Untitled Essay, Research Paper

Lee Greenwood, a vocal author, describes the emotion involved in American

self-perception in a vocal by stating, & # 8220 ; I & # 8217 ; m proud to be an American. For

at least I know I & # 8217 ; m free. & # 8221 ; Freedom is the establishing pillar of the American

self-perception. Self-perception is the apogee of how one views oneself.

Other facets which make up American self-perception are wealth, power, and

the pursuit of felicity. Self-perceptions, whether confined to the person

or confined to an full state, normally leave out negative facets such

as lip service. When covering with the perceptual experience of a state, the true image

of a society comes from ego, or internal perceptual experiences, combined with the

external perceptual experiences from other states.

The foundation of American self-perception is freedom. Freedom of address

and motion are practical establishments in the United States. Such freedoms

of address and motion are outlined in the United States Constitution. Americans

believe the fundamental law sketches the & # 8220 ; American Dream & # 8221 ; which is holding a

household, money, and the freedom to prosecute felicity. Every American will stand

by the line derived from the Constitution, & # 8220 ; All work forces are created equal. & # 8221 ; In

actuality, the fundamental law outlined the freedom for rich white landholders

to accomplish unbridled power and wealth. At the clip of the framing of the

fundamental law, inkinesss were slaves therefore all work forces were NOT created equal. Womans

were every bit excluded from the fundamental law as right to vote wasn & # 8217 ; t even

a consideration at the clip. The lone category groups which the American

Fundamental law outlined freedom for were affluent European immigrants flying

their ain land for such grounds as revenue enhancements. After such motions as Right to vote

and Civil Rights, all Americans were granted single rights of freedom

therefore nearing equality.

The American self-perception of populating a life of practical complete freedom

analogues the American base on its & # 8217 ; belief of democracy. Americans

feel that a democratic authorities is the lone possible disposal which

can be deemed acceptable in today & # 8217 ; s universe system. Such a deep rooted

belief in democracy instills a fright and disfavor of any other signifier of authorities.

Expression at American policies towards the Soviet Union after the 2nd universe

war. The American enemy image of the Soviets was that of a public of immorality

and cagey people who pushed their signifier of authorities upon weak states all

over the universe. The base of Soviet fright was based and strengthened non on

fact but a fright of the unknown. The American response to the Soviets was

to incorporate U.S.S.R through political and military intercessions in states

where there was a possibility of the formation of a communist authorities.

American intercession dominated the western hemisphere as a bipolar universe

system arose with the United States in the West and the Soviet Union in the

E. By utilizing extended intercession, the United States T

urned improbably

hypocritical as they were forcing their signifier of authorities upon smaller,

weaker states which were dependent on American assistance. This is no different

than what the & # 8220 ; evil & # 8221 ; Soviet Union was making in the eastern hemisphere. Besides

by coercing American authorities manner upon other states, the United States

was curtailing the pick and freedom of independent provinces. This threatening

of pick contradicts the American belief that every state should be

democratic. Again another signifier of lip service has occurred in American

self-perceptions and beliefs.

Other states view America somewhat otherwise than what the American

self-perception inside informations. Let & # 8217 ; s take the Polish perceptual experience of Americans.

Ever since the Polish Solidarnosc motion of the late eightiess, America has

been there to impart a assisting democratic manus. Aid from the United States

come in the signifiers of economic assistance and increased trade. For the United States,

a democratic domain of influence in a former Eastern Bloc state was considered

to be a prized ownership. To Poland and the Polish people, America was making

more than assisting democratic reform, they were seeking to model Poland into

a mirror image of the United States merely as the Soviets tried to model Poland

into a illumination Soviet Republic. This overbearance of American aid boundary lines

on imperialism. Such overbearance which disturbs the Polish people is the

acknowledgment of such American vacations as the Fourth of July. All over Poland,

peculiarly in Warsaw, extended intelligence coverage of American Independence

Day spans the full twenty-four hours through such mediums as telecasting, wireless, and

newspaper. Poles position this as Americans holding a high quality composite. While

the general consensus all over Poland is that aid from America is a boom,

Many Poles agree that the intermingling of American civilization with Polish civilization

is unacceptable. Never has the US of all time extended another state such equal

intervention. A big subdivision of the Polish population positions Americans as wealthy

and powerful on the positive side, and imperialistic and narcissistic on the

negative side.

The American true image is comprised of more than self-perception. How other

states and civilizations perceive Americans is a of import portion of what it

genuinely means to be an American. Americans see themselves as free and righteous

while other states like Poland position Americans as ethnocentric. What many

Americans fail to see in their self-perception is, that intermingled within

their beliefs and patterns, lip service. Hypocrisy dominated the American

containment policy of the Soviet Union in the Cold War epoch. As Americans

were reprobating the Soviets for forcing a communist authorities, Americans

themselves were forcing democracy in weaker, dependent provinces. To happen the

truth of what it is to be American, you must unite other states perceptual experiences

into your ain, otherwise you will merely accomplish half the truth.