It's funny though, that 95% of all people make the same generalizations of America. You'd almost start to think that some of these generalizations might actually be true. Seriously, America is known for it's aggressive nature (just ask Nuttsy), it's stance on the care and well-being of it's people, and the so-called American Dream that everyone pursues, only to be financially broke afterwards. And every time we 'attack' your country and start asking questions about whatever backward policy you guys handle, you get overly defensive and patriotic, another 'trademark' of the American. Every negative thing we have to say about your country, will be met with defense from your side, only to be debunked a day later because America was in the news again, doing something 'stupid'.
So clearly, generalizations made by people who are simply mimicking others observations with little to no first-hand experience as to whether or not a nation can be judged by single events should be weighed equally with those made by people who have actually traveled outside of their tiny sphere. Clearly.
Aggressive nature or overtly aggressive foreign policy resulting from its need to procure natural resources for its benefit today and in the future, distant or otherwise, for the benefit of the nation? Of course, the nation ****s everyone else in the process....oh wait. Not everyone. That's right. Because all the **** we do is approved of by your leaders behind closed doors. Why? Because what benefits the US typically benefits Europe. Do some of your leaders complain in public? Yes. Do they actually do anything to thwart our imperialist ways? No. In fact, they only encourage us and empower us further.
Patriotism? Really? Here's my problem with you kids. There are a million and five different ways to tear apart American society, and this is the stupid **** you focus on. Suing a 4 year old? That's what you're bringing to the table? Not creating a private army and unleashing it in your backyard? Not having our every decision affect your clumsy assembly of nations? Not the imperialism, not the senseless wars, not the obvious plutocracy? Sure, these are all things that both the EU and America share, but the atrocities we commit aren't what sets you off? There isn't enough existing ammunition out there for you to build a coherent, intelligent argument? Obviously not. Obviously,"you guys are mean and dont like when people talk bad!" are all you were able to come up with. And that's terrible. And it's sad. It shows a complete lack of awareness of current events, and that's something for me to get annoyed at. Why? Because you suffer from the same disease as Americans. You can afford not to pay attention; not to care. Why? Because you're untouched by it all.
I'm not saying life is a bed of roses here in the EU, but we sure as hell have a lot of stuff better thought out than you guys have. Nor do we have the obsessive need to defend ourself against each and every argument from another country. I could start the gun argument again. Some of you will agree, some of you won't. But the fact that the Americans that say that guns are part of the history of your country, and should therefore stay, is the exact backwards thinking you send out there with a message and is leading to all these generalizations. It's not that we think of these generalizations ourselves, you just hand them to us on a plate, ask us what wine we want with it, and then tell us the food is for free; you are simply begging us to eat it.
Really? Because I seem to remember someone jumping in the moment generalizations were thrown around about the UK, asking such stupidity not be displayed followed by a thread created as a direct reaction to the one mentioned. That isn't a defensive tactic?
Like it or not, guns are a part of American culture and it isn't going anywhere. You don't like it? Cool. No one cares. It doesn't affect you. In Homogeneous Land, things work out. In the land of the Melting Pot, it doesn't always work out so well. What are we going to do? Get rid of the millions of undocumented weapons that no one officially knows exists? Yeah. Have fun with that.
I almost want to bombard you with the dozens of generalizations I've heard from people around the world concerning Europe; the perceptions the layman has of Europe (Short of Norway. Everyone loves Norway). Almost. But I won't, because it proves nothing. Granted, 95% of everyone outside of Canada and Europe believes it, but it doesn't prove anything, and it doesn't mean anything, regardless of how much it resounds with my mental image of Europe.
I'm not saying all Americans fit in this generalization, but you guys aren't doing your best to stay out of it either.
Nor is Europe doing much to dissuade others of their perceptions. But then, who cares, right?