Does #1 = "the best?" What does #1 mean? Seems to me it's pretty subjective. It is the only Super Power:Why The U.S. Remains The World’s Unchallenged Superpower. Does that make it #1? At any rate, I, too, agree that it's one of the best. Those of us born in countries with freedoms and equal rights and good standards of living are very fortunate. Bottom line, that's really what matters, IMO. -------------------------------------------------------------- As an afterthought, I'd be interested to hear if people who say the U.S. isn't #1 think there is another nation that holds that position - and why.
I'm not going to enter this jingoistic minefield, other than to pull you up sharply on a point upon which a number of Americans seem unclear. The USA had nothing to do with the invention of the motor car, modern or otherwise. If you are referring to the mass production of motor cars (a very dubious advantage, given the quality of the product,) Henry Ford indeed pioneered the production line method of producing them. But cars were manufactured long before Ford, and what Ford produced was a very long way from a modern motor car, even for his time. The Model T was a frightful device of very feeble capabilities - it featured in Time Magazine's list of the 50 Worst Cars of All Time. It produced 20 bhp from a 3 litre engine the same year that Bentley produced 70 bhp from the same sized motor. And what makes you think that Americans invented the 'business suit' (and what precisely differentiates a business suit from a suit?) - have you never heard of Saville Row? Oh yes - nearly forgot - nobody is number one. There is no such animal as 'the best country in the world' - each nation has its strengths and weaknesses.
Like any country which is co owned and co ruled by Hebrew descendants or relatives of HoloCo-survivors the USA are the home of double standards. That remarkable characteristic origins from the Mosaic double standard of rules and laws only being applicabe when Jews inflict damage on Jews, not Jews inflicting damage on gentiles. That early education in the benefit of double standards is a marker of Semi-Mosaic civilisations. Examples: Children making a "gun" with their fingers are expelled from American schools. Shooting 20 alive and real shool children in Irag is "collateral damage". The first amendment is holy but saying "bomb" close to an airport brings you in prison. They have 152 Holocaust Museums, but only one for what they did to the Native Americans and the Museum of US American Slavery is in Mexico. Look above: everybody hates everybody. On the other side "political correctness" defines every word above the impact of a lightly crimpling sea breeze to be a nuclear 50 Giga-Ton blast. Those are examples for double standards, the fabric from which the US Society is woven. By the way: that all is meant to be amusing, not as an insult. Other people are bad too. At least a few. Sometimes. Maybe.
The United States is number one in many areas--at this point in time---world influence, world security, innovativness, the ability to move from poor to middle class to weathy (somewhat classless), and at one time opportunity. This is because of a mixture of values, political system and philosophy. United States has many "wrongs" as do all countries....and I don't know the point of focusing on them except perhaps to fix them. But that's our business eh? But ultimately...each country has their assets and I am sure Holland is number one in many things. Personally I think you should write about that.
A country is the people in it. The US has as many wrongs in it as any other country. The biggest weakness (wrong) right now is an unwillingness to work together during times of hardship. I have not given up on us though.
You are correct in both those statements, but the jewel in the American crown is its people. I have travelled a little bit, and I have seldom come across a people as pleasant, as welcoming, and as generous as the average American. You are amongst my favourite individuals in the world. Sure, there is much wrong with your society (as there is with mine) but I was 14 when I travelled about your beautiful country, and the kindness shown a 'foreign kid' told me all I needed to know about Americans as a people. Funnily enough, this is one of the things Americans don't seem to realise - you have no need to be #1 in any particular category. You are worthwhile human beings - kind of heart, and generous of spirit - that is accolade enough!
Thank you so much for that; so nice to hear. I'm glad you had such a good experience here. I haven't had the privilege of visiting Australia yet but have spent some time in London - and after visiting other EU countries, I felt as if I were 'home' so to speak when we reached England. I love the dry Brit humor and I found the people to be friendly and open. And the UK has DIET Coke! Not "Coke Light." Gotta love that. lol Again, thank you. The thing is, though, I'm not sure most Americans do have a need to be #1, or even give it much thought - but this thread wasn't started by an American, and it was started as a cut-down to the U.S., which tends to make one feel a bit defensive. Seems as if while the western world is so PC these days, it's perfectly ok to cut down Americans. To their faces, even. Without any cause. Canadians travel around with their Maple Leaf so as not to be mistaken for an American - and they boldly tell Americans that. But I would say Brits are almost fair game, too; I would guess you get a fair amount of criticism too?
