Are Americans too self centered?

Question

I am an American. I love my country and realize this question may raise some eyebrows, but I was wondering....
When the tsunami hit, Americans all over broke out their wallets to give aid, when Katrina hit, we did it again, when 9/11 happened, we all watched in awestruck horror until the buildings collapsed and then continued watching, tears and pain, and gave time and money to the cause. We raised our voices as one for justice at the government.
Now, almost four years later from 9/11, almost two years for Katrina and how many still give? How many give no matter if there is a catastrophe or not? Or are we only awakened from our day to day lives when something tragic happens and catches our attention?

So, I pose the question. Are we too self centered? Thinking only of what we want and need from one day to the next, without a second thought for our fellow men, women and children around us. Never thinking about anyone else's needs other than our own.
Unless there is tragedy.

Answer 1

We are...but then again no more than any other developed country. Canadians are the same, Germans, the French, Brits, all of us are self centered. Of course some will deny that and say its only Americans-but that only goes to prove how self centered and stuck on themselves that they are.

Answer 2

I am US borne, I lived in Miami-Florida for seven years, before that, I lived in south America and recently move out of Florida for good to the UK, and now I look back to these past 7 years and even though I did my professional career there, I felt it was the 7 worst years of my live (social wise), because of this capitalistic systems I did not have many friends, everybody was busy, did not have a real girlfriend cause I did not have money to show and people saw me like I was a rat because I was poor “the more you have, the more you are” . And in the US, you can not pursued a university degree unless you come from a very wealthy family or live in debt for the rest of your life and if you become sick, you either have to have an insurance (very expensive if not paid by employer) or lived in debt for the rest of your live.



I think in the US, there is a culture to work but not culture to socialise with others, for example Drs see you as a number $ more than as a patient, i don’t want to generalise but i think the US system changes people into machines and blocks their mind form what is outside, most of the people I meet there, think that the US is the best country in every single way, without even visiting other countries, well I don’t blame then , with the little time off we had in Florida as listed on linked below, there is not time to visit any other countries,



Well, something else I realize when I was travelling Europe and south America, I noticed that most of Americans did not make any effort to a least speak the most common or used word in other languages and expect everybody to speak english as once a girl from Chicago told me “we are leaving the a globalisation world so everybody need to speak English”



In the other hand I think that economically wise US is great , my parents are doing financially very well so is my brother and most of the people I know, but unfortunately all the money they make and have, cant not even be enjoyed. I truly respect you opinion but I think that WE as “Americans” should see the world equally, change our minds, not because we are richest and have the economical power we have the right to abuse others and impose our system, ethics, morals as every country has their own and we should respect that.

Answer 3

Honestly as a Canadian wat do i think?

No. I think that much generosity is found in US and the world reaction to Katrina and 9/11 was no accident!!! People do know what good good hearted americans have done and when US was hit the reaction was imediate ...

In ottawa canada we have, 400,000 people. An estimated 100,000 protested i favor of states on our streets. (compared to say 10,000 anti-iraq war protesters.) Pepple were so pissed off at our prime minister for not reacting fast enough to show support US in both these cases.

Do we canadians crritisize US? All the time. U.S. is most powerful country in the world and to quote Stan Lee, "with great power comes great responsibility." Also as a super power, the US acts in its self interest. That leads to critism. Being fair, careful scruntiny of behaviour of middle powers like britain and france also reveals lots of self interest

Are there greedy americans in power? Of course. Every country has this too but again because of power of US, these people are more visible on the world stage.

In short, Americans are NOT as a whole more self centered. Because of the power and influence of the US, the BEST and WORST in the US are more visible than like elements in other countries.


As an American you have much to be proud of. Does that mean you should never find fault with your governmnent or learn fromn positives examples in other countries? Hell no!!!

Or and beware of anybody talking about anti-americanism. Most of time, they are just deflecting critsm by giving it a label. All political discussion should be taken with a grain of salt and considered against facts. that is a universal truth?

Do i love the US as a Canadian? Yes. Do i think its perfect (or that my own humble country is perfect), nope. But wat i love about democracy is that the mechasms to make thibgs better are there, if enough people are willing. That said, i do want to contnue being a canadian and i ove my country deeply too.