Why are Americans so different from the rest of us Westerners

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Frogger
Right, and I'm saying the fear was unjustified. Can't really take credit for saving Europe from a threat which wasn't there in the first place, and which you did your best to create paranoia about.

Was it justified or unjustified is completely irrelevant for the present discussion. What is relevant is that it was perceived as a threat, and the US involvement was perceived as a reliable umbrella against that threat. Perception is all that matters for the purposes of the present discussion.

[Agathon]

Originally posted by GP


So? Those guys are wrong. What do you expect. They all watch our movies, follow our trends, etc. We must be doing something right. Why should we change and be all namby-pamby.

They watch your movies (and ours, LOTR! Yay!) and follow some of your trends. Each place has a way of coming up with its own stuff or twists on US imports though.

Why shouldn't we like your movies? Some of them are even good. That doesn't mean that we want to adopt your social system. Those that do probably watch American sitcoms in which even the working class appear to be rich (they don't realise the truth). You guys are poor. I mean there are plenty of mega rich people in the US and lots of merely rich people, but when you get down to the lower half things don't look so pretty. Parts of Detroit look like the third world (and Libya has a lower infant mortality rate than Detroit). And hardly any of us for would swap their health system for what you have.

Look, its your country, you can do what you like - but why should we have it that way? As someone else said - "No thanks"

[Agathon]

Originally posted by Frogger
Go Als!

GO LEAFS GO!

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by The Vagabond


Was it justified or unjustified is completely irrelevant for the present discussion. What is relevant is that it was perceived as a threat, and the US involvement was perceived as a reliable umbrella against that threat. Perception is all that matters for the purposes of the present discussion.

Not when the US was instrumental in creating that perception, and that perception was largely absent from the minds of Europeans.

[TCO]

Originally posted by Frogger


We've dealt with Republicans before. For 75% of the last 30 years we've dealt with Republicans. We've never dealt with this kind of Republican, though. And the Euros have real problems with him too.

I'm referring both to his interesting take on world affairs and his 19th century view of tarriff policies, by the way. Both of which were becoming evident before terrorist attacks. He seemed more comfortable dealing with 3rd world despots than with leaders of industrialised countries. Perception is that he can't stand dealing with anybody who'll ask him to compromise.

Booshwa. It's the same dynamic as with Reagan. They think he's a cowboy. Don't like his politics or his straight-speaking comments. It's almost identical. There was all kind of buttlock when Reagan called USSR "an evil empire". (Although I had a Polish cabbie in Zurich who had lived under communism and thought it was the greatest thing ever that REagan said that.)

[TCO]

Originally posted by Agathon


They watch your movies (and ours, LOTR! Yay!) and follow some of your trends. Each place has a way of coming up with its own stuff or twists on US imports though.

Why shouldn't we like your movies? Some of them are even good. That doesn't mean that we want to adopt your social system. Those that do probably watch American sitcoms in which even the working class appear to be rich (they don't realise the truth). You guys are poor. I mean there are plenty of mega rich people in the US and lots of merely rich people, but when you get down to the lower half things don't look so pretty. Parts of Detroit look like the third world (and Libya has a lower infant mortality rate than Detroit). And hardly any of us for would swap their health system for what you have.

Look, its your country, you can do what you like - but why should we have it that way? As someone else said - "No thanks"

I'm not trying to make you change!! It's AH and crowd who always feel annoyed that we are so different.

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Agathon


They watch your movies (and ours, LOTR! Yay!) and follow some of your trends. Each place has a way of coming up with its own stuff or twists on US imports though.

Why shouldn't we like your movies? Some of them are even good. That doesn't mean that we want to adopt your social system. Those that do probably watch American sitcoms in which even the working class appear to be rich (they don't realise the truth). You guys are poor. I mean there are plenty of mega rich people in the US and lots of merely rich people, but when you get down to the lower half things don't look so pretty. Parts of Detroit look like the third world (and Libya has a lower infant mortality rate than Detroit). And hardly any of us for would swap their health system for what you have.

Look, its your country, you can do what you like - but why should we have it that way? As someone else said - "No thanks"

I am not rich at all

and not really even middle class (lower middle class if I am that)

but I really need nothing (sure, there are things I would like, but I am fine)

Jon Miller
where is someone with statistics

[TCO]

What did you get banned for, Milla?

[Jon Miller]

when I got banned?

a thread whre the question was asked

if your SO became a paraplegic, would you continue sexual relations with them?

I am not sure if Ming really banned me, because I basically left and did not try to post for 2 days (which was the duration of the Ban)

Jon Miller

[Jon Miller]

that is really awkwardly worded, oh well

Jon Miller

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by Frogger
Not when the US was instrumental in creating that perception, and that perception was largely absent from the minds of Europeans.

Certainly, the US did its best to augment that perception. But the perception was already there initially. You can't seriously claim that it was largely absent.

[orange]

I think Sava has a point.

Ned said this. January 14th, 2003.

[KrazyHorse]

Originally posted by The Vagabond


Certainly, the US did its best to augment that perception. But the perception was already there initially. You can't seriously claim that it was largely absent.

Yes I can. By the 70s, it was.

[The Vagabond]

Originally posted by GP
Booshwa. It's the same dynamic as with Reagan. They think he's a cowboy. Don't like his politics or his straight-speaking comments. It's almost identical. There was all kind of buttlock when Reagan called USSR "an evil empire". (Although I had a Polish cabbie in Zurich who had lived under communism and thought it was the greatest thing ever that REagan said that.)

A Pole would always cheer the idea that the USSR/Russia is an evil empire, whatever are the circumstances and whoever said that.

[ravagon]

Originally posted by Frogger

Not when the US was instrumental in creating that perception, and that perception was largely absent from the minds of Europeans.

Unfortunately reality and common sense were largely absent from the minds of Europeans too. Having been the centre of two World Wars, having had neutral, undefended nations run over roughshod during both, they then went ahead with disarming yet again as soon as it was over - completely ignoring the SU as an emerging major military power and a very real threat.
The US saw it as yet another WW in the making and didn't want to have to clean up after Europe yet again hence fueled the fire so to speak.
I rather doubt Europe would be in nearly as good a shape as its in now if they hadn't.