Why are so many Americans so ethnocentric?

Question

What I mean by this is why do so many of us act like we are so much better than the rest of the world? Is is because we are really that unworldly?

For example, 3000 people died in 9/11 and don't get me wrong, that is HORRIBLE, however, is it not worse that we have killed 10s of thousands of iraqi civilians and they weren't even the ones responsible for 9/11??? Are they not PEOPLE just like us? With families and children?

So, why is it that Americans feel that we are better than the rest of the world and think that God only blessed us?

BeBe: Iraq is a tragedy too. That's exactly what I'm talking about here, people. I thank you for proving my point!!!

Boanerges: I AM American. I speak from personal experience!!!

Honeybee: You are true to an extent. America is held to a higher standard. However, I'm simply speaking about why we value American lives more than people from other countries. If I speak out about the war in Iraq and question 9/11, the first thing out of a lot of peopel's mouths is: "How can you question our governemtn about 9/11??? 3000 PEOPLE DIED!!!". However, I m questioning the validity of a war where many many more have died and I find it offensive that that isn't an issue simply because they are not Americans. (Not to mention many of our own solidiers died too. However, they signed up for the service. Iraqi civilians DIDN'T!!! Also, the people who were jumping up and down for joy in the Middle East when 9/11 happened didn't represent eveyone, just as the soldiers in Iraq and George Bush don't represent everyone here.)

Answer 1

I think it's a disconnect.
A disconnect from everything that is basic.
The basic need for food-shelter-water-existence.
Even the most down and out in this country have more than nearly 1/2 of the people of the world.
Even the homeless and poorest in this country have resources to go to when needed.
In th U.S. if you are hungry there are people who will feed you.
Unlike many other countries and many other people of this world who on a daily basis don't have these resources and can go for days and sometimes weeks with nothing to eat!

Whether society wants to admit this or not--many don't change the existance for those who live in these circumstances for selfish reasons as they feel that they are above this level of suffering and the people who are in this situation are a drain and expendable.

Just take the recent example of the million meals that had to be destroyed by the salvation army or red cross that went to New Orleans and weren't used.
Or think about the food that people in the U.S. and other countries throw out on a daily basis. We are a wasteful society.
In the 21st Century with everything that we have there is no reason for human suffering whatsoever!!!

We have become victims of the seven deadly sins by our own hand!

It doesn't seem like this will change any time soon!

Answer 2

Ethnocentrism In America

Answer 3

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RE:
Why are so many Americans so ethnocentric?
What I mean by this is why do so many of us act like we are so much better than the rest of the world? Is is because we are really that unworldly?

For example, 3000 people died in 9/11 and don't get me wrong, that is HORRIBLE, however, is it not worse that we have killed 10s of thousands of...

Answer 4

I don't believe that most Americans feel as if they are better than the rest of the world. I think that we are judged by what our government does (no matter what Polilitical party)! We are just as looked up to as we are hated. I personally feel that It's wrong to get mad at us and call us arrogant for having pride in our country, I promise you that all these countries who put us down have pride in their own country and are rather arrogant as well. Look at Canada, France, UK, Russia, China, Japan and most Middle Eastern countries, they all have great pride in what they are.. Why are we thought to be any different.

We get defensive when a frenchmen or a Brit comes over here or on y/a and attacks who we are, and that's natural. They do the same thing when we do it to them.

As for Iraq and the thousands of people who have died, Why is it that we are ethnocentric because we feel more sorrow towards our own people? The day that 9/11 happened, they had footage of people all over the Middle East (iraq included) jumping for joy and chanting death to America, are they not ethocentric as well? I am not saying that killing innocent people is justice but you have to see that we aren't the only country in the world to have pride in who we are and no remorse for what happens in other countries. Who did you see run to our aide during 9/11 and Katrina? A very small handful of countries dontated any help, and the ones who did, didn't give a lot. On the other hand how many times have you seen America run to the Aide of other Countries and give tremendous amounts of help and money to them? To many to count I bet.

I am not attacking what you wrote, I just hope you see that we aren't really a ethnocentric country, we are just being told we are by other countries who act just the same as we do. Listen to their criticism sometimes they uphold their country while bashing ours, and the sad part is Americans are beginning to believe them.

Answer 5

I think that, for the most part, we take for granted the fact that we are a superpower. Also, many people the world over admire us and our way of life. Why else would so many people want to come here? Why else does everyone listen to our music and watch our movies and TV shows? I think that the way that the rest of the world sees us also feeds our sense of superiority, though I have to say that I agree with you. I think it's a shame that we act as though we are better than everyone else and, for the most part, are lacking in interest in or curiosity about other parts of the world or other ways of life. It's amazing and sad, really. In fact, when I recently met a woman from Sweden, she expressed great surprise when she saw that I had some knowledge of her country, because most Americans don't. We can do better than this!

Answer 6

Because I believe other nations suck

I don't want anything to do with Europe, they are all socialists and you can't own firearms, except Switzerland.

I would gladly visit my Swiss friends.

Besides that, the USA is superior in every way, shape and form. When you're the best, why try to emulate others? They should be trying to emulate us!

Does Payton Manning take quarterbacking lessons from Rex Grossman? Didn't think so.

How many nations flags are planted upon the Moon's surface? Last time I checked, only ours. Perhaps when the lesser nations of the world have achieved intra-lunar space travel, then maybe they can be in our league.

We don't have to make any "justification" for going into Iraq and removing our enemy Saddam. We could have left after we took him out, but we did not want to leave the place a total mess. We are a compassionate people and are trying to help the Iraqis rebuild. Collateral damage, while regrettable, is just one unavoidable aspect of warfare. If you want to make an omlette, you gotta crack a few eggs.

I am ashamed and disgusted to have people such as you for fellow citizens. If you love foreign lands so much, go live there please! I'm sick of you and your ilk!

Answer 7

I'm not playing partisan games or spinning an agenda with the VA Tech tragedy. I hope something like that never happens to you or a loved one.

Answer 8

How many Americans have you met?Don't let monkey boy George Bush.Poison your view of Americans.Or the movies.99.9% of aren't millionaire cowboys.I wish that I was.

Answer 9

1. 2540 people died in the towers 9/11. Many of them stockbrokers, who have sucked the life out of savings of average people as a living.
2. 3300 fine soldiers have died, because of Bush's private vendetta, 40,000 ARE CRIPPLED FOR LIFE.
3. 9/11 was an embarrassing security failure for the USA and should have been used to learn from it, instead of causing more terror.
4. 700,000 - 1,000,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed since 2003.
That's what the world sees as picture of the USA

Answer 10

Probably because so many of them have never ventured outside of their tidy little states. And for those who have traveled abroad, they have seen the way some people live and assume the entire countries live badly. People for example believe Africa is a continent full of savages who live in huts and drink contaminated water. The truth is many of the inhabitants of several countries there are well educated and live quite well. We just don't hear about them.
As for your question you are correct in believing that the U.S. does NOT care about innocent Iraqi civilians who have died as a result of the actions of a president who is pregnant with the doctrine of war.

My belief is that we are all in for a very rude awakening if a special person is not elected that is capable of stopping the madness in Iraq AND Afghanistan.
And no, we are no better than others. It is just unfortunate that so many of us have been duped into believing that Iraq had anything to do with 911.
But I see a certain analogy here also. Because the Palestinians/Arabs had nothing to do with the Holocaust.--- and yet the Israelis are committing a slow painful Holocaust on these people....just as we are committing a similar genocide on the Iraqis.
In each case, the underlying reasoning is for land and natural resources.
(Clamback is absolutely correct)