The United States is the best country in the world.
I had to fight to place my fingers on the keyboard throughout that first sentence. The truth is America has fallen from its position on the podium. In just four years, America has dropped from first to seventh in the World Economic Forum’s competiveness rankings.
The United States is simply not alone at the top anymore. Other countries caught up during the recent recession and now compete in our global economy. And though our country has stepped down from its pedestal, our citizens are too slow to assume the new position.
During several conversations I have had with members of other cultures, a common stereotype seems to surface regarding American citizens. The belief is simple: Americans are lazy. Fast food encourages this belief, but it originates from our lack of knowledge and unwillingness to learn more about other cultures and languages.
Conversely, these other cultures begin to learn our practices at an early age. While talking with a citizen from China, I learned the Chinese are taught English as early as 3 years old. From a South American, I learned the Southern Hemisphere’s education surrounding English and the United States begins at an elementary stage.
Although many Americans take time to understand another language and learn foreign cultural practices, stereotypes form for a reason. I am an unfortunate example of this generalization. With hardly any time spent in another country and only the necessary foreign language experience to gain entrance into college, I lack cultural awareness.
Alongside the stereotype is the country’s sense of individuality. American exceptionalism’s proper definition is that the United States is qualitatively different than other countries. But this differentiability is often misunderstood for superiority. The United States is an incredible country, but so are China, Brazil, South Africa, the Netherlands and many others.
The Imperial system is out of date and needs to go. As Americans, we need to stop believing we are unique and join the rest of the world by recognizing the metric system. We need to stop ignoring that we are only one part of a larger whole.
The United States encourages individuality and independence in its citizens, while China encourages collectivism and the benefit of the group. Both have freedom within their cultures and simply differ in cultural morals and values. Both are exceptional in that they are unique — but neither is better than the other.
In 2009, President Barack Obama was quoted stating, “I believe in American exceptionalism, just as I suspect that the Brits believe in British exceptionalism, and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.”
Obama correctly recognized that exceptionalism stands for uniqueness and not superiority. He understood the United States represents an important piece in the global goal for “peace and prosperity,” but cannot achieve anything by itself.
The United States is a great country, but we are not alone. It’s time to recognize other countries and citizens for what they are, and it’s time to stop comparing them to our culture, which is unique but not the best.
In my effort to avoid criticism for being hypocritical, I am continuing my Spanish education from high school and am visiting Europe this summer. But if traveling to another country isn’t an option for you, I challenge you to learn about a new culture through education and stop making excuses.
The knowledge you gain cannot be summed up. It can only be reflected upon — once you have it.
