Jingoistic America

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by Udet

Recently I heard of some polls made by some kind of international agency regarding national pride.

They reported that the 2 nations with the lower sense of national pride were -to my amazement- the Germans and the Japanese.

Does anyone know of that poll?

I can believe this. I dont know the poll, but the Germans atleast were afraid of national pride. It is not because they did not have pride in there nation, but everytime they waved a German flag and every time they sang the German national anthem someone would call them a Nazi.

This frankly pisses me off...

The modern Germans of today had nothing to do with the Nazis and do not deserve to be put in the same boat. They should be allowed to be proud of there nation.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by mkloby

That fear of nationalism in Germany has supposedly had quite an effect on German politics, from the reading that I have done.

That is completly true, especially when it comes to sending the military on missions outside of Germany and for immigration. When they try and refuse someone the right to enter the country they are sued in court for being a Nazi and now the country is overwelled with people from Turkey and Albania and who are just freeloaders.

Excuse me for my grammer. I am trying to quit smoking and at the same time I had a bit too much to drink at the pub when a great a live band was playing tonight...

[Medvedya]

Originally Posted by Emac44

i agree with most of what you said, but Aussie is a huge place to. know plenty of wombats who have never stepped outside their own state let alone overseas. so can not score the Americans too badly. as i said the Americans i have met i have liked them. people are people no matter the nationality. in other words why judge the lot on a few nit wits who waste time and effort on breathing let alone commenting on other places. i have american friends and they are my friends and i treasure them as my friends. and as such i leave it at that

Although don't get me wrong - I'd definitely urge anyone from the States (or indeed any country) to try out some foreign travel if they possibly could, and better still get off the tourist trail and really see how other people live.

People are people, some are nice, some are gits, but don't be mistaken - they're still different from the folks you know back home, and that's something that's really fascinating to me.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by mkloby

Here you are yourself putting down America as a whole on this forum. I find that to be mindless ignorance, but that's just me. Sure, some Americans are rude. Some people from EVERYWHERE are rude.

If Americans can't name the pres of Mexico and other worldly leaders, maybe it's not due to this self-righteousness. Maybe it's due to the fact that they wake up, go to work and earn a living, come home care for their family, and repeat the process. Maybe they do not have massive amounts of time for reading papers because on weekends they spend time at their son's baseball games?

Your comment about coffee, beer, and bread is ridiculous. What someone thinks is "best" is just a personal preference, there's no right and wrong.

Please hop off the high-horse and bashing Americans based on your perceptions.

I am not siding with Cosmo on this because I am extremely proud to be an American. Hell I served in the US Army and put my life on the line on 2 different deployments. At the same (please dont take me wrong) I am extremely proud of my German heritage and my German family. I will miss Germany when I move to Alaska (which is my dream and only a few more years away as soon as my wife is done with college)

Okay now let me move on to my point though. Once you are finished with your training you need to get stationed with the Marine Detachment in Germany (unfortunatly they dont have an air wing here, just desk jockies so you woudl not be able to fly) and then you can see how the Americans act over here in Europe.

I am not saying that all Americans but very very man. Not all of them are soldiers either but tourists. Me and my other American friends who I served with in the Army and are still stationed actually try to avoid them and only find places to hang out on weekends where Americans dont go.

They have a complete disregard for all the customs of the other country. The usual saying is "We won the war, so **** you. You learn English!" They dont care to learn the customs and they readily pick fights with the nationals. If you look at the Stars and Stripes News Paper you will find that a very high profile unit over here (stryker brigade) has had there drinking age raised to a higher age and a cerfew installed on them because it has gotten so dangerous with them out on the streets.

Again I am not saying all Americans and it hurts me to say this because I am very proud to be an American but the Americans abroud give the good Americans a bad name.

At the same time I have seen rude foreigners in other countries as well, the only reason it bothers me about the Americans more than other nations is because I am an American.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by Emac44

Gentlemen you get rude people every where no matter the nationality

That is the exact truth. You have good peopel and bad people in every country.

