In Search of " The Average American " .

Just as H.M. Stanley went in search of the Scottish missionary and explorer Dr. Livingston in central Africa, I am in search of the " Average American " here in the United States of America.

If you see him would you please let me know.

Recently the putative Republican nominee for president of the United States of America, senator Mc.Cain is reported to have stated, " I mean, the fact is (Ahmadinejad's ) the acknowledged leader of that country and you may disagree, but that's uh, that's your right to do so, but I think if you asked any average American who the leader of Iran is, I think they'd know."

And the Democratic presidential hopeful senator Obama at the press interview along with president Sarkozy of France remarked, " The average American has an enormous fondness for the French people."

Politicians of every hue and persuasion, commentators," Talking Heads ", " the Chattering Class" on television among others constantly refer to " The Average American "

The "Average American" will have none of this. "The "Average American" is all for this. The "Average American is against this."

Who pray is this " Average American?." Is he also sometimes called " Joe Sixpack?" - Gentleman of the middling sort.

Standing on Fifth Avenue in New York City waiting to cross over to the other side if one should observe those waiting along with you, he will no doubt notice they are people of different complexion, culture and each one may speak with a different accent. One may not be able to say precisely from which country each one of them comes from. But to some extent one can guess in general terms. He is either a Korean, Caucasian, Chinese or Japanese. She must be an Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. That couple over there must certainly be Latinos from Nicaragua, Porto Rico and so on.

Can any one looking at a person say he or she is or is not the "Average American" Mr.Mc.Cain and Mr.Obama are referring to ?

Is there a yard stick by which to measure or a litmus test we can apply to identify an "Average American?." Haven't we heard a teacher replying, " He's average " to the question " How is Tom doing in class ?." Meaning Tom is neither too bright nor totally dumb. Certainly not the sharpest tool in the shed.

When they say, " Average American " is this average arrived at on an income high and low or on academic achievements?

If income, which is the high point and which the low? If based on scholastic attainments what is the threshold?

I doubt Mr. Mc.Caine when referring to " Average Americans " he had in mind patricians like Bush, Kennedy and Baker. Romney, Gates or Ros Perot. Generally speaking when we say "average" we mean ordinary and I doubt we can label the Kennedys and Bushes "ordinary." By ordinary I mean just another face in the crowd. Sometimes referred to as a statistic.

Why do we not consider them ordinary? Is it because you have framed a fixed mental picture of them as being very affluent and of having graduated from the leading colleges in the country? Something to do with the color of their blood being blue, the socalled blue-blooded aristocracy in addition to the color of their skin.

High school graduates? Plumbers? Carpenters?. The non college educated, white, blue collar, lunch-pail working class on shift. Sometimes referred to as "invisible Americans". Are they the " Average Americans ?"

What about women in comfortable financial circumstances who never saw the inside of a university, have no need to earn a living, who burn daylight gamboling and gossipping with friends at country clubs? Are they "Average Americans?"

Those homeless in shelters. They do not count?

If there is an " Average American " by the same token could there be an above " The Average American " and a below " The Average American ?" If so who are they?

Is the " Average American " in New England different from the " Average American " say in Georgia and Mississippi. If so in what way? Are there common traits? A kind of a lowest common denominator.

Is not every human being special, endowed with some unique quality that the next person does not possess? To call some one "average" in this context tantamounts to condescension I would think. Does it not give the impression when some one refers to a section of the people as "average" he is placing himself socially a cut above those he is referring to as " Average?"

Or is the notion of " Average American " a mutable concept, a vague reference to general consensus, a substitute for " In the opinion of a majority of Americans?"


Is this the profile of the " Average American ?"

* He ( for this purpose " He" includes " She " ) would live within spitting distance of Dunkin Donuts, Wal Mart, C.V.S. Pharmacy, Stop and Shop and the bank.

* You will not find him shopping at Nieman Marcus or Bloomingdales. Perhaps at Sears, Target and J.C. Penny.

* He would at the super market checking counter pull out two fistful of coupons and scrutinize them, some not applicable, some over due and tender the appropriate ones while all this time holding up a line of ten or more.

* He would have a close watch of the cash monitor to ensure that the proper price is being charged.

* He would not buy anything that is not on sale. " Two for the price of one " being his favorite.

* He would in the city go in circles looking for a parking spot on the side road for his car rather than pay at the garage.

* His reading is mainly limited to the local newspapers and the news he gets is chiefly from C.N.N in snippets while changing clothes.

* At the restaurant after a meal would indicate to the waiter that he would like to have the left-over "doggy bagged"

* His " Trinity " is Football, Baseball and Basketball. He takes to the bleachers, beer and pop corns like duck to water. In these surroundings he feels free and liberated like a mosquito in a nudist colony.

* In the mornings on the way to work he will grab a cup of coffee at his favorite Deli and drive away in his pick-up sipping the coffee and steering the vehicle simultaneously, listening to Limbaugh or Imus.

* His knowledge of geography is minimal.

* He spends his vacation not in travel but working around the house. Completing his basement or renovating the kitchen.

* He is one who with his spouse may be working two jobs, working overtime just in order to provide for their children basic amenities and a better life than they have had.

* You can see him lining up at the local " Seven Eleven " for his weekly Lotto.

* Borrow a book from the library rather than buy on - line.
* In him there is a sense of fair play.

* He will donate generously and willingly to ameliorate the hardships of total strangers as was seen for instance during the devastation by Tsunami.

* He loves the U.S.A. and is grateful for the opportunities it has afforded him and his children.

* He is quick to smile and slow to anger.

* He feels as in no where else in the world he can rise to great heights in any discipline if he works hard enough.

* He never forgets that this is a land of immigrants from every corner of the globe and a country ruled by laws and to which every one must submit.

* He will willingly join in community work for the general good.

* He is fully aware that his country is not perfect,there are many problems of social and economic inequalities but takes pride in the fact that it is the best one going in the world market.

* In times of crisis is united putting aside ethnic, religious and political differences as was seen in the aftermath of the nine-eleven terrorist attack.


THIS IS A WORK IN PROGRESS.