General Question

dannyc's avatar

I admire Americans. Am I in the minority?

Asked by dannyc (5257points) May 16th, 2009

As a Canadian, there is so much information we receive in all aspects of U.S. news and views. I sometimes feel that my fellow citizenry does not realize what a good neighbour we have..or am I dreaming and is America undeserving of praise.

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40 Answers

_bob's avatar

You’re not. Why do you think so many people risk their lives to migrate there?

oratio's avatar

No, the US is an amazing country and culture. I see a difference between the country with it’s people and the doubtful policies of the US on the global scene.

@bob_ True, though they risk their lives to migrate to many places where there is a better and safer life.

_bob's avatar

@oratio The US is not the only admired country :)

oratio's avatar

@bob_ Yeah, you are right.

ptarnbsn's avatar

@dannyc As an American, thank you. As an American with a Canadian husband, I have heard his relatives (who still live in Canada) voice the same opinion. America is a good country but not without it’s issues. Now that I’ve been to Canada a number of times and gotten to know the people there, I must say that I admire them too. They are such laid back, easy-going people.

btko's avatar

I’m Canadian too and I think there are many of us that need to look at our own country’s failings before we criticise another. On that, there are plenty of people from the United States worth admiring – but I wouldn’t make it a general statement. I wouldn’t make it a general statement about any country; even Canada.

dannyc's avatar

Yes, we are all here by an accident of birth. To propagate generalizations always dangerous. But I still think Canadians are guilty of exactly that, not separating the government policies, lobbyists from the average American citizen. And yes, the same true for Canada, with our own divisions.

TaoSan's avatar

well, let’s start this way, what is so “praisable” about Americans?

ptarnbsn's avatar

@TaoSan awww, come on now. Lighten up! LOL

TaoSan's avatar

@ptarnbsn

But why lighten up? I’m not gloomy or grumpy about it. I’m just the type of person that is in favor of rationalizing what I admire. Let me make a start:

I have met some of the nicest, most genuinely helpful people here in America, more so than in Germany where I’m originally from….

Let’s hear it folks.

_bob's avatar

@TaoSan Americans are not as “square” as Germans :P

<—Kein Amerikaner

TaoSan's avatar

@bob_

Ha! Ist ja stark! Ich hab das auch nur für denen ihr Ego schön verpackt. Sind ja immer so empfindlich…

_bob's avatar

@TaoSan Man, am I glad I have my Wörterbuch handy.

<—Kein Deutscher.

Crusader's avatar

@TaoSan,
America is wonderful because we have various denominations of Christianity, thereby keeping the others honest…Also, there is a general sense of accountability, honesty, and charity, and humility…Though if the liberals conquer the country, and/orthe neo-cons, it will be a complete police state, that is the nature of the Far left, acquire power and authority for you and you friends of like minds, then crush dissent and enact an authoritarian State/Nation.

Also, America enacts policies of punitive actions against the ‘majority’ male (straight/white) population, who work longer and harder for less compensation so that the ‘underpriviledged’ (generally less accountable,) can have advantages, Also, illegal immigration is encouraged, (amd soon to be legitimized, while many Europeans, Russians with advanced degrees and viable skills and education continue to wait for years…) from countries (Mexico, others,)

This countries of illegal immigration choice have two things in common, They are 90% from NAACP qualifying ethnicity, and, consequently, 90% likely to vote for liberals.In addition, the countries the illegals originate from are Far less generous to their own people, and there government deliberately encourages them to (over)populate to encourage sympathy with the West so they can emigrate. I say take Care of you Own House. True, America is a nation of immigrants, but resources are Finite, and this illegal immigration is doen Not for the benefit of the country, but for Political Expediency/Power consolidation for the Left, and short term economic gain, (cheap labor) for the Right. Corruption Throughout.

As long as there are whites who passively accept a role a second/third class citizens for lifestyle opportunities, (while the wealthy white families betray their own at every given chance on the West and East Coast,) and there are enough of them to pay for the inefficiencies and corruption and mediocrity and racism of the Left, sure, it will be a fine place, just keep your pretty young daughters off the streets at night, (and with an escort by day,)and lock your doors…

TaoSan's avatar

so many words for a little flame bait…

Crusader's avatar

@dannyc

Also, Canada, if it adopted a more social conservative Christian approach, would be a ‘shining light to the world’ as it is already financially moderate, and politicized institutionally racist as is white-Hate America. Thus between the financial moderation of Canada, and the (protestant, catholic) social conservatives of America there is a blending that achieved perfection in a Very Small percentage of the respective populations, and, sadly, decreasing…

mammal's avatar

nevermind eh

FGS's avatar

@TaoSan To be honest, after having lived in Germany for 13 years I would say that Germans are just as friendly if not more so than Americans, you just have to get to know them a bit more. I for one truly enjoy a German lifestyle more than an American one.

