As a rustic, America doesn’t have the most effective popularity. We are inclined to make lots of noise and appeal to lots of consideration on a world scale, which results in myths and stigmas. Once you discuss to outsiders, it may be surprising what they consider America is like. The misconceptions generalize all of America and infrequently amplify our political issues. In the end, we’re simply as flawed as any nation however not as excessive as different nations assume.
1. Each American Has a Gun
This false impression is among the most typical. How can we blame foreigners when U.S. information includes weapons each different day? Many individuals from different international locations assume weapons are a serious a part of our society and day by day lives. They assume we whip out our pistols every time we get minimize off in site visitors or right into a tiff with our neighbor.
2. All People Are Impolite and Imply
We’re dissatisfied by this one as a result of it’s merely not true. Like wherever, some individuals are impolite, and others are pleasant. Nonetheless, some foreigners consider that every one People are hateful and aggressive, particularly towards vacationers. Fortunately, this isn’t the case, nevertheless it stings to know many assume this fashion about us.
3. We Know Nothing Concerning the Remainder of the World
In actuality, America is a outstanding nation that most individuals worldwide hear about typically. Since many People can’t title all of the African international locations or determine each worldwide flag, folks assume we stay in a bubble and by no means take into consideration different locations. Quite the opposite, many People are world vacationers or invested in world information, politics, historical past, and tradition.
4. We’re All Wealthy
It will depend on who you discuss to, nevertheless it’s commonplace for foreigners to assume all People stay just like the Kardashians. Foreigners might even see footage of large mansions in Texas and California and assume all of us have swimming swimming pools and 4 loos. Sadly, we’re not all rich and even comfy.
5. We All Stay in Poverty
Then again, some foreigners consider America is a deeply impoverished nation with rampant homelessness. Whereas homelessness is a matter in locations like San Francisco, roughly 18 in each 10,000 People don’t have a house. We attempt to finish homelessness, however this statistic will not be considerably totally different than related nations like England.
6. All People Are Uneducated
That is fairly insulting for a rustic with almost 6,000 faculties and universities. Many different international locations view America because the land of hicks and hillbillies, assuming none of us know easy methods to depend previous 10 or end the alphabet. Some states and cities have higher faculty methods than others, however America is way from uneducated.
7. Everybody Right here Is Morbidly Overweight
Sure, America is essentially the most overweight nation. We’re not happy with it. Nonetheless, most high-income and well-developed nations have excessive weight problems charges. When the statistics say greater than half of us are obese or overweight, they’re not saying morbidly overweight, just a bit chubby. Some foreigners assume all of us appear to be the folks in Wall-E.
8. We See Mass Shootings Each Day
Many different international locations would not have to cope with the violence that we do, however many countries have it a lot worse, too. For different nations, it could seem to be mass shootings are commonplace right here. In actuality, shootings are uncommon, and the common American doesn’t expertise this type of trauma and tragedy.
9. People Are Severely Racist
That is one other false impression that stings as a result of it’s not true. Our nation has a posh and infrequently brutal historical past, however so does each nation, particularly developed ones. After all, some People are racist, however positively not all of us. Many People are completely happy to welcome guests from all ethnicities and actively battle towards discriminatory habits.
10. We Do not Have Sidewalks
Many individuals discuss in regards to the lack of walkability within the States in comparison with smaller European international locations. This makes folks assume we by no means stroll wherever and don’t even have sidewalks! Quite the opposite, most locations have sidewalks. How else would we stroll our canine?
11. We All Personal a Automotive
Whereas over 90% of American households personal a automobile, not each particular person has one, and many individuals don’t. However this ties into our lack of walkability. Whereas we’ve sidewalks, most individuals want a automobile to get to work, shops, and different needed locations.
12. There’s No Clear Water
We’re unsure the place this false impression got here from. Maybe all of the information regarding Flint, Michigan, led folks to consider all American faucets spew soiled, brown water. Water insecurity does plague many individuals, however the U.S. has a few of the most secure and most dependable water methods.
