My question: Has anyone collected data as to how many Canadians, New Zealanders, Australians, Chinese, Japanese, South Americans, etc have passports that was used to visit Europe et al? Isn’t it interesting how exclusively and carefully America is watched under the microscope while other nations are ignored all together?
The title of this entry is the all time biggest obsessed over complaint that Americans receive from the “morally superior” and “refined intellectuals” that come from Canada and Europe. Just as the “you’re the fattest” and the “you’re the stupidest“, the “Americans don’t have passports” argument in an effort to “humble” and “humiliate” Americans is equally weak and easy to debunk.
If you think that we’re insular and don’t care about other countries, think again. And think one more time.
I don’t think we Americans have more or less curiosity about the world and other cultures than Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, China and other non-European countries. The continent of Europe is VERY similar to the country of the US regarding travel and borders. In Europe, kids are practically born with passports. It’s a necessity! Let’s say for example, if you live in England, you can just hop on the chunnel and be in France or many other places in a jiffy (as what’s done state-to-state in America). A LOT of countries in Europe are about less than half the size of California and border several other countries that border even more several other countries. (This also explains the multilingualism, but not necessarily the fluency.) You can probably visit a few countries in a day without getting too exhausted. Plus you have the luxury of sitting on a train instead of having to catch a plane or drive a car! What a convenience!!
I currently am living in Texas, and it takes 12 hours just to get OUT of the state! It takes forever to drive through Florida and California too. If the driving gets too much, we have to spend money for a hotel!!
But what about Australia that is a VERY large country?
As Aaron Hotfelder puts it,
Americans only receive (or demand) about two weeks off in vacation time per year, compared to a month or more in many European countries.
Many Americans don’t have the money to spend thousands of dollars to travel across the pond despite the rumors that we are all “rich”. Sometimes, we really, really want to but just cannot handle the finances involved. It’s not just the plane ticket, but the lodging, the transportation, souvenirs, entertainment, meals and etc. And who wants to rush while they’re on vacation? If I were planning a trip to Europe, I would want to spend at the very least, 10 days there.
Americans DO travel to Mexico and Canada. We used to not be required to hold a passport to travel there and to the Caribbean as well! Mexico is VERY famous for their beaches, for American honeymoons, and some Americans take a cruise (who have money) to Cancun. Canada and Mexico are our only borders. We DO travel to those places (including the Caribbean), but that’s the only variety we have unlike Europe (i.e. Germany shares borders with 9 countries.) And again, it’s about how much money and time we have to spare.
Furthermore, if you travel anywhere other than Mexico, the Caribbean, Asia, and Africa, you’re SOL if you expect to be treated like a person. The Americanophobes are somewhat notorious for ripping Americans apart in the street whether it be violently or verbally - you will get at least a few lashings (psst… yes, even if you voted for Kerry). If you just get one lashing, consider yourself lucky. Why do you think it’s so popular for Canadians AND AMERICANS (!) to wear the maple leaf on their backpacks when they travel to Europe? With that said, I find it quite ironic that Americans are bashed for not having passports. My question is… if YOU don’t like us, why would we like YOU enough to travel to your country? Some people have better experiences than others, though. Some even have 100% positive experiences. Lisa’s experience (an American from LLWorldTour) traveling throughout Europe wasn’t as bad as some others I’ve heard, and she shares her story here. She also debunks some common myths that the Europeans hold dearly about Americans.
Western nations are indoctrinated from birth to grow up hating Americans due to the grudges held over past wars (perhaps some to a lesser degree) – in the same way some people in the US are taught to hate black people, the Muslims and the French. (Some fall for the propaganda; some don’t.) Americanophobia has very little to do with Bush, Gitmo, Global Warming, Neo-Capitalism, Abu Ghraib, or the Iraqi War.
Aaron Hotfelder explains more about why Americans don’t travel as much. Please visit his site.
Last but not least, what’s wrong with Americans traveling WITHIN their own country? First you criticize us for not knowing enough about our own country, then you mock us because we travel within. I have done many cross-country travels in the US, and have lived in 3 different states. There is an extraordinary amount to be seen, a lot to be done, and a lot to be learned - something that an old textbook in grade school cannot begin to teach you. I guess some foreigners perceive the locals traveling within the US (that nobody has time to see in a lifetime) as yet another act of “patriotic arrogance”? 
