one of the great things about being american -- for most americans -- is the financial freedom and the passport that allows us to go almost anywhere and enjoy experiencing other cultures... and 95% of us f*** it up.

SR

I was more referring to the freedom that our economy and the generally open borders allow us to travel.

As for the "american attitude", most of the foreigners I have met find us rather boorish in general and look down on the stereotypical american. I have to agree that the average non-american I have met is far more mature, intellectual, and culturally "tuned in" than the average american. The primary difference is that they don't have the urge to build huge warships, demand that other countries change to be like theirs, and wonder why everyone can't learn their language. I have not found at all that most people want to be like us. They would like to have what we have, primarily financially, but they certainly don't want to "be like us."

As for balls, the Russians, Chinese and many others have us hands-down on that. True, they don't stick their noses in everyone else's business, but when they go to war, it's for real. The Russians consider any war that vanquishes the enemy a victory, regardless of the lives lost, and their soldiers expect to die in war. They had the largest loss of life of any country in World War II, a war they fought with more soldiers than weapons -- the soldiers without guns were expected to go in with their squad and pick up a dead soldier's rifle if they found one. For a german, going to the "russian front" in WWII was considered a death sentence. They knew that the russians would fight -- brutally and viciously -- to the last man rather than surrender. These are the folks who burned their own capital city to the ground so Napoleon's troops wouldn't have any provisions or shelter for the winter. These are the folks who don't mind killing a few hostages as long as they get the terrorists too.

The USA is smart to stick to the "Art of War" -- overwhelming resources and power ensure victory before the battle even starts. But it takes real cohones to fight a war that you have a good chance of losing.

SR

Americans have always been and will always be like this.

God Bless America!!!!!!!


Its the greatest freaking country on earth

Irish,
I am not ashamed of being American and will not apologize to anyone. I earned what I have through extremely hard work and I am proud of everything I have.

I reiterate you seem to have missed the point of the article as shown by your rant against Mexicans who reside in the U.S. illegally. That has nothing to do with Americans living legally as expatriates.

Read it again buddy...you missed MY point. There is no rant there. I am just pointing out that it is just as unrealistic to paint Mexicans and drunks as it is to paint Americans as jerks.

Its the greatest freaking country on earth.

The rest of the planet has a lot to offer too.

SR

What would you think of a German who lived for twenty years in the United States and spoke only five words of English?

They aren’t comfortable in a brown staccato country of profoundly alien culture. They really want to be in Lauderdale but can’t afford it.