Tuesday, October 20, 1998
Social injustice in system hurts America’s image
CULTURE: Scientific achievements fail to measure value of
society which often leaves citizens behind
By Andrea Tinsley
Hovey Liao missed the point entirely in his article "18 simple
facts prove America remains No. 1 " (Viewpoint, Oct. 15, 1998).
Culture is not measured only in technological achievements. As a
matter of fact, it is exactly this kind of ignorant attitude that
Europeans hold against Americans.
While no one wants to diminish the accomplishments of American
business, scientists and inventors, I would like to point out that
it is a rather small and privileged elite that benefits from higher
education enabling it to achieve great things.
This brings me to the point I would like to make. This
discussion is not about whose culture is "superior " as Liao
"argues. " This discussion is not about which culture is more
"civilized " or technologically advanced than the other … or is
it? I find such ethnocentric views and tunnel vision disconcerting,
especially in a UCLA alumnus. Critical thinking should be one of
the characteristics of an educated person.
Comparing the American educational system to those of other
westernized and industrialized countries should help us see the
weaknesses and show ways in which the U.S. system could be
improved. The American media has repeatedly reported on the fact
that the average American student scores rather poorly compared to
his or her European or Asian counterparts.
The general education of most American students needs to be
improved – not only for the American economy to remain competitive
on the global market, but also for the sake of social justice.
Access to good and affordable education for students of various
socio-cultural backgrounds starts with safe schools, appropriate
resources and well-educated (and well-paid) teachers – not only in
affluent, but in less well-to-do and inner-city neighborhoods as
well. Much has been said about this issue in the media; I don’t
need to repeat it here.
One out of four children in this country lives in poverty. Poor
children are twice as likely to suffer from serious physical and/or
mental disabilities. They are also twice as likely to never finish
high school. There is little social mobility from one generation to
the next.
What message is this country giving to its youngsters who, after
all, are its future? That it doesn’t care? This is the "land of
opportunity " in which the right to the "pursuit of happiness "
guaranteed. Now is the time to act on this promise. Compared to the
United States, the middle-classes in European countries comprise a
much larger part of society and the gap between the rich and poor
is not nearly as big as it is in the United States.
The American culture has evolved throughout centuries and shaped
the attitudes that live on to this day. One of the biggest myths is
the myth of "the land of opportunity, " the myth of the
dishwasher-turned-millionaire. Who cares about all those (the
majority) that remain dishwashers – those who live without health
insurance and earn minimum wage and can barely pay for the
necessities of life?
The majority of Americans live from paycheck to paycheck. God
forbid one who gets sick or loses his or her job. At any given
time, approximately 30 percent of Americans are without health
insurance. For many, it is only a small step to falling through the
cracks.
In Western Europe almost everybody has health coverage. Granted,
countries such as Germany, with their extensive social benefits,
will have to cut them back in order to remain competitive on the
global market.
I’m not suggesting that Americans go from one extreme to the
next, but that instead they try and find the golden middle. The
ideology that everybody fend for himself or herself has a long
tradition, but where has it gotten this country? It has left many
citizens behind, creating grave social problems and leaving great
potential unused.
When coming over from Western Europe almost seven years ago, I
went through a major culture shock. What shocked me most was the
violence and crime in this country. Other Europeans I have spoken
to confirmed this first impression. In that respect, Europe is a
much safer place (when there are no World Wars to fight, that
is).
One aspect that I think contributes to the European stereotype
of the brute, uneducated American is the American movie. The
biggest market for the American film industry is outside the United
States. This means that it has to concentrate on movie content
which is not too culture-specific because that would limit its
audience and income potential. What translates easily across
cultures? Action and violence.
There are certain cultural differences that I still have not
gotten used to until this day. The extent to which bad language is
used for example. When walking past students on campus, I hear the
F-word very frequently in conversations. One would expect for
students that made it this far in their education to be a bit more
eloquent.
To wrap it up, let me say this: the United States is a huge
country with one predominant language and main culture.
The fact that European countries are much smaller and closer
together geographically makes it easier for their inhabitants to be
exposed to languages and cultures other than their own.
Getting paid for five to six weeks of vacation also makes it
easier to go places, of course.
Instead of trying to take this excuse and run with it, though, I
would like to remind the students here at UCLA to take the
opportunities they have to get to know their fellow-students from
other cultures and countries.
Alicia Roca made an excellent point in her article "Real
learning means looking past race " (Viewpoint, October 15, 1998)
with her observation of the ethnic diversity on this campus and its
self-segregation. While it might be easier to stick to "your own
kind, " isn’t it far more exciting to explore new territory? Isn’t
that what we all came here for after all?
Comments, feedback, problems?
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