[comiso90]

Originally Posted by Medvedya

So in European terms, that's comparable to the same distance from Northern England to the south of Italy. That being so, I don't see it as unreasonable to cut Americans a little slack on the fact that many people there (and in no way all) don't know much about other countries - whereas it's dead easy and cheap for Europeans to travel abroad, it's very difficult and expensive for most Americans.

That is actually the reasoning I use when the subject comes up.

I also think that because America is so huge, many wildly different sub-cultures develop and regions are often pitted against each other. A person from Long Beach MS and Long Beach CA might as well be from two different planets. Americans often disparage each other in a mostly good natured way - Californians are laid back flakes, Seattle breeds depressed hippies, Boston is the home to rude drunks and the South hates everybody who isn’t from the South.

Yes it's true that people from Milan think poorly of people from Sicily and Bavarians and people from Hamburg may not be kindred spirits, but perhaps the massive size and severe diversity of the US amplifies the effect.

We are born into a competitive climate.

Could it be this attitude was shaped by our Civil War? Many southerners still carry a grudge and some northerners are racist. Others reciprocate and over the years a climate of intolerance perpetuates.

I don't mean to say that America is divisive but there certainly is competition between different regions. Perhaps the behavior displayed by some Yanks is an extension of a learned behavior couple by the lack of exposure to those from other countries?

[mkloby]

Chris - it's definitely a valid point... Americans that act like peckers offend me too. But, generalizing about Americans in that way is as useless. I thought Germany and Austria were awesome countries, and had a blast there. The cab drivers in munich are absolutely insane - one of them drove on the sidewalk to avoid traffic at a light. To term americans as "self-righteous myopic jingoists" is just as ridiculous as letting loose other ethnic slurs - except that bashing americans is politically acceptable, even if you think it may be true, and even if you think your experience means that it is indeed "fact."

Talk to the foreign officers stationed in the units I've been in. They don't leave here w/ this opinion of Americans. We love having them in our units and enjoy the cultural exchange it opens up. I'm not the exception either. You'll find the Italians particularly enjoy their time in Pensacola, FL amid the ugly american. THEY LOVE AMERICA. Why - because they don't see us that way. since people from all backgrounds act like fools, what's the sense in all this.

[comiso90]

Originally Posted by mkloby

The cab drivers in munich are absolutely insane - one of them drove on the sidewalk to avoid traffic at a light. To term americans as "self-righteous myopic jingoists" is just as ridiculous as letting loose other ethnic slurs - except that bashing americans is politically acceptable, even if you think it may be true, and even if you think your experience means that it is indeed "fact."

Read the post again... I never termed Americans as self-righteous myopic jingoism. I said:

>>There is a difference between patriotism and self-righteous myopic jingoism.<<

My intention was to motivate conversation. There is no need to defend America in this thread because it is not being assailed. Facts and observations have been presented and impressions have been shared.

You seem to be looking for an argument.

[mkloby]

Originally Posted by comiso90

Read the post again... I never termed Americans as self-righteous myopic jingoism. I said:

>>There is a difference between patriotism and self-righteous myopic jingoism.<<

My intention was to motivate conversation. There is no need to defend America in this thread because it is not being assailed. Facts and observations have been presented and impressions have been shared.

You seem to be looking for an argument.

JINGOISTIC AMERICA is the name of the thread you began. State a single fact that you have shared with us. You presented your observations of Americans acting like morons on a few occasions, then went on to ridicule Americans across the board... you're right that is offensive to me. If American behavior bothered you in Canada, or the American in Italy, pray tell why didn't you broach the issue with them? Instead you claim you used it as an ice breaker to "pick up chicks." If you see wrong in the world, even if it's something small - try to fix it. Always leave a place better than how you found it.

[Medvedya]

Originally Posted by mkloby

Instead you claim you used it as an ice breaker to "pick up chicks."

