Is there anywhere else quite like the US? (college, income)

[Mr. Joshua]

Originally Posted by rory00

lol. another typical ploy, attack grammar or spelling when someone makes a point they don't want to acknowledge.

you do realize that there is a difference between truth and writing properly? you can write perfectly and still spout nonsense or be incorrect.

again, intelligent people can discern past the fluff. lol

When your post contains criticisms of people's intelligence, you are fair game to have your's criticized. Especially when your post is borderline unintelligible.

Do you understand?

[yankinscotland]

Originally Posted by Bronxy

I lived in Europe, I now live in US.
There is no place like US, due to one simple fact – the people. People do make their country. You can change the entire environment, remove cities, anything, but people will redo all at their best, and it will be the country back again. And anywhere there are good people along with bad people. You can never say that my country is better then the other, it’s just not true. The countries are different, very different, but every has both negative and positive sides.
Frankly speaking I preferred Europe, but it’s not because of comparison with USA, just because I was born in Europe. Fatherland will always be a homeland.

I am and always will be American. I didn't leave America because I hated it. But I no longer refer to it as home. Scotland feels more like home to me than anyplace I lived in the US. It just feels right. But I do visit the US twice a year to see my family and that's just fine. I do love shopping there and like to visit as a tourist. But I'm not going to move back.

[Mr. Joshua]

[quote]

Originally Posted by yankinscotland

Fine. I should have said foreigners see it as worshipping, especially when you have to put your hand over your heart. Many see it as brainwashing.

Well then, this is just one more reason why the opinion of some foreigners is considered by us Americans as ill-informed, foolish, and biased. People who feel the way you are expressing are seeing what they want to see.

We live in a strong, proud sovereign nation, not some wishy washy community of nations where borders are blurred and where nationalism is a swear word.

When I visit my family I can't say anything criticizing the US. It seems they think I've lost the right to criticize since I left the country. I'm seen as unpatriotic because you can't love America and not live there. Yea, right.

You can criticize America all you want, just expect to get an argument in return. I mean, do you think we should just shut up and take it from you? Do you have a problem with a good debate?

[Sandpointian]

Originally Posted by yankinscotland

You don't view Americans the way the rest of the world does. Most of the world sees Americans as arrogant. They proclaim the US is the greatest country in the world - no debate. It is stated as a fact not as an opinion. Most Americans assume that everyone in the world wants to live there, which is not true.

Humble? Nope. Not in the view of the rest of the world.

Usually the reply to this is 'we don't care what the rest of the world thinks, they're just jealous', which proves the point.

I don't see this at all. When a couple of Americans are having a couple of beers talking abut the US as the "greatest" it is really a term of endearment. Europeans take that language quite literally. Sometimes I laugh at how truly ignorant Europeans are with respect to the US.

Americans wear their emotions on their sleeves. If we do not know something, we say so and move on. Europeans are still stuck into their class and family systems. Things are proper or they are not. This is why America is the most fertile place for innovation.

The east coast of the US, especially New England, one can see the "missing link." So freaking uptight. Still very classist, racist, and arrogant. Honestly, I dream of the day, when they are cut off to an island of their own. Good riddance. Perhaps these are the types responding.

Out in the West, it is all about having no limits. People have fun. People work hard. People like to play. Yet people are well-grounded, some religious and some not.


But that is within the US. As far as views of Europeans to Americans, I simply have to laugh. Europe sees America through the eyes of the BBC and Hollywood. they see America as fastfood and Disneyland b/c that is the image they want to have of America. Europe, filled with the biggest racists I have ever met, see the US circa 1964 or 1864, not missing the beat at their own hypocrisy nor catching the irony of the fact that it was the UK, Spain, Portugal, and France that made the millions off of the slave trade.It is Europe,that bastion of culture and class, that goes crazy for football in a way that is as close to life of the lemming as one can see.

While Europeans may have a love-hate relationship with Europe, I am embarassed by Europe. One need only compare what it once had and what it has since become. The Europe that have us the tours de force of Galileo, Newton, Mill, Locke and Rousseau, are now exporting Idol and So you think you can dance? They are on their death throws. Per capita incomes are stagnating and the impoverished are soaring--not good in the countries with some of the highest rates of urban unemployment.And America will follow suit, if we don't get a grip on the idea that the pathway to our freedom is determined our vision alone.