TaoSan's avatar

@FGS

True. These are all very generalized statements. It depends on where you are. Germans take longer to open up to you, aren’t as eager to “engage”, but then, they also have less social “agendas”.

I guess the grass is always greener on the other side :)

FGS's avatar

@TaoSan I spent almost all of my adult life in Germany. Were it not for the fact that no matter where I got a job I would be known as “Der Ami” I would gladly retire there. The opportunities are just far greater here.

TaoSan's avatar

Ha! LOL

Actually, I don’t know where you’ve been stationed, but just before I came here I used to live in Berlin. You’d be surprised how “americanized” it is now. Starbucks and KFC everywhere, all theaters play movies both German and English, Tony Roma’s is a staple and the people are really “Amifreundlich”. Plenty of English TV channels too.

As for greater opportunities, well, that depends on your MOS I guess.

ptarnbsn's avatar

EH?, n. [Colloq.] Canadian term for right?, okay?, please, maybe, thank you, how about it?, don’t you?. Used after a statement or question. Said with spirit and pride even to Americans and other visitors. Why do Canadians say eh? IT’S BETTER THAN SAYING HUH!!!!

I know this has nothing to do with the rest of the discussion but just thought I’d throw it in. Maybe it’ll lighten up the topic! LOL

FGS's avatar

@TaoSan Es macht nichts was MOS bin Ich. Ich Oberpfalzer Deutsch spreche nur. I werde immer die “Ami” sien. Wann komst ein Deutsher oder eine Ami, welche denks Du die arbiet gehen zu?.....

TaoSan's avatar

hmm,

ja, das stimmt wohl :(

FGS's avatar

@TaoSan Ich vermisse Deutsche sprechen…danke fur deine verstanden.

_bob's avatar

@FGS @TaoSan Ich vermisse Döner Kebabs :(

Darwin's avatar

Canada has nicer campgrounds than many in the US. Cleaner and not as crowded.

But Canada also has wicked winter weather, so I prefer to spend most of my time in Texas.

TaoSan's avatar

@bob_

Oh Gott!!!!! Ich könnte killen für einen richtigen Döner!!!! Oder Laugenstangen mit Schwarzwälder!!!!!!

Manchmal vermisst man es halt doch, ne?

@FGS

Kein Problem :)

@TaoSan

Stop hijacking threads :)

mammal's avatar

@crusader you got it wrong, stop trying to make out white people are persecuted by the left, makes you sound a little spoilt… you got it all, so quit your bellyaching already and try getting some perspective.

oratio's avatar

Tja, vi kan väl alla ta och snacka på våra egna språk tycker jag. Eller så går vi över till att använda innutitiska och en snöskyffel som Lingua Franca, och hoppas på det bästa.

prasad's avatar

Americans are generous.

shrubbery's avatar

ich bin ein berliner

dynamicduo's avatar

The day Canada adopts a more Christian approach is the day I riot on Parliament Hill with a pitchfork and torch.

I would say that yes, as a Canadian admiring America (using that specific word), you are in the minority of people. I’m also Canadian, and no one I know face to face really even likes America. A few have hatred or disgust for the country, most have no real opinion whatsoever other than annoyance at things like what that idiot Glenn Beck said about our military.

mattbrowne's avatar

The majority of people on our planet admire America (some maybe more secretly). I shared my list with you before. I admire

1) More than 200 years of democracy (checks and balances made sure it never turned to extreme totalitarianism. Believe me even 8 years of Bush is like a minor hiccup compared to the Third Reich, Stalin or the aftermath of the French Revolution)

2) Immigation: Drawing the best talents from all over the world

3) Ivy league universities and the ability to think big – highest per capita rate of Nobel Prize winners

4) Pioneering mentality, visionary, innovative and risk-taking entrepreneurship (meant in a positive way e.g. Sun or Google in the silicon valley, not the corporate crooks creating speculative bubbles)

5) Applying self-help / community organization (Obama is a great example for that) instead of always waiting for the state to fix everything

6) Friendliness, openness, welcoming visitors

7) Optimism (I think the recent 4 years are the exception if you look at time spans of 100 years or more)

Crusader's avatar

@mattbrowne
1.) Democracy for whom? Only Land owning Men could vote until the last 100 years. The Morgons, Rockefeller, Carnegies Rothchilds and others ‘elite’ families of indifferent bankers and industrialist were swimming in cash while (white) children slaved to death in factories and coal mines, (white) adults worked with no protection from tyrant employers and the government even used military killings to thwart collective bargaining attempts. Democracy for 200 years? Hardly. Also, elderly had no dignity at death, (Though Germany adopted protections and social security in 1887, long before Rossevelt.)

