American Ethics: What Are They?

An insight into the ethics in American Culture.

Yesterday night, as I sat in my local park and viewed the skyline, I found myself thinking about this land of which we call “of the free”.

As I talked to my friend with a culturally diverse perspective (the kind your immigrant parents give you), we began to relate by the fact that our families are aliens to “white culture”. We talked about capitalism, and the odd beauty in it. We talked about how the USA is a great place to SOCIALLY be whoever you want to be. Why? Capitalism doesn’t care who you are, as long as you have money.

A few arguments and some conclusions later, we came to talk about what American ethics really means. We actually attempted to begin our conversation but quickly came to a halt when realizing we had no words to form the ethics or lack there of instilled in young children.

As a Mexican woman, my mother taught me etiquette. She taught me things such as never to show up to a house without something for the host/party. She taught me table manners, and how to have gentle energy. Looking back, she actually had a lot of time to spend with me; since being a stay-at-home was sort of her occupation.

According to Pew Research Center, 20% of parents are stay-at-home when it comes to their parenting, and although I couldn’t find the percentage for Mexican parents, Pew Research Center also did a study that headlined “Among Hispanics, immigrants more likely to be stay-at-home moms and to believe that’s best for kids”.

My mom stayed at home in my best interest. Just 1 example of Mexican Ethics as we commonly know it in Mexico. But wait? What about America?

Everyday we’re learning what it is, because the USA is a melting pot. The U.S is what happens when a lot of colors come together; it turns into its own color. Without commenting of the appearance of the color, let’s focus on the fact that it will be a NEW color.

It is up to the newer generations to CREATE American ethics.

Will we be the society who values money maybe more than we should? Will we be the society who doesn’t recycle? Will we be the society who does more work to take fewer steps? Will we be a TEMPORARY society? Will we be the society that is DISPOSABLE, like the majority of the things we use?

Will we be the hub for newest healers of the block? The society who uses capitalism to provide healing to its people? The society who takes advantage of the endless resources, in order to keep bettering ourselves?

Will we USE the tools we have in our favor, or keep being the victim to them?

American ethics. What are they? They do exist. We are good people. We are so culturally diverse, we will bring great change!

Find them. Be them.

I don’t have to quote that famous Ghandi since all of you are super intellects who know exactly what would work here. It’s the one about how change starts with you…ahhhh let me just insert it.

“Be the change you want to see in the world.” — Ghandi

Thanks for joining me on this reflection.