WHY DO YOU KNOW MORE ABOUT US THAN WE KNOW ABOUT YOU?
The British have taken this article and are having a field day with it in this group on Facebook.
The US is a superpower and we are involved with many countries in both good ways and bad ways. Our government’s decisions effect the people living in countries all across the globe. So, naturally your media will be monitoring our every move, breath, cellulite crease and heart-beat under the microscope. You simply cannot escape us. You turn on your TV, you’ll find an American TV show or the news talking about us. We are decorated all over your newspapers. For those countries that are particularity disgusted with our current administration, all the more you’ll hear about us on the news and in the print media. It’s only natural for the media to cover our dirt. Not only that, but it’s also part of your media’s job to sensationalize whatever wrongs we commit on the world stage and conveniently leave out the good stuff. You don’t know anything good about us simply because your media doesn’t cover it. If you don’t already know now that bad new sells (cha-ching!), you’ve been living under a rock all of your life. And here is something else to consider:
Sure, the US has very little international news when compared to China, but that’s mostly because it’s illegal to report on negative domestic news in China. The news in other major Asian countries is just as inward-focused as that of the US.
The above quote was in response to this article written by a Chinese Americanophobe. From having lived in Japan for 6.5 years, I can testify that this is correct.
As one of my Canadian commenters has pointed out,
I just want to say that America has done some stupid things…we ALL do stupid things. It just so happens when you are a country that is as powerful as the US, stupid things get noticed.
Additionally, American Globalization has a lot to do with your knowing more about us than our knowledge of you albeit it all being about stereotypes, mind you.
It is actually true that local channels (not cable) don’t cover as much world news as does Europe. But for the love of all that’s holy, there’s a reason why.
“USA citizens are not given world news in the same way as most the other developed nations, and may well be genuinely unaware that much of the world is as poor as it is. European news is highly world-centric, whereas due to its size most USA news does not have enough time to cover news in all neighbouring states, let alone news from around the world. ” –Vexen Crabtree
And finally, all of your “research” on “other countries” is …:::limited:::… to the United States (out of 194 independent countries in the world). Why? Because you’re obsessed with America and are looking for any reason and any flaw to put us down. It would be one thing if you had your facts consistently accurate about us, but even THAT is not the case! For the record, there are 193 other countries out there to explore – including your own. To avoid sounding hypocritical, you ought to study them too.
WHAT ABOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE ABOUT YOU?
Only unless you make a move that will effect everyday American life, will we pay attention.
People, please be realistic. Everyone (and I mean everyone – no matter what country you’re living in) only listens to and learns about what matters to them and what effects their immediate lives. I don’t care how “intellectual” that you think you are or you want me to believe you are, this is the reality. Human beings, by their very nature, are a selfish species. Like it or not, nature dictates that our interests come first.
Ever heard of the Arkansas Mafia? It’s not very likely a Canadian or a Brit has heard of this. Urban legend or not, it’s just more proof that you only learn what your media and parents feed you. 
Is “learning” about another country from the news media really learning about another country? Actually all media systems are responsible for four things:
- reporting the facts
- sensationalizing and exaggerating them to keep you focused, hot, and bothered
- twisting the facts subtly to meet a particular agenda
- and leaving certain facts (good stuff!) out that could possibly give you a balanced perspective.
Besides your obsession with tabloids, is this how you Americanophobes learn about the lives of all 300 million Americans?
It’s unfortunate to bring this news to you, but it is not just Fox news et al that are guilty of brainwashing and having political spins. Your media outlets are guilty of the same. Reporters across the world are only doing their jobs, and it is those 4 key points that I bring up – that is part of what they HAVE to do!
Once our presence in the world is usurped by another nation (and I can’t wait for this to happen so that everyone will STFU!), EVERYONE’S focus will be shifted. If history teaches us anything (keeping the British Empire and Imperialization in mind), it teaches us that the most powerful nation on the world stage is the most talked about, the most “learned” (<—notice the quotes) about, and the most hated. History has also taught us that everyone wants to be the most influential and powerful and that once that power is gained, it will be abused. This is life. Just open up a history book.
