Why are Europeans so jealous of the USA?

[D_Gunther Snotpole]

BMI is a joke anyway.

It can be fine for population studies, but when looking at individuals, yup ... a joke.

 

[Drifterwood]

U.S. Condemned For Pre-Emptive Use Of Hillary Clinton Against Pakistan | The Onion - America's Finest News Source

Is there no end to the evil?

 

[TinyPrincess]

Is France a country?

LMAO :biggrin1:

How about this...

 

[D_Tintagel_Demondong]

Why there is a United Nations is beyond me. We subsidize it and invite everyone to come over and bitch. and yeah there must be something good about us because there are a hell of alot of people trying to get over here. I think mainly so they can bitch some more ... bitch bitch bitch

Bitch much?

 

[D_Gunther Snotpole]

LMAO :biggrin1:
How about this...

My gawd, 23 months old.
Very few adults could get anything like that many right (or nearly right ... she was off a bit on a few, but still ...).

 

[Bbucko]

I find this ironic considering this is arguably the most European city in America. There is no city like it in the US with its history of Native Americans, Africans, and Europeans intermingling with one another. Would be a shame to throw it all away.

As the US becomes more and more standardized to the lowest common denominator of Wal-Mart and McDonalds, New Orleans' unique cultural heritage holds less and less value. Our continued failure to rebuild it is a sign of nothing less than cultural suicide.

 

[Booble]

Your comment is probably exactly why 'some' people are anti-american.

I am NOT anti-american but the assumption that the US 'saved' the world is what riles people up. Where were the heros of the USA when their Canadian allies joined the Brits in the war?

The allies without the US fought a fantastic fight and the war simply ended sooner with US intervention, which makes you wonder why they did'nt join Britain and Canada to begin with and thus likely resulted in a shorter war.

Ask Norway who they believe saved them...it's not the US that gets a free gift of a xmas tree for the capital each year.

Ask the French if they have more respect for the US or for the UK or indeed for their own resistance fighters.

The Brits feel that the Battle of Britain was one by the resolve of Brits, not by the US coming into the war.

Europe appreciates the American contribution but no more so than ANY other allied nation.

So, the US did NOT save the world or win the war for everyone else, they contributed at a time when many lives were already lost, when the cost of the war was already a burden, when morale was on both sides of the conflict at an ebb.

The Americans essentially were the straw that broke the camels back, and to say that you are the world saviours?....vile, disgraceful and inaccurate.

Amen to all said above. Well said

 

[kit_kat]

I don't know anyone personally (in real life) who hates the US. Most people I've met would prefer to live in the US than any other country except their own and some would prefer to live in the US than in their own countries. The US has by far the largest number of people applying to migrate to live or study or work, if those people hated the US they would likely be trying to go elsewhere. Something I particularly like about the US is that it has had the highest number of academic Nobel Prize winners in the last 15 years, with award winning work coming out of Universities in the US. I lived in the US for 16 years and loved it immensely. I moved away for family reasons. I find people in the US to be friendly and open to other cultures and new cultural experiences and much less racist than in many other countries I've lived in. Of course the US has some serious problems too but so far it's the best country I've ever lived in. I felt that I fitted right in, you can bring your culture to the table and you are accepted. I'm in Sweden now and so far I'm enjoying it, I've only been here a short time and I might grow to love it, but right now, the US is my favorite country on the planet, mainly because I like Americans - they are easy to get along with, they are not uptight, I like their sense of humor and they are also flexible and open to new ideas. Oh yeah, I am not a warmonger but I do like that the US can kick ass militarily today (forget world war whatnots) and it's not a "wimpy" country.

 

[JustAsking]

As the US becomes more and more standardized to the lowest common denominator of Wal-Mart and McDonalds, New Orleans' unique cultural heritage holds less and less value. Our continued failure to rebuild it is a sign of nothing less than cultural suicide.

Its such a shame that it makes me sick to think about it.

 

[D_Tintagel_Demondong]

As the US becomes more and more standardized to the lowest common denominator of Wal-Mart and McDonalds, New Orleans' unique cultural heritage holds less and less value. Our continued failure to rebuild it is a sign of nothing less than cultural suicide.

Its such a shame that it makes me sick to think about it.

A unique pocket of important American culture that is almost lost.

Professor Rhodes runs a non-profit group that creates community buildings with money from private donors. Thousands of volunteers like him and his students have been helping cleanup and rebuild New Orleans in cooperation with private community action groups. "The idea was that this would hopefully serve as a catalyst for this neighborhood. And that we can -- I don't know if inspire is the right word -- but if we can show people that things are happening down here."

