We as Americans do tend to be blissfully self-centered. That's why this place is so great to live in - we have so much great stuff going on here that we have a tendency to inadvertently cut ourselves off from the rest of the world and come off as self absorbed. It's not intentional isolationalism for the most part, but the perception is EXACTLY that, unfortunately, by those who don't live here or care to know more about us as individuals.
It's not a bad thing, mind you, but it's another reason why so many outside the US don't like us. I'm thinking there could be a lot worse things than having so much going on inside your own country that you don't have time to notice what's going on outside of it.
People like me tend to be the exception to the rule, where they keep up on foreign events. That doesn't give me a shred of moral authority on the subject, just a different perspective.
I know I cannot be considered objective in this since I am an American and proudly so, but I won't hesitate to point out the warts of America, her administration, her policies (foreign and domestic), military strategy and execution, laws and behavior as a whole.
We tend to bully, but when we do, we'll pick up the ass that we just kicked, dust it off, prop it back up and say, "Now that we've kicked your ass by swatting a fly with a baseball bat, get back in there and make something of yourself. Here's a few billion to get you started. Don't fuck it up or we'll beat your ass again. Then give you more money to get yourself right."
We're not monsters. America's made up of wonderful people who care for people of all nations, creeds, religions, orientations and the like. We can't help it if either a) truly evil people (islamic terrorists) or b) people who've never been here (99% of the world) or c) narrow-minded people who already make up their minds about us given what they "think they know" think that we are monsters. What can we do? They don't know us!! We're good people, by and large. There are rotten apples in every barrel, and we have our fair share, but no more than any other country, dammit, and it's time that the world starts recognizing that.
We're rich. So what? We work for it and we have the freedom and the laws to make it possible for those who want it.
We have food. So what? We are just taking advantage of our resources, both natural and financial. We make it happen. There's not a third world county on the Earth that wouldn't do the same if given the same.
We're powerful. So what? 231 years ago this week we were nothing but a bunch of ragged nationalists fighting for freedom from at the time the most powerful nation on the whole fucking planet. And we won. And 231 years later, our collective leadership, collective laws, collective freedoms, collective military power, collective native and imported intelligence and collective policies have made us into the most powerful nation human existence has ever seen. And we're not screwing it up, for the most part. We're not perfect, but who is??
We have the freest country in the world. We're supposed to apologize for that? We're FREE!! Come join us!! Just learn the language, obey the laws and don't blow shit up. Stick to that, people will pretty much leave you alone.
We're arrogant. No we're not. We just have a great country and we know it, so like I said we tend to be self absorbed, but not proactively, just by circumstance. That does NOT make us arrogant - just ignorant. Yeah, we should pay closer attention to what goes on around us, but is that any reason to hate us?
Please share your thoughts. They are welcomed here.