The media is a good starting place to learn about other nations, however, if you truly want a balanced and well-informed perspective on an issue, you need to do your research using a myriad of sources and literature. Ever hear the expression, “there are two sides to every story”? What ever happened to asking questions, critical thinking, objectivity, and open-mindedness? Yeah. This is why I’m outraged when pseudo-intellectuals have the colossal nerve to call Americans “ignorant“.
If what you people knew about us wasn’t distorted information, than I’d say, good on you! But that isn’t the case. Every time I speak with an Americanophobic Canadian or Euronationalist, I am met with the same clichés and ignorance. However, this Canadian who has lived in the US for 5 years seems to have a clue:
I’m a Canadian who has lived in the USA for the past 5 years, and I’ve also travelled throughout Asia during this time. In my experience, most people in most countries are most concerned with what is happening closest to them, and almost always think for some absurd reason their own news deserves to be heard around the world. The fact of media anywhere (including state run media like in China and Canada) is that it is an industry built to sustain those who it directly feeds. In the case of the USA, the fact is that Americans don’t look outside their own borders for media content because they simply don’t need to; there is ample sensational material at hand. In contrast, the fact is that, for example, in Canada, very little of the sensational nature actually happens, which makes for pretty boring television. Hence, CNN is popular with Canadians, but Canadians get pissed off because it lacks much Canadian content. Whatever.
And finally, there’s one more point that I want to make. The last time I checked, traveling is supposed to make one more open-minded and tolerant. Am I right? However, all these cultural elitist snobs that hail from other countries love touting their 955100258787 page passport while (ironically) having a fierce xenophobic attitude toward those simply being guilty of having been born in the United States. Not everyone who travels acts like snobs – only some do. But the difference between those people who travel and snobs that travel is one thing: curiosity.
There are just too many people out there that flex their passport muscles. But its pointless. These people haven’t learned from traveling. They are still small minded, petty, and ignorant. Traveling doesn’t make you a better person. Curiosity does.
As Annie Rhiannon states in her blog as an English citizen,
90% of Americans don’t even have passports
Why is it always the British who use this (greatly exaggerated) statistic smugly, as if it somehow proves us to be so much less ignorant than them? Um, it doesn’t. We need passports just to get over to France for 40 quid on the Eurostar — otherwise we’d end up camping in our own gardens twice a year.
All you Americanophobes have proven to me so far is one thing: you’re no different from us regarding ignorance, cultural awareness, and tolerance outside one’s borders. 
————————————
UPDATE!
AMERICANS TALK BACK!
After reading the comments on this blog entry written by a Brit, there appears to be more insight as to why Americans are so… “insular” and “Amerocentric”.
Hear from the Americans here for the short-cut version.
Edited to add: TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT TO THE SELF-RIGHTEOUS CULTURAL ELITISTS WHO KEEP COMMENTING HERE, … YES, I HAVE LIVED IN ANOTHER COUNTRY AND HAVE TRAVELED TO SEVERAL PLACES AROUND THE WORLD. IF YOU’D READ MY BLACK BOX DOWN BELOW, YOU’D KNOW THAT. BEFORE YOU MAKE INANE ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT SOMEONE YOU DON’T KNOW….. R-E-A-D! If not, your own comments won’t be read in full and will automatically be deleted! I have no patience for people that comment on posts that they haven’t read, and no patience for those who haven’t read my disclaimer!
UPDATE II (courtesy of Phil Gyford)
Here is a source for the above figures, the Canada Tourism Commission research report ‘The Potential Impact of a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Passport Requirement on Canada’s Tourism Industry’ (500K PDF). They conducted “household surveys” in Canada and the US with the results summarised in a table titled ‘Passport possession in the United States and Canada’ on page 4:
2005 Survey Results United States Canada General population (18 years and over) 34% 41% Same-day travellers (transborder) 44% 60% Overnight auto travellers (transborder) 50% 70% Overnight air travellers (transborder) 67% 75% The percentages of passport holders among those who travel between the two countries might help to make better comparisons with Europeans travelling between countries. (21 Nov 2005)
happyleftie
itinerantsoul
Jean
Sarcastina
zontarthemagnificent
I find that humans can only think ‘continent size.’ Europeans don’t know much outside of Europe. The same goes everywhere else.