13. We Have No Public Transport
No, the center of Wyoming will not be identified for its subways. Nonetheless, many locations within the U.S. have respectable public transportation methods, together with subways, buses, rails, and extra. Nearly each main metropolis has some type of public transportation for residents, so it’s not like we’ve by no means seen a bus earlier than!
14. People Are Loopy Patriotic
America began out as a nation that wished to be unbiased and self-reliant. This led to robust patriotism. Nonetheless, many People will query our nation’s values, motives, and actions. Some individuals are blindly patriotic, however loads of People criticize and even belittle the U.S.
15. We All Stay within the Suburbs
Should you Google “America,” the chances of suburban footage popping up are excessive. We’re a large nation with a lot of open area for suburban developments. However we’re not completely suburban. Some U.S. places are densely city, whereas others are extraordinarily rural.
16. We Solely Eat Quick Meals
This one ties into the assumption that every one People are wildly overweight. Sure, quick meals is well-liked right here, from McDonald’s to Taco Bell. Nonetheless, most People don’t gorge themselves on Massive Macs morning, midday, and night time. Quick meals is a world business not unique to the U.S.
17. All People Are Conservative
Since Donald Trump was president, many assume the overwhelming majority of People are conservatives or Republicans. Nonetheless, lower than 40% of U.S. residents determine as conservative. We could be very divided at occasions because of our political events, however we’re not the land of conservatives.
18. Police Are All the time Violent and Aggressive
Sadly, America has horrific incidents the place cops misjudge a scenario or act unacceptably, resulting in wrongful accidents or dying. It’s a prevalent dialogue right here. However like every group or group, the American police power consists of fine folks, dangerous folks, and a few who fall within the center. It’s not best, nevertheless it’s a symptom of humanity, so not each American cop is evil.
19. No People Converse a Second Language
English is the most typical language in America, however many People are bilingual or multilingual. In comparison with different nations, we’re positively behind in second languages. Twenty-three p.c of People are bilingual, which is common in comparison with different international locations. For context, 25% of EU residents are bilingual.
20. No One Cares About Social Applications
Generally, even we People really feel that is true. Getting social packages like welfare authorized is usually an uphill battle, however many People claw up that hill. America has comparable social packages to different developed nations, however our fierce independence means this type of authorities intervention takes time to take maintain.
21. We Solely Drink Bud Mild
As a beer-loving American, Bud Mild is gross. Sadly, folks assume America’s beer, wine, and alcohol business is the bottom frequent denominator. However the booming craft beer business and plenty of thriving vineyards recommend in any other case. Certain, Bud Mild is frequent, nevertheless it doesn’t signify all American tastes and choices.
22. We Recurrently Go to Hollywood and Disney
Some foreigners assume you possibly can tour LA and finish your day in NYC. Individuals don’t notice simply how large and numerous the U.S. is. Many People by no means go to LA or Disney. Somebody from Virginia visiting Hollywood is much like somebody from the UK visiting Hollywood. Many people are wholly unfamiliar with these places.
23. No One Cares Concerning the Setting
Many countries see us as ravenous customers who don’t care about destroying the planet. Nonetheless, most People really feel we have to do extra as a nation to fight local weather change. Individuals actively work to sluggish world warming, so America is simply as invested in saving the earth as most different international locations.
24. We Solely Eat Spray Cheese
Spray cheese will not be a standard family merchandise within the U.S. and plenty of People by no means eat it and certain by no means will. We’ve gourmand cheese sections in grocery shops, fancy cheese retailers, and even charcuterie eateries. Belief us, spray cheese will not be one thing many People get pleasure from. Our culinary choices are vastly higher than what some outsiders assume.
25. We Have No Tradition
Individuals assume America has no tradition, however we’ve an array of cultures. Each area and state has a definite vibe. Many fail to appreciate that America’s enormity means we’re not the identical throughout. An American from Wisconsin lives very in a different way than an American in Florida, however each are wholly American!