What humbles is science, love, the human spirit. What is not worth a snicker is any need to feel humble before Europeans. I laugh at the idea.

Not caring what the rest of the world thinks is hardly arrogant. It is only sensible way to think when one makes decisions. Our European allies are no more, the sooner america realizes this, the better off it will be. They would be only glad to mock us out of the fearful self-realization that the world has passed them by in a big way.

S.

[rory00]

[quote=Mr. Joshua;11410563][quote]

Originally Posted by ;11409383

We live in a strong, proud sovereign nation, not some wishy washy community of nations where borders are blurred and where nationalism is a swear word.

And if you want to be taken seriously, don't dish out insults unless you can take criticism back.

haha, wishy washy? the "states" of america are blurred as well. america is very wishy washy and all over the place but i'm only using that derogatory spin to illustrate it can be applied to america but the difference being an american would say it is "diversity."

there is nothing wrong with pride but arrogance is not liked by anyone no matter who it's coming from.

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by rory00

It's because far too many are arrogant in an 'american' way and flavor that it's noticeable as the antithesis of smart, sophisticated, enlightened, less violent, less prejudiced or essentially better. uh, the average american is not sophisticated or enlightened or smarter especially. if many believe this, it would be rather funny.

When who do not possess these qualities convey they themselves and others are "essentially" better by virtue of living in america; that is insulting, stretching the truth, dishonest and it will be met with some contempt. It's basically saying that other countries do not have people that have good qualities in comparison to america which of course is immature to think this way because thinking people know it's the few who are the inventors, who make breakthroughs in research etc not the general masses.

Your argument:

Europeans are smarter, more enlightened and more sophisticated than Americans and for anyone who thinks Americans contain these 3 qualities is a joke...who is the arrogant and ignorant person now?

Many Americans are creative and motivated, not just a few. There's a reason why America has the most millionaires in the world. Why many would rather have low taxes and work hard rather than having everything handed to them by just working the minimum requirement. There's a reason why America produces so much music, movies, shows that are popular not just in America, but overseas. You think Steve Jobs created the iPod and iPhone by himself. There are thousands of people involved in these creations. The same goes to Google, Microsoft etc. It's not just a few Americans.

You are a hypocrite when you are putting down Americans who think they are better than people who live overseas because in your post, you say Europeans are better than Americans. What's the difference? You sound just as stupid as an American saying that. I notice many Europeans have this "smugness" about them. "We are so progressive, we are so peaceful, we are so rationale" pretty soon you end up thinking your own farts smell like flowers and that you have the right to insult any other country, particularly America and when someone responds back, "oh they are just arrogant Americans, they should listen to our insults because we are so great." I'm sorry, but this is the attitude I see often. However, I have enough intelligence to understand, the idiots are the ones who usually standout and voice their opinions in such a way. I'm giving the benefit of the doubt that most Europeans aren't the same as Rory.

[rory00]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

Your argument:

Europeans are smarter, more enlightened and more sophisticated than Americans and for anyone who thinks Americans contain these 3 qualities is a joke...who is the arrogant and ignorant person now?

Many Americans are creative and motivated, not just a few. There's a reason why America has the most millionaires in the world. Why many would rather have low taxes and work hard rather than having everything handed to them by just working the minimum requirement. There's a reason why America produces so much music, movies, shows that are popular not just in America, but overseas. It's not just a few Americans.

You are a hypocrite when you are putting down Americans who think they are better than people who live overseas because in your post, you say Europeans are better than Americans. What's the difference? You sound just as stupid as an American saying that. I notice many Europeans have this "smugness" about them. "We are so progressive, we are so peaceful, we are so rationale" pretty soon you end up thinking your own farts smell like flowers and that you have the right to insult any other country, particularly America and when someone responds back, "oh they are just arrogant Americans, they should listen to our insults because we are so great." I'm sorry, but this is the attitude I see often. However, I have enough intelligence to understand, the idiots are the ones who usually standout and voice their opinions in such a way. I'm giving the benefit of the doubt that most Europeans aren't the same as Rory.

lol. It's obvious you lack reading comprehension skills. i admit that my earlier post could have been better written but in no way was my argument about europeans vs americans. if you would reread it, then you would understand it. you are making an erroneous assumption.

