Category: Reading and Film Presentations and Discussion

Chapter 4 of Who Are We? discusses Anglo-Protestant Culture. Huntington asserts an interesting point that America would not the same as it is today if it had not been inhabited by British Protestants. If it were inhabited by French, Spanish, or Portuguese Catholics, America would be a very different place. Expanding on this idea, Huntington explains that originally, almost all parts of America were fundamentally English. This makes sense considering the settlers came from England. Further, Huntington argues the idea of “anglo-conformity”, which is the idea that people who were not white Anglo-Saxon protestants were expected to assimilate and became Americans by adopting the Anglo-Saxon culture that started with America’s British settlers.

            Huntington also discusses “The American Creed”, which is an idea that all Americans have a “something in common: a social ethos, a political creed”. Huntington argues that the principles of the creed have three outstanding characteristics, in particular that the principles have remained remarkably stable over time. This is an expansion of something Huntington argues prior, which is the idea that America was founded on Anglo-Saxon ideals and not much has changed since. Common ideas and principles have persisted from the early American times. 

            A portion of the chapter is titled “Individualism and the Work Ethic”. Here, Huntington argues that Americans are very individualistic. This individualism comes from the idea of the Protestant work ethic, Huntington argues. Through various sources, Huntington demonstrates that Americans take great pride in work and individual achievement. These points further expand on the idea that many American ideals are from the settlers that came to America from Britain. For example, Huntington shows a graph that demonstrates how much pride different countries take in work that they do. America and Great Britain have scores that are so much higher than any other country, which validates Huntington’s argument that a lot of Anglo-Saxon ideals still exist in American culture. I pose the following questions: what areas of American culture are different than British culture? Also, has America improved on or made worse the Anglo-Saxon values that British settlers brought to America. 

  In the beginning of this chapter, Huntington differentiates between settler and Immigrants. Settlers refer to the first societies of Anglo-Protestants that first settled in America. They brought with them their own culture that became the common culture of the United States. An immigrant is anyone who came to America after the settlers, seeking to join their society. Immigrants went through culture shock while assimilating to the Anglo-American society. These immigrants were drawn to America by the American Creed which is based on the principles of liberty, equality, individualism, representative government and private property. These core principles are at the center of Anglo-Protestant culture. In todays society, 49% of Americans are descended from settlers that were here before 1790. The other 51% have ancestors the immigrated in the time since then. This means that nearly half of the American population has been settled here for at least three hundred years. The idea that we are a “Nation of Immigrants” is far from the truth.

     The American Creed allows for a basis of national identity. The idea that all Americans hold these values, and that they are universally applicable allows Americans to base their identity off of these values. Many countries other than the U.S. rely on ethnic and social history to form a national identity. Americans believe that to be an American, you need only ascribe to the same set of ideals as the rest of America. This idea is not represented in American history. Americans have traditionally used racial, and religious bias to prevent Asians, Catholics, and Western Europeans from immigrating to the United States.

Huntington begins by using the example of the 9/11 attacks in America to show how during nationally threatening times patriotism increases significantly. During this time of an event, Nationalism becomes prominent and then over time, it begins to fade away slowly. Furthermore, he describes the conflict that arises in the nation when other subnational identities become more prominent in individuals everyday life. These are such as race religion or the language that is spoken. In addition, many individuals and corporations have trans-national identities that stretch across many nations and boundaries

Huntington goes on to elaborate on the unique situation that American citizens face as vastly more multicultural people. The nation is composed of immigrants from almost every different region on earth. In the face of modernization, economic development, urbanization, and globalization almost every people are struggling to identify their national identity. Any period of mass immigration brings a whole variety of national feelings and beliefs to question especially when the immigrating group comes from a more radical background.

Huntington finishes the chapter by describing four distinct realities to which American culture could morph into. The first a reality imaging by Bill Clinton, a multicultural nation with no primary identity. The second a more bilingual identity based on the English roots of America and an influx of Spanish speaking Americans. The third a primary White and English speaking nation that suppresses minority racial groups. And the fourth a background identity based upon the Christian majority in America composed of White, Hispanic, and African Americans.

Identity is a concept that affects everyday life. It is predetermined but also is able to be altered. Groups and even individuals have more than one identity. We use identities to judge people and make assumptions. We may not have an actual or definite identity of someone but we use pre-assumptions to judge someone. Someone’s identity is affected years before they are born and by the people around them. It can be a good and/or bad thing. I think that is the price of living. Everything you associate with affects your identity. Living in America or being American holds its own identity. Identity thrives with differentiation so people can set themselves apart from others. This is key in competitive world we live. So, applying for a job it is important that we have our own personal identity. Virtually everything has an identity even a nonliving thing but in the large scope a country has an identity. Extreme measures are sometimes taken for identity. Countries fight physically via war to keep and build on their identity. For example, Japan’s national identity was established after WWII. Culture is a part of the broad term identity. I believe culture is one of if not the most important component to identity because it is how we live within society. It is important to understand that almost anything we do affects our identity; it is constantly changing. We should be trying to better our identity every day because improvement is essential to be successful in today’s world.