Dr. Robert OsburnDr. Robert Osburn

Lecturer, Dept. of Educational Policy and Lecturer, Dept. of Educational Policy and Administration:Administration:– Religion and International DevelopmentReligion and International Development

(EdPA 5080; grad and undergrad; 3 credits; (EdPA 5080; grad and undergrad; 3 credits; Fall 2011)Fall 2011)

– Religion, Ethics, and Educational PolicyReligion, Ethics, and Educational Policy (EdPA 3036; undergrad; 3 credits; Spring (EdPA 3036; undergrad; 3 credits; Spring 2012)2012)

Executive Director, Wilberforce AcademyExecutive Director, Wilberforce Academy– Training college students to help develop their Training college students to help develop their

home societieshome societies– MentoringMentoring– Specialized studySpecialized study

Navigating American Navigating American CultureCultureRobert Osburn, PhDRobert Osburn, PhD

Executive DirectorExecutive Director

Wilberforce AcademyWilberforce Academy

Presentation to China Outreach MinistriesPresentation to China Outreach Ministries

September 10, 2011September 10, 2011

The “Three Threes”The “Three Threes”

Three primary…. Three primary…. American cultural distinctives American cultural distinctives Trends in American cultureTrends in American culture Resources for succeeding in Resources for succeeding in

AmericaAmerica

A Letter from a A Letter from a Singaporean Chinese Singaporean Chinese FriendFriend

““When Americans have dogs and cats in their homes---When Americans have dogs and cats in their homes---sometimes on their beds--- what's a trifling thing like sometimes on their beds--- what's a trifling thing like shoes on their feet in their homes?shoes on their feet in their homes?

What I find more interesting is to see well-dressed What I find more interesting is to see well-dressed Americans walking on the streets--barefoot. No, they Americans walking on the streets--barefoot. No, they are not hobos. They daintily carry their very nice are not hobos. They daintily carry their very nice shoes in their hands. shoes in their hands.

And...what about restaurant signs that read "No socks, no And...what about restaurant signs that read "No socks, no shoes, no service"? shoes, no service"?

You see...when some Americans are in their homes, they You see...when some Americans are in their homes, they wear their shoes. When they are outside their homes, wear their shoes. When they are outside their homes, they go barefoot.they go barefoot.

America is a wonderful place,America is a wonderful place,XXXXXX XXX”XXXXXX XXX”

Cultural Cultural contradictions and contradictions and

complexitiescomplexities

Three Primary Three Primary American Cultural American Cultural DistinctivesDistinctives

IndividualismIndividualism PragmatismPragmatism DynamismDynamism

Three Primary Three Primary American Cultural American Cultural DistinctivesDistinctives

IndividualismIndividualism– Success is individual, not communalSuccess is individual, not communal– Bowling AloneBowling Alone: : The Collapse and Revival The Collapse and Revival

of American Communityof American Community (2001), by (2001), by Harvard professor Robert PutnamHarvard professor Robert Putnam

– Personal responsibility = Innovation and Personal responsibility = Innovation and creativitycreativity

Three Primary Three Primary American Cultural American Cultural DistinctivesDistinctives

IndividualismIndividualism– Habits of the Heart Habits of the Heart (1985), by (1985), by

Berkeley professor Robert Bellah:Berkeley professor Robert Bellah: Expressive individualism = Seeking Expressive individualism = Seeking

others’ attention by your behavior (e.g., others’ attention by your behavior (e.g., American IdolAmerican Idol))

Utilitarian individualism = Using people Utilitarian individualism = Using people and things to accomplish personal and things to accomplish personal objectives (e.g., objectives (e.g., The ApprenticeThe Apprentice))

Three Primary Three Primary American Cultural American Cultural DistinctivesDistinctives

IndividualismIndividualism– Mid-Autumn Festival (mooncakes, Mid-Autumn Festival (mooncakes,

etc.): etc.): A time of communal joy for ChineseA time of communal joy for Chinese American have their times of communal American have their times of communal

joy (Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, in joy (Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, in particular), but these are a cultural particular), but these are a cultural contradiction resulting from the tension contradiction resulting from the tension between earlier Christian culture between earlier Christian culture (fostering community) and current (fostering community) and current secular culture (fostering individualism)secular culture (fostering individualism)

Three Primary Three Primary American Cultural American Cultural DistinctivesDistinctives

IndividualismIndividualism PragmatismPragmatism = Valuing what works = Valuing what works

more than truth (what corresponds to more than truth (what corresponds to reality)reality)– Rewards hard work, planning, and meeting Rewards hard work, planning, and meeting

real needsreal needs– American pragmatism has always benefited American pragmatism has always benefited

from Christian ethic of honestyfrom Christian ethic of honesty– Closest similarity to Chinese cultureClosest similarity to Chinese culture– John Dewey (1888 prof. at U of MN; earlDy John Dewey (1888 prof. at U of MN; earlDy

1920s in China)1920s in China)