It's obvious how a lot of these insults are created by noticing a lot of threads on c-d such as "what country is the best place to live? which country has the most beautiful men or women etc" or any number of very broadbrushed and definitive posts which leave out the realism of context and personal taste as well. it is indicative of those who think that thier opinion is a fact and vice versa for others. we all make mistakes and we all have faults in our judgement as well as our prejudices and personal likes and dislikes color them as well.

Yes, you are right that others insult america but americans have plenty insulted other countries or cultures, do not realize anything positive about them or care to (that's okay) even unfairly and ignorantly, have made sweeping generalizations and/or because it is simply different they think it is inferior. so your point is? lol

[Jonotastic]

Originally Posted by rory00

lol. It's obvious you lack reading comprehension skills. i admit that my earlier post could have been better written but in no way was my argument about europeans vs americans. if you would reread it, then you would understand it. you are making an erroneous assumption.

It's obvious how a lot of these insults are created by noticing a lot of threads on c-d such as "what country is the best place to live? which country has the most beautiful men or women etc" or any number of very broadbrushed and definitive posts which leave out the realism of context and personal taste as well. it is indicative of those who think that thier opinion is a fact and vice versa for others. we all make mistakes and we all have faults in our judgement as well as our prejudices and personal likes and dislikes color them as well.

"uh, the average american is not sophisticated or enlightened or smarter especially. if many believe this, it would be rather funny."

"When who do not possess these qualities convey they themselves and others are "essentially" better by virtue of living in america; that is insulting, stretching the truth, dishonest and it will be met with some contempt."

You are insulting, stretching the truth and being dishonest and yes I am meeting you with some contempt.

[kevxu]

Originally Posted by yankinscotland

I am and always will be American. I didn't leave America because I hated it. But I no longer refer to it as home. Scotland feels more like home to me than anyplace I lived in the US. It just feels right. But I do visit the US twice a year to see my family and that's just fine. I do love shopping there and like to visit as a tourist. But I'm not going to move back.

Ditto. I was born and raised in the U.S., and spent most of my adult life there. Hating the U.S. wasn't part of my reason for leaving either. But I feel far more at home and happier in Europe than I felt in the U.S. in the last eight or ten years I lived there. I have never missed the U.S. since leaving, not even a moment's homesickness.

But I have gone back once - recently - for about five weeks, and it was for the purpose of seeing if I wanted to reconsider returning for what can only be the final years of my life. I was uncomfortable in the U.S., and sometimes rather shocked by the experience. I was homesick for Europe, and it was eminently clear where home is for me.

Home is where you feel at home.

[rory00]

Originally Posted by Jonotastic

"uh, the average american is not sophisticated or enlightened or smarter especially. if many believe this, it would be rather funny."

"When who do not possess these qualities convey they themselves and others are "essentially" better by virtue of living in america; that is insulting, stretching the truth, dishonest and it will be met with some contempt."

You are insulting, stretching the truth and being dishonest and yes I am meeting you with some contempt.

and i don't see any reference and definitive comparison to europe and i was not even implying it. i was just simply making a point that because america is so powerful, many americans have taken it upon themselves to insult and demean all other countries and cultures believing they are superior because they live in america and no where else has any redeeming qualites or are befuddled that anyone could want to live in other places besides america.

then the argument ensues illogically that many immigrants want to come to america. well, still many people want to live elsewhere or are happy where they are as well. then it usually escalates to anyone making a peep that others want to live elsewhere that no one should come to america if they are so happy where they are. lots of bogus arguments to foment egocentrism based on country. the point is many people do like america but there are just as many who like other places too. the truth is lots of wealthy people have homes all around the world and stay in america primarily for business reasons as well as those who like it for other reasons. no one is going to like a country exactly for the same reasons as the next person because people are individuals.