Culture Group: Americans aren't American...

[Troyens]

Originally posted by hzm
I don't go a day without being called fat and stupid by a european because of our damn education system and stupid youth.

Our public education system IS a joke. Especially in the urban areas.

 

[swattek]

Originally posted by Hitro


Maybe that was what he meant!
You shouldn't take comments like that too serious...

I doubt that is what he meant. If I am wrong then apologies are in order but my guess is that he just another Frenchman pissed because

A)Socialism is a failed political ideology.
B)France has walked into every battle since Waterloo armed with only white flags.

 

[Hitro]

Originally posted by swattek
A)Socialism is a failed political ideology.
B)France has walked into every battle since Waterloo armed with only white flags.

A) There's alot to say about that, but not now or here I guess

B)Nah, come on, never heard about a war commonly called "World War One", "The First World War" or even "The Great War"? I don't think all the French had in their trenches were white flags :crazyeyes

 

[swattek]

hehe

 

[Sarcastro]

Originally posted by swattek
I can't speak for all Americans, but assuming that my high school was 'average,' European culture and history was not emphasized as it should have been. Instead we spent more time studying less influential cultures such as the aboriginal Australians or some other insignificant tribe of near naked, illiterate, hunter-gatherers. Then we are told that all cultures are equal or some such nonsense. We don't have normal calendar months like February, March, April, May,or June. Instead we have Black History Month, Women's History Month, Earth Month, Lesbian-Left-Handed-Eskimo-Midget-Albino Month, and Great Jewish Sports Legends Month. Political correctness has killed public education here and it is coming to a school near you. Fortunately, some of our parents decided that schooling wasn't going to get in the way of their childrens education.

It's always fun, in these threads, when in response to some claim about stupid Americans, some Americans rise to defend themselves, and others just prove the point.

(A side note on rmsharpe's sig: I agree with you that there shouldn't be term limits for the President, but keep in mind that the reason there are is that Republicans were not happy about FDR's four consecutive victories. That cost you guys some more Reagan, and us some more Clinton. Oddly, in both cases, it got us Bush. )

 

[hzm]

I know would have voted for Reagan a hundred times more. Just wish he had tried to balance the national budget (if he had to raise taxes so be it. Compared to Europe they are pretty low anyway).

 

[swattek]

Originally posted by Sarcastro


It's always fun, in these threads, when in response to some claim about stupid Americans, some Americans rise to defend themselves, and others just prove the point.

(A side note on rmsharpe's sig: I agree with you that there shouldn't be term limits for the President, but keep in mind that the reason there are is that Republicans were not happy about FDR's four consecutive victories. That cost you guys some more Reagan, and us some more Clinton. Oddly, in both cases, it got us Bush. )

Typical response of a socialist. Rather than point out a fallacy with my conclusion, simply imply that my intelligence doesn't equal yours. This way you don't have to deal with the facts. I am proud of you though. You managed not to call me a Nazi or a racist.

 

[Lt.Col. Kilgore]

Anyone who thinks the U.S. has culture needs to open their eyes. Especially if they live in the country. This place has NO culture, it is NOT a melting pot, and the average American is really pretty stupid. (I mean naturally as well as undereducated.) You would think with the caliber of intelligence, as I believe, to appreciate a game like Civ, your average American Civ-player would understand the "Americans" being left out. Technology isn't culture and neither is Democracy, Mormonism, or Capitalism. The early part of the 20th century up until the 60s is the closest the U.S. ever had to having a true culture of its own, but those that partook of that culture grew up and became yuppies effectively destroying it in it's infancy because they deemed it more important to collect a fat check at the end of the week so they can make payments on there dumb-@$$ S.U.V. and buy the latest-greatest Megatron-4000 80' screen T.V. to show the "Joneses" how much better they are than them. Now its reverting to the plasticine machinery/capitalism that was almost put down towards the latter part of the 19th century. When Nikola Tesla came to the U.S. in the late 1870s he said the U.S. is a little ahead of Europe technologically, but a century behind in culture. Is a people-run industrial-grade money machine really what makes a great nation?

 

[Quafel Asmar]

The culture of America is different and can't be measured the way that one would judge a european culutre. The imperialism, diplomacy, economy, and military exploits of the US are all elements of a culutre. The american jingoism (extreme nationalism) would have to be another.

interestingly enough, one of the measuring sticks for a culutre has got to be its influence on other cultures. I have travelled quite a bit lately in the third world and the orient and everywhere I go, I see US 'culture' seeping in. In some ways it is really quite sad, but it is a fact.

Incidently, if this measure is used to judge the Germans you will find that they have been a culture for quite some time because of their significant influence on other european cultures. As mentioned before the Fall of Rome and the reformation have had an impact on almost all global cultures. The invention of Communism is another piece of the world culture that comes out of Germany. Needless to say this has had quite an influence on other cultures of the world.

