The U.S. cultural gap

[Wirey]

I hope this link works. It explains everything.

I'm a Little Bit Country

 

[Revoltingest]

I hope this link works. It explains everything.

I'm a Little Bit Country

Clicking on that link gets....

 

[exchemist]

That's not true...PC implies that people are shamed for saying certain things that may appear cynical.
That's why in the US there is a slightly suffocating air, because people will condemn you no matter what you say.

In other words, in Europe nationalism is not shamed.
And a speech like this, held by Bannon, proves it

Spoiler: Steve Bannon

Nationalism is shamed, feared and treated with revulsion by many millions in Europe that know their recent history. Nationalism is a largely bogus and rather poisonous idea.

 

[Revoltingest]

I hope this link works. It explains everything.

I'm a Little Bit Country

Here's a better explanation of the cultural gap....

 

[Stanyon]

Nationalism is shamed, feared and treated with revulsion by many millions in Europe that know their recent history. Nationalism is a largely bogus and rather poisonous idea.

The more extreme forms of it at least, what is so wrong about people in a certain geographic area banding together to reap the benefits of the prosperity that they themselves have created? Nationalism is not a dirty word nor is destroying the idea of it a magic bullet for making the world a better place, humans will find other ways to group and separate themselves from each other, they always do. There are those that think that if we just get past our primitive selves and we become "enlightened" then somehow the world will be one and we will all run around with gumdrop smiles under rainbow skies with unicorns and puppies, a noble aspiration but I'd say the reality looks more like a bunch of monkeys masturbating in front of a mysterious monolith :

 

[fantome profane]

That's not true...PC implies that people are shamed for saying certain things that may appear cynical.

Like I said, a lot of people don’t know what the term Politically Correct really means.

EDITORIAL: A little history of ‘politically correct’

 

[exchemist]

The more extreme forms of it at least, what is so wrong about people in a certain geographic area banding together to reap the benefits of the prosperity that they themselves have created? Nationalism is not a dirty word nor is destroying the idea of it a magic bullet for making the world a better place, humans will find other ways to group and separate themselves from each other, they always do. There are those that think that if we just get past our primitive selves and we become "enlightened" then somehow the world will be one and we will all run around with gumdrop smiles under rainbow skies with unicorns and puppies, a noble aspiration but I'd say the reality looks more like a bunch of monkeys masturbating in front of a mysterious monolith :

I find you disingenuous. Nationalism is a lot more than people "banding together to reap the benefits of the prosperity they have created". That description is almost perfect for the European Union, which is anything but a nationalistic enterprise.

In fact its prime purpose is to prevent damaging nationalism from taking charge again in Europe. However nobody I know suggests that avoiding it is a magic bullet. The rest of your post is attacking an Aunt Sally of your own making.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I hope this link works. It explains everything.

I'm a Little Bit Country

I didn't click the link because I'm afraid.

Please don't tell me out of the possibility that behind the link, somewhere In the nefarious shadows of the dark web, it's Marie Osmond singing, "I'm a little bit country" with Donny singing, "I'm a little bit rock and roll". .

I still have nightmares from that show.

 

[Stanyon]

I find you disingenuous. Nationalism is a lot more than people "banding together to reap the benefits of the prosperity they have created". That description is almost perfect for the European Union, which is anything but a nationalistic enterprise.

In fact its prime purpose is to prevent damaging nationalism from taking charge again in Europe.

There are quite a few people in Europe that find the EU an unfair and undemocratic system hence the rise of the Euroskeptic parties. These parties over the years have been smeared and labeled as far-right and Nazis by much of the media when in more than a few cases they were centrist parties (FN for example), it seems this was done to play into the fears of the general population. To make matters worse some banks in the EU refused to loan Euroskeptic parties money because of their politics essentially attempting to undermine democracy using finance as a weapon of political suppression against those they disagree with.

 

[fantome profane]

Here's a better explanation of the cultural gap....

Dam you!

I am at work now, just reading through this thread. I accidentally clicked on your link and the theme song stated belting out.

(everybody is looking at me. )

 

[Mister Emu]

What in your opinion has caused the cultural gap in the U.S. to widen over the years

The acceleration of left-wing cultural "progress" conjoined with the view that everything someone might want is a right (that's hyperbole, by the way). As an example 20ish years ago the Democrat president was for a border wall and against homosexual marriage. Now a republican who believes those things is a monster.

This is one of those strange situations where perception is reality. People have been told that there is s huge gap, they think there is s huge gap, and so there is.

If you actually look carefully at what people on the “other side” really think and feel you might find it is not as different as you thought.

There are areas where this is true and areas where it isn't. Unfortunately, our tendency is to bleed the disparities of the greater differences into the issues of lesser difference. It is compounded by the idea that every cause is a moral crusade against evil.

