americans auto cross reference system Surprisingly enough, some like Vegemite. See frank_australia. 020122 ... Annie111 i can't tell whether you are mocking me, or just throwing this out there. Either way, it's cool. 020122 ... cube We have a love/hate relationship with 'em. On the one hand, you gotta respect their moxie (balls). They are a nation of risk takers and that demands respect. On the other hand, they are almost totally ignorant of anything beyond their own borders. That gives them a narrow global perspective which tends to make all the other players in the game nervous. Ya just know they like it that way... ³ 020122 ... Grievance i am an american. I find what cube says is true. {{Sadly}} From the time we are born, we are taught individualism is obtained by thinking mostly of oneself, striking out for oneself, living for oneself but also comparing oneself to others as a source for the definition of that 'indivdualism'. and that kindness and humbleness are secondary traits of the weak. We are taught not world literature, no, we are taught AMERICAN literature. Geography class tells us to memorize all fifty states and their capitals. World News is not only shorter than National and Local news, but on less, talked about less, and cared about less. Thousands of people die in terrorist incidents everyday, many of them more horrendous then the "september 11th" bombings. But since it's within the boxes we decided to draw ourselves in, it is millions of times more important. This incident is so important, that it gets referred to by a date... while if even more people die in Africa, they get referred to as an "incident" or a passive "tradgedy". And, in weeks time will be forgotten, when a year from now, this thing that happens in our own boarders... it will still be on the nightly news. And the thing that happened in Africa? Tucked away in some corner of history books that people will never look at again. Patriotism is considered an ideal trait of a typical American. This sickens me, patriotism, sickens me. Patriotism says: 'I believe in my country, my people, the things CLOSE to me more than anything you will ever show me. To these people I will have more compassion, to these people I will CARE.' And if the question of how to treat other people arises? 'WHAT other people, we are a sovreign nation. we are strong. we don't have worrys. Oh, pity the poor. Look at me, i'm cultured.' Most people where i live, don't even know that the brightest star up in the sky at night isn't a star, nor is it a planet. I tell them that it's a space station and they give me bewildered glances, as if the stars were too far a peril for them to concern themselves with except in wonderment. Americans though are people too. And that is the fault of most of them. They think they're somehow one of the few real people, the people that have the ability to do something. They think that this power, is what makes people human. Well, something to ponder: people are people. Before irrate critisms occur, know this: I try to view each human as a human. And then I take that human, and I compare them to things i believe are important. But, i don't think nationality is important. I don't think appearance or heritage or tradition is important. That individual will follow a course decided partially by those things... but also by what that person chooses, and what else that person has been exposed to. That's why the narrow sightedness of Americans could well be their downfall. They forget to look beyond the boxes they've deemed important. So when i am comparing this indivdual to things, i do something else as well, i compare them to values that i don't believe in, i adapt and change all my perceptions to the limit of their capacity to try and understand this person. And, i don't ever make a final verdict, a judgement. I leave the state open, and try and read their intentions more, if not as much, as their actions. whoever said, "intentions do not matter, only action" was a fool. because, intentions are the reasons they did what they did, and will formulate what they will do next. If history does repeat itself, than intentions are more important than actions, as they allow moderate ranges of predictability. I'm sorry, if this was evangelist. I'm sorry if this was one sided. But, i find that sometimes, that is a great way to demonstrate a point. Conflict will often breed discomfort, and discomfort makes people change, or live eternally in discomfort. And people too often seek only comfort. I'm not usually political, or a speaker of ethninticity. I'm again sorry. This was incredibly long, and if you read it. I'm either thankful or sorry. I can't decide which. Perhaps i'll let you decide. 020122 ... oren I too believe that Americans, in general, are overly focused on themselves, but I have no problem with patriotism. If you take a step back, you'll find that patriotism is just a subset of a larger, inherent, and very human trait. "Self_Love." In the average, "Western Society" human being, there lies a love of self that is manifested from an early age. This self-love is evident in traits such as jealousy, greed, envy, and vanity, but then on to broader traits such as love of family, love of friends, love of community, and finally, love of country. These broader traits are developed as a person ages. I believe these latter traits are positive byproducts of Self_Love, but the problem that arises, is that of the lack of a thing called, "Love Of Mankind." As a person matures, he/she may reach beyond the love of community, into the arena of patriotism, but why not take that next step? There seems to be a wall at this point for most people. Maybe it has something to do with becoming overwhelmed by the sheer scope of this planet's problems. We live in an ever-shrinking world, and that is why more and more people are beginning to gripe about patriotism, which has been a wonderful trait for any country who ever needed to fight for its freedom. Patriotism can even hold several countries together in an effort to uphold freedoms, and it is a wonderful trait indeed. The fact that so many people are preoccupied with their own country, and not involved in global issues, could eventually lead to global problems of great magnitude, however... There will ALWAYS be the need for patriotism. Focusing too much on global issues can lead to problems at home. Some people are better at dealing with