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One thing many Americans say is that states are so diverse within the country that they are like countries in and of themselves. That you can't judge a nation of over 300 million because it's huge world of difference and diversity in and of itself.
For example, when questioned why they don't travel more overseas, many will say that doing a road trip or cross-country tour from say New York to LA is just as much of a big deal as or more than a Euro-trip. They will say that Texas and Connecticut or Alaska and Alabama are so diverse and different from one another than France from England or something like that, citing things like size, social, political, dialect, culinary differences etc. Most people will know the name of US states, like California or New York, across the world from pop culture but few will talk about the states (or regional units) within many other nations as much.
However, on the flip side, it is often countered that the US is so young, it has a homogenous suburban culture, with many chain stores and a shared media and that these few differences are way exaggerated and overblown compared to internal diversity within other countries like Brazil, China, India, Russia etc. where actual people practice traditions (or languages etc.) that are incredibly diverse.
Do you think this is true? Do you think the political subdivisions (whether they be states, territories, provinces or whatever regional units) of most other countries are bigger or smaller than the US?
One thing many Americans say is that states are so diverse within the country that they are like countries in and of themselves. That you can't judge a nation of over 300 million because it's huge world of difference and diversity in and of itself.
For example, when questioned why they don't travel more overseas, many will say that doing a road trip or cross-country tour from say New York to LA is just as much of a big deal as or more than a Euro-trip. They will say that Texas and Connecticut or Alaska and Alabama are so diverse and different from one another than France from England or something like that, citing things like size, social, political, dialect, culinary differences etc. Most people will know the name of US states, like California or New York, across the world from pop culture but few will talk about the states (or regional units) within many other nations as much.
However, on the flip side, it is often countered that the US is so young, it has a homogenous suburban culture, with many chain stores and a shared media and that these few differences are way exaggerated and overblown compared to internal diversity within other countries like Brazil, China, India, Russia etc. where actual people practice traditions (or languages etc.) that are incredibly diverse.
Do you think this is true? Do you think the political subdivisions (whether they be states, territories, provinces or whatever regional units) of most other countries are bigger or smaller than the US?
Overall, the differences in European countries vs US states will be bigger. I think the reason a lot of us Americans mention the diversity between states is because it is often downplayed, or misunderstood by non Americans.Unlike most other countries that have states, I said MOST, the concept of states in the US came about by uniting what were 13 separate governments into one and subsequent states added were added under this same model.
Cultures do differ between states although unlike Europe, the differences in neighboring states is slight. Not like the obvious change one would get going from France into Germany. Over the longer distances though, those difference become quite apparent. Southern California and Montana are clearly two different cultures and lifestyles. However the change from southern CA to northern CA is there but not big. this gradually changes to southern Oregon culture which blurrs with northern OR culture which goes into Idaho and finally Montana. Sort of like a "cultural continuum".
States are also free to make their own laws in their own ways. the exception being if it violates the federal constitution. Even if it's in conflict with a federal law, as long as that law isn't part of the constitution, states can and sometimes do ignore it. For example, gambling is legal under US federal law but illegal in most states except on Indian Reservations which have federal autonomy. Likewise, Cannabis is illegal under federal law but legal in two states. Because of this, life in one state can often feel quite different from another. A whole lot of little things add up to make a big difference.
And yes, with the differences in culture comes differences in cuisine and speech. Even if the same dishes are served in different areas, they are not the same. A burrtio in San Francisco is quite different than one from San Diego. Boston, New Orleans and Seattle are all known for their seafood but each place does it in their own unique way.
Now, is traveling across the US akin to traveling overseas? While I've not yet traveled overseas, in my humble opinion, I'm going to say no.
I would say those who emphasise the regional differences in America tend not to have left the country, or at most been to cocoons of Americana such as the Bahamas or Cancun. The differences between most American states are nothing compared to the differences between most country. Language is a huge one, accents are nothing compared to different languages. I would say most of the differences in the US are geographical rather than cultural, or becoming that way. I mean there are young people in small southern towns who sound like they're from LA or Omaha. I went from LA to Boston, visited/passed through 16 states, and didn't notice much difference, even the distinctiveness of the South seemed overstated although I only visited. India is 1/3 the size of the US yet has more real differences, which is not surprising and since it's much much older, unless one counts pre-Columbian America.
Please continue the conversation in the US forum thread linked in the post above.
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