 

[God]

Well America doesn't have a culture, its a civilization.
Rome was a civilization, Greece was a culture.

American schools barely teach anything about the world.
6th grade- American history, more on post revolution war.
7th- geography! Yeah we actually learned something worthwhile
8- Ancient history! Woohoo. Its actually interesting.
9- More ancient history. These are the good years
10- Amercian history. Time to
11-
12- More Zzzzz

 

[God]

And the Melting Pot bit is not true.
So few people in America have a clue about the rest of the world.

 

[Quafel Asmar]

America definately has a culture. Maybe not a pretty one, but a culture none the less.

The american cinema has significant impact on the clothing, art and ideology of peoples around the world. The American education system (College and above) is the tool by which many of the significant figures in our world were educated. English (American not British) is slowly becoming the dominant language for business throughout the world. If these aren't indication of a culture and its influence then I am confused.

As for Rome, it is true that they were great incorporaters of other peoples culture. But, the Roman political system, language and near the end of the empire religon have had a huge impact on others around the world and were relatively unique to the Roman Empire.

 

[Hamlet]

Originally posted by swattek
A)Socialism is a failed political ideology.

Tell that to Scandanavia.

 

[EmprorCoopinius]

Hey Scandinavia! Socialism sucks!

 

[Hamlet]

Originally posted by swattek
B)France has walked into every battle since Waterloo armed with only white flags.

Also, a slightly strange conclusion if you consider the number of French that died in WW2, which I believe was more than The UK and US combined, not to mention WW1.

 

[EmprorCoopinius]

Yeah, but that means they lost more men losing in a month than we did fighting a victorious two-front war over 4 years. Still doesn't say much for the French.

 

[Hamlet]

Originally posted by EmprorCoopinius
Yeah, but that means they lost more men losing in a month.

French forces participated in all allied campaigns after 1943, and many before then. Not to mention the continued resistance by French partisans etc at home.

Hence, saying they fought for a little over a month is a tad silly.

 

[JoeM]

About the game and the tribes chosen, clearly marketability has it's input hence, the Americans as a civilization.

However, are there any philosphers out there who can define a culture or a civilization? Most of the time Europe and the US are referred to as Western civilization. Is this the game of Civilization III, Culture III or Nationality III?

p.s. I like the game heaps, just wondering whether Civ is the right name, all considered.

 

[DarkwingGT]

It seems to me you are all arguing in circles. Can you define exactly what you mean by culture?

I'm an American, and I actually consider myself such. I actually like my country, is that so wrong? Other people like their countries, I do not condemn them for such. Why should Americans be codemned for the same?

I've heard many people say the average American is dumb, but I have news for you, the average PERSON is dumb. That is a fact that transends national boundaries and cultural influences. It is ignorant to single out a nation for such a thing.

Often people have responded that America is not a melting pot. I disagree, my father is Japanese, my mother is Polish. Where else in the world could that combination ever have happened? I've lived in Los Angeles for most of my life, I've been to New York, San Fransisco, Chicago and almost all the major cities and some of the smaller ones too. Every city has areas dedicated to various ethnicities. We accept that as a nation. Does that not indicate something?

People all over the world are quick to label and jump to conclusions. The world is hasty in hating Americans, and we Americans are all to willing to despise the world. Oh well, I have no real way to end this so I'm just going to stop.

P.S. I went to a really good public school.

 

[Sodak]

Originally posted by JoeM
However, are there any philosphers out there who can define a culture or a civilization?

You'll hear either silence or endless, pointless verbiage in response to that question.

Here's some verbiage:
Invariably, how civilization is defined depends very heavily on the culture of who you ask. Some people post here that you need cities and writing to be a "real" civ. Ask some nomads about that, they will laugh at the ignorance of the response. Is it more civilized to build cities, kill each other by the millions, and desecrate the land, or to live in villages, harmoniously with the land, but technologically ages behind the city dwellers? It all comes down to priorities a people have.

The concept of culture is more easily defined, altho defining a particular culture will be very vague at best. It is essentially a grouping of similar traits and behaviors that distinguish one people from another. What those common traits are can be debated endlessly, of course. (where's the smily of a dog chasing its own tail?...)

Think of defining the boundaries between languages before modern communications and travel. Where did German end and Dutch begin? Altho the differences between what was spoken in Berlin and Amsterdam would be clear even to people who understand neither language - You could not find anywhere in between where people could not understand everybody else for miles around. Eventually, political lines led to the formation of clearer linguistic boundaries. Culture works in a similar manner.

To those of you who think the US does not have a culture of its own: Don't be silly. Of course it does. From the inside it is always hard to define what a people's culture is. From outside, it is easier to see. Many other cultures lament how US culture is seeping into their own - a clear sign that there is a distinct, different "something" that can be identified as american.