Three Primary Three Primary American Cultural American Cultural DistinctivesDistinctives

IndividualismIndividualism PragmatismPragmatism DynamismDynamism = Importance of change = Importance of change

and innovation, rather than stability and innovation, rather than stability and harmonyand harmony– American pioneer spirit (always American pioneer spirit (always

discovering)discovering)– Assumes relatively stable moral Assumes relatively stable moral

frameworkframework

Three Primary Trends Three Primary Trends in American Life and in American Life and CultureCulture

PluralismPluralism Culture WarCulture War GlobalizationGlobalization

Three Primary Trends Three Primary Trends in American Life and in American Life and CultureCulture

Pluralism (since 1970)Pluralism (since 1970) – (1) Multiple moral, philosophical, (1) Multiple moral, philosophical,

and religious visions for American and religious visions for American societysociety

– (2) Multiple ethnicities sharing life in (2) Multiple ethnicities sharing life in USA, including millions of people USA, including millions of people with Chinese ancestrywith Chinese ancestry

Three Primary Trends Three Primary Trends in American Life and in American Life and CultureCulture

PluralismPluralism Culture WarCulture War

– Since 1970, two moral visions have Since 1970, two moral visions have competedcompeted

– Christian vision of universal, enduring Christian vision of universal, enduring morality based in God (many Jews and morality based in God (many Jews and Muslims share this)Muslims share this)

– Postmodern vision of changing morality Postmodern vision of changing morality based on social needs/historical forcesbased on social needs/historical forces

Three Primary Trends in Three Primary Trends in American Life and American Life and CultureCulture

PluralismPluralism Culture WarCulture War Globalization Globalization

– Increasing inter-connection between America Increasing inter-connection between America and the rest of the world: technology, trade, and the rest of the world: technology, trade, travel, education, and business travel, education, and business

– American problems are no longer separate American problems are no longer separate from problems of others around the globefrom problems of others around the globe

Samuel Huntington: Samuel Huntington: Who Are We? The Who Are We? The Challenges to America’s National IdentityChallenges to America’s National Identity (2004). (2004).

Three Primary Trends in Three Primary Trends in American Life and American Life and CultureCulture

9/11 Anniversary9/11 Anniversary

Three Resources for Three Resources for Navigating American CultureNavigating American Culture

Reliable mapReliable map Generous and honest fellow Generous and honest fellow

travelerstravelers Wise guideWise guide

Three Resources for Three Resources for Navigating American CultureNavigating American Culture

Reliable mapReliable map– ““Mental map,” or worldview that Mental map,” or worldview that

helps you make sense of what you helps you make sense of what you encounter in Americaencounter in America Helps makes sense of cultural Helps makes sense of cultural

contradictions in US America, as well as contradictions in US America, as well as cultural complexitiescultural complexities

Ultimately, it should correspond to the Ultimately, it should correspond to the shape of realityshape of reality

Three Resources for Three Resources for Navigating American CultureNavigating American Culture

Reliable mapReliable map– ““Mental map,” or worldview that helps Mental map,” or worldview that helps

you make sense of what you encounter in you make sense of what you encounter in AmericaAmerica

– Thee are three primary “mental maps” Thee are three primary “mental maps” that define US American culturethat define US American culture

Scientific naturalism (science/technology)Scientific naturalism (science/technology) Postmodernism (humanities/social sciences)Postmodernism (humanities/social sciences) Christianity (historical basis for US America)Christianity (historical basis for US America)

Three Resources for Three Resources for Navigating American CultureNavigating American Culture

Reliable mapReliable map Generous and honest fellow Generous and honest fellow

travelerstravelers– Kind, honest and generousKind, honest and generous– Needed when facing the “U-curve of Needed when facing the “U-curve of

adjustment” (next 6 months)adjustment” (next 6 months)– Followers of Jesus ChristFollowers of Jesus Christ

Three Resources for Three Resources for Navigating American CultureNavigating American Culture

Reliable mapReliable map Generous and honest fellow Generous and honest fellow

travelerstravelers Wise GuideWise Guide

– Obstacles and challenges greater than Obstacles and challenges greater than you can imagineyou can imagine

– One who never abandons you, but walks One who never abandons you, but walks with you faithfully (Hebrews 13:5)with you faithfully (Hebrews 13:5)

– Jesus Christ (rational choice to follow Jesus Christ (rational choice to follow Him) Him)

The “Three Threes”The “Three Threes”

Three primary American cultural Three primary American cultural distinctives distinctives

Three primary trends in American Three primary trends in American cultureculture

Three primary resources for Three primary resources for successfully navigating American successfully navigating American life and culturelife and culture

Three QuestionsThree Questions

What attracted you to study in What attracted you to study in the USA?the USA?

What is your biggest surprise What is your biggest surprise about American culture and life?about American culture and life?

What do you think about the What do you think about the suggested resources for suggested resources for navigating American life and navigating American life and culture?culture?