American See Saw

The window is closing quickly for having first impressions of the USA. After eight months what seemed so vivid at the time is now dimming as we are immersed back into our home culture. What we saw in May seems almost normal now.

We saw a country of affluence and indulgence. We like things BIG - big screen TV’s, super-sized meals, big houses, wide aisles, overstuffed furniture, large portions, wide streets, big rooms, big trucks, big yards. Why in comparison we are even big people. I don’t think prosperity makes us an evil empire as some seem to want to paint us, but as indulgent consumers we sure could use a good dose of compassion for others and simplicity for ourselves.

We saw a divergence into designer spirituality that adheres to individualistic comfort and wishes. Any given conversation may reveal an atheist searching for universal intelligence through UFO’s…….a post-modern urbanite wiccan communicating with a spirit guide……..a “recovering” Christian practicing Yoga and transcendental meditation….a Native American blending ancestral beliefs and Buddhism. While all of these are far reaching, they are not farfetched. Relative truth is coming of age in America.

In Mexico one of the common concerns expressed was machismo. As defined it is a strong or exaggerated sense of masculinity stressing attributes such as physical courage, virility, domination of women, and aggressiveness. Machismo dictated a narrowly prescribed behavior for both men and women. Returning from that culture, we saw a mingling and confusion of sexual identity that stood out in stark contrast.

Here are three other quick observations: 1) We like to be comfortable and casual whether shopping, working or attending services 2) Christian information is readily available from conferences to books to radio stations to churches…makes me wonder how much our faith is market driven 3) We tend to politeness. Maybe we noticed that because of our Texas entry, where almost everyone is southernly polite.

That’s what we saw when we first returned to America. Just wondering if you see some of the same things we saw?