We transfer our personal animus on those issues we find ourselves far apart to issues where we might find common cause. See keeping "the focus on Trump" instead of working to legislate an end to the laws that allow family separation, or Mitch McConnell's famed vindictiveness.

 

[Sunstone]

This is one of those strange situations where perception is reality. People have been told that there is s huge gap, they think there is s huge gap, and so there is.

If you actually look carefully at what people on the “other side” really think and feel you might find it is not as different as you thought.

Take the recent immigration issue. The left is told that people on the right are all evil racist monsters who want to throw children in cages. And the right is told that the left wants to destroy America and open the borders to every criminal, rapist, or terrorist who wants to come in.

Of course none of this is true, but because it is perceived as being true it creates this insurmountable gap.

I think there are key differences between each side demonizing the other side, and actual cultural differences between the sides. Demonizing might indeed either make any real differences seem more profound, or it might mislead us as to the real nature of the differences, but the differences are going to be real, demonizing or no demonizing.

For instance, I agree with those who see the most significant and dangerous cultural differences in America as basically boiling down to North/South differences in culture. I further think that one of those differences concerns the overall value each side gives to education and views based on such things as the sciences. To me, those differences are and would be just as real and significant regardless of how much or how little demonization was going on.

 

[fantome profane]

I think there are key differences between each side demonizing the other side, and actual cultural differences between the sides. Demonizing might indeed either make any real differences seem more profound, or it might mislead us as to the real nature of the differences, but the differences are going to be real, demonizing or no demonizing.

For instance, I agree with those who see the most significant and dangerous cultural differences in America as basically boiling down to North/South differences in culture. I further think that one of those differences concerns the overall value each side gives to education and views based on such things as the sciences. To me, those differences are and would be just as real and significant regardless of how much or how little demonization was going on.

I think you are right, but maybe those differences are differences we could learn to live with. If we were willing to.

 

[Kangaroo Feathers]

What in your opinion has caused the cultural gap in the U.S. to widen over the years, and what do you believe are possible solutions that could close it?

What do you mean "cultural gap"?

 

[Revoltingest]

Dam you!

I am at work now, just reading through this thread. I accidentally clicked on your link and the theme song stated belting out.

(everybody is looking at me. )

That prompted a real LOL.
About your image there....helped or hurt?

 

[Father Heathen]

Not suggesting you're wrong, just trying to work out how to respond...
What causes you to think the cultural gap has widened, and along what lines are you measuring it?

I'm not at all sure what you just said, but just in case you mean there really isn't any a greater "cultural gap" whatever that even means I should say I agree.

OP, where can we see this gap that isn't there?

Would you describe what the cultural gap is?

I could imagine several different cultural gaps - which one are you referring to?

What do you mean "cultural gap"?

I am of course referring to the increased polarization between liberal vs. conservative, religion vs. science/secularism, rural vs. metropolitan, class disparity, etc. Of course the line doesn't fall cleanly across these divides, as there are clear exceptions, but as a generality this is what I'm referring to. There were always these differences, but they were never this acute until recent years; less pragmatism and cooperation/collaboration toward shared interests, commonalities, etc. and more entrenched, zealous, and hostile tribalism, etc.

 

[Father Heathen]

In my humble opinion, and watching things from an external perspective, there is a strong tendency among Americans to disown their European roots. Hence the cultural gap.

There is also a strong tendency amongst Europeans to disown their American off-spring.

I didn't know Americans have "European roots". What exactly do you mean by them?

In what way is Europe relevant to the topic?

 

[Stanyon]

I am of course referring to the increased polarization between liberal vs. conservative, religion vs. science/secularism, rural vs. metropolitan, class disparity, etc. Of course the line doesn't fall cleanly across these divides, as there are clear exceptions, but as a generality this is what I'm referring to. There were always these differences, but they were never this acute until recent years; less pragmatism and cooperation/collaboration toward shared interests, commonalities, etc. and more entrenched, zealous, and hostile tribalism, etc.

I'd say the media has played a huge role in creating those perceptions. The thing about generalities is that it is like throwing darts backwards with a blindfold on.

 

[fantome profane]

That prompted a real LOL.
About your image there....helped or hurt?

Don’t worry. My reputation can’t possibly get much worse. But still...

 

[Revoltingest]

I am of course referring to the increased polarization between liberal vs. conservative, religion vs. science/secularism, rural vs. metropolitan, class disparity, etc. Of course the line doesn't fall cleanly across these divides, as there are clear exceptions, but as a generality this is what I'm referring to. There were always these differences, but they were never this acute until recent years; less pragmatism and cooperation/collaboration toward shared interests, commonalities, etc. and more entrenched, zealous, and hostile tribalism, etc.

On the rural vs urban, I think that gap is being eroded by
increasing equality of access to all things media.
But politics....criminy, the gap is a deep & widening chasm.
Science v religion....I detect no real change....it's only louder.

Btw, very complete answer...a rarity on RF.