Sense of Self

In might illuminate our understanding of American vs. Asian martial systems if we take a look at our beliefs and perceptions, i.e. how we came to them. The very first thing we do as newborns is to synchronize our movements with mother's movements. Schedules are almost immediately introduced to our minds and perceptions at this stage as well.

When we enter the school systems the culture hits us full blast. We are instructed on how to make the "system" work. Communications are delegated to administrators and remains that way.

The school bells tell us when we must be in class, i.e. when we start learning, and when we leave the class, i.e. when we stop learning. It seems to me, personally, that the programming of our minds begins at entry into the school systems after being indoctrinated by our parents who are, of course, products of that same system.

The bell system of schools sends a message to the mind, there is an administration calling all the shots. Our time is run this way. Our internal and natural rhythms are controlled to the administrations time. Classroom dynamics, our learning experience and all the teaching are all controlled by the "schedule." Americans are basically decentralized.

We also tend to accept rules set by administration as immutable, unchangeable and not retractable. Mostly .....

Americans do not put their national interests ahead of everything else. It takes a national catastrophic event or threat on the nation to get us to drop our own self-interests and band together into a team to combat the threat or handle the catastrophic event.

Americans can tend to communicate in a "low-context" mode which is about communicating in details which can make high-context models seem like they are being talked-down too. Knowing the context communications system would help to determine if they are communicating in high or low context mode.

Americans tend to compartmentalize or put things into "silo's" with little communications or authorities transcending boundaries.

We assume that time is a given, that it is the same wherever we go in the world. We are basically imprisoned by the confines of "linear time."