I tell you what - being an English guy in the States is good fun, since you hardly have to do anything to wow the ladies - All you have to do is talk - it's in an English accent - you're already halfway there from the word go!



Nah - I'm exaggerating really.

[syscom3]

When I used to travel the thirld world countries of SE Asia, my "pickup" line for the ladies was ......."my hotel has air conditioning"

[comiso90]

Originally Posted by Medvedya

I tell you what - being an English guy in the States is good fun, since you hardly have to do anything to wow the ladies - All you have to do is talk - it's in an English accent - you're already halfway there from the word go!



Nah - I'm exaggerating really.

Unfortunately for me... you are correct although an Aussie accent may have the edge. I gotta say , I have found English ladies receptive to Americans. They seem to think that we are more interested in conversation than the average Brit guy you meet in a bar. That's one of the reasons why I like Cancun so much... lots of English ladies!

Social Darwinism... exciting people gravitate to like environments.

[Medvedya]

I think also, at the end of the day people are attracted to the different and unusual. Keeps the gene pool fluid!

[Emac44]

Originally Posted by Medvedya

I tell you what - being an English guy in the States is good fun, since you hardly have to do anything to wow the ladies - All you have to do is talk - it's in an English accent - you're already halfway there from the word go!



Nah - I'm exaggerating really.

i found being an Aussie with a very definite Aussie accent intrigues Ladies from the US and have had some amazing offers. To bad i am married hahaha. but as i said previously you get wombats dingbats nit wits and total morons whether you go. people are people no matter where they are from. and yes Aussies do have interstate rivallry just like in the US due to the very nature of the size of Australia. for example Victorians are called Mexicans because they come from south of the border down mexico way. people from New South Wales are called NSW Duck ****ers Queenslanders are banana benders Tasmaians are Apple Islanders South Australians are Crow Eaters Western Australians are Sand Gropers and people from the Northern Territory are Outbackers and interstate rivallry does exsist in politics and sports etc and with some out right stupidity. We even extend that rivallry to New Zealand our mates across the Tasman who in turn give it right back to us. Mostly in sports but some on both sides of the Tasman take it too far. The one thing here in Aussie if some one migrates here and constantly whines it was better at home before coming to Australia. most will invite them to leave as no one forced you to come here. but i suspect that is the same in most places. I think nationalism and pride used in the main is good for countries and the people in those countries. but once again you do have some that go well overboard and its best they are treated with contempt and ignored

[mkloby]

Originally Posted by Emac44

i found being an Aussie with a very definite Aussie accent intrigues Ladies from the US and have had some amazing offers. To bad i am married hahaha. but as i said previously you get wombats dingbats nit wits and total morons whether you go. people are people no matter where they are from. and yes Aussies do have interstate rivallry just like in the US due to the very nature of the size of Australia. for example Victorians are called Mexicans because they come from south of the border down mexico way. people from New South Wales are called NSW Duck ****ers Queenslanders are banana benders Tasmaians are Apple Islanders South Australians are Crow Eaters Western Australians are Sand Gropers and people from the Northern Territory are Outbackers and interstate rivallry does exsist in politics and sports etc and with some out right stupidity. We even extend that rivallry to New Zealand our mates across the Tasman who in turn give it right back to us. Mostly in sports but some on both sides of the Tasman take it too far. The one thing here in Aussie if some one migrates here and constantly whines it was better at home before coming to Australia. most will invite them to leave as no one forced you to come here. but i suspect that is the same in most places. I think nationalism and pride used in the main is good for countries and the people in those countries. but once again you do have some that go well overboard and its best they are treated with contempt and ignored

It's too bad I won't get stationed on the west coast right after flight school. I'd love to do a pacific float. I hear nothing but good things about Australia. I guess I'll just have to settle for a med float to spain, italy, croatia, greece, etc! Not to mention the stop off in Iraq...