Famous American Style

from Elliott
A trip to the store is often an interesting experience. Many times it is because of the people we see there while other times it is what we find there. Some raise lots of questions and require more explanation than others. This one just caught my eye...

A package of cookies but not just any cookies. These proclaimed that they were "The Famous American Style." Well, being American I would certainly have to try these! They were cranberry and white chocolate. The cranberry certainly sounded 'New England'  but after tasting one I was not sure what made them 'American.' I think I was hoping for a 'Mrs. Fields' taste since I had been introduced to those while living in Chicago quite some time ago. I was disappointed.


The funny thing is that somehow if I took the advertising at its word I would draw the conclusion that if I did not like the cookie then I would have to doubt my own 'American - ness' How could this be the Famous American Style' if I did not really like them. Have I been gone from America too long? Perhaps I was not really a 'true American' to begin with.

Interestingly, there have been a number of instances where I did not find myself closely aligned with something that those from other countries considered 'American'. Some of that disconnect is due to Hollywood images that are generalized by other cultures but it also suggests that people from other countries tend to see America as monolithic and miss the basic truth America as a republic or a confederation of states and regions/cultures has never been monolithic. It certainly has those things that draw us together but our strength can be found more in our diversity.


btw -While the front of the package was in English the reverse had five different languages, none of which were English, which made it difficult for me to ascertain who had determined that these were 'The Famous American Style'  and where were they from!