upheld provides a solid basis for her analysis. I have chosen five of her yang statements for discussion which I believe I have experienced being a fourth generation American but also witnessing the truth to these statements during my travels to Asia as well as to Portugal. One of the biggest statements for Kim’s yang is “Dreaming the Impossible”. As children in America the majority of us are told to dream big. I was told as a child that I could be anything I wanted to be whether it was an astronaut, a veterinarian, or an entrepreneur. I have always dreamed of being a veterinarian, and I am slowly working towards my dream. I have seen friends of mine achieve their dreams such as a close friend wanted to play football for the Air Force academy; he completed his four years at the academy playing football and went on to complete ten years as an Air Force officer. I have also seen the difference between the United States and Portugal, and how we encourage dreams and support them. My husband was born in Portugal and moved to the U.S. when he was two years old. His mom and dad worked hard to live “the American dream” which to them was owning your own house and providing for your family. They did not push “dreams” other than that one on my husband or his brother. Despite this my husband created his dream; to fly planes. He cannot remember how old he was just that he was young, but he remembers taking a summer trip to Portugal to visit his grandparents, and he was invited into the cockpit of the airplane where he was allowed to sit in