America: Now in Stereotype

This year, for the first time ever, a young Muslim Arab-American was crowned Miss USA. Instead of celebrating this cultural milestone we had some conservative talking heads playing to American stereotypes about Muslims by linking her to different terrorist organizations. I swear if Jesus Christ walked amongst us today he would be racially profiled in this country as a terrorist (unless you’re one of those who believe Jesus was a white American born in O’ little town of Bethlehem…Pennsylvania). Well maybe it’s time to look in the mirror at some stereotypes the rest of the world have about Americans.

There’s the one about Americans being lazy. Sure, you’ll find some loafers in the American workplace. They’re called Abercrombie & Fitch employees. But I’m sure a supervisor at a Taiwanese factory would describe some of his 5-year old child laborers as being lazy, too. My point is I think “laziness” is a relative term. On the other hand, I do think we Americans are lazy when it comes to our bodies. We love anything that helps us avoid exercise, like that vibrating contraption you strap around your gut that supposedly gives you a workout while you just sit there. Next thing you know people will start believing in magic pills that help you lose weight.

A lot of people think Americans are insensitive. I would argue we’re too sensitive. Yes, we live in a country where we put our old people into homes once they become inconvenient. But we also live in a country where everyone gets a trophy for showing up and people don’t keep score at kid’s sporting events so that no one’s feelings get hurt. Come on, America. Stop being so overprotective. If you don’t let kids fall how will they ever learn how to get back up? Or how to seek vengeance?

There’s the stereotype that Americans believe everybody in the world wants to be like us. I’m proud of our country but to think everything here is better is naive. For example, we complain soccer is boring yet baseball is our national pastime. We find escargot gross but eat things called McNuggets. We’re the supposed entertainment capital of the world yet there’s nothing on TV. We say we have the best education system of any country but when our kids get bad grades it’s the school’s fault. We dismiss British reverence for the Royal Family yet we treat The Jonas Brothers and Olson Twins like royalty. Americans complain Chinese-made products are shoddy but we fix the SAME stretches of highways and roads EVERY summer.

The bottom line: stereotypes are not healthy or good for anyone. So please. Watch an interview with our new Miss USA and you’ll see she’s no terrorist. She’s just another typical dumb beauty queen.