Why is there an "American" civilization??

[Hannabir]

we were the first country on either continent to form it's own country (I am referring, of course, to the colonies after Columbus, not pre-Columbian civilizations)

This is not entirely true. Several confederacies were formed after 1492, and before the USA, by native peoples, also modelled after the League of the Iroquois.

 

[Hannabir]

there are seven continents. africa, asia, antarctica, australia, europe, north america, and south america.

In geography, a continent is a connected landmass, typically large enough to have more than one climate. There are Africa, Eurasia, America, Australia and Antarctica. In addition to continents, there are islands.

Another division of the world is in world parts (the English language fails to have a single word for this, which is the cause of this mix-up). Those are: Africa, Asia, Antarctica, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania.

World parts include islands. Therefore, Britain is a part of Europe, but not of Eurasia.

 

[Jecrell]

Sorry to make you angry...that wasn't my point.
Maybe I can explain myself a little better:
My own country, like every country in the world are made of very diferent cultures... everywhere. Every culture borrows traces of its culture from other cultures... Probably the main diference is that in your country, since it is a "young" country, is that you are still very similar to those cultures you came from... It doesn't mean that you don't have a culture, it only means that your culture is very similar to others. That's just it. With todays globalization, cultures will become more and more alike in the future... like it or not...

The problem is that you choose to see that America has little culture if any and stand by that statement; furthermore you refer to globalization -- which if anything points to whose culture is being projected through globalization rather than making the world into a single culture. Also globalization is a future concept rather than a current event as most of the world has yet to reach a statis in which we can truly mix all of our cultures.

As already pointed out, America has, perhaps, the largest "modern" culture to date. Within the realm of Hollywood, the American culture bomb, we have set a fire throughout that world where we have defined the meaning of the cinema and drowned people's minds with the American way of life. Within our realm of musical accomplishments we have developed new forms of human self-expression and new ways to celebrate good times. We're a nation of technology and trendsetters, with every year comes a new pair of levis jeans to wear and a newer version of the McDonalds fast food resturaunt in your local area. With every day the American culture digs closer and closer to home with its military power showing that we have all of this and we can protect ourselves and those that can not be protected. In the shortest amount of time we've become a wonder of the world, a superpower. We've even stolen the title of American from our neighbors; if you asked anyone on the North and South American continents what an "American" is, you'll likely get "The people from the USA" as an answer outside of geology class.

That is all I really want to say for now. You can view the Americans as nothing but globalization if you want, I wouldn't put it past you to do so, and in-fact I would defend to the death your right to say it, because that is the American way.

 

[Antiochus]

Well, it's a fact that the closer we get to release date, the more n00bs will come to the forums and spam them with useless/stupid threads. This happens to be one of them.

 

[Hannabir]

Well, what can you expect, if they consider fast food (an English invention, by the way) the pinnacle of cultural achievements.

 

[Hannabir]

That is all I really want to say for now. You can view the Americans as nothing but globalization if you want, I wouldn't put it past you to do so, and in-fact I would defend to the death your right to say it, because that is the American way.

And that, too, you did not invent. The freedom of speech was taught to you by the Dutch and by the native nations.

 

[Jecrell]

Well, what can you expect, if they consider fast food (an English invention, by the way) the pinnacle of cultural achievements.

Keep your crass jokes to yourself.

[EDIT]
This thread is now on my troll thread list.
Hannabir is on my troll list.

I've had enough of this. It's sad that someone feels they need argue over the technological development of fast food, how ideas were transfered between cultures instead of considering how they were organized and conveyed. This entire thread is nothing but slander towards Americans. I'm not going to sit here and be belittled by elitists looking for someone to taunt to lighten their moods.

 

[wilycoyote]

And that, too, you did not invent. The freedom of speech was taught to you by the Dutch and by the native nations.

Why stop there. Technically, the first humans to use language could be said to be demonstrating freedom of speech as I'm sure at least some of them didn't censor what they were saying due to political considerations. I think when people site this example as being american, they are referring to the fact that the US has become its most visible champion and has worked to spread it throughout the world more so than any other nation in history (I don't believe that anyone will argue this, but I understand I'm biased so if I'm wrong I'm sorry ).

 

[Hannabir]

Why stop there. Technically, the first humans to use language could be said to be demonstrating freedom of speech as I'm sure at least some of them didn't censor what they were saying due to political considerations.

Of course, but we are talking about free speech as an accomplishment of a nation.

I think when people site this example as being american, they are referring to the fact that the US has become its most visible champion and has worked to spread it throughout the world more so than any other nation in history (I don't believe that anyone will argue this, but I understand I'm biased so if I'm wrong I'm sorry ).

I think there is every reason to argue this. Where in the world, exactly, did people acquire freedom of speech thanks to the USA? And where in the modern world do we still have bookburnings? Where are children forced to say Christian prayers when school starts? And whose citizens call it trolling when someone else has a different opinion? The USA boasts about this, but reality says different. No, other countries entirely have spread and are championing freedom of speech. They just don't boast about it.

 

[Gazaridis]

Where in the world, exactly, did people acquire freedom of speech thanks to the USA?

And with that, I bid this pointless thread farewell!

 

[TerraHero]

Appart from that little thing, didnt Bush LOSE the first elections? Because of some ****ed up voting thing. And the recount, wich showed he lost was overruled by the high court Bush apointed.

So basicly he became president while he democratically lost. And American are still all like "look we spread freedom, equality and democratics" But they dont even follow all of it themselves, heck they only got 2 parties to vote for. Democrats or Republican while studies showed alot of people agree with both parties and disagree with both parties and carry diff ideas.

A real democratie should let people vote for more then 1 option, vote for the person/organization that really represents them, and they should, when gained a democratic superiority, rule.

