Advantages and disadvantages of the prevalence of American cultural influences in the rest of the world?
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This viewpoint is contrary to any sort of scientific progress and is more suited to the Dark Ages. Please note that innovation and science is not endemic or a product of the US, but something absorbed from Europe, going back to ancient Greece and beyond.
Surely you're aware of that, right?
Yes, I am aware of that. Show me the revolutionary, truly worthy innovations - and I'll sing the hymn. There certainly are a few of those in the history of mankind.
Unfortunately, most of what passes for "innovation" today is just a shameless way to extract more money from the population without adding zip to true quality of life; many times, taking it away, in fact.
I just came from the Education forum where someone posted a completely mental video showing how educational "innovators" in the US teach kids the "New Math". The butchering they do to a simple multiplication like 32 x 21 is beyond scary.
So no thanks; I'll stay with my "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mindset. When it's really broke, do get your innovator juices flowing.
Until then though - ABSTAIN! and do the D**n work that needs to be done - DONE.
American influence on worldwide economic and cultural processes can be summed up through the use of specific locations I think: Detroit (Fordism), Wall Street, Silicon Valley and Hollywood.
The American Protectorate of UE is an American invention.
Pax Americana has made possible the unification of countries that have been tearing each other apart since the end of the Roman Empire.
If it weren't for the US, we would be speaking Russian in grey and rusty countries or we would have been transformed in cinders by Addie, "the last European Leader" (let's hope so).
If the US flounders, the UE will follow.
One of the areas where the US, but actually the entire English-speaking world, has influence on the rest of the world is language. Being a translator, it kind of hurts to see how people simply stop using their own established words and use English words instead, even if they have exactly the same meaning. I don't see the point in that. The only exception is science as researchers around the world use English for their new discoveries and technologies.
One example is the word job. In my language there are five or more different words for it, each stressing a certain aspect. Increasingly people simply use job instead, which however has the connotation of being not very meaningful, not permanent, etc.
I find that English is quite right as Lingua Franca.
When I studied High School during Franco's years, English was not taught at most schools in Spain because it was a "heathenish" language spoken by "decadent nations".
We were forced to learn French, not a very useful language.
It meant a big blow for the Spanish economy, and Spain still lags far behing in the knowledge of English language.
We have too many languages here.
I find that English is quite right as Lingua Franca.
When I studied High School during Franco's years, English was not taught at most schools in Spain because it was a "heathenish" language spoken by "decadent nations".
We were forced to learn French, not a very useful language.
It meant a big blow for the Spanish economy, and Spain still lags far behing in the knowledge of English language.
We have too many languages here.
For international stuff like trade or science, no problem. But within Germany or Spain? There is no need to replace German or Spanish words by English synonyms. Spanish is a very rich, progressive language with a long history, just like Germany.
For international stuff like trade or science, no problem. But within Germany or Spain? There is no need to replace German or Spanish words by English synonyms. Spanish is a very rich, progressive language with a long history, just like Germany.
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