Cheek kiss? Good or Bad? And REALLY long hugs wup with that?

I'm Latino. I kiss my uncles or nephews when we haven't seen each other for many months or years. Why is American culture so dry and unaffectionate? Are u scared of emotion? Compion? What's up with the formality of this culture and separatedness? Why so distant? visit some other countries and see how true family and compion works.