Not that the Dutch democratic system is perfect. But its based on allot of diff fractions all with there own ideas and believes. And the people that agree with that fraction vote for it. Its never really happend that 1 fraction gained a superiority, wich over here is 65%+1vote, so they form co-allitions to gain that superiority and then you get united fractions that represent the opinions of the vast mayority. This system is alot more democratic then the 2 party system they got in England and America.

 

[wilycoyote]

Of course, but we are talking about free speech as an accomplishment of a nation.


I think there is every reason to argue this. Where in the world, exactly, did people acquire freedom of speech thanks to the USA? And where in the modern world do we still have bookburnings? Where are children forced to say Christian prayers when school starts? And whose citizens call it trolling when someone else has a different opinion? The USA boasts about this, but reality says different. No, other countries entirely have spread and are championing freedom of speech. They just don't boast about it.

I never said nor did I mean to hint that the US is responsible for this. All I meant (in my most anti-american rhetoric possible) is that no country has gone to war more often based on the pretense of spreading this (and freedom, and democracy and so on) than the US.

 

[Hannabir]

And with that, I bid this pointless thread farewell!

Exactly. You cannot handle freedom of speech.

 

[Hannabir]

I never said nor did I mean to hint that the US is responsible for this. All I meant (in my most anti-american rhetoric possible) is that no country has gone to war more often based on the pretense of spreading this (and freedom, and democracy and so on) than the US.

Fair enough.
The biggest mistake in this picture is the idea that values can be spread by force.

 

[wilycoyote]

Appart from that little thing, didnt Bush LOSE the first elections? Because of some ****ed up voting thing. And the recount, wich showed he lost was overruled by the high court Bush apointed.

So basicly he became president while he democratically lost. And American are still all like "look we spread freedom, equality and democratics" But they dont even follow all of it themselves, heck they only got 2 parties to vote for. Democrats or Republican while studies showed alot of people agree with both parties and disagree with both parties and carry diff ideas.

Lol, no. Bush won the electrical college but lost the popular vote. He was fairly elected, though not by me. The problems were the result of having 100,000,000+ votes and an election that came down to about 500,000 votes. Also, they had more than two parties to vote for, its just that only like 2% of people chose to vote for others. Sure those parties don't have the same funding to campaign, but an intelligent voter can see past that.

 

[Hannabir]

A real democratie should let people vote for more then 1 option, vote for the person/organization that really represents them, and they should, when gained a democratic superiority, rule.

To me, an essential part of democracy is that decisions are based on reasoning. Without that, any voting system can be manipulated to a point that democracy is only show. With reasoning, even a small faction can accomplish things. I have been a representative myself in a small opposition party, but was nonetheless able to get a lot of things done.

This system is alot more democratic then the 2 party system they got in England and America.

To be fair, there are more than 2 parties in both the UK and the USA, but the voting system makes it hard for smaller parties to get seats.

 

[TerraHero]

Then i guess it should be made easier for new parties to enter the arena.

In a democratic sphere, all electable parties should be heard equally. But im sure neither of the 2 big parties are really in for it since they've got it hard enough juz competing with eachother.

 

[trotskylite]

In geography, a continent is a connected landmass, typically large enough to have more than one climate. There are Africa, Eurasia, America, Australia and Antarctica. In addition to continents, there are islands.

Another division of the world is in world parts (the English language fails to have a single word for this, which is the cause of this mix-up). Those are: Africa, Asia, Antarctica, Europe, North America, South America and Oceania.

World parts include islands. Therefore, Britain is a part of Europe, but not of Eurasia.

utterly ridiculous. africa, europe and asia are all connected by land. so does the siani peninsula for some reason not count as part of the landmass connecting africa and asia while panama counts as a connecting piece between the north and south of the whole of the 'american continent'?

anyway, a geographic perspective is irrelevant to the discussion since we're talking about national identification. by your logic, everyone from the bering strait to gibraltar can claim to be 'eurasian'.

this thread has devolved into mindless america-bashing and should be locked. but to get in a few jabs, insinuating that america doesn't have much culture beyond what came from europe is so completely off-base. the whole 'globalization' argument is a backwards way of dressing up the fact that america in the last century has become the standard bearer for western civilization, with her cultural input being the primary driving force behind it.

and the statement about american music being completely derivative of european and african music. ha. look at the last century in music. jazz, blues, rock, and hip hop.

i'm not a rabid pro-america myrmidon, in fact, i've lived in berlin for the better part of six months. but the people in this thread who are being so completely dismissive of american culture are doing so out of sheer ignorance, willful or otherwise.

 

[Wise guy]

As already pointed out, America has, perhaps, the largest "modern" culture to date. Within the realm of Hollywood, the American culture bomb, we have set a fire throughout that world where we have defined the meaning of the cinema and drowned people's minds with the American way of life. Within our realm of musical accomplishments we have developed new forms of human self-expression and new ways to celebrate good times. We're a nation of technology and trendsetters, with every year comes a new pair of levis jeans to wear and a newer version of the McDonalds fast food resturaunt in your local area. With every day the American culture digs closer and closer to home with its military power showing that we have all of this and we can protect ourselves and those that can not be protected. In the shortest amount of time we've become a wonder of the world, a superpower. We've even stolen the title of American from our neighbors; if you asked anyone on the North and South American continents what an "American" is, you'll likely get "The people from the USA" as an answer outside of geology class.

Man I'm not specially anti-american like some in this thread but this one is hilarious

 

[trotskylite]

Appart from that little thing, didnt Bush LOSE the first elections? Because of some ****ed up voting thing. And the recount, wich showed he lost was overruled by the high court Bush apointed.

this is a myth. while the supreme court did halt the manual recounting of votes, every recount done by independent organizations afterwards showed that bush had the votes.