Americans are an Open Book

Do you think we Americans take for granted how good we have it here in some respects? Do you think there may be a reason why some coming back home from other countries learn that Americans aren’t so bad after all?

Let’s explore why there may be a reason.

Says a group of narcissistic Euronationalists…

Unlike Europe, Americans seem to need expert guidance for everything, from how to wash clothes properly, cook an omelette, invest in shares or have sex. Every small aspect of their life seems to be guided by research findings, which are often doctored by the media to fit corporate and government interests. If they travel, they have travel staff and books giving them directions and guidance for every small aspect of their trip.

When I speak of Americanophobia and Ignorance, the above is what I’m talking about. It’s almost sad how grossly misinformed these people are. But I believe this is part of the “Americans are so spoiled, stupid and entitled” that they often speak of on their blog – hence my bringing it up here. And being that it’s so far-out-there and wickedly funny, I couldn’t but hesitate to share!

Maybe some of you can help me out – or bring perspective here in case I’m genuinely missing out on something.

What is “expert guidance”?

Expert guidance to do laundry? How can I get an expert to come to my home and show me how to make my husbands dirty socks from years ago look brand new? Any takers? A laundry expert? Let me check the Yellow Pages….

To cook an omelette? Oh, sorry… I forgot. In Europe, people are born knowing how to cook an omelette. Europeans don’t need instruction from anyone. It’s all innate. Damn they’re smart! Is there an “expert way” versus the traditional way that I’m missing out on here?

Surely, human beings from all over the world learn from their parents… But an expert guidance to cook? What in the world would that entail? I’m sincerely curious, here.  My mother, for example, loves to cook and she’ll watch some cooking shows on TV to get IDEAS, but she’s good enough a cook to be able to do it HER way. Even beginner cooks have to get some ideas from somewhere in the case that they didn’t have a mother kind enough to show them the ropes.

Has any American tried cooking Japanese Ozoni before? I taped my friend cooking it in Japan so that one day I can make it on  my own.

Oh shiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiit! I am guilty as charged!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am a stupid American!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Expert guidance to have sex? There are people all over the world that have problems with erections, having an orgasm, have performance anxiety, and have problems in that area in general. I know for a fact that *some* sexual abuse victims have a hard time enjoying sex again following the horrific event of being raped and need intense therapy.

I’m not stupid enough to believe that problems with sexual function is an “American phenomenon”. What are these poor people supposed to do? Stay a virgin or unsexed the rest of their lives as it would be “too American to seek help”??? That falls under psychological and sometimes physical problems.

I reckon that in Europe, there exists no psychiatrist, psychologists, proper doctors, self-help books of any kind, or knowledge of PTSD. No sex therapists? Sorry. I’m not gullible enough to fall for that.

Investing in shares? How do you not get expert guidance in doing so? Obviously the author of that blog has never 1) lived in the states, and 2) never needed to invest shares in this country. Most people that help are crooks, so without guidance, we lose our hard-earned monies.

Every small aspect of our lives need expert guidance? Really? How? Where? Why? When? And proof please that this is “all-American”? How compared to 194 other countries out there? Yoga started in INDIA. It is medicinal both to aid physical and emotional problems. There is ALWAYS a yoga pose that can be done for every little ailment one may have. And that’s no exaggeration! So, I suppose that citizens living in India are Americanized – all the way back from thousands of years ago before America’s birth???

When my doctor told my husband to cut his toenails from the top and not the sides, does this make him one of those “typical yanks” that need “expert guidance”? I’m genuinely confused.

Apparently we all research too much. We want to make the best out of our lives. We want to do things right. Perhaps, we don’t have the time to “guess at things” or can afford to play “trial-an-error” when we’ve got a family to raise and both mom and dad are working through the day?

Ironically enough, the above excerpt from the zany chauvinists puts Americans in a GOOD light, if you think about it.