[...]

Professor Rhodes says the future museum will be more than a museum. "So the idea of this museum here in the backyard of Ronald's house is that it also served as a kind of ad hoc community center. You understand his kind of dedication to passing on the traditions to the youth of the neighborhood. It touched a chord in all of us and we felt like we needed to do it." (Source).

I suppose that a museum is better than nothing.

 

[Stretch]

As the US becomes more and more standardized to the lowest common denominator of Wal-Mart and McDonalds, New Orleans' unique cultural heritage holds less and less value. Our continued failure to rebuild it is a sign of nothing less than cultural suicide.

Its such a shame that it makes me sick to think about it.

Agreed...It's still an unbelievable situation that, 4 years later, continues to fester. Cultural suicide is exactly right.

 

[midlifebear]

I don't know anyone personally (in real life) who hates the US. Most people I've met would prefer to live in the US than any other country except their own and some would prefer to live in the US than in their own countries. [long edit]

Then you haven't met my husband who is refused a travel visa to enter the USA basically because he's Argentine. There's also the fact that he is openly gay and married to me -- an 'Mericuhn citizen.He has no interest in visiting the USA. He's very proud of his Argentine heritage and especially that he is a porteño: an Argentine who lives in the Captital Federal.

However, he doesn't dislike the USA because he can't get a visa. He simply sees no value to traveling and looking at the country. And at the moment I sort of agree with him.

I just finished a long drive from my ranch in Nevada to Santa Barbara and back. Every time I need to drive from San Diego, Los Angeles, or the Central Coast of California to my ranch I try to find a new, creative back road drive. This time I took Interstate 5 to Modesto then followed Highway 88 up and over the Sierras. Sadly, there was not one city (except for those that qualify as beer crossings -- that's beer, not bear) that did not look exactly like the previous one. Except for its proximity to the Pacifica Ocean, Pismo Beach's new commercial center looks exactly like Gilroy. CA. The outskirts of Modesto look EXACTLY like the towns one drives through before and after it. Once over the Sierras and south of Carson City, Nevada, Lockwood looks exactly like Minden which looks exactly like the outskirts of Carson City which looks exactly like the outer business rings of Reno and Sparks which look exactly like the new big box centers of Fernly which dies down (because there isn't a large enough population to support the Home Depot, Lowes, Super Wal-Mart, Olive Garden, Best Buys, Big 5 Sporting Goods, COSTCO, and SAMS Clubs intermixed with iHops, Dennys, Motel 6s, McDonalds, etc.) in any of the small communities that dot Interstate 80 until you get to Elko which looks exactly like the 50 or so cities one drives through before getting to Elko.

One of the more amusing things was to discover that State Street in Santa Barbara had a Starbucks every 1.5 blocks. I'm not making this up. I was surprised not to discover a Starbucks every 10 miles as I drove up PCH1 along Big Sur, but sure enough, as soon as I got close to Carmel Starbucks began to shine along the highway.

The homogeneity is really pitiful. That's 'Mericuhn kulture. Big Box stores where you can lose yourself and when you find the exit, you've somehow spent at least $300 (and you only wanted milk).

The Starbucks in Buenos Aires (there are now two) and the Starbucks in Barcelona (there are now at least three) play only to 'Mericuhns who have been mindlessly trained to say "venti" when ordering a fucking cup of coffee. Go into a Starbucks and ask for a "cafe con leche" and see what kind of response you get. They almost have a nervous breakdown.

Nope, one can lead a very comfortable, modern, civilized life outside of the USA without ever stepping foot within it's borders. And speaking of borders, anyone seen how they've ruined Tijuana recently? It's all pink wide sidewalks and one way streets to accommodate the 'Mericuhn tourist who really wanted the original Tijuana experience instead of an outdoor walking mall in El Chino.

 

[justasimpleguy]

Cultural suicide indeed. However, I think most people don't appreciate how big a country America is. I had French penpals who asked about going to Chicago or New York for the weekend and I had to explain how far away they both were.
Many cities are depressingly similar. But, New York is not the same as Chicago. LA is not the same as Boston. We still have alot of diversity in this nation. And alot more ethnic and cultural diversity than individual nations of the EU.

 

[finsuptx]

We should all run for congress, we argue as pointless as they do!

