Why are Americans so different from the rest of us Westerners

[Alexander's Horse]

I have been pondering this for some time and the internet is where you really see it. Different values, different standards, different issues, different living standards, goals in life, a different view of the world. Different tastes in music, art, literature. A lot of the clashes on this forum boil down to the Americans versus the rest.

Is it the militant protestantism? The burden of empire? The hubris of being the sole surviving superpower? A reaction to 9/11? Citizens feeling they have a duty to act in certain ways with foreigners like the Brits used to do when they were number 1? (USA! USA! USA!) The unbridled capitalism? Other historical reasons? The uncomfortable feeling that maybe we have it better than they do in spite of all their national power? The insularity of the United States?

Is their contact with the rest of the Western world making them uncomfortable? Think twice? Is it changing them?

What is it that makes them so unlike the rest of us?

[Ming]

And why are Aussies so different than everybody else. Could it be because it started out as a prison island, and all the worst scum of the world was sent there to multiply...

Blah... Blah... Blah... Another boring AH troll...

.0000000001/100

[Skanky Burns]

This should be interesting.

[Jon Miller]

this should be boring

Jon Miller
just evening it up

[Main_Brain]

Well what diverts them from me is that my Country has no Nationalism and its quite an taboo to be 'patriotic'.

//Aussies arent different they are just way cooler

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by Ming
And why are Aussies so different than everybody else. Could it be because it started out as a prison island, and all the worst scum of the world was sent there to multiply...

Blah... Blah... Blah... Another boring AH troll...

.0000000001/100

Er do you find my observation somehow threatening?

You kind of illustrate my point because you see it as a troll but the non Americans know exactly what I am talking about. Of which your instinctive reaction is a perfect example. Thanks for making my case Ming

[Pekka]

you are not so different from us, as we are not so different from you.

[Jaakko]

AH is one of the better trolls on Poly, I must admit.

[Ming]

No AH... I didn't MAKE YOUR POINT. I think other people have made the real point here. Everybody is different. And that's the fact. The fact that you are specifically pointing out Americans when everybody is different just proves what a troll this really is

[Ned]

Originally posted by Main_Brain
Well what diverts them from me is that my Country has no Nationalism and its quite an taboo to be 'patriotic'.

//Aussies arent different they are just way cooler

What country are you from, main brain?

But you are largely right. Americans are extremely proud of their country, proud of its achievements, proud of its Constitution, proud of its role in WWII, proud of its role in defeating communisim and proud of its role in championing democracy and human rights in today's world.

Most of the anti-American world seem intent, in our view, of demonstrating that America is evil in one form or another - that our achievements are built on slavery, for example, or that we fought WWII for empire and not democracy. But we in the US know differently because we are idealists who elect leaders who are idealists as well. We simply will not support a foreign policy that aims at empire. We will support a foreign policy that aims at stability, democracy and human rights.

Perhaps there has never been a country that operates almost exclusively on idealism, and for that reason most seek to understand the "ulterior motive" in all our actions.

But we are idealists who will fight for democracy, freedom and human rights. This is our Manifest Destiny.

[TCO]

I've answered it before. It's the Revolutionary War and the Founding fathers and the Pilgrims and that stuff. That stuff is what we're all about.

[Inverse Icarus]

technically, you're in the far east. as far as i care to konw anyway.

those dingos and kangaroos must be messin with you're head, mate, shrimp on the barbie.

[ravagon]

Re: Why are Americans so different from the rest of us Westerners

I don't think its anywhere near as clear cut or as recent as you seem to imply.
I'd date it largely back to the early-mid 20th C - From their point of view - After coming in late to WW1 and finishing it off they were largely ignored when Europe pushed severe reparations on remnants of the Central Powers, returned to isolationism, and 20 years later had to intervene again in WW2.
Having learned the hard way that Europe couldn't be trusted enough to deal with their own problems and with the waxing power of the USSR on the horizon they were hardly about to make the same mistakes again and began to impose their own will on the outside world.
At a guess they see themselves as having learned from history whereas most others haven't.

And I'd think the US has influenced the rest of the world far more than the other way around...

[TCO]

Read DeToqueville if you want some perspective (he was European by the way). It was written in the early 1830's, yet his analysis of American mood is eerily correct even today.

Seriously, go read it. It is a very easy, enjoyable read. And it is a classic.

[Inverse Icarus]

Greg Proops, a comedian said something alone these lines:

That's how they are...and I realised why America comes off as an ignorant place. Perhaps it's the prevaling attitude of Neo-nazi, psycho-christian, gun toting, truck driving, guinea cap wearer, and malitia armband, Tim Mc Veigh rally, antichoice, redneck, huge belt buckles with their name on which they wear upside down so they can go, "Sh*t! That's my name!" attitude that prevails. And, by large psycho christians set the agenda for everything in my country, cause my country was born of ignorance. The English sent over a group of well armed psycho christians...called the Pilgrims, who had no knowledge of the native language...and bought no farming implements with them. Two hundred and seventy five years later, I hear this all the time in England, "...well, all Americans are fat and stupid."...Really? Well, thanks for sending over the best and brightest to start the party huh! Maybe we it's about time we send back some inbred hicks back to your country!