Everyone should look at themselves in the mirror. America may like invading other countries, but they don’t like to stay… they prefer home… a continent is big enough, and Americans understand that… the world is too messed up to really get involved with to save it.
Sun Warrior, thanks for stopping by. Did I read correctly on Canadianfermentation’s blog that you were in Afghanistan? If so, thank you for your service over there.
I agree with your comment. And I must add that even those Americans that never do leave the US, if they are a nice person, I don’t care where they’ve been or where they’ve not been. I don’t care how many languages they speak or if they can even speak their own native tongue properly. I think all that should be asked of humans is to be nice to other people.
We get one shot at life. It should be up to the individual how they chose to live it. And some are very happy being isolated and insular. More power to them. As long as they aren’t interfering with my own happiness, I don’t care – and nor should anyone else.
Ah – I think now you are painting your own picture a little to black sunwarrior
I found myself to be interested in the perspective of the normal american citizen concerning this and that topic and surfed arround some american internetsites…
I have to say – Americans are as interested in the rest of the world as the normal european citizen is. I don*t think, that a human only can think continent size – I personally can think about things, that don*t even touch me directly… if I understand them completly or not is another question (but for this reason I can ask people from that nation directly – thanks to the internet).
I think if you would compare Europe and the USA for this point, you won*t find that big differences. I think this has a simple reason… the first thing a person cares about is it*s own personal needs (food, home, security) if it got all of these, it starts to be interested in it*s social representation – if this is given, it starts to care about deeper questions (the area of interest depending on its character, intelligence, believes and background).
We (EU/USA) are the persons, who got the wealth and time to do so. (not all of us, but a good part of us)
All this (America is sooo stupid and selfish) is based partially on some polls (and partially on nothing more than assumptions), that I really doubt to be representative – If you start to ask people on the streets: “Can you find on a map country X?”
And you make a statistic out of that one, I would ask you the basic empirirc questions:
Whom did you ask? (which part of town? which town? educated/uneducated?)
How many people did you ask and how much is this percentual compared to the overall population?
Did you ignore (for example in the videos) the correct answers? Did you change your outcome?
If ALL of this questions can be answered in a positive way, than I would dare to say – Yes, this one is representative!
Don*t let them fool you!
@ the intellectual anti-Americans….
I really doubt that something like that does exist… I think you need a certain degree of stupidity and simple mindedness to believe in simple answers and to blame all bad things happening on the world on one person/nation etc.
I think the USA would love to see, that it had that much influence, the anti-Americans like to give it, but it hasn*t. (one partially could think you were god, when listening to them – responsible for each and everything)
Another thought – talking to an anti-American:
If the US is THAT stupid… I mean – hey you said and proved it – how can they influence the whole world, manage that complex conspiracies, and be that powerful?
what a poor attempt to justify your position on owning a passport!
your argument is completely flawed!
Half the population doesnt have a passport…..and you think thats ok?
Erm…well….need I paste a link pointing you to a video on YouTube called “Stupid Americans – in order for you to actually see the impact that such a thing has on your population.
P.s. I’m a Brit and I don’t hate America – I’m pissed off that they treat us like crap, and kinda exploit the “special relationship” that we have….which i must point out, that its kind of more special down your end….being that you are the ones benefiting from it…..so, what i’m trying to say is -don’t generalise.
Oh, and the last thing…..when something is trully fucked up – you neednt try to justify that it isnt…..because such a thing can piss people off even more – hence anti-american feeling.
I mean, our government for example is screwing us over big time right now (tax, gross incompetence, lying to us about the EU treaty and so on…..BUT….you don’t hear me going on about how all that is right….coz its not! (do you get my point)!
Last thing: Go to the passport office….and get yourself a passport! And perhaps come over to Europe, teach in Eastern Europe or something (wages are good, qualifications not always needed, architecture, history, and girls are amazing…..need i say more?
(and the absolute last thing: MONEY ISN’T EVERYTHING)
READ MY POST, YOU IDIOT. YOU’VE SUCCESSFULLY MISSED ALL OF MY POINTS! CONGRATULATIONS!
