Dr. Robert Osburn

Lecturer, Dept. of Educational Policy and
Administration:
– Religion and International Development
(EdPA 5080; grad and undergrad; 3 credits; Fall
2011)
– Religion, Ethics, and Educational Policy
(EdPA 3036; undergrad; 3 credits; Spring 2012)

Executive Director, Wilberforce Academy
– Training college students to help develop their
home societies
– Mentoring
– Specialized study
Navigating American
Culture
Robert Osburn, PhD
Executive Director
Wilberforce Academy
Presentation to China Outreach Ministries
September 10, 2011
The “Three Threes”
Three primary….
 American cultural distinctives
 Trends in American culture
 Resources for succeeding in America
A Letter from a Singaporean
Chinese Friend
“When Americans have dogs and cats in their homes--sometimes on their beds--- what's a trifling thing like
shoes on their feet in their homes?
What I find more interesting is to see well-dressed
Americans walking on the streets--barefoot. No, they
are not hobos. They daintily carry their very nice
shoes in their hands.
And...what about restaurant signs that read "No socks, no
shoes, no service"?
You see...when some Americans are in their homes, they
wear their shoes. When they are outside their homes,
they go barefoot.
America is a wonderful place,
XXXXXX
XXX”
Cultural contradictions
and
complexities
Three Primary American
Cultural Distinctives



Individualism
Pragmatism
Dynamism
Three Primary American
Cultural Distinctives

Individualism
– Success is individual, not communal
– Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of
American Community (2001), by Harvard
professor Robert Putnam
– Personal responsibility = Innovation and
creativity
Three Primary American
Cultural Distinctives

Individualism
– Habits of the Heart (1985), by Berkeley
professor Robert Bellah:
Expressive individualism = Seeking others’
attention by your behavior (e.g., American
Idol)
 Utilitarian individualism = Using people and
things to accomplish personal objectives (e.g.,
The Apprentice)

Three Primary American
Cultural Distinctives

Individualism
– Mid-Autumn Festival (mooncakes, etc.):
A time of communal joy for Chinese
 American have their times of communal joy
(Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, in
particular), but these are a cultural
contradiction resulting from the tension
between earlier Christian culture (fostering
community) and current secular culture
(fostering individualism)

Three Primary American
Cultural Distinctives


Individualism
Pragmatism = Valuing what works more
than truth (what corresponds to reality)
– Rewards hard work, planning, and meeting
real needs
– American pragmatism has always benefited
from Christian ethic of honesty
– Closest similarity to Chinese culture
– John Dewey (1888 prof. at U of MN; earlDy
1920s in China)
Three Primary American
Cultural Distinctives



Individualism
Pragmatism
Dynamism = Importance of change
and innovation, rather than stability
and harmony
– American pioneer spirit (always
discovering)
– Assumes relatively stable moral
framework
Three Primary Trends in
American Life and
Culture



Pluralism
Culture War
Globalization
Three Primary Trends in
American Life and
Culture

Pluralism (since 1970)
– (1) Multiple moral, philosophical, and
religious visions for American society
– (2) Multiple ethnicities sharing life in USA,
including millions of people with Chinese
ancestry
Three Primary Trends in
American Life and Culture


Pluralism
Culture War
– Since 1970, two moral visions have
competed
– Christian vision of universal, enduring
morality based in God (many Jews and
Muslims share this)
– Postmodern vision of changing morality
based on social needs/historical forces
Three Primary Trends in
American Life and Culture



Pluralism
Culture War
Globalization
– Increasing inter-connection between America
and the rest of the world: technology, trade,
travel, education, and business
– American problems are no longer separate from
problems of others around the globe
Samuel Huntington: Who Are We? The Challenges
to America’s National Identity (2004).
Three Primary Trends in
American Life and Culture
9/11 Anniversary
Three Resources for Navigating
American Culture



Reliable map
Generous and honest fellow travelers
Wise guide
Three Resources for Navigating
American Culture

Reliable map
– “Mental map,” or worldview that helps
you make sense of what you encounter in
America
Helps makes sense of cultural contradictions
in US America, as well as cultural complexities
 Ultimately, it should correspond to the shape
of reality

Three Resources for Navigating
American Culture

Reliable map
– “Mental map,” or worldview that helps
you make sense of what you encounter in
America
– Thee are three primary “mental maps”
that define US American culture
Scientific naturalism (science/technology)
 Postmodernism (humanities/social sciences)
 Christianity (historical basis for US America)

Three Resources for Navigating
American Culture


Reliable map
Generous and honest fellow
travelers
– Kind, honest and generous
– Needed when facing the “U-curve of
adjustment” (next 6 months)
– Followers of Jesus Christ
Three Resources for Navigating
American Culture



Reliable map
Generous and honest fellow
travelers
Wise Guide
– Obstacles and challenges greater than
you can imagine
– One who never abandons you, but walks
with you faithfully (Hebrews 13:5)
– Jesus Christ (rational choice to follow
The “Three Threes”



Three primary American cultural
distinctives
Three primary trends in American
culture
Three primary resources for
successfully navigating American life
and culture
Three Questions



What attracted you to study in the
USA?
What is your biggest surprise about
American culture and life?
What do you think about the
suggested resources for navigating
American life and culture?