About being sad in western/American cultures?

I agree with you, there is a difference in 'acceptable' expressions of sadness or happiness between the cultures. I don't think it has as much to do with individualism/collectivism - though I'm sure that's involved too - as it has to do with different ideas of destiny or fate. There is also a gender difference. In Western culture it seems more acceptable for a female to express sadness but even today males are more respected for having a 'stiff upper lip' and for displaying stoicism.