One of the problems with these internet discussion boards is that people (sometimes conveniently) tend to forget there is another human being sitting at a keyboard on the other side of the screen. Consequently, they feel free to 'say' things they would be most unlikely to say face to face with that human being. A little bit of courtesy, and consideration, goes a long way on the 'net as it does in RL. I have been on this board a long time, and people here know that I will criticise US foreign policy as willingly as I will criticise any other, including British foreign policy. But it is extremely unintelligent to bag 310 million people as though they were all one thing - particularly when one's experience indicates otherwise. For example, I have never encountered the 'ugly American' of myth. True - Americans are confident in their society and proud of it - but what's wrong with that? This does not make them any less polite, and I am more likely to be jostled on the street in Sydney, than in San Francisco. The only time I will take a very few Americans to task is when I am told that I would be speaking German if it were not for the USA. To which I laughingly reply that I speak German anyway (as I spent many of my school holidays with distant relatives in Bavaria), and that the last world-wide family unpleasantness was resolved by means of an extensive alliance between Britain, her Commonwealth, Russia, and the USA. Many brave men gave their lives to ensure that the evil of Fascism did not emerge victorious, and we all benefitted equally from their sacrifice. I do not like nationalism, and will usually react negatively to overblown exoressions thereof. In closing, your gracious post tells me you are the kind of American I have in mind when I think of your society, and I would be happy to discuss any subject with so civilised a man.
I totally agree, and I think some join discussion boards just so they can be rude and insulting. It happens on occasion in RL, too - and it's always from westerners; the people from Third World countries are always friendly and have, in my experience, only positive things to say. I will definitely criticize my country too - foreign and domestic policy- but not when it's all one-sided criticism of the U.S., as they give their country a pass - and that's how I perceived the opening post of this thread. I can't imagine why someone would only be interested in what's "wrong" with another nation. Again, thank you. I wish I could say I've never encountered the ugly American myth, but I have while on vacation with other Americans in Europe. Of course I've encountered the same sort of "ugly" from some other nationalities, too, but Americans seem to be taken more to task for it. I suppose with 310+ million of us it stands out more, but that doesn't mean there are proportionately more ugly Americans than any other nationality. And yes, Americans are confident in their society and proud of it - but so are others I've encountered, and IMO, they should be. But speaking of San Francisco - love it! Just had to throw that in there. I've never been to Sydney, but will be in the future. I'm looking forward to it! So are you living in Australia? Again, total agreement. Many countries gave such a great effort and much sacrifice to the war effort. And it's cool that you speak German. I'm half German myself, and loved Germany. Loved the beer halls - and huge beers! No where else to they serve beer in mugs that size, I'm sure of it. lol I appreciate your gracious assessment of Americans and thus this woman () looks forward to future encounters with you on the board. Happy Holidays!
There is a thread on this forum where Americans are trying to tell Europeans how to run their grocery stores, much less who to elect. - - - Updated - - - There is a thread on this forum where Americans are trying to tell Europeans how to run their grocery stores, much less who to elect.
My apologies for the gender confusion - that is one of the limitations of these internet boards (some have an indicator for gender, but this one hasn't) but at the risk of sounding too forward, may I say you are all the more delightful for being a lady. And yes, I am reading for a double degree at a university here in Australia, so I am temporarily resident in this fair (sometimes not so fair) land. Frohe Weihnachten!
No need for apologies - and thank you. Cool! What a wonderful experience for you. Thank you and back at'cha! Are you home for Christmas? - or "only in your dreams" as the song goes?
I usually go home for Christmas, but this year my mum is over here for an Aussie Christmas. We were over at my German friend's home to celebrate Weihnacht this evening, and she and my mum met each other for the first time and got on very well. Maja is closer to my mum's age than mine, so they had lots in common, and had a lovely time criticising Die Jugend von heute in general, and me in particular - but I'm a big boy now and have broad shoulders.
For those of you criticizing Europeans for meddling in US affairs....it's everyone's business. We are, as of now, the worlds superpower. We affect everyone. Some of you might be interested in my opinion post that I made today in the "Russia and Eastern Europe" forum. It kind of gets into this so feel free to check it out. I'd love to hear your opinion.
Sure. . .except that the unemployment in 2009 was directly related to BUSH's economic disaster! And, there are another dozen reasons why the US is not # 1. . .in education, in life expectancy, in standard of living, . . . Actually, it seems that the only thing the US is # 1 is the number (at least in developed countries not at war) is in the number of guns per capita and the number of death by firearm! So silly!
While the numbers today have been reduced to about 6.7% they would be even LOWER if it were not for Republican obstructionism - a TRUTH the right wing delusionals refuse to see.
