Good qualities in Americans
By Justice Katju
Since I often go to America, I have noticed many good qualities in Americans ( and also in NRIs who have lived in America for some time and imbibed many American qualities ). I am mentioning a few here, and would like Indians to emulate them :
1. Americans usually talk briefly, and to the point. No fizool ( useless ) gupshup ( gossip ), as they have no time for that. Most Americans are very busy people.
2. They are invariably punctual. However, if for some reason they are likely to be late for a meeting, they will always text you a message on their mobile phone. There is an indicator fitted into most cars here which mentions how much time it will take to reach the destination. So they can know whether they are likely to be late or not. Punctuality means giving respect to others. Indians must learn this.
3. They usually do not tell lies. Their word is their bond, and if they orally agree to do something, they will do it.
4. They are very hard working and practical people. They work extremely hard from Monday to Friday, and relax on weekends with friends and/or relatives ( though they often work on weekends also, doing cleaning work or other household chores )
5. There are rules both in America and India, but the difference is that in Americ the rules are strictly followed, while in India they are often flouted with impunity.
Americans follow the rules, whether traffic rules, building rules or any other rules. I have seen a whole line of racing cars come to a standstill just because one pedestrian is crossing the road. In India, on the other hand, rules are often broken with impunity, by giving a bribe to some official. Let me give some examples.
Building rules are stricly followed in America, and if they are violated even by an inch the municipality officials will demolish the excess, apart from levying a fine. On the other hand, in India you can get away with it for flouting the rules by giving a bribe to some official.
Both America and India have laws against polluting rivers and the atmosphere. In America these laws are strictly followed, with the result that American rivers are invariaby clean.
On the other hand, in India, since an effluent treatment plant is very expensive, a factory owner often discharges his toxic effluents into a river by bribing the Pollution Inspector, who turns a Nelson’s eye to this illeglity.
In America cars can only be parked at places marked and indicated. In India, they are parked anywhere, and the sides of many roads even in posh areas of the capital Delhi have become permanent parking places, where the cars remain all day and night, thus narrowing the road.
6. Americans will never throw garbage anywhere except in the trash cans or garbage bins. From childhood they are taught this by their parents.
In India, on the other hand, cleanliness means only keeping one’s own house clean, but there is nothing wrong in throwing garbage outside one’s house, or outside one’s car, never mind how much distress or inconvenience this causes to others. There are mounds of garbage in many places in most cities of India, causing diseases and discomfort
7. Americans are organised people, and perfectionists. America is no place for dreamers and sloppy people, since sloppy and slipshod behaviour is just not tolerated here. You will get a ‘ pink slip ‘ very quickly if you are not on your toes. Even waitresses in a restaurant and cleaning maids in the house are perfectionists in their work. A cleaning maid will not seek short cuts in her work, and will not leave your house until she is satisfied that she has completed her work properly.
8. There is very little corruption at the level of the ordinary man. For instance, in America if your car is stopped by a policeman for speeding, you dare not offer him a bribe ( that would be a second offence ), whereas in India this is commonplace.
Similarly you cannot bribe a tax official
9. Women are treated as equal to men in America and given respect. Husbands often share the household chores, e.g. cooking, cleaning, etc with their wives
10 Education is given a very high priority in America. Parents prefer to buy homes in a school district where the schools are good, so that their children get good education
I have visited many schools in America, and was greatly impressed by what I saw. The teachers are trained professionals, dedicated to their work.
11. Though there is still some racism in America, the condition of blacks has steadily improved, as I explained to a delegation of Americans some time back
https://indicanews.com/long-live-the-american-people-2/
12. Though Americans, like other people in the world, are often befooled by their political leaders, they ultimately realise the truth, and launch protests. This happened during the Vietnam war, and has again happened in the recent conflict in Gaza, in which the Israelis have killed over 40,000 people, the majority being women and children
