03-02 The US

I was told when planning a trip to China on our 30th wedding anniversary, to take a jar of peanut butter and a box of crackers. Why? It will help you deal with the culture shock of the Chinese food and way of life. And I did experience culture shock. I was seriously disoriented because of things being so different.
But who would believe that I would ever experience culture shock in the US, which is supposed to be so like Canada in its values and beliefs.
It was on a cruise in the 1980s, when we were seated with three prosperous couples from Birmingham, Alabama. One was a druggist who said he had been held up by a “negro”, but that with a gun in his cash register, he was able to shoot him in the face. Then the three wives all said they had guns in the glove compartments of their cars and whenever they came to a stop street they would put their revolvers on their lap so that any “negro” coming close to the car could see that they were armed. I remember at the time the feeling of shock and dismay in listening to this conversation.
The cultural reality is that Americans still love their guns, a fundamental component of their culture.
But in terms of racism, they are really no different than Canadians. In fact, a good case could be made that the Black and Hispanic people in the US population have been better treated and have prospered more than the First Nations, Metis and Inuit communities of Canada.
But when I try to get my head around the nature of the American culture, and what is an American strength, I believe it is their entrepreneurial spirit; a "never say die" quality that helps them adapt to change.
So many other things that are considered part of the American culture have never seemed important to me: that they still love to hang people; that they consider an impregnated egg to be a person; that God is on their side; that their politics are controlled by big money. Who cares? Their political system may not be progressive, but that is their business.
But what is great about America along with its entrepreneurial nature, is its willingness to help people, its genuine friendliness and outgoing nature.
When I started the Canadian Federation of Independent Business in 1971, my real source of support and help was the leadership of the National Federation of Independent Business in the US. It was genuine and unselfish. And Americans help people and societies all over the world.
I have worked with Americans all my life. I never saw them as “Ugly Americans", and I never saw them as "Exceptional”. Perhaps a little overweight.
And, it is not a surprise that there is an “isolationist" element in their culture, something to be expected when a nation has a massive domestic market. It was there during both WWI and WWII when Americans did not want to be involved in European disputes.
And it is my opinion that what is called “Trumpism” in the US as a revolt against the global economy, is simplistic and wrong-headed. It is just another cultural swing that is such a part of American history.
But the essential entrepreneurial culture and spirit of America will always outlast political demagoguery, whatever it is called.