What is America?

Let me begin my American impressions with two impressions I had before I went to America.  One was an incident and the other an idea; and when taken together they illustrate the attitude I mean.  The first principle is that nobody should be ashamed of thinking a thing funny because it is foreign; the second is that he should be ashamed of thinking it wrong because it is funny.  The reaction of his senses and superficial habits of mind against something new, and to him abnormal, is a perfectly healthy reaction.  But the mind which imagines that mere unfamiliarity can possibly prove anything about inferiority is a very inadequate mind.


The passage is stating that many people are different in so many ways.  People around the world have different nationalities, cultures, traditions, religious belief  and different ways of living.  Unfamiliarity is okay.  Sometimes things that are unfamiliar can even appear to be funny or abnormal when it's not what your accustom too.  Having this type of reaction wouldn't be unhealthy.  However, it is inadequate to judge or criticize what you are unfamiliar with. Nor should one feel what is not the norm for them less important or inferior to how they feel things should be.  What may be the norm for some, may not be the norm for others.   And, who are setting these so call standards?  This  passage also emphasis the point that you have the right to make a joke and have a good laugh at what seem to be strange or unfamiliar but while  doing so  you should also try to understand and respect what's happening.  It could be the explanation of the joke.


I chose this passage because I agree that in today's society there are people from all over the world living amongst each other.  We all come with different backgrounds, cultures, traditions and beliefs.  No one group is superior or inferior of the next.  What may be the norm for me, is not necessarily the norm for the next person.  There is no right or wrong.  Okay be amused, have that chuckle if need be but at least try to learn or maybe understand and respect the difference.