Today, Karen Donfried, Executive Vice President of GMF spoke to the group.  She discussed U.S./Europe relations.  She was followed by Professor Gary Weaver of The American University.  He discussed the "dominant culture" in the United States to show the differences between European and U.S. culture.  He emphasized that the U.S. is a young country.  We haven't experienced war like the Europeans.  Really, the closest we have come to war on our homeland was 9/11.  He said that Americans have some unique beliefs - power of the individual and skepticism of central authority.  He said that, typically, Americans identify themselves based on what they "do".  We are a country of doers.  Our values include:  status, individual achievement, individual action, self reliance, and competition.  In general, outside the U.S., people identify themselves based on who they are ("to be") - who your parents are, where you live, where you are from.  Values include:  ascribed status, affiliations, stability, dependence, cooperation, and heritage.  

Within the U.S., some areas of the country are more "doers" (Northeast, urban), while some areas are more about who they are (South, rural).  In my opinion, you can see this readily if you read the biographies of the fellows on this trip.  Some of the bios started with what they do; others started with who they are...

Gary Weaver
  

A group photo: