Tuesday, October 20, 1998
Letters
Hard work can’t replace culture
Hovey Liao’s letter "18 Simple facts prove America remains No. 1
" (Viewpoint, Oct. 15) is a reflection of the childish arrogance
and oversimplification that the rest of the world sees in some
Americans.
His list of the technological, economic and military
accomplishments of America does not prove that this country has a
sound educational system.
Part of the reason America has made the advances he states is
because of the Protestant work ethic that has created a nation of
people who define themselves by their work and are content to eat
lunch in their 3×2 cubicle and work 60 hour weeks.
But ask many Americans how they feel about art history, politics
and world issues, and Liao should get a better picture of just how
misfocused our educational system is.
There is no doubt that there is a certain ingenuity in the
American spirit that brought about the production line method, the
light bulb and the telephone.
Europe will never be as "advanced " as America, but I don’t
think they care. While we are slaving away to make the fastest and
highest flying airplane or build the tallest building (two products
of importance to Liao), they are busy having three-hour lunches
with their family (Spain) or traveling on month-long vacations
(France) … in other words enhancing their quality of life.
Furthermore, I found Liao’s list of accomplishments to be an
overzealous, glorifying oversimplification. Before Europeans
"begged for America to help stop European in-fighting, " America
was quietly supportive of the Third Reich.
Liao’s precious Ronald Reagan who sent the "Evil Russian Empire
into oblivion " did a good job of brainwashing citizens like
himself into being hysterical anti-communists.
The arms race ended because both countries spent ridiculous
amounts of money to scare each other off with their capabilities.
Reagan was no mastermind.
I found Liao’s scoring method to be pre-pubescent. I don’t think
"cha-ching " adequately describes the nation with the "world’s
strongest economy, " which sees fit to have millions of its
citizens below the poverty line while it celebrates its number one
status.
If "Bigger! Faster! Richer! " are the catch phrases we are using
to define worth, then I agree, America is No. 1.
Michelle Nguyen
Fourth-year
Communication studies
Comments, feedback, problems?
© 1998 ASUCLA Communications Board[Home]