“It’s as Backawards as Can Be”: Things in American Culture That Make No Sense to the Rest of the World

The United States is full of irony. One of the great ironies that someone pointed out is how the US produces some of the most popular, innovative music in the world, yet fails to fund music programs in public schools. Sadly, arts programs are among the first to get cut when schools have to make budget cuts.

How is it possible that a country can create such widespread popular music while cutting off access to music instruction for so many young people? It’s a weird, complicated irony that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Thankfully, many students still get the chance to learn an instrument through nonprofits and other after-school programs.