Do you like the US?

[Phlegmak]

while America has culture it does not have history, something I feel a society truly needs to excel.

That's wholly wrong, to put it politely.

 

[Fifty]

It's alright, Phleg. The old world will do anything to assert arbitary and idiotic notions of cultural superiority over us newworlders.

 

[superisis]

Yeah cause it was an american who made the claim. Though i'm sure he was under the spell of European propaganda! HAHA

Modern Democracy actually started in Amserica.

Hm actually Sweden was democratic before the American revolution. The tradition in was inprinted amongst european intellectuals just as it was among American ones.

 

[ThERat]

while I have to say that the questions seems a bit odd, I still want to write down my thoughts.
It's a very general questions, do you talk about people, culture, politics, the nature and scenery, history?
As for any aspect of this life, there is no black and white, far more grey.

Of course, America has great folks (heck, I am playing civ with many of you guys), but sure enough idiots as well (else GWB couldn't have been elected twice). The culture has influenced all of us in modern days, whether we like it (music, movies) or dislike it (all the soaps and nowadays all the reality trash). The history has dark chapters (treatment of native Americans) but very bright parts too (WW2, birth of democracy). It's very diverse, that's what makes it so nice.

One advise I can give everyone here. Once you travel and live abroad, experience new countries, then you will learn to appreciate the positive aspects of your own country as well as the differences.

That said, I think more Americans need to look beyond their own country, it would do them good.

 

[Phlegmak]

It's a very general questions, do you talk about people, culture, politics, the nature and scenery, history?

It was intended to be a general question.

 

[Odin2006]

News to you....if you hate half the people in the USA...then you hate the USA irregardless.

So I hate my own country just because I disagree with the ruling majority? What kind of fascistic BS is this? The US is a democracy, dissent is not unpatriotic in a democracy. You Right-wingers need to get the "Bush = US" spin out of your heads.

 

[Irish Caesar]

If you hate the government, that's not the same as hating your country. If you hate every person who voted for the president or any member of Congress, chances are, you do hate your country.

 

[Huang]

5) while America has culture it does not have history, something I feel a society truly needs to excel.

I wonder if you know anything about US History. In my opinion, I think our country's history is simply the most enjoyable to learn about, although it is not that expansive, spanning from the 15th century to present day (you could go back later too if you wanted).

 

[Marla_Singer]

Modern Democracy actually started in America.

That's not more true than considering modern democracy started in the UK or in France.

Actually modern democracy is the result of a long process which is continuing its evolution today. According to today's criteria, The late 18th century United States were far to be democratic (slavery, electoral process, etc...).

The process which has lead us towards modern democracy started with Martin Luther and the other reformed churches, who were the first movement against a holistic society (dominated by an unquestioned order, in the European case dominated by the Roman catholic church). Afterwards, there has been British philosophers, mainly John Locke, who have spread the doctrine of individualism, which has lead Britain into the way of parliamentarism. And then, this have lead to the French lights philosophers (Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau), who have spread the notion of the separation of powers (executive, legislature and judiciary) and the basics of modern democracy as we know it.

Then, much of the work were done. The US democracy started more or less in 1789, the first French republic was effective in 1792, etc...

Of course, in my quick description, I forget some events such as the magna carta which was setting up rules between French speaking Norman rulers and the English people and which is considered at the origin of the declaration of the Human Rights. And I guess many other things such as humanists and so on and so forth.

Anyway, to sum it up. There's no country which invented modern democracy simply because modern democracy is a evoluting process, not an invention.

 

[Fifty]

That's not more true than considering modern democracy started in the UK or in France.

Actually modern democracy is the result of a long process which is continuing its evolution today. According to today's criteria, The late 18th century United States were far to be democratic (slavery, electoral process, etc...).

The process which has lead us towards modern democracy started with Martin Luther and the other reformed churches, who were the first movement against a holistic society (dominated by an unquestioned order, in the European case dominated by the Roman catholic church). Afterwards, there has been British philosophers, mainly John Locke, who have spread the doctrine of individualism, which has lead Britain into the way of parliamentarism. And then, this have lead to the French lights philosophers (Montesquieu, Voltaire, Rousseau), who have spread the notion of the separation of powers (executive, legislature and judiciary) and the basics of modern democracy as we know it.

Then, much of the work were done. The US democracy started more or less in 1789, the first French republic was effective in 1792, etc...

Of course, in my quick description, I forget some events such as the magna carta which was setting up rules between French speaking Norman rulers and the English people and which is considered at the origin of the declaration of the Human Rights. And I guess many other things such as humanists and so on and so forth.

