We Americans, actually, mistakenly believe that people around the world love their countries as we do. Many of the world's countries are far older and have a much more colored past (with civil wars, religious persecution, royal intrigue, etc.) and thus the people seem to us Americans as rather 'tired' and detached from their own governments.
I fully expect many films to play patriotic music when they show Washington DC and I even get weepy eyed when I see our Flag. I learned a harsh lesson how cynical the rest of the world is. For one, we LOVE our military. They're heroes to us. Sure we admit we're not perfect and make plenty of mistakes, but the institutions and the vast majority of men and women in uniform are treated with tremendous respect by the vast majority of Americans.
I once got into a hideous argument with a Belgian, a German and a Frenchman, none of which showed any sort of pride in their modern military. I opined that any man or woman who wore the uniform and defends YOUR particular country, whichever country that is, deserves respect. That is not the case. They thought I was crazy for even thinking that. Heck, even in Japan, a country which is known for adhering to it's traditions, a lot of the population regards their military as a bunch of buffoons. This is an alien concept to most Americans.
So the answer to your question is that we Americans, mistakenly assume that other people in other countries react like we do to things. I'm proud of how we are, I Like how we still revere our institutions, our military and many of our traditions. We're seen as drum pounding 'bumpkins' by many other peoples in the world and we don't care. There is a certain innocence that NONE of the other countries have. I suppose being a young country we haven't come to that total cynic mindset yet. :D
BTW, I love London. and like many Americans, I admire the Brits. They are a true and loyal friend to America and have fought side by side with us many times. But then only those who are informed think like that. Don't go asking a rube who watches "Jersey Shore" anything about the world ......
Dr. Kila Marr was right. Kill the Crystalline Entity.
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bj_arni
11 years ago
"We Americans, actually, mistakenly believe that people around the world love their countries as we do."
Love them blindly and without critique?
"Many of the world's countries are far older and have a much more colored past (with civil wars, religious persecution, royal intrigue, etc.)"
The United States has the exact same colored past...
"the people seem to us Americans as rather 'tired' and detached from their own governments."
Americans hated the Soviets for the opposite.
"I fully expect many films to play patriotic music when they show Washington DC"
Why only Washington?
"I even get weepy eyed when I see our Flag."
You seem easily manipulated.
"I learned a harsh lesson how cynical the rest of the world is."
You misspelled logical.
"For one, we LOVE our military. They're heroes to us."
Except when they come home from wars and are either left to die on the streets or kill themselves. And real heroes, like those that try to cure major diseases, are often ignored.
"the institutions and the vast majority of men and women in uniform are treated with tremendous respect by the vast majority of Americans."
Unless they are real heroes like Bradley Manning. Then they are locked away and the key is thrown away.
"So the answer to your question is that we Americans, mistakenly assume that other people in other countries react like we do to things."
The rest of the world doesn't get the same levels of propaganda for one.
To blindly serve and praise the military industrial complex is a very foreign idea to most.
"We're seen as drum pounding 'bumpkins' by many other peoples in the world and we don't care."
I doubt it's healthy or beneficial to ignore everyone that disagrees with your opinions.
"There is a certain innocence that NONE of the other countries have."
Are you joking? The list of war crimes by the USA is staggering. It's also the only country in the world to have used nuclear weapons, twice and on civilians.
The United States lacks ALL innocence. There are younger countries than the USA and most of them have had no war or military intervention or occupation, obviously making them more "innocent".
" I suppose being a young country we haven't come to that total cynic mindset yet. :D"
No, just unhealthy xenophobia against most other countries.
"I love London. and like many Americans, I admire the Brits. They are a true and loyal friend to America and have fought side by side with us many times. But then only those who are informed think like that."
I guess you're not aware that the looming threat of World War II is the only reason the United States didn't attack England and Canada.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2039453/How-America-planned-destroy-BRITAIN-1930-bombing-raids-chemical-weapons.html
"Don't look down on yourself, just because other people do."
youtube.com/morbidchid
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StoneGriffin
11 years ago
Hello Everyone. This poster is BJ Arni. He's a pathetic Icelandic America hater who is currently obssessed with me right now, kinda like a stalker but way WAY more pathetic. You can read his ridiculous tripe or you can ignore him. Most intelligent people DO ignore him. I certainly do.
Dr. Kila Marr was right. Kill the Crystalline Entity.
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bj_arni
11 years ago
StoneGriffin, just because I also use IMDb, it doesn't mean that I'm stalking you. Just because I don't agree with you, doesn't mean that I'm obsessed with you.
You are the one that is replying to every single post I've made in the last few days verbally attacking me without even debating any of the points I made in the posts you replied to.
It's as shame that you ignored my reply to you, as my reply was obviously directed to your post.
"Don't look down on yourself, just because other people do."
youtube.com/morbidchid
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BobFlame
11 years ago
I`m gonna go against the herd and agree with the Brit here . There`s no denying the truth . Our government , corporations and Military-Industrial Complex are made up of the biggest pack of liars , mass murderers , thieves and oppressors of the working class in human history . Some people value human empathy and creative integrity over blind obedience to authority and nationalism . I am one of those people . When it comes to doing what`s right and what`s popular , I would much rather do what`s right . Some people want to save the earth rather than bleed it dry with industrial waste products for profit . I am one of those people . The Democrats and the Republicans are liars all . Democrats don`t believe in democracy and only pretend to care about the working class , Republicans are gun-toting , wealth-worshipping blowhards . What they really are is two rival tribes of Fascists competing to see who can do the most damage to our individual human rights . I hate partisan politics with a burning passion . Peace . :)
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Wolfbrother1983
10 years ago
Many of the world's countries are far older and have a much more colored past (with civil wars, religious persecution, royal intrigue, etc.)"
The United States has the exact same colored past...
The US has a stained past with slavery, Civil War, and our treatment of Native Americans.
"America isn't ready for a gay, mexican chicken sandwich" - Poultrygeist
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