The Right of Being Different

Culture and Ideology in the USA

Wissenschaftlicher Aufsatz aus dem Jahr 2005 im Fachbereich Amerikanistik - Kultur und Landeskunde, Note: 1,0, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Sprache: Deutsch, Abstract: I grew up on the wracks of soviet society, in times when socialist ideology was no more able to resist new movements in the world and communist ideals burst like a soapbubble. The time came to become different after a long and disruptive period during which there were no individuals, but a soviet nation with the same opportunities as well as the same ideas and way of thinking. I purposely avoid the term 'equal' because equality presupposes freedom of choice that failed in soviet regime. Any difference, no matter what sphere - is it a dress or a thought -, was considered to be malicious and alien. There was no other way of living, no bad or good, right or wrong. Just one way that should be accepted as the only one possible. At that time I never thought of being different. I was happy having the same dress as my neighbours and doing the same things during summer holidays as my class-mates though we were at different places. Those who somehow differed were bad foreigners. But they were very rare guests. And we were happy about it as well. Then, there were Americans who were for me more than different, like an alien from different planet. Actually they were taboo. Like two different poles, two countries, one of which with the freedom of choice and the other without any choices at all.