Sydney Writer's Festival 2008: Don Watson on America

Don Watson included these facts as "strange things Americans believe in": 70% believe in literal heaven and hell; 70% in constant presence of Satan; 45% in aliens.

Freedom is American's preeminent value - which means you get a country full of autonomous competing individuals.


Americans "live in religion". They constantly debate prophecies from the OT, the book of Revelation and the parables of Jesus.


Americans are more motivated by ideas than other cultures are. They are also fundamentally pragmatist - though this is a means and, as such, doesn't conflict with their idealism.