Joining and protesting

In movies and in literature, Americans love a story about a person who, all alone, fights a social evil and wins. But in the real world, Americans are mоге likely to organize a group when they want to bring about social change.

These groups can be divided into three types, based upon their goals. First, groups have bean organized to protest some government action and demand a change of policy. For example, the groups that protested American involvement in the Vietnam War during the 1960s were quite influential in persuading the government to leave Vietnam. Groups have also protested the go­vernment 'a large stockpile of nuclear weapons and pleaded for nuclear disarmament.

Second, many groups protest social evils, such as drunk dri­ving, pollution, and the sale and use of handguns and illegal drugs. These groups urge the government to pass more laws res­tricting dangerous behavior and to punish more severely those who disobey the laws. Some of these groups accomplish a great deal. For example, those fighting pollution have created recycling centers for glass, metal, and paper, and have encouraged local governmental agencies to check automobiles and factories to be sure that they are not excessively polluting the air.

The third type of group is the one that campaigns for the rights of minorities. In resent years, women, blacks, American Indians, and Hispanics have all given their versions of Americ­an history and destroyed any illusions that this nation really offered justice and equality for all. Homosexuals have campaigned actively not to be discriminated against, especially on the job. Handicapped people have fought for the installation of ramps and other devices so that they have access to public buildings and public transportation. Senior citizens have organised to promote their interests. And women (who have been discrimina­ted against although they are in the majority) continue their or­ganised efforts to obtain equal opportunity in the working world and to defend their right to obtain legal abortions.

In general, these various groups have two main goals. The first is to educate the public. The second is to influence govern­mental bodies to pass legislation that will benefit their causes. These groups reflect the American belief that the efforts of or­dinary citizens can improve conditions, especially if people unite in a common cause.

Hurry, hurry, hurry

Almost every American wears a watch, and, in nearly every room in an American home, there's a clock. "Be on time". "Don't waste time", "time is money". "Time waits for no one". All of these familiar sayings reflect the American obsession with promptness and efficiency. Students and employees displease their teachers and bosses when they arrive late. This desire to get the most out of every minute often affects behavior, making Americans impatient when they have to wait. The pressure to make every moment count sometimes makes it difficult for Americans to relax and do nothing.

The desire to save time and handle work efficiently also leads Americans to buy many kinds of machines. These range from house­hold appliances to equipment for the office, such as calculators, photocopy machines, and computers. One popular machine is the -video cassette recorder (VCR), which gives Americans a new kind of control over time. Baseball fans don't have to miss the Sunday afternoon game on TV because of a family birthday party.

They simply videotape it. Then, for them, the Sunday afternoon game occurs on Sunday evening.