I had a very interesting conversation with some foreigners recently. It was a group of people, American, Filipino, Pakistani and Indian, just talking about various subjects that night.
All of them have been to Europe many times; some of them lived there for a while. They were very familiar with European people, culture and societies. And all of them insisted that Americans were very conservative.
I was a bit stunned to hear that. I had a very different vision about American. In general, it seems like Americans are open-minded and liberal. They are not afraid of speaking of their mind in any occasion. Then I listened to them talking about European people (I've been to Europe many times but I cannot say I know them well...) and I was convinced that Americans are, as a matter of fact, conservative.
For example, regarding nudity. In Europe, you may find naked people at the hotel pool or at the beach. It does not make a big scene as you imagine. Or, there is a pornographic program on TV, which I do not think it’s appropriate, but they run!
Or, they really voice their opinions strongly that the government is actually afraid of citizens (<-France).There is no porno on standard cable TV in US. How about Japan? well, I was pointed out that there won't be any porno but some stuff are very risqué on Japanese TV programs (the guy who claimed that has been to Japan 4 times in the past) So that makes US more conservative than Japan!
Surprise? but probably that is correct. I remember discussing about "infidelity" with American friends before. Infidelity is somewhat accepted in Japan (unfortunately, and I really don't understand why...), but there is not in US. If either one, husband or wife, BF or GF, cheats, that is the end of their marriage or relationship. Cheating is one of the worst sins in this country.
It is because Americans are much more religious than other nationalities, I think. Majority of people go to a church every Sunday, regardless of how serious they are. It is a historical fact that people who came to US hundreds years ago were Puritans. Somehow, religious activities/traditions and religion itself faded in Europe, but survived in US.
This discussion with foreigners was certainly a very interesting one
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Blessings:
Thought I would share some important info regarding Canada and the daily Human Rights Abuses that takes place on the poor and homeless population, including those who move here from other countries lured by the propaganda of FREEDOM.
Please share this info to help break the 'Conspiracy of Silence' and destroy the circle of abuse.
your humble servant,
ancient clown
Interesting post! I agree with you that Americans are, despite the image majority of Japanese people hold, conservative. After spending 3yrs in the states and coming back to Japan, I used to get freaked out whenever I saw Japanese business-men in the train reading newspaper(evening sports news paper) that contains nude pictures. I mean, kids could be sitting around the man and he (nor people around him) seemed to not care. I can't imagine something like this happening in U.S. In the same way, I noticed that American parents are a whole lot more serious about what movies and TV shows to show to their children than Japanese parents are.
I agree with you that Europeans are more liberal than Japanese. They are open-minded about controversial issues such as cohabitation, gay couples, euthanasia, etc. Oh and whenever I travelled to places with my European friends they didn't mind sharing a room between male and female friends and they'll walk around in the room half naked and no one seemed to be shocked at the site(I was, haha).
Well, that was my impression based on my experience but I got excited reading that you also felt that Americans are more conservative than we believe and Europeans are more liberal than Japan/US.
Tamakichi, it's interesting, isn't it? I think many Japanese have the idea that all Americans are wild and liberal and free, but the fact is that it's opposite. Maybe they respect the freedom of speech, but many of them are still careful what to say.
Funny about the nude pics on newspapers. i remember seeing them on a train too. In the article that I read today, TOTO was able to display their new ads online, but could not do so in the public display because the ad contain the back photos of butts! I didn't think they were too bad (not a nude, just backside...), but apparently it was too much for Americans!
These kinds of conservativeness in
America are maybe hard to understand unless we live here (hard to understand what religion mean to them in their lives, for example).
I am reading this article second time today, you have to be more careful with content leakers. If I will fount it again I will send you a link
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