Behaving as a ‘neutral’in the 20th century wars exceeded all other European atrocities, as our industrialist and banker Perpetuated them, the average american is merely a pawn…Hate not the American, but the hypocrite leadership…(Both sides-third-forth-fifth viable parties are not available, why? Not because of lack of public interest I will tell you…)

2.) Immigration, until the 1960’s I would agree with your assertion, since then those with a 6th grade education and no English skills are elevated above citizens who have been here for 100’s of years-again, all is political expediency now. An overall Drain on the economy, repaired only by reducing immigration to pre-1960 levels and protecting the border as during pre-1960, Or perpetual War to accommodate the agenda of the political expediency of the centrists and the Left. Otherwise welcome to 3rd world America

3.) Ivy league winnings are the beneficiaries of the global ‘brain drain’ and diminished standards domestically, insure loyalty that way is easy, don’t properly educate your own citizens, (just a select ‘elite,’ and ‘minority’) but outsource for the high paying tech jobs, etc…No advantage to being a domestic now…(unless you satisfy affirmative action/ACLU criterion,)Also, most of the selection committies are beholden to university endowments of centrists and the hard Left. Such awards that are not political are certainly the exception.

4.) Pioneering mentality is a result of Less Government, and generally some neo-con and most actual social conservatives. How typical for you to take credit for the successes of very economic/political/belief system you despise. Also, the ‘corporate crooks’ are Not political, they are A-political, money driven centrists, who will support Any ideology as long as their is profit in it. Currently, your ideology is profitable.

5.) Self-help community organization benefitting who? Not me, or anyone I know well. Moveon.org etc…Not my candidate. Your Obama has Increased the State and its involvement, (and expense,) exponentially. I will conced one point, you lie better than an old rug. Is that cake you have, and are eating it too, tasty? A cake of lies.

6.) Friendliness, openess welcoming…If you have the money or the opportunity to benefit the political expediency/hypocrisy of the Left, sure, you are always welcome, especially if your home country is led by tyrants and you have no prospects there..Any attempt to enforce accountabilty abroad in democrats? Certainly not. Mostly not Republicans as they are generally centrist, but there are still some conservatives with actual social conservative and fiscal moderate positions, (the need to be a third party.)

7.) Optimism? For who? Under Bush, the gorundwork laid during the Clinton years to undermine American security was rectified, and no domestic attacks since 911, also the values of homes went (literally) through the roof until ACORN enforced policies, and centrist corporate greed in alliance with the left killed the prosperity. The optimism you speak of it only for you and yours.

Darwin's avatar

We Americans have done some things right. After all, look who invented blue jeans (now worn around the world) – an immigrant to America named Jacob Youphes (changed to Jacob Davis), who became an American citizen, and an immigrant to America named Levi Strauss, who became an American citizen, reacted to conditions in the Western gold fields to invent, produce and patent what we know today as blue jeans.

That is really what is admirable about America, that people who might have no chance of success in one part of the world, come to America, become Americans and find success far beyond anything they could have dreamed of back in their country of birth.

mattbrowne's avatar

@Darwin – I agree. More and more European countries seem to realize this aspect of America. Over decades there have been a lot of European students who decided to stay in the United States for this very reason. However, many also returned bringing back the American spirit. German universities and other research institution work hard to create environments that allow people to realize their dreams. Germany introduced the concept of Ivy League universities just 2 years ago. Well, globalization at its finest I would say. Europe is learning a lot from America. However some Americans don’t even realized there are some things to be learned from Europe as well.

Darwin's avatar

@mattbrowne – I have found that wherever you go in the world there always seem to be some insular folks who can’t believe doing things any way other than the way they do it in their part of the world is any better than how they do it.

In other words, it isn’t just some Americans that don’t realize a people can learn things from another culture.

mattbrowne's avatar

@Darwin – Yes, I totally agree. In the same manner there are some Europeans who are anti-American by principle without ever traveling there. Narrow mindedness is a global phenomenon.

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