 

[King_ding_a_ling]

To the origional poster and anyone who supported him (Didn't see any, but I didn't read all the pages)

I am in the military of the Country that he is so proud and annoying about. The military makes up 1% of that county and I bet not even 5% (because sadly there are people who would) would agree with him.

I have done numerous "Excercises" with other militaries. I can honestly say that every other countries military I have seen in action has had as much pride as I do, as my drive to do what they do, and are no more or less of a hero then I will ever be.

AND I am currently based in England, have proudly marched BESIDE the British military at a Battle of Britian parade to honor those who fell.


Never forget that where ever you go, you will always be an ambassator of the country you call home.

:EDIT: Sorry for the angry sound to the post but idiots who make it harder for me to go to a new coutry and meet truely new and amazing cultures are all on my shit list.

 

[dandelion]

To answer the question, Europeans that I know are not jealous of the US. Why should they be? The US goes its own way and does things differently, but why would we want to be them rather than us? If we did, then we would presumably change. I presume people in the US reckon they do things better, but so does everyone everywhere, pretty much.

Now, why Europeans fear/distrust/hate etc the US is a different question. I don't think Europeans on the whole hate the US, but they have many grounds to distrust it. Note, this isnt really an issue of American or any other people, but of the country as a whole. The country does what its leaders order, which in the case of the US as everywhere else, is frequently nothing to do with what the people want, for better or worse.

The US is the biggest and bossiest country in the world and seeks to make everyone else do what it wants. In Europe we broadly have similar aims, so the worst of it is the US trying to make us join in with US wars intended to boost US world power and position. Other places they get shot at by the US because they are persuing their own national goals. The US feels threatened, because it is. Not by terrorists but by economic growth in China, restructuring of Russia on a sensible economic model, unification of Europe, which will recreate the European world power which once existed, India emerging as another economic power centre. the US is fighting to maintain its place as top dog and will fight as dirty as it has to. We others should all be very wary.

As to WW1 and WW2. The US was the only country to show a profit on the wars. No direct damage, relatively few casualties, huge profits on war goods. The British empire was broke after WW1 and shattered after WW2. Suited the US fine. They had no interest in maintaining European world position, and played the game very well. Germany was in pieces, and was rebuilt as a US puppet. This undoubtedly did the whole world a favour, but was done for the benefit of the US. Russia was already a threat.

I don't blame the US for doing the same as everyone else and acting in its strict self interest, everyone else does, but don't expect anyone to love you for it.

 

[D_Ivana Dickenside]

i've never really thought europeans were jealous of the US. if anything americans should be jealous of europeans...

i mean, hello, who wouldn't want to drink wine every day like the french? or be able to legally smoke pot like in the netherlands? or have beer breweries in every town/village like the germans? :beerchug: ...and drive like 200 MPH like on the autobahn? :drive:

 

[D_Elemuel Pee Goldenshauer]

Let me see... We Europeans are "jealous" of USA because:
a) they have an excellent medical care system where even if you are poor can get the best services
b) despite the fact that you are one of the most rich countries in the world you have 20 million homeless people, amazing!!
c) you can start a war anytime, anyplace, just because you can!!!
d) you provide the UN council with false facts in order to justify your action, what an acomplisment!!!
e) your history has a life of 300 years, Europe on the other hand exsists merely 3000 years
f) you think that all other countries are jealous of you, so WTF let's drop the bomb to their heads!!!!
Sorry guys but this thread is stupid!!!
There is not such thing as "jealousy" or "hatered" from the european people towards the American people. That's a bullshit story your goverments told you to keep you scared and justify their actions againts the other countries!!!

 

[deleted15807]

As the US becomes more and more standardized to the lowest common denominator of Wal-Mart and McDonalds, New Orleans' unique cultural heritage holds less and less value. Our continued failure to rebuild it is a sign of nothing less than cultural suicide.

I remember flying into New Orleans for the first time. And as the plane descended and lined up with the runway, I saw Home Depot, Hertz, etc wiz by out the window. Ahhh no matter what I was still in the US.

 

[Principessa]

i've never really thought europeans were jealous of the US. if anything americans should be jealous of europeans...

i mean, hello, who wouldn't want to drink wine every day like the french? or be able to legally smoke pot like in the netherlands? or have beer breweries in every town/village like the germans? :beerchug: ...and drive like 200 MPH like on the autobahn? :drive:

That's what I was thinking. Then I remembered they also don't have Kool-Aid, fried Twinkies, fried Oreos, Chicken fried steak, or fried cotton candy,
:biggrin1: