Are Americans in general content with/want a superficial understanding of other cultures?

Question

Arabs are camel Jockeys. English drink tea and wear bowler hats. French people are amorous garlic eaters. Irish are happy go.lucky or fightingly drunk, Scots and Welsh similar. Italians equals pasta, pizza mandolina.

All of the countries mentioned have industries selling socks baseball caps fridgmagnets and assorted **** to 50 something american "doing europe" in a week. And yes, this is primarily aimed at gullible obese (sorry but these people are frequently massive!)50 somethings. The flavour these people get (and seem to want) is to culture what McDonalds is to food- fast, cheap and fabricated - not sure if McDonalds is as easily digestible, but you get the picture.

Some Americans have told me that it is mostly the fat and thick ones that get the opportunity to travel, and that others are too busy working two jobs, looking after kids etc.

The anti-americanism worldwide (and I have to say I have friends in NY, Berkley and Ohio ) is based on thinking that the aforementio

-ned cretins as represented by "Dubya" are bringing civillization to the world!

Answer 1

I personally find other cultures interesting. But what I find most interesting is that people (not you from your question) think all Americans are the same. America is a large place and not everyone in one family is the same much less people on the other side of the country. I think there are idiots in all groups. Too bad the idiots seem to be on tv more in America because they have $$. ie Paris Hilton.

Answer 2

Are you claiming Americans have a superficial understanding of other cultures? Or are you saying there is alot of stereotyping by popular media? We are bombarded by everyone else's culture and anti-Americanism, which should be directed at our leaders and our media. Instead misinformed or just plain predjudiced people target American citizens with their hate.
I would love to have an Independence Day here in which only American flags are flown and no one threatens to blow anyone else up for not subverting our culture to appease someone else's. In fact, I'd take that any day.
Very few people know real American culture, and that includes most Americans. And no, MacDonald's, the media, the war, etc. does not represent American culture.

Answer 3

yes. and french people smoke alot and smell like cheese and swear alot

Answer 4

it's difficult enough dealing with our own subcultures