You obviously didn’t read my post or comprehend it. But that’s okay. It’s quite a normal thing for the bigoted Anti-Americans. I’ve also noticed that you neglected to click on any of the links in my post either. More proof you are more concerned about YOUR agenda and YOUR xenophobic stereotypes than an opinion that is different than your own. Because if you had read my entry, you wouldn’t have responded with the same tired knee-jerk incoherent reactions that come from your crowd of Anti-American wankers.
And you still have yet to answer my question: “Has anyone collected data as to how many Canadians, New Zealanders, Australians, Chinese, Japanese, South Americans, etc have passports that was used to visit Europe et al? Isn’t it interesting how exclusively and carefully America is watched under the microscope while other nations are ignored all together?”
I’ll be patiently waiting for your reply.
Classic narcissistic rhetoric…. You want to know about Stupid Americans? Read THIS, then.
Oh gimmie a break. You certainly do hate Americans calling them stupid, making fun of them for not having as many passports as the elitist holier-than-thou narcissistic self-righteous and refined AA British do.
Can you guys get any more arrogant and self-absorbed?
What a presumptuous one you are. The bulk of my blog here is exposing faults about the American government, and YOU DON’T HEAR ME GOING ON ABOUT HOW THAT’S OKAY, EITHER!
Sorry, love. I’ve most likely have lived in and visited more countries than you have. For someone with a small and narrow mind like yours, I cannot possibly imagine that you are well-traveled. And if you are, it looks like your travels haven’t helped you much. Do you realize that there’s a world outside Europe? Traveling from country to country in Western Europe does *not* impress me. Rather it shows that you’re no different from Americans who travel state to state. If you knew your geography well, you’d realize the correlation I’m making. You sound more like a sheltered hick to me. See, making assumptions about people you don’t know can go both ways.
For the record, I’m 40 years old. I’ve lived in Japan and worked there for 6.5 years where I spent the best years of my life. And I would never consider going to Britain because too many of you hate Americans – like I said in my post – why bother? I’d go back to Eastern Asia, though – because they don’t hate Americans like you people do. Hate breeds more hate and you’ve succeeded at that. And if you don’t find ignorant stereotypes linked with hate, then you’re just as “stupid” as you accuse Americans for being.
And do please pray tell where I mentioned that money is the most important thing in life?
See, it’s people like you that has caused tourism in your country to decline. You have just stereotyped and profiled me, yet you know NOTHING about where I stand politically or anything about me personally.
So far in your reply to me, you have called my people and I stupid, you have accused me of not having a passport, have accused me of thinking that money is the most important thing in life, and have accused me of thinking that all wrongs with my country are “OK”. No, sir. You are the stupid one, and there is more proof on that HERE.
Obviously, you know NOTHING about Americans, so what good has “traveling” done for you? NOTHING! Multilingual and well-traveled people usually look at situations with an open mind…. which you don’t have — as open-minded, free-thinking people don’t depend on the media and propaganda to get their information. What a loser you are. There are Americans that have never left their own states that are more educated and broad-minded than YOU are!!!! Shame on you!
You’re just another typical Anti-American self-centered, closed-minded arrogant ignoramus. What else is new with you people? You’re also in denial too. Your saying, “Oh, I don’t hate Americans, but……[insult, insult, insult, stereotype, presumption, assumption, insult]….” WTF?
Please use your own blog for your mindless hate speech. This blog is only for intelligent debate. And from what I can tell, you haven’t even read my post. And you’re not intelligent.
Hello, Nice Blog, But…
How do you expect an Ignorant piece of White Trash American Scum to read so much text….
Pictures please, they say 1000 words you know!
Actually, the elitist left that hail from other countries have proven themselves to be just as lazy. They’ll read a couples lines or just the title and then rush to comment. It doesn’t surprise me.
I found this statement in the blog confusing:
“All you Anti-Americans have proven to me so far is one thing: you’re no different from us.”
The writer has correctly pointed out that the US is an influential superpower and different than most of the other 192 or so countries in the world. Furthermore the writer has correctly, in my mind, shown that by any objective measure the US approach is not as bad as the approach has been by other preeminent powers in the past. The writer carefully outlines the unique identity Americans have but then says “you’re no different from us”?