It shows that …

• We are perfectionists, or don’t like to make mistakes
• We can get VERY passionate about our hobbies
• We are humble enough to seek knowledge and ask questions
• We are curious and have a deep thirst for knowledge
• Research keeps us broad-minded and away from having narrow perspectives
• We are critical thinkers and encourage opinions from other sources
• We are INNOVATORS because we always find the best ways to do things!

Yes. You can look at it that way too, you know. How is ignorance cured? By learning. This is as basic as breathing. Who knows? Maybe Americans are the most intelligent people around? Ok. That may be a far stretch, but it’s something to think about.

The most important lesson I brought back from high school and college is the importance of asking questions. This reminds me of a favorite Chinese proverb:

“He who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; he who does not ask a question remains a fool forever.” – Chinese Proverb

If you read Bruce Bawer’s “Hating America”, it just reinforces how Americans aren’t afraid to admit to ignorance. The difference between an American and an Americanophobic snobby European is that while we are both ignorant, Americans are honest enough to admit it. Just because one hides their ignorance doesn’t mean they’re not ignorant.

At least where I have received my education, my teachers generally encouraged classroom participation as in answering “on the spot” questions from our teachers, being encouraged to ask questions, and being able to debate and discuss current events or whatever the topic at hand was. Of course, it depended on the class I took, but philosophy, psychology, history, logic, law, criminology and the like brought on mental stimulation. The mental stimulation comes from learning to think for oneself which in turn allows for one to use “critical thinking” over the “herd-mentality” or the “because she said so” thinking.

I don’t know how other country’s citizens are taught in school, but if classroom participation and raising your hand is an American phenomenon, than our education really isn’t as bad as made out to be. I’d rather become intelligent or a critical thinker than be good at solving a calculus equation, know exactly how long it takes to get from Mars to Venus, or learn how to memorize a lot of stuff that won’t be utilized later on in life. Priority and practicality is key.

Does anyone else not find it curious that we are criticised for not reading enough, and then when we do read, we are criticised? I mean, we read travel guides, travel books and carry them to Europe and other countries. But the Canadians, Japanese, Brazilians, New Zealanders, Moroccans, Jamaicans, South Koreans, Chinese, Mexicans, and Colombians don’t? I reckon the creation of tour guide services and travel books were created just for dumb Americans?

Actually, it is more common for the Japanese to use tour services when on vacation than Americans, but that’s a whole ‘nother topic.

I like Americans very much. In fact, I adore them. Americans are an open book. We wear our hearts on our sleeves. It is evident by this that we care less compared to other countries about what others think of us. We are confident. We are also down to earth. What makes me proud of my own people in general is the fact that we are open and don’t hide our weaknesses and ignorance. We don’t have as many airs about us, comparatively. There is a lot wrong with my country, but this is where I love this place so much. It’s a place where people are allowed and even encouraged to be human.

This is American-style freedom.

That totally rocks!

Speaking of what rocks, some of the best “expert advice” I received was when I was living in Japan. If anyone has lived in Japan for any length of time, people would realize that Japan and the US aren’t different in this regard at all. Actually, believe it or not, despite a lot of differences, the Japanese, S. Koreans, Canadians, the Chinese and the Americans share A LOT of cultural similarities when it comes to the so called “expert guidance culture”. Wanna bet that this includes Europeans too? That’s why it bugs the hell out of me to hear so much redundant ignorance coming from the flapping traps of the over-confident and self-aggrandizing Hitler sympathizers hiding behind a veil of puritanism.

Because of this blog, I am realizing how much I had been taking for granted in my country. Americans are honest. And I cherish honesty – even if its something I don’t want to hear. I am damned lucky to live among honest folk. (No, not our politicians, but the average man in the street)

So, Aby and co., thank you for this opportunity to make me even more grateful toward my fellow compatriots. It’s one of those benefits of Americanophobia that I speak of. You alienate us whilst bonding Americans and making us learn things about ourselves that we should feel proud of. Thank you for the cultural comparisons.