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I know I'll regret getting into this discussion, but I can say as an American who moved abroad in middle-age that I too was guilty of falling for the propaganda that the US is the greatest country in the world. I didn't realize it until I saw it from across the pond.
We know this thread is just an excuse for invincibl3 to again bash the world outside of the US. And again I will be accused of being anti-American.
When I was a kid we said the pledge of allegiance every morning in school, hand on heart. What other countries do/did that? Maybe communist ones?
The fact that the flag is almost worshipped - can't touch the ground, etc. - does seem very weird to those outside the US.
The fact that all/many presidents often say 'god bless America' in their speeches.
Many Americans are under the impression that a big majority of the world would just love to live in the US. Those in poor countries, of course. But those in places like western Europe, Australia, etc. No.
Americans who claim that the rest of the world bashes them because they are jealous of them. Very arrogant.
The US appointing themselves 'World Police'. The good guys/bad guys thing.
The fact that in most Hollywood WWII movies the US is seen as winning the war almost single-handedly.
The worship of guns.
The ultra-patriotism. 911 was the only time I ever felt homesick for the US. But when I returned for a family visit at the xmas just after 911 I was gobsmacked to see giant flags everywhere - car dealers with a massive flag on every single pole around the lot, flags on every car, flags in the xmas decorations on the outside of homes. And it hasn't stopped.
I like the US, i like American people, i have had a lot of fun visiting that country, reality is no such thing as the greatest country in the world, i'd never leave Australia to live in America, nothing wrong with being patriotic and loving your country, obviously a lot of the world is exposed to American culture via tv and you do get the feeling that they're telling you that they are better than the rest of the world. The traditional presidents speech where you constantly hear "greatest country on earth" usually followed by a "god bless america" does come across as arrogant...why not "god bless the world" or something lol.
Despite all that the US is one of the better countries on the planet, but the best? meh. Dont get me wrong when i was kid we use to get that annoying level of patriotism in Australia as well..."the lucky country" was one that use to annoy me, overall we have it good here, but im not gonna sit here and say we are the best.
The wild celebrations when Osama was caught or when one of the Boston bombers was caught was ridiculous, people singing and dancing in the streets like the sports team they follow won a title or something, thankfully i couldnt imagine any such scenes in Australia following a tragedy.
my sister recently spent a fortnight in California and absolutely loved it , she,s a typical European liberal as well though doesn't beat people over the head with it
my sister recently spent a fortnight in California and absolutely loved it , she,s a typical European liberal as well though doesn't beat people over the head with it
Visiting and living there are completely different. I loved visiting Italy but wouldn't want to live there.
One arrogant thing I notice is the constant use of block letters. Rather irritating.
I know thats not really useful. But its another example of how Americans are overbearing. In the UK that would be considered illmannered.
I agree with a lot of what's been said here so far. We don't get exposure to world news unless we go out of our way. We are bombarded with the propaganda about being the best and strongest country on earth--that could make us feel arrogant and superior. We are geographically isolated from most of the world, much the same as Australia so not too many of us get the chance to travel and expand our horizons.
But in the above post, what are block letters? Constant use of them yet I don't know what they are except if you mean using upper case letters???? What does it mean and where do you see it?
One arrogant thing I notice is the constant use of block letters. Rather irritating.
I know thats not really useful. But its another example of how Americans are overbearing. In the UK that would be considered illmannered.
Is this a serious post? I REALLY CAN'T TELL.
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