Non-American is not anti-American.
I think “you are just like us” type statements are often seen as complements by many Americans. However, to many non-Americans the generalization is nonsensical at best and arrogant and presumptuous at worst.
I believe it is difficult for non-Americans to understand how the predictable, to me, reactions to “just like us” statements are viewed as unprovoked anti-Americanism.
Phil R
Canadian troops are indeed in Afghanistan along with other NATO allies, virgomonkey. The situation is kind of a sore point certainly in Canada and I think with a lot of US’s allies. The feeling is that we got jobbed by the US.
The US was attacked and a lot of people felt support for the US in Afghanistan was in order.Many people were surprised when the US started another war that was unrelated to the terrorist threat and left others to do the heavy lifting in Afghanistan long before anything was resolved. The thought in Canada was that since the US had suck us in we shouldn’t be there. However, there was also the feeling that we should live up to our word even though Canada was made a patsy by the US administration.
BTW Canada’s troop commitment to Afghanistan is probably no big deal by American standards but it is a real big deal for Canada.
Phil R
When did I say that being non-American is Anti-American? Do you not even know what Anti-Americanism is?
You missed the point of my post completely, my friend. How you guys are no different than us is in the nature of xenophobia, blind bigotry, and ignorance about the world. See, it is the Anti-Americans that continue to say ad nauseam that they are better and more superior than us. However, you are not. That is my point. You are as human as an American. So, there. I dumbed it down for ya.
And to address your other point in your last comment which was just as incoherent. It is not the problem of 300 plus million American citizens that your leader decided to go into war with us. It is the problem of YOU AND your leaders.
Stop using Americans as a scapegoat because you cannot face your own problems and those problems with your own shitty government.
And where or where on earth did I imply that we were “better” than the other 193 countries on this earth? Are you illiterate?
And where or where am I implying that Americans or America has a good running government with a good president? Seriously. ARE you illiterate?
Read my post, again. I was actually PUTTING THE US DOWN. LOL
Please before bothering to comment on my blog, sir, read my disclaimer as many of the problems you are having with my intent are already answered in my disclaimer that you have completely overlooked. How hard is it, actually, to find a little black box RIGHT UNDERNEATH THE POST – THAT IS MY COMMENT POLICY.
And why are you whining to me? Do you even know where I stand politically? Quit taking your problems out on us and grow some balls. You have as much control over your government as we do. But unlike you AA Canadians, Americans don’t take out our problems on YOU. Get your thumb out of your mouth and your head out of your ass and DO SOMETHING about your woes. Whining and crying isn’t going to change anything.
You, in your reply have proven to be lazy, illiterate, presumptuous, and ignorant. I only allow intelligent responses in my blog by those who aren’t too lazy to read the policy before commenting. I thought it was just Americans who are lazy.
Now go tell your problems to someone who cares. I am probably as liberal as you are. When you start judging people by the individual and not by the group, then maybe… just maybe… I may take you a bit more seriously. But for me now, you are just another whiny, lemming who marches with the crowd that spoon feeds you your own thoughts.
Zontar, all wise and all knowing is in complete agreement with you. Zontar is also offended by Americans from the so called “virgo monkey”. How dare she point out the truth. I always admired Canada’s way of completely burying their head in the sand and denying reality. Bravo!!!
And I think the Canadians are doing an admirable job in Afghanistan. All 31 of you who cower in your usual role as poltroons.
Hail Fuckhead.
Hail Zontar
I don’t think you got the intent of my first post virgomonkey. It was not meant as put down but as one explanation of the situation that exists. You did outlined the way things are in your blog and mentioned you didn’t think it was fair. The reaction to my post certainly points out how intentions can be misunderstood.
You did say the US is a superpower. I did add that most other countries never have been.
I think that many non-Americans find the “you are just like us statements’” to be confrontational. I believe that is one reason why Americans are sometimes unfairly criticized.
You did ask:
“Isn’t it interesting how exclusively and carefully America is watched under the microscope while other nations are ignored all together?”
I was attempting to offer an objective comment as you requested when you complained “What ever happened to asking questions, critical thinking, objectivity, and open-mindedness?”.
