Quote from qxr1011:
Same here.
Regarding your post.
I came to this country as a refugee from the Soviet Union and lived here already 18 years. I saw the "best" of the both worlds, and not only saw (remember: never confuse tourism with immigration 
) , but lived in it.
What can I say. My personal opinion: America is the best that it is out there. It is not the paradise and it is not for everyone, but it is still the best.
The world in many cases does not understand America, the world envy America and afraid of it. The world in matter of fact does not understand itself, but deeply inside it suspects that it lives in deep shit and even deeper inside it is afraid to admit that it is its own fault, but America's presence is always a reminder to people what they are and where they are....
Speaking about Americans.
Ronald Reagan once said that idealism is a characteristicall trait of Americans. I agree with him. The problem is that the effect of the American idealism is multiplied by the American ignorance. As a result Americans believe in such thing like a universal values which are not in fact universal at all. They believe that all men are created equal but in fact they are not... the Law should be equal for everyone, but the men are different and they are not equal and never will be. They believe that freedom is universal goal of people , but in fact it is not... full stomach is a universal goal...
Etc, etc.etc.
So as the world does not understand America, and does not accept it the way it is, America as well, imho, does not understand the world and doesn't accept it the way it is.
Surprisingly Americans just recently, probably after 9/11, started to realize this antagonism without yet realizing its reasons.
What can we do as Americans: imho we should become realists therefore we should abandon idealism and learn more about the world, accept its reality and do in it what is good for us.
That was well-said. One of the few criticisms I will agree with about Americans is that we are essentially a very insular people. Makloda being German reminded me of something. A few years ago, I met this German exchange student who was attending school in Central Florida. She mentioned that when Europeans go on vacation (holiday) they many times will go to other parts of Europe. While Americans do travel overseas, many just travel to other parts of the U.S. - because there is so much to see. I will also point out that if you say you are from such and such a country, many Americans will not know detailed info about the country. I am the exception - at least, that is what I would hope. The exception, in that, I have always been interested in other people, other cultures and have traveled extensively. Whenever I meet people from other countries here in the states, I try to learn as much as possible about their homeland. Not that it makes me better, I just enjoy doing that - some of us do.
What bothers me is when people in other countries go on the internet and generalize Americans, saying the obligatory, "you are ALL fat, lazy, stupid, etc... and you know nothing about my country." When in fact, you are guilty of the same thing you accuse us. If I said that everyone in Canada is reflective of the SCTV characters who did the "Great White North" skit and said "eh" after every sentence...some Canadians would be insulted. If I said that everybody in Germany was a Nazi, contemplating how to take over the world...you would be offended. If I said everyone in England speaks with a Cockney accent, wears a bowler hat and says "top o' the mornin' to you, gov'ner."...that would probably draw offense and rightly so. I think you get the idea.
Not all 300 million Americans are overweight. I work out regularly - as do many of my friends. Trust me, the G-8 tourists I see almost daily in Central Florida are not athletic specimens. Nor are any of you sending the "best and the brightest" over here to the U.S. We can make the same, exact criticisms that you make of us... the difference is, most of us do NOT. We just do not care. We are more concerned about OUR lives, not wasting time on the internet complaining about all the Brits, Canadians, Germans, Aussies running amuck here in our country: whether living here permanently or vacationing.
Again, the essence of my post - and, alas, I have given up, is for you to explain in detail how your system of economic policy and governance is superior to ours. Since you guys are constantly attacking us, surely your way MUST be better. Most of you just simply resorted to the usual insults... which is what I expected. Thank-you.
