Fuck you, religious America.

[El Stormo]

I don't think any country has to worry about France.

Except France.

... Or Baron Von Lederhosen

Zing!

 

[Dead_Lioness]

I completely agree with you...the problem is, what if I don't want to live in D.C. or San Francisco (assuming that SF is similar in mindset to Europe, as I've never been there)? You're completely right that there are places in the US that seem apart from the US but they are few and far between.

To me, it just seems like you can move anywhere you want in Europe and still lead a very fulfilling, cultured, and classy lifestyle no matter what income you rake in every year. And THAT is the difference between the US and Europe; in the US you must buy style and class, whereas you can be somewhat poor in Europe and still lead a very cultured and fulfilling lifestyle.

Just my objective point of view, not wanting to rile anyone up or offend.

Well, yeah, you have a point, but again: you say "Europe" to me it's just too damn general. You say you can be poor and live a very cultural life and fulfilling in Europe? Maybe so, but Chris, I've been all over Europe, and I can tell you that I've met some pretty dumb poor European rednecks who had no basic knowledge of common things.
Stupid people are everywhere, and while of course, I will always claim that Europe *is* in many many many many many ways better than the US, it's not perfect.

 

[Lord Foul]

Whatever it is you want out of life, there is probably a country you could move to that is ideal for the pursuit of those goals. That's the value of having all sorts of different systems of government and cultures.

 

[Dead_Lioness]

Whatever it is you want out of life, there is probably a country you could move to that is ideal for the pursuit of those goals. That's the value of having all sorts of different systems of government and cultures.

Exactly
Right now, for my life, I am having an absolute blast in the US.
Europe will always be home, and I am lucky to be able to go there every year for a month vacation, but for now, the US rules for me.
I'm loving it here, not planning on leaving anytime soon

 

[slashvanyoung]

It's always amusing that many Americans (preferably those who never crossed their border) perceive Europe as some sort of confederation, while in reality, it's far from it.

Yeah there is the European Union, a European Parliament etc. etc. but there is no such thing as a mental, cultural or historical union.

While it's likely to find more similarities between certain European states, especially neighbours, than between the US and one of these states, it's still way too much of a heterogeneous entity (with way to many different cultural backgrounds) to give any US - Europe comparison much validity or significance.

 

[Dead_Lioness]

It's always amusing that many Americans (preferably those who never crossed their border) perceive Europe as some sort of confederation, while in reality, it's far from it.

Yeah there is the European Union, a European Parliament etc. etc. but there is no such thing as a mental, cultural or historical union.

While it's likely to find more similarities between certain European states, especially neighbours, than between the US and one of these states, it's still way too much of a heterogeneous entity (with way to many different cultural backgrounds) to give any US - Europe comparison much validity or significance.

You know I had to giggle to myself thinking of the word "EUROPE" as a union, and thinking, for example, about Germany and Italy in that same 'whole'
Those two could not be more different even they tried, haha!

 

[slashvanyoung]

Haha, yeah... SO true!

 

[Lord Foul]

It's a teensy bit arrogant to call Americans ignorant for never having left their borders. We have the same approximate area of all European countries combined. What percentage of Europeans have left the continent entirely?

 

[Dead_Lioness]

It's a teensy bit arrogant to call Americans ignorant for never having left their borders. We have the same approximate area of all European countries combined. What percentage of Europeans have left the continent entirely?

hah, good point. The US is so big, when it comes to nature- I think it's one of the most amazing countries Ive been to.
From desert, to forests to ice mountains. Love it!

But when it comes to absorbing a different cultural experience, In Europe, if you drive 2-5 hours and cross the border from your own country, you're in an ENTIRE different country, with different food, culture, language....
Some areas in the US may feel like they are an entire different country with a different language, but you'll find that same McDonald's and same Starbucks and same culture overall...

 

[Malergion]

That's en vogue right now. Americans are the scapegoat for everything bad because we have a particularly vocal, particularly ignorant religious minority, who unfortunately are also allowed to stop up anything resembling progressive politics.

 

[slashvanyoung]

It's a teensy bit arrogant to call Americans ignorant for never having left their borders. We have the same approximate area of all European countries combined. What percentage of Europeans have left the continent entirely?

Oh, I never called them ignorant and didn't intend to.

It's just that you guys over there have quite a different scope and educational background on geography and history etc. "People just don't know better" and don't have much of a reason to dig into it as long as their not planning to visit said countries.

It's the same with European people not being able to grasp the fear of socialism and universal healthcare that some Americans quite obviously carry.

Edit: Europe's display in the US media plays it's part of course, too.

 

[Dead_Lioness]

...btw with all honesty: I don't know many people (Americans) who haven't bee to Europe/ Asia/ Australia at least once before..
people around here travel all the time, and are extremely cultural. It depends where in the US you are... but most places and people
here are not a living cliche as most people would think...

I think the stigma of the 'dumb American' goes both ways to Europeans who never been to the US and think that every American
is a Jerry-Springer character.. ignorance can go both ways

 

[WhiteBeastofWotan]

Lol most of the americans I know have never been out of the country (maybe they've been to cancun)

 

[slashvanyoung]

I would like to leave the term "ignorance" completely out of this... It's also why I said I find it "amusing", not I find it "ignorant" that many Americans seemingly think about Europe as a federation-like union.

And as I said, I think the reasons for that are much much more due to a different cultural backgrounds than "ignorance". After all, Americans are used to living in a huge confederation of states themselves so it's quite natural for them to transfer that paradigm to different unions, I'd say.

 

[Malergion]

So Europe is not a country? Darn.

 

[slashvanyoung]

It's not about that. It's not about some redneck not being able to tell the difference. It's about Europe - US comparisons being so damn vacuous, because of the reasons I mentioned earlier... Not more, not less.

 

[Dead_Lioness]

anyways.... US has the best Pizza that I have ever had. YES MORE THAN ITALY

 

[slashvanyoung]

The one time I tried to eat something "local" in Italy I almost shat myself to death for two days.

I'd really like to dive into the obnoxious world of American cuisine one day... like, literally!

 

[Chromatose]

I'm surrounded by Mexico

In America we let the culture come to us!

 

[Det Som Engang Var]

I wish I could go to Europe and Asia. I have absolutely no desire to see anywhere else.