global issues than others. Some people, and thank goodness for this, are better at dealing with the issues of the country, the community, and the home. I feel more Americans, and other Western cultures, should learn more about the "others" out there, but to sacrifice focusing on their homes, communities, and countries in the process, would be self-destructive. Were the peoples of the pre-global media days "uncaring" because they didn't seek out information on faraway lands? Should they have stopped their daily work in order to find out what was happening in Asia? We are living in an age where EVERYTHING is available in the way of world news. Does that mean we should stop what we're doing and start neglecting our lives in order to try to "fix" the problems that plague this planet? For some, yes! For most, no! Just because we now have the ability to hear about global issues, does not mean we should be expected to do something about them. I think it is a noble thing to take on the causes of foreign lands, and I praise those who do, but we can't ALL be doing it. Just a slightly different POV for ya... 020123 ... dB What really gets me is how they are hearded like cattle. Well their minds anyway. No offence to most of the blatherers here, there are exceptions to everything. But your typical 40+ baby boomer type american is so easily guided in the way they percieve things. Did you know that 60% of americans over 45 believe that Jihad means "Holy war of terrorism against the United States". Too much CNN i guess. From the outside america seems like a large expanse of land famous for being so absorbed with itself that when it goes to other contries it forgets that other people live there too. The whole patriotism thing... well, we all know that story. When is that photo of the firemen putting up the flag going to stop being everywhere I look? I don't know. Just don't get it. When did they become the new master race? The rest of the world tolerates them out of a quite unspoken fear. The fear of the madman with his hand over a big red button screaming "BOOM" over and over. Yet, many americans I know are smart, intelligent people. there are great speakers and artists, who have no say in the country, who seem to have given up. Every election year less than half of you go and vote another moron in to replace another, or re-elect the same moron because the opposition is just as bad or worse. And my little country here is so happy, EXTATIC even that our PM is going to meet your president in march. Hardly even a headline over there, but over here it's been in the paper every morning. I don't know who is worse. The madmen with the button, or those who crowed around hoping to steal a couple of the madmen's marbles when they aren't looking. 020123 ... Grievance Oren: I agree that patriotism is a subset of self love. And I agree that we shouldn't drop everything that we are to help others, as you can only help others if your in a position to do so, if you've first helped yourself. I also agree that people tend to take self love in steps. and that people put these things in a heirarchry, label them, and list them in order of their importance. In my POV, it's not that people don't reach up far enough in this heirarchy, it's that they CREATED it in the first place. Patriotism is, "love of country and willingness to sacrifice for it" or "love and devotion to one's country." By putting this first before that of people, or, by putting it in a heirarchy at all, even the words existance... it means that you will care about yourself more than others. That is necessary sometimes, but it shouldn't be enforced into everyday living. Family is one of the first things we begin to love, unless they don't teach us love, then we learn the other side of the world. Sometimes, it is better not to love ones family just because they are YOUR family. But, at the same time, not lose faith, knowledge, of PEOPLE. Even people are put in that heiarchry. People put themselves in the ordered list just above every other living thing, we put ourselves as the most important living thing. When you are a patriot, you are saying that to you, your country is more important than another country. What I'm saying is, countries shouldn't exist. 020123 ... dB That's a good point. Patriotism has also replaced religion in some respects. Although both grew up along side each other, in western society one is more recognised than the other. In eastern society they are almost the same thing (free Iraq in the name of Ala (spelling)). There is nothing wrong with patriotism, in that to be proud of ones echeivements or that of ones country is cool. but when it's mistaking pride for superiority that's when things get messy and the rest of the world takes a step back from the offender and gives them a quizzical look. Why are we always patriotic about OUR countries, and about OUR people? why can't we recognise the great things about the species, and be proud of ALL achievements, rather than taking the stance of, "We invented submarines, god, and ductape. What have those africans ever done?". I don't know. Maybe I'm just arguing symantics here. 020123 ... sean I like Americans. From a distance, or when viewed as a whole, they seem stupid, ignorant, arrogant, narrow-minded, and completely, totally self-involved. Many of them are. The country itself is far from perfect, and far from being the ideal bastion of 'freedom' that most Americans seem to believe it is. (...and are in fact indoctrinated to believe since early childhood.) But even so, these are problems with the nation as a whole. Sicne moving to the USA, I'm realising that it is wrong to judge an entire people by the actions of their government and the shortcomings of their world view. I like Americans. Although I wish they'd be a little more open minded. 020219 ... phil "america's top story"-no soul to sell credibility...................economy attrocity....................humanity incidents....................settlers reports....................influences addictive......................Disney the 60's......................Vietnam America represents.....Marilyn Manson and the home, of the, whopper! 020219 ... phil rights...............change 020219 ... freakizh i have a nice question. why do people of the United States of America call themselves Americans? people who live in Colombia, Canada or Uruguay are Americans too and they don't live in the