In my second post I did complain about the poor way I thought (and still think) the US Administration managed the war in Afghanistan. I only mentioned it because you asked “Did I read correctly on Canadianfermentation’s blog that you were in Afghanistan?” and I thought you might like a fuller explanation.
Phil R
Yes, the recognition by Americans to realize that the US is a superpower is in no way, a way of boasting. It is just a statement. And I am very disgusted with the abuse of power. But like I mentioned up above, superpowers will always abuse. They do because they can. And to add further to that, they will abuse their own citizens as well as those in other countries (i.e. the Iraqi War). The British government acted like this for 300 years. Now, it is the US. Who’s next?
The term “superpower” should be a neutral one. Not being a pat on the back and not being a put down either. It is just simply a status.
That was my fault. I should have been more clear. That was too broad a statement to have expected people to guess at my intent. And since your post, I have updated it to sound more clear. So, thank you.
Simply, all I had wanted to do was thank the guy (Sun Warrior) for having participated if that was the case. That is the least I can do as an American. As to the way things are managed in Afghanistan, I feel your pain. Just looking at the way things are managed in the US alone is a mess. I can only imagine how much pain is being inflicted overseas.
Maybe I am being too sensitive virgomonkey but I think your “if “statement coupled with Zontar’s “All 31 of you who cower” statement seemed kind of belittling.
Phil R
You have me confused about the “if”. Are you aware of the context that I used it in? Do you know with whom I was talking to? Please take a look at “Sun Warrior”‘s comment all the way at the top. He had commented on another person’s blog named, “Canadianfermentation” as well (because that is how he found my blog). In her blog, I believed that he mentioned that he was stationed in Afghanistan. I wanted him to reconfirm that for me. And IF he was a soldier over there, I WANTED TO THANK HIM FOR HIS SERVICE!
I thought I was being nice. Anything but offensive.
I cannot speak for Zontar, but I think he was just being sarcastic. Most of us appreciate the service of ALL military.
Anyway, the internet as a means for communication, is a difficult one where someone can say one thing their way and the reader will interpret it his way – as we don’t know each other’s personalities. I am guilty of misunderstanding others all the time. So, don’t feel bad. It happens to the best of us. Thank you for being polite about it.
Thanks for the context virgomonkey.
Phil R
No problem.
Catching a plane isn’t different from catching a train. In Europe, a train doesn’t come to you and tell you to “come and enjoy the luxury of sitting on me”. Moreover, unlike what you claim, a kid doesn’t really need a passport to travel within the EU. Any government issued identity card is more than enough for the purpose. Bottomline is that it is more costly on third world countries for Americans to be ignorant, as compared to Europeans or Australians being ignorant about the world.
Unlike United States, Europe of today doesn’t go into wars in the third world countries to force its ideals (however flawed or seemingly ‘perfect’ they might be). Neither do Europeans try to control how the people of other countries should live (or not, as is case in Vietnam or Iraq). In fact, a European who votes for Sarkozy and knows only as much as his town is in a far better position morally than an American who knows about the entire United States and votes for George Bush (or D. Eisenhower).
If you feel that being an American entitles you to have an “we are the best” ego, then you must also be ready to handle the responsibilities that comes of being an American, even though they might feel discriminatory to your one-sided tastes. If you don’t like the criticisms, close down that American sense of entitlement and arrogance.
LOL
Same old Americanophobic propaganda – different day. 
[Ignorance #1] Sorry, but that last time I checked, from the US, I was never able to take a train from one country to the next with the significantly cheaper chunnel rates offered in Europe.
[Ignorance #2] Fair enough. But as adults, you need passports to go from one country to the next. Only until recently, Americans didn’t need passports to travel to nearby countries.
[Ignorance #3] Um. How is it more expensive for 3rd world countries for Americans to be ignorant, exactly? Do you have any clue how incredibly ignorant you guys are? Ok, let’s be fair. Forget about India. Compare the US with the rest of the western world (the 1st world countries). We still don’t come out the most ignorant.
