Posted on 07/09/2006 4:46:50 AM PDT by Leifur
Not just the World Wars either. Europe has had a run of bad luck (Huns, Mongols, Romans) not to mention the Crusades and Jihads. I suspect in the end it was all about logistics.
LOL That happened a lot.
My family had land before we were kicked of it by the British occupiers, my ancestors are Irish.
The Serf mentality was rooted in the Norman conquest where the ruling class were Normans and the serfs were the old Anglo Saxons.
Sorry to hear about the anti Americanism, it happens, but its not the view of everyone.
As I explained to the young lady in London who had Viking ancestors, 'I am fully aware of the history of Europe'. So basically I kinda understood where it all was coming from. She was happy with that and started talking more freely. I also got the impression that 'Big Brother' was more entrenched in London then it was within the U.S.. So people there were more restrained and went with the BBC World View shown on the Tele. Kinda Orwellian. Speaking of that, I did have some Clockwork Orange-like encounters on the London streets late at night !
LOL I agree, but what Americans should realise is that they are Americans due to there conditioning, one mahjopr reason towards a more independent view point is the size of your country, coupled with and this is the most important a lack of real enemies threatening your borders.
In Britain we have been under a threat for long periods the French, the Spanish, the French again during the Napoleonic era, the Russians the Germans under the Kaiser, the Germany again under Hitler.
This can engender a siege mentality where you are more susceptible to the idea of surrendering some freedom for increased security.
If you study American history, you will find that most bills covering restrictions to a persons rights came during war.
Very true. On my flight to England from LAX, sitting next to me was an Englander from the southwest section of England who was coming back from an exploration of the American southwest. He had rented a car and driven hundreds of miles visiting War Aviation Museums. Thought that was odd until I found out the corn-fed Nebraskan that I joined up with in England was wanting to do the same thing in England. He was going to travel around by train and tube.
No, the our philosophical differences run much deeper than the unpleasant consequences of your frequent continental urban renewal programs. To some degree de Tocqueville understood this and, to some degree, so do many here on FR. America isn't a racial, ethnic or cultural ideal; it is the great experiment for all freedom loving people. Not that being a socialized hamster is all that bad, it's just not our cup of tea...
I'm spending the summer in Germany (trying) to learn German. It's been interesting here to see some of the passivity of the Netherlander you mentioned here as well.
One analogy I see is the lack of AIR CONDITIONING. No, I don't mean its not as common here, it is totally, I mean TOTALLY absent. It's been a rather hot summer, every day in the upper 80s and 90s with high humidity for some 5 weeks now. Few even use fans in their houses and absolutely nowhere has AC... Everyone is suffering in the heat, but no one will buy an airconditioning system. You can find the most modern office building or shopping center--with the most expensive ammenities, quality things everywhere (this is Germany after all), but with no circulation and all the air inside is sweltering. Really weird actually. But the attitude is if they ignore the heat it will go away (and it will in a couple months).
To me seems analogous to many of their problems.
LOL I would agree with you on that if I could get 100% of Americans to actually spell what you said as well as understand what you say.
You stay with philosophy, I am just a poor inner city lad who has traveled around a bit mainly war zones so I don't get to see the best of people, but I have lived and worked in siege mentalities and I think I know what I am saying although I probably wont be able to say it as pretty as someone like Tocqueville .;)
BTW, friends just returned from Iceland and said it was the most fantastic place they'd ever been.
I would think most Americans would think that all of Europe is a fantastic place while on vacation. There is some great things about Europe to see and do. The good news for us Americans who visit Europe is that we don't have to pay taxes, listen to the socialist rulers, and even live there. So it does not surprise me that you friends said that Iceland is a fantastic place. I am sure it is for two weeks or so.
I don't disagree there, I too have traveled in the third world and in parts of Europe ravaged by war such as the Balkans. And I thank my lucky stars that my country is not in a state of civil war or insurrection.
But it makes me thankful not arrogant.
I don't mind people cheering there own country after all patriotism is a wonderful thing, what gets my goat is those who feel that they can only prove how patriotic they are by either patronizing or rubbishing other countries.
LOL PS the only reason I am disagreeing with you is because I envy your country, fear your country or am just an effete Englishman. LOL see I understand current American thinking
BUMP
The one English accent I hate is Estuary English. Jamie Oliver, the cook, is the prime example of it. I can't stand to hear him speak. I understand that more and more young people in Britain are adopting it as they perceive RP to be too stuffy and RP isn't being forced-taught at Cambridge or Oxford anymore.
Who gives a rat's ass what Europeans think?
Europeans have always had a low opinion of America and Americans.
Except when they needed another bail-out.
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