Metaphor of American Society

I am an Indian and I have traveled and lived in different parts of the world, but I have not seen such a vibrant place like America because of its diversity. There are people of all colors, cultures, and languages living here and trying to fulfill their own American dream. America is often referred as the melting pot where all the differences are melted and amalgamated in one form. America is also referred as salad bowl because different veges, fruits and dressings maintain their individuality and yet taste delicious together. I attended comm 172F class with Dr. Byrd in Spring 2012, who referred to America as tapestry, and tribunes because all the diversities are woven together to form one unique fabric design. Similarly, tribunes of river flow from all over to meet the sea together. Accordingly, I think the best metaphor for America would be a mix fruitcake. Different fruits, and other cake ingredients are mixed together to form a unique baked dish of mix fruitcake. All the fruits, which resemble diversities in America, taste different, but belong to the same cake as a whole like one nation, the United States of America.

SELF CONCEPT

I found the Self Concept mentioned in the book interesting because we see that mostly until we actually practice what we preach we cannot understand the intensity and meaning of our say. The book gives detailed steps to enhance our self-concepts, which are:

1.     Make a firm commitment to Personal Growth: Self-initiative for a change is the predominant factor to nurture individual development.

2.     Gain and use knowledge to support personal growth: Critically thinking about the social issues and sticking to the good ones is an important aspect.

3.     Set goals that are realistic and fair: Being genuine in adapting the changes to mold self-concepts in equally important.

4.     Seek concepts that support personal change: Create a healthy environment, which helps in boosting motivation for staying close to the self-commitment. Make friends and be in the company of people who are faithful to the social cause of your choice.

RACE

Race defines the physical attributes of people. In western society race is considered a primary aspect of personal identity. Factually, Caucasian race has been favored in the US. Similarly, wherever the British colonies were formed Caucasians tried to impose their domination over the locals on the basis of their white skin color.  The whites thought of themselves as superior because of the whiteness and others were treated as inferiors because they were black, brown or yellow skinned. The moment when Barrack Obama broke the old tradition of white Presidents by becoming the first African American President of America was historical.

In general race and identity revolves around the following categories:

Gender: Although US boasts to be the most liberal countries of all; there is a big disparity between men and women for equality rights.

Sexual Orientation: Socially and religiously heterosexuality is seen as normal sexual orientation in US over gay, lesbians and transvestites.

Interview With Older Adults

I spoke to this American couple living in my apartments who are in their late 60s. According to them the norms of 20-year-old men and women in their times were that they would probably be in their first or second year of college. In the 1980s there was a sudden plunge of smoking among 20-year-old men and women. They were high in consuming drugs and epitomizing musical sensations like Beatles. Also these 20-year-old men and women were activists who pushed for various causes for bringing about change in the society. This was the period when 20 years old were free spirited, open to cultural diversity, and on the verge of technological innovation. By this time more and more women went to college and became the part of post feminism era.

I met another couple of about 40 years older than me in the park and as per them 20yrs old is the age for men and women when sky is the limit. They further said in the 1970s, 20 year old men and women would be college students mostly influenced by hippies, Asian religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Zen that took them to a different world of spirituality. However, family dynamics were conservative, 20 year old women often got married and became typical housewives who were supposed to take care of the house, and men became the breadwinners.

Features of Interpersonal Communication

Interpersonal communication is defined as selective, systemic, individual, processual transaction that allow people to reflect and build personal knowledge of one another and create shared meanings.

·      Selective: We do not communicate intimately with everyone; we select to communicate with liberty with our family, husband, boyfriend etc. In short we reserve our rights to communicate warmly based on our relationship with that person.

·      Systemic: Interpersonal communication is systemic because we talk differently based on the context of our relationship. For example we talk informally with our friends, but talk respectfully with our parents. We cannot talk openly in front of our children on censored topics. Thus systemic communication differs based on situation, time, culture, personal histories, people involved.

·      Individual: We communicate individually based on the I-THOU relationship we share with others. The communication between employer and employee will vary from the communication between romantic relationships.

·      Processual: Interpersonal communication is an ongoing, continuous process. This means communication evolves as relationship develops. We maintain distance in a new relationship with friends, but get comfy and share secrets with time and acquaintance.

·      Transactional: Interpersonal communication is transactional because communication is dynamic process wherein we get immediate feedback verbally or nonverbally on our say.

·      Personal Knowledge: Interpersonal communication involves listening, making the meaning of the person in communication and understanding where he is coming from. That is how great relationships are fostered based on faith, belief and understanding.

Meaning Created: This is the heart of Interpersonal communication because unless there is a shared meaning in the communication no two people can share their ideas and exchange information.