Anyway, to sum it up. There's no country which invented modern democracy simply because modern democracy is a evoluting process, not an invention.

are you *sure* that it wasn't Iceland? I swear I heard Iceland has the longest standing democracy.

 

[superisis]

not uninterupted. The Althing has been disbanded a few times in history. But basically yeah, the viking societies were very equitable (although there was a slavery system in place, i.e. thralldom). The vikings of scandinavia had "courts" called tings where disputes were settled and people voted on various issues. Infact in several respects the introduction of Christianity in Scandinavia was a set back for many "democratic" institutions and ideas.

 

[Marla_Singer]

are you *sure* that it wasn't Iceland? I swear I heard Iceland has the longest standing democracy.

Well, there are less than 300,000 folks living today in Iceland. I guess they weren't a lot in 900 AD when their assembly was created. I wouldn't call this a "modern democracy", I guess it looked more like a viking version of the older Greek model.

 

[The Yankee]

I've explained why, but if you wish me to further my point of view... here you go:

I dislike Middletown connecticut because it is small a far from places. I dislike it because it lacks many consumer goods I wish to purchase. I dislike it because the police are out to get me, when I'm drinkin and put me in jail (I'm only 20 years old you see). I dislike Middletown because the winters are freezing and the summers are sweaty-ass hot. I dislike Middletown because there are about 3 other european kids here. I dislike Middletown because people in general are pretty shallow. I dislike Middletown most of my friends are not in Middletown. I dislike Middletown because most women in Middletown resemble cows or owls. I dislike Middletown because I can't get a hold of The International Herald tribune here. I dislike Middletown because the are no public green spaces, etc, etc, etc. Reason enough.

Go to NYC, you'll find all of that here. Including newsstands that have the International Herald Tribune (not all of them do, but I've seen some).

Or go on their website:
http://www.iht.com/

 

[The Yankee]

I'm an American and I'm liking the US. Though...I've only really been in this city for my whole life...but I'd love to explore. This country and others.

 

[The Yankee]

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.

You'd have to go beyond the malls. Because a lot of them are the same...part of the whole assimilated American culture we've got going on. But stroll through the streets of different neighborhoods, sample the stores owned and for people of different cultures, you have to think outside the megabox.

 

[superisis]

Go to NYC, you'll find all of that here. Including newsstands that have the International Herald Tribune (not all of them do, but I've seen some).

Though New York is a kick ass place it can't help me with these issues:

I dislike it because it lacks many consumer goods I wish to purchase. I dislike it because the police are out to get me, when I'm drinkin and put me in jail (I'm only 20 years old you see). I dislike Middletown because the winters are freezing and the summers are sweaty-ass hot.

and let me add another thing: I dislike the fact that I need a car and a licence to go anywhere. Greyhound buses, please.

 

[superisis]

Or go on their website:
http://www.iht.com/

true, I think I should start. But it's still not the same thing. I have a subscription to economist.com, but I still preferr the real, physical copy. And iht.com doesn't have the jumble section (a great way to increase ones vocab).

 

[CaptainF]

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.

I agree 100% . I still like America though, there is no other place I'd like to live at this moment.

The people in America can be SUCH morons however. ( not to speak ill of anyone on these forums!!!)

These morons come in all shapes and sizes. Not just the stereotypical white trash hicks, but also the latte sipping yuppies/yuppies in training, and just about everyone else.

Americans can also be a very intolerant bunch, especially when it comes to people of different faith/sexual orientation/race/whatever. We have a herd mentality it seems.

However, for every ignorant jackass, there is also a genuinely cool lad/lassie within this sprawling country.

 

[superisis]

These morons come in all shapes and sizes. Not just the stereotypical white trash hicks, but also the latte sipping yuppies/yuppies in training, and just about everyone else.

I want to second this, especially when comming from Italy where one can get real coffee. God damn.

 

[Lambert Simnel]

You'd have to go beyond the malls. Because a lot of them are the same...part of the whole assimilated American culture we've got going on. But stroll through the streets of different neighborhoods, sample the stores owned and for people of different cultures, you have to think outside the megabox.

Yeah, I realise that there is cultural diversity in the US - it's the degree compared to that in Europe which I was trying to highlight. I do recognise that St Louis feels really quite different to New York, or Chicago or San Diego - but the degree of difference is much less than comparing London, Paris, Barcelona, Moscow (ugh) and Munich, say. I was just using the malls and the TV shows as examples.