Large difference between making the choice to be a slave forever a servent a set time to pay off a debt like passage to the new world vs being forcibly sold and put on the boat, slave for life along with all your future offspring.

Today's slavery in America is similar and people dont even understand the chains they put on themselves. Credit card payments, student loans, mortgage, and car loan. Any one or 2 would not be horrible but combined they are a slave with the illusion of freedom. They put the chains on themselves for things and many spend their entire life as a debt slave.

I am Irish on my mother's side. They came to the US just after the Civil War. I've been to Ireland as an American tourist, enjoyed the trip, and learned a lot about the history of Ireland. The people were very friendly and helpful and the country is very pretty, but I have no desire to be anything but American.

In the US a government was established, called a democratic republic, that strives to protect specific individual rights while allowing the people to be the ultimate authority rather than a ruling class. That was done intentionally by the founders to avoid "the tyranny of the majority," a fault of earlier attempts at democratic government. They gave us something no other country has and I think it is what has allowed the rise of a unique American culture. I am very proud to be part of that culture.

You’re

LOL!!!

Not uncommon. I think a lot of countries have an inferiority complex regarding the US. I believe most of them know the world would be a very different place if not for the US and it bugs them that they are not a part of US greatness.

Especially Canadians.....

When I stepped off the 141 in Riyadh I needed to go pee. I asked the local where the bathroom was. He pointed. I go to it and it is a room. Tile floor and wall. Two 15x8 tiles (roughly) in the middle of the room with a hole in the middle. No flushing, no hand sink, no TP. Nothing. Just a hole and forget AC. Blazing hot and the smell. YIKES!!

When I got out of that sandbox and back to the states, I nearly kissed the ground. It was a culture shock coming back home.

TO THIS DAY, I tremendously appreciate AC, a toilet, clean water, hot water, easily accessible food, a place to wash my hands and TOILET PAPER!!

I sincerely wish every high school graduate had to spend two years in the military with an overseas deployment or six months in a third world country peace corps style.

As WD hoped, it will unify us and make us much more patriotic. When you live in squalor or at least less comfortable for a bit, you appreciate the things we take for granted everyday.

We got to deal with some of the locals while I was there, One was Humdi and the other was Iftikar. Both were "contract" workers.

Ifffie was our "get it" man. If we needed it, Iffie would get it. He was from Pakistan and was there to support his family.

Humdi worked at the gas station. He took me to his living quarters one day. It was about a 15' square room with cots everywhere. No windows, no AC, nothing. Had a big hookha in the middle which he invited me to partake. I declined. The BO smell was nauseating. Didn't see a shower or sink.

He explained he came from Egypt to work there to send money back home. He was promised a bonus if he worked steady for a year. 12 hour days one day off. He told me on day 364 he and any worker are fired. The next day they bring another one year "bonus" contract to be signed and he is fired again on day 364. He stayed there doing that because it provided for his family and he had no better job in Egypt.

Things are much tougher and evil in other countries. A lot of America deals with feelings that the rest of the world doesn't have time for. The rest of the world is worried about surviving.

Shame how soft this new generation has become. No one to blame but ourselves. Send your kids to tough places and make them struggle. They will appreciate hot water and toilet paper.

Not uncommon. I think a lot of countries have an inferiority complex regarding the US. I believe most of them know the world would be a very different place if not for the US and it bugs them that they are not a part of US greatness. [/quote)


No not at all,it is the arrogance of Americans compared to all other nationalities that makes people dislike Americans abroad.
As aptly demonstrated by your post.

Is it really arrogance if you truly are the best?

Another proving it.

I suspect there's many parts of the world I could feel at home in, if I got off the beaten path and into the country. People aren't that different overall. I know people who go to other countries and love the common folk. I'm just too content here to really want to do the traveling it takes to get there.

I think people from a lot of other countries mistake American pride for arrogance. It’s part of the complex.

I guess its beyond your grasp also
The reason is irrelevant
Arrogance is arrogance regardless.
And people dont like it.

Now dont get me wrong,myself I couldnt care less if people I don know like me or not.
Just pointing out why other peoples dont like Americans abroad.
No need to take it negatively,or personally.,just human nature that people dislike arrogance.

There is a fine line between speaking the truth and speaking it arrogantly. Something a lot of us struggle with including myself.

I do not dislike arrogance, if the person (or country) that is expressing it has reason to be proud of their accomplishments. What is arrogance, other than an expression of self-confidence? The only time arrogance is irksome is when the entity exhibiting it does not have grounds to. Ya know, like a Canadian arrogantly believing his country is better than the United States......

Yeah that's what alot of the brits and Europeans I talk to say. Gets kinda deep on the deal though like at first I thought it was the usual American tourist stereotype. Loud always talking about how great American is compared to them expecting everyone to just wait on them hand and foot. When we where in Kuwait he had a few guys like that . We'd go on MWR trips to the city and always had to keep an eye on them because they would be doing stupid stuff like yelling at a restaurant guy for not having American coke or something. Which yeah I can understand but then they started explaining stuff like how we will wear clothing with American flags in there country. They say they would never think or wearing an British or French flag in America and they where very confused when I told them no one would really have much of an issue with it . Shoot had one French guy get really into me one time because he said the fact I was on a European form openly talking and sharing was extremely extremely arrogant and rude . Said he'd never just pop on an American forum and do that ..and again when I told then he would be more then welcome to and we'd actually find it pretty cool ( heck invited him a few times to join ) he just couldn't seem to wrap his head around the idea that we don't view that as rude . They feel if your in there space you should be pretty quiet submissive and like in awe of there culture. Which is something I had a Italian explain. Apparently it's like common for Europens tho have like this ...idk what you would call it but say you go to one of there old Castles your expected to ooooo and ahhh and kinda show some humility. But most Americans just don't ..said even the very respectful ones in there eyes are pretty rude/ childish because we are more " man that's really really cool! ".

Could type another few paragraphs about what I've been told about from folks from various nations but that's the most of it .... Well that's and apparently alot of men in other countries for. Like Americans because there women like American men more for various reasons

On a side note I will say if you wanna see arrogance and ignorance on scale go the the comments section of anything dealing with American building practices where Europeans can see it ....HOLY CRAP.