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- In the United States, there is a two-party system. This two-party system runs the office of our government. There are smaller parties. These parties don’t register enough votes to counter the votes of the greater two-parties. The two parties are called Democrat and Republican. The Democrats are labelled as blue, and the Republicans are labelled as red. The Democrats are represented by a donkey and the Republicans are represented by an elephant. During presidential elections, each state is identified as a red or a blue state. The citizens of the United States tend to have differing opinions related to the governing of their country. This can be objectively seen that most presidential elections are won by a small margin.
- There are pros and cons to a bi-party system. I feel that it would be difficult to convert America overnight into a country where every person believes the same thing. I think that the country has lasted because people can find themselves either on the blue side or the red side. After identifying themselves as such, they feel more heard when a representative of their party is voted into office. There is more to it than this but, for the most part, it isn’t a completely negative thing.
- If the party involved is coming from a nation with no political direction, then they might appreciate the way the United States governs itself. Identifying your political party is a big part of US culture. Not everyone talks about who they voted for or what their party is, but it is completely acceptable to share. That being said, if there a party that is coming from a nation where the government and the people are united, then they might find that the United States of America is a trainwreck. If they have a sense of humor, they might find it more interesting than the monotony of their country where everyone gets along. If they come from a country similar to the United States, they may feel more able to talk freely about their political views and discuss their opinions.
- Though I am currently in my study abroad location, I haven’t started my internship or any classes. This exercise is helpful because it puts the landscape of culture into perspective. I am in a different country, and they have niche cultural practices that are similar, dissimilar, or neutral compared to the ones I am used to in the United States. Even if I don’t write down every new cultural aspect of Great Britain, I can make a mental note and acknowledge that this is something that I need to see from a locals point-of-view. Similar to how I can identify ways that someone from another country could interpret the United States, I can try to put myself into the perspective of the Londoner and see things from their angle.
