Land of the Free, Home of Beer Pong
Ten things Americans love, and what they say about us
We like to think a nation is defined by its loftiest values, but just as often its character and culture are revealed in the little things. In this essay, I want to introduce people to the America I know, warts and all, through ten things that I think say a lot about who we are as a people.
I thought about arranging them as a top ten list, but in truth I’d have no idea how to rank them, and that’s not really the point. The goal is to explore certain themes of American culture, and hopefully do it in a way that’s lighthearted but also honest. So here goes:
Kids’ menus
Depending on who you ask, kids’ menus are either essential or the death of culture. But one thing you can’t deny: in America, kids’ menus are ubiquitous.
At their best, they represent a kind of compromise. The last thing most Americans want to be is some kind of stuffy Victorian who thinks children should be seen and not heard. But they also struggle to get kids to try new foods and, to be perfectly honest, often don’t have such refined palettes themselves.
The kids’ menu therefore offers a way to include children in the dining experience. It makes it easier for parents with kids to go out and enjoy…
