I agree.

Eilish, your claim of a "pecking order" based on race in America is also laughably false.

BTW - Ignorance may be widespread in America, but no more than it is in other countries. Ironically, this post of yours shows that ignorance is alive and well in Australia.

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I agree. Sometimes, its only the loudest voice (neocons) people hear- i've met some decent neocons myself.

I'm not american, but i have come across quite a few wherever i travel. And even back home. Although I would say that there is a recurring theme that repeats itself more than i would like it to when it comes to having debates and discussions with americans. And I don't come across this problem when i visit the states

-They usually end with whether my country has contributed as much as theirs; whether it is military, aid, media, medicine, you name it.

Now there is no doubt that America is the most powerful in the world- People love america (movies, music, candy, etc) its when they see any form of criticism unacceptable simply because they "saved our asses in WWII" or "Give aid to your 3rd world country" or "Protect us from the terrorist"

Some things cannot be debated: such as the cure for polio, decent tv shows, diverse college education, privatized airlines.

While some things, such as- being the forefront in giving aid, WWII, war on terror are debatable and complex subjects.


Obviously all americans are not the same... but I would like to run into more americans who have some humility regarding their country's actions and history (as well as Russians, Japanese and S.Africans)- like most British, French, Germans and Koreans that i've come into contact with

I think that the USA seems to harbour a lot of collective emotions. Fear, anxiety, paranoia, anger, hatred and disappointment. And these emotions trigger emotions in other nations. Again, fair, anger and disappointment. People want to live in peace, but it’s not easy in a world where the media talks about dangers lurking behind every bush. So, people arm themselves. They wait, they worry, although they know deep down that it likely won’t happen to them. Some would always be quick to exploit emotions, whether it was through commercials that sold anything from vacuum cleaners to bathing suits, or politicians playing the big drum of fear for political gain. Such is also the USA, a nation that is responding to its own emotions, its deepest thoughts. There’s something almost primordial about it. Catchy slogans, flashy images and music to accompany it. A nation that has gotten used to responding to catch phrases. What will become of them? Maybe the USA is too commercial, too preoccupied with effectiveness, consumerism and making an easy buck. Maybe it’s based on the deepest wishes or emotions of people, or the lies they were told through the TV screen or in the magazines? Or maybe people can’t seperate what they want from what they’re told they want? Some would say Americans want to be very independent, and that they don't need or want any help. Well, maybe their emotions betray them?

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This is one of the better threads I have ever read in any forum and
an excellent way for people of the world to get an idea about
opinions of each other. I traveled to Europe and the UK back in the 80s and was impressed by the transportation system and how safe we felt anywhere. Im sure it has changed but the train systems through out EUrope were amazing. We went everywhere and then after arriving we had easy access to all the places we visited. Bought the EuroRail pass back then. It is sickening how many of us in America all drive a car everywhere and usually alone. I did carpool many years but if we had the rail system they have in Germany we could save billions in energy costs and pollution. I agree with many posters that our focus on material things is way out there. Our capitalistic system is all about selling as much as possible and that requires buying. Madison Ave and its advertisers bombard us 24/7 with all the things we supposedly need and cannot live without. Its not healthy.

1: I've had a negative outlook on Americans for a long time... And i think i've turned many people from believing the US was the greatest western nation to thinking of them more as a necessary evil no longer necessary...

In general i believe that a country like the US of A definitely got some dark sides and i'm ready to forgive 'cause it's not easy being born and becoming a superpower in 500 years... It's confusing and difficult to stand the test of time...

BUT, some of the things i've seen over the past years have made me believe that America is the doom of Freedom... The statue of Liberty might stand in the waters of New York but it's ideals seem to be forgotten and replaced by a monster called Capitalism... The new Aristocrats of this world did not conquer with swords and lances... They did it with coins and bills...

2: Now about stereotyes... Stupid and ignorant, unable to understand true patriotism and arrogant beyond comprehension...

Stupid: It is a fact that the intellectuals in America isn't American... At least not 60% of them... The Grades the students have gotten has gotten lower and lower compared to other countries...

Ignorant: Many of the Americans still believe they won the Korean War... Like 27% or so called the Korean War a "strategic victory"... North Korea is still here...

True Patriotism: During the Vietnam War they never got why they couldn't break the Vietcong morale... Nowadays it's Afghanistan and Iraq... I think it's because they think of patriotism as loving the American Dream and the Flag, when it's really about getting out of bed and looking out your window smiling and thinking: "God Damn i'm glad i live here..."

Arrogant: The fact that when you make a poll on what country the US should invade next 2% always says France... What makes them think they could do something like that? I point to the word i wrote at the beginning + stupidity and a lot of American History instead of History...

And another thing i don't like about some Americans... They don't ever seem to realize how lucky they are... They've got an ENTIRE CONTINENT for themselves... I can't go 500 miles without having to learn a new language...

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"Democracy has nothing to do with freedom. It's just an oppressors way of suppressing a minority..."

"Everyone's a pacifist between wars. It's like being a vegetarian between meals."

"Knowledge is knowing how to, Wisdom is knowing why."

"An open mind is like a castle, with its gates unbarred and guards asleep."

America is a constitutional republic. True patriotism involves protecting the constitution, not the president nor the government.

I love America I would of put Canada though...

Arrogant? I think it only means that at least 2% of them are extremely funny guys!

How would you call it if your only way to survive an oppressive regime (e.g. those in Europe in days of yore) was to travel accross the Atlantic in order to settle down? You being lucky? Nay, I'd call it an opportunity!

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"History, Stephen said, is a nightmare from which I am trying to awake" - Ulysses, James Joyce.

I always wondered why always this threads 'What do you think of America?'; 'What's your view on Americans as a people?' (etc.) ?
Well, I'm going to make a thread 'What do you think of the EU and Europe?'

But to awnser the question what my views are on Americans.
Well, Americans share the same democratic values as Europeans, but they tend to forget that most conceptes of Western Civilization are Europe-made.
Well I don't care where they were invented...but Americans seem always to believe it our typical American concepts.

I think they live, with their minds, still in the '80's, not technological, but f.e. ethically.
They seem not to know much of the world, or maybe they just don't care. But maybe this has to do that most Americans don't know a foreign language (except Spanish), whilst Europeans know at least two. American companies come litterally beg here in Flanders for people to emigrate to the US for 6 months or a year to work there...because we know so many languages. Actually a friend of mine departed yesterday to the Eastcoast to be a tourguide there for German, French, Dutch and Spanish tourists.
Knowing only one language isn't acceptable anymore in the world we live in today.

On the other hand, a lot of Americans live on the country (if you compare it with Europe) and that creates a special mentality...they're really open and socialable.

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"Nos pays sont devenus trop petits pour le monde actuel, à l'échelle des moyens techniques modernes, à la mesure de l'Amérique et de la Russie aujourd'hui, de la Chine et de l'Inde demain. L'unité des peuples européens réunis dans les Etats-Unis d'Europe est le moyen de relever leur niveau de vie et de maintenir la paix. Elle est le grand espoir et la chance de notre époque. Nous aussi, nous allons vers notre but, les Etats-Unis d'Europe, dans une course sans retour."

Jean Monnet - Rome 1957

If it's not too insulting:



That's a treat I picked up somewhere.

But in all honesty, Americans are pretty good folks. Yes, you do get the surly ones, and the rednecks, and the idiots, but those people do ruin it for everyone.

I know that 5 out of 6 people I meet in Langley says hello when I say hi, even though I'm A: from out of town, and B: dressed like I'm going to kick their door down.

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Artificial Intelligence is surpassed by Natural Stupidity on a regular basis.