One size fits all

A few years ago, author Tom Friedman talked about a trip he'd taken to Tehran. Demonstrators passed by his hotel, shouting "Death to America!" Friedman asked one of them why so many people hated his country. The Iranian told him that he didn't hate America at all; in fact, he has family in the U.S. and would like to go there someday. The demonstration was only against America's foreign policy.

Why does America do the things it does? How is it possible for Texans and New Yorkers to feel they're part of the same country? What is it about America that makes foreigners and even many Americans have strong, often contradictory, emotions about it?

Musician Laurie Anderson found a way to describe these contradictions in her 1981 song "O Superman".

"O Superman!" she calls out. "O judge! O Mom and Dad!"

The song describes the United States as "the hand that takes", but that also provides. It's a country that welcomes immigrants, but makes them work hard. It's a country whose size and power make us safe, proud and a little afraid at the same time.

It's easy to appreciate — or demonize — America, but it can take a lifetime to understand it.

The United States exists because of compromise. The British colonies were very different in size and climate. A small group of radicals needed to persuade other colonists not to pay taxes to an overseas parliament. Thomas Paine wrote: "We must hang together, or surely we shall hang separately." Benjamin Franklin expressed these alternatives more directly: "Join, or die."

The large states made concessions to the small states, and all agreed to respect certain fundamental rules and rights. The country's motto became E pluribus unum — "Out of many, one [is made]."

A modern cartoon character named Zippy the Pinhead tries to make sense of this. In the 1985 book Are We Having Fun Yet?, he meets an American named Claude who "lives in a mobile home and knows nothing about cubism". Claude is wearing an adjustable baseball cap.

"Zippy became helplessly fixated on the snap-tab at the back of Claude's acrylic hat," the narration reads. "It spoke of many things. He followed it to the parking lot."

Written on the tab are the words "One size fits all". Zippy says, "I have to talk to you about the United States."

Each week, right here, you and I will talk about the United States. Post your comments and questions, and together we'll explore the many sides of America that make it so fascinating.