CatNipped wrote
I'm not asking that everyone else in the world praise us, or even give us
our due, however grudgingly. I'm only asking that you quit taking every
opportunity to criticize, "bash", and sneer at us just because it's
currently the fashionable thing to do. I'm asking Americans to quit hanging
your head and agreeing with those who bash us.
While much of what you say is true, there seems a problem that
Americans tend to invite criticism.
For example, if you tell me my government is a load of old women I
will probably agree, and think no more about it.
If I tell you that your government is a load of old women you will
tell me all the good the USA has done, and get huffy about me.
I do not tend to criticise the USA any more than other countries - and
certainly not more than my own. But Americans take it worse and react
quicker. Recently I made a comment about something on American TV, and
it was just like the end of the world. But if you said something
similar about English TV I would merely shrug my shoulders: we certainly
have some terrible programs.
Also, just occasionally, Americans tend to just work people up a bit
by putting forward advantages they do not have. You tell us how
generous you are with your money, how much you help everyone, how you
have been responsible for most of the progress in helping people's
standard of living, how you are the most important country for keeping
the world secure.
Now the above is true, except one item which definitely is not. But I
would not wind you up by making these claims in the first place.
So, while the USA has a lot going for it, it also has some problems in
its attitude. I do not think people should seriously criticise the USA,
but I do also think that Americans should accept mild criticism in the
same way as others do, and realise that other countries have done and
still do a lot for everyone else.
--
David Stevenson Storypage:
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