[Ignorance #4] Humor me, please? What exactly does this have to do with my post? Are you just pissed off because for once somebody has stood up to your incessant whining, delusions of grandeur and have pointed out the many obvious holes in your silly bigoted rhetoric? And for the record, I am against Bush and against the wars you listed up above. And so are MOST AMERICANS. GET A CLUE. THIS IS THE IGNORANCE THAT I SPEAK OF IN MY BLOG ABOUT YOU XENOPHOBIC FOOLS. YOU KNOW HARDLY ANYTHING ABOUT THE UNITED STATES despite your sanctimonious holier-than-thou preaching of how much smarter and culturally aware you are than Americans.
[Ignorance #5] Excuse me? Aby, you are simply judging Americans by their extremists. Don’t you think that’s silly and petty? The majority of Americans have nowhere near the inflated ego you people possess. You people are indoctrinated to hate Americans and spend your free time reading Anti-American propaganda without challenging, questioning, or wondering if there’s another side to the story. You don’t possess critical thinking skills. I’ve read enough of your blog to know. And it’s quite obvious by your comment as well. With all that said, you are no better than those whom you spend your entire lives bashing blindly.
Ever heard of the pot calling the kettle black syndrome?
There is a lunatic fringe element that exists in every country. How would you like me to judge your country by their extremists?
Finally, America has abused her power in being corrupt and violent toward other countries. This is not news nor something you should feel proud of for just discovering. What you don’t realize is how we have used our power to bring good to the world including to third world countries where help is needed. If you don’t want our help and prefer your country to suffer more because of “your pride”, fine. Don’t take the help. Get your OWN CORRUPT government to stand against it so we no longer have to waste our time on hateful people like you.
I just want to say that America has done some stupid things…we ALL do stupid things. It just so happens when you are a country that is as powerful as the US, stupid things get noticed.
By the way, I have attempted to challenge the hyped-up propagandist stereotypes that you sheeple blindly believe in. It’s becoming common knowledge that Americanophobia’s based on ignorance.
You are saying that all Americans feel some sense of entitlement? Are you kidding me? It’s the other way around. In the USA, we must work first to get what we want. In YOUR country, you can sit on your asses and collect welfare for as long as you want. Entitlement? You guys are freaking spoiled over there in Switzerland!
What you are is a stuck up nationalist pig with a superiority complex. You chauvinists can’t handle the fact that someone has found holes in the little myths that you believed in so religiously. Someone has called YOU out on YOUR blatant ignorance. You cultural elitists are scared to death of the facts. Why? Because you depend on Americanophobia as a scapegoat so as to avoid your own shortcomings as a person and as a nation.
Thanks for playing.
Greetings Earthlings!
Zontar, all-wise, all-knowing, omniscient and good, feels the need to step in to fairly judge and moderate an argument. Fear not, Captain Trash. Zontar judges all equally, and with respect and kindness.
Zontar would like to demote you to private. How did you achieve the rank of captain? For presenting the most illogical, asinine and ridiculous arguments possible?
You remind Zontar of the cliché of a dog chasing its tail. You bring up points that are irrelevant to the issue at hand. You simply use any excuse to bring up the same old tired rhetoric of the Americanophobes.
You do bring out a point that is most convincing however. It IS just as easy to get on a plane say in Los Angeles, spend a small fortune on a ticket and fly twelve hours or more to go to Europe, or any other has-been shit-hole country you can think of as it is to get on a train in a Nazi rat-hole such as Berlin and travel to another overrated black hole in Europe. Never mind that you get to your destination in a very short time and at minimal expense. You really got Monkey on that!
One other point that you bring up is lambasting Monkey for saying that or implying that Americans feel they are the best. I spent hours going over your comment and Ms. Monkey’s blog entry trying to find where she said anything like that.
Zontar felt like Palin’s newest child, Glop, or Trog (can someone help me out here?). Then Zontar realized that you were speaking in allegories and riddles! Then I realized that everything you said is truth.
Monkey and all other American swine must be stopped from trying to give a reasoned and thoughtful take on world affairs. How dare she and others of her ilk even think of it. Such serious matters as this should be left to arrogant, closed-minded and moronic cretins such as yourself who don’t have the shame of living in the greatest country on God’s green Earth!
Hail Zontar!!!
Let me guess Capt Trash probably also thinks GWB was elected 2x too probably. What a nutter!
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[...] So I came across this story on CNN which shows how easy it is to get an American passport which brought me to a story I read here. [...]