Do you like the US?

[Lambert Simnel]

No diverse culture part (US culture is many different cultures, although they are seen seperated). Anti-Atheist part (being atheist is considered cool and the only logical answer, even by many adults).

Well, it's a perception thing, of course, and I fully admit I visit the US, not live there. But I find the US culture very homogeneous. The shopping malls in Missouri are much the same as the shopping malls in Florida, or on Long Island. The TV and other mainstream culture is the same, again, despite the large distances and numbers of people involved. If we compare this to Europe, or SE Asia, I think there's much more diversity in the latter areas.

Atheism ? I guess it's partly indicated by the need for significant public figures to very volubly profess their Christianity (much more so than in Europe). I certainly feel uncomfortable (when in the US) by the extent of people's public protestations of their religion. Again, the comparison in my mind is between the US and the relative secular Western Europe.

 

[spankey]

Well, it's a perception thing, of course, and I fully admit I visit the US, not live there. But I find the US culture very homogeneous. The shopping malls in Missouri and much the same as the shopping malls in Florida, or on Long Island. The TV and other mainstream culture is the same, again, despite the large distances and numbers of people involved. If we compare this to Europe, or SE Asia, I think there's much more diversity in the latter areas.

I generally agree with your assessment. I have lived in over 10 states and have spent substantial time in 5 foreign (to me) countries.

Atheism ? I guess it's partly indicated by the need for significant public figures to very volubly profess their Christianity (much more so than in Europe). I certainly feel uncomfortable (when in the US) by the extent of people's public protestations of their religion. Again, the comparison in my mind is between the US and the relative secular Western Europe.

Europe has embraced many philosphies over the past several centuries. They embraced (and actually started) many of the "isms" that have fractured societies. Europe has almost entirely embraced secularism since WWII. I have read that regular church going attenders and religious adherents have fallen to less than 10 percent of the population. Europe has abandoned God. I pray that God does not abandon Europe.

You do not have many politicians who invoke a deity because your population does not believe in one. They will not use God to pander to the population. My fear for Europe is that politicians without an adherence to a deity do not feel that they have to act like they are beholden to one. They will become increasingly state-focused or focused on their own personal power. You will lose you freedoms in that case.

 

[GinandTonic]

You believe every us politico who beats his chest and declares his love for god believes in one? Honestly never crossed my mind as an idea...

Those "isms" Europe started include democracy.

 

[Alpine Trooper]

My fear for Europe is that politicians without an adherence to a deity do not feel that they have to act like they are beholden to one. They will become increasingly state-focused or focused on their own personal power. You will lose you freedoms in that case.

Thank you Spankey for so accurately describing the current situation in the United States.

It seems as though people who have a strong faith in a "God" are prone to starting wars and taking away freedoms.

Atleast history dictates that. But who needs history?

 

[spankey]

Thank you Spankey for so accurately describing the current situation in the United States.

It seems as though people who have a strong faith in a "God" are prone to starting wars and taking away freedoms.

Atleast history dictates that. But who needs history?

No, I am describing the state of all politics in all countries.

 

[Alpine Trooper]

No, I am describing the state of all politics in all countries.

Well how silly of me for being sarcastic.

 

[CurtSibling]

We'll let you away with it this time!

 

[superisis]

You do not have many politicians who invoke a deity because your population does not believe in one. They will not use God to pander to the population. My fear for Europe is that politicians without an adherence to a deity do not feel that they have to act like they are beholden to one. They will become increasingly state-focused or focused on their own personal power. You will lose you freedoms in that case.

Huh? Since when where Chriastian Rulers (or any religious rulers) prone to Christian acts? Go read some of Kafka2's historical filth articles.

I believe that this quote sais it all in respect to Americans religiousness (or religosity, what is the term here?). Europeans don't care about Americans loving God, being good Christians and attending Chruch, etc. It's when you get in our faces telling us that we are damned because we don't do the same. If you think that I'm damned to burn in hell cause I don't go to church, that's fine, but keep your opinion to yourself.

 

[Phlegmak]

i dislike various bits of American culture etc (LOL on american culture.. what an oxymoron!)

I really resent that. Please tell me what culture is, if you think it's lacking here.

 

[superisis]

I really resent that. Please tell me what culture is, if you think it's lacking here.

It's a joke. It is based on the fact that the American culture that is spread is usually considered "low" culture, by the definitions the cultural elite has put in place.

 

[Phlegmak]

I wonder why you care what some stranger from the UK thinks of your country?

Because I'm interested in perceptions of the US around the world. I already know that people hate the government; I'm not asking about that. Why I'm interested in perceptions? Hard to say.

 

[ndtim]

Phleg...I'm surprised you are actually offended by the comment about lack of American culture...(i'm american btw) Have you ever visited europe? I'd argue that a strong component of culture is a country's history. In the grand scheme of things, we are a very very young country. Re culture, we may have australia beat, but we don't legitimiately compare to europe.

 

[Colonel]

The US will rule all, like the Empire did in Star Wars We however will be better our death star for instance will not have a weak point. Better designs we have.

As for me I will be a loyal solider of the American Empire, all hail America.

 

[Winner]

Europe has embraced many philosphies over the past several centuries. They embraced (and actually started) many of the "isms" that have fractured societies. Europe has almost entirely embraced secularism since WWII. I have read that regular church going attenders and religious adherents have fallen to less than 10 percent of the population. Europe has abandoned God. I pray that God does not abandon Europe.

You do not have many politicians who invoke a deity because your population does not believe in one. They will not use God to pander to the population. My fear for Europe is that politicians without an adherence to a deity do not feel that they have to act like they are beholden to one. They will become increasingly state-focused or focused on their own personal power. You will lose you freedoms in that case.

Strange that the most religious president in the US in last few decades is also the one who is curbing the American freedom at most. All because it's the God's will, of course

Strange that even if the Americans are more religious than Europeans (at average), they are bigger individualists and don't care about the society as much as the Europeans do (again, at average).

I'd say that religion has nothing to do with that, because there is no positive correlation between religion and responsibility/freedom/societal spirit.

 

[Verbose]

You do not have many politicians who invoke a deity because your population does not believe in one. They will not use God to pander to the population. My fear for Europe is that politicians without an adherence to a deity do not feel that they have to act like they are beholden to one. They will become increasingly state-focused or focused on their own personal power. You will lose you freedoms in that case.

The trick is to make the system work in such a way that they have to act as if beholden to the people. Technically you should be able to have an utter bastard for President/PM and still get a decent performance due to the checks and balances.

If you have to fall back on banking on the personal character and/or faith of your leader, then there's likely a design-flaw somewhere.

 

[CurtSibling]

The US will rule all, like the Empire did in Star Wars We however will be better our death star for instance will not have a weak point. Better designs we have.

Unlike the Imperial Death Star in SW, the American Death Star gets blown up with friendly fire...

As for me I will be a loyal solider of the American Empire, all hail America.

Colonel and his fellow soldiers in action!

 

[Phlegmak]

Phleg...I'm surprised you are actually offended by the comment about lack of American culture...(i'm american btw) Have you ever visited europe? I'd argue that a strong component of culture is a country's history. In the grand scheme of things, we are a very very young country. Re culture, we may have australia beat, but we don't legitimiately compare to europe.

Outrageous. The US has a culture and saying it doesn't legitimately compare to Europe is ridiculous. The US has a different culture than European nations. I would argue that the history does not a culture make, and Australia isn't beaten by the US.

I have not visited Europe.

By the way, Europe gave birth to the United States, and believe it or not, European history is part of American history. Why do I feel like the first person who's actually written that?

 

[classical_hero]

You believe every us politico who beats his chest and declares his love for god believes in one? Honestly never crossed my mind as an idea...

Those "isms" Europe started include democracy.

Modern Democracy actually started in Amserica.

 

[Israelite9191]

I am an American and I voted I do not like America. However it was a very borderline vote. The reason I voted that way is 1) I do not like the current path we are following (Conservativism, Evangelical Christianity, Arab-phobia/anti-Arab racism, etc.) 2) I have found my fellow American to be on average very un-knowledgable, more than once I have had to explain the Holocaust to classmates, many Americans in fact are ignorant of their own history (I have met many a person who has little to no knowledge of Native Amercans, or the First Nations for you Canadians) 3) Americans are often very rude and very intolerant, I have experienced a good amount of anti-Semitism where I live 4) Americans were ignorant enough to elect Bush, need I say more? and 5) while America has culture it does not have history, something I feel a society truly needs to excel. Also, I have been to Europe and while I did see a good number of swatikas spray painted on street corners I found the people overwhelmingly more polite, and simply being surrounded by all that history, to me, was exhilerating.

 

[Fifty]

Modern Democracy actually started in Amserica.

I was always under the impression that Iceland has the longest standing democracy (seriously).