What gives America the impression that they are the best at everything?

Question

Why do Americans have an innate sense of superiority to the rest of the world when the reverse is true in many aspects of their society. They often claim to be the most liberal society, whereas I would say that the Dutch and even the British are for more liberal. The claim to be the most technologically advanced, whereas the South Koreans and Japanese obviously have better technology. They often claim to have the best economy but China and India will overtake the US in the next 20 years as the economic superpowers. So what, Exactly, does make America great?

The impression of freedom in America is a myth. Everyone sees on the news all the time about the repressive laws and views which are made to suppress the minorities, those who seek true freedom would be better emigrating to countries like Holland or any of the Nordic states.

And just a quick response to Steveraven's claim that Americans invented vaccination. That honour (note spelling) actually went to Edward Jenner who discovered how to vaccinate people against smallpox. Or if you really want to delve into ancient history the honour really goes to an ancient Indian doctor who found a way to vaccinate people against smallpox.

Answer 1

Simple, because they are all so ignorant and have no idea what happens outside of their borders. They just think everyone wants to live there because so many Central and South Americans make their way there - so in their tiny minds, they think that means the whole world is jealous of them. In response to your statement, you will probably get a load of americans sitting at their pc's firing their military grade semi-automatic assault rifles (that they need to protect themselves against other americans) and chanting USA, USA, USA.........

Can you really not have anything but pity for a country so stupid they actually voted Jesus Christ as the 13th Greatest American of all time alongside Bill Clinton? - That is how dumb they are. Don't believe me? look at the source below.

Edit: Steveraven's (post above mine) such an idiot: America invested basic items like: flying to the moon and nuclear power (basic items are they?)?? - what a spoon. I think you'll find European's with a European Education 'working' in America invented Nuclear Fusion. Oh and Vaccinations were invented by the English doctor Edward Jenner (1749–1823). Oh and before anyone mentions it the Internet was not invented by America either, it was an English gentleman named Sir Tim Berners-Lee. Will American's claim they invented Oxygen next?

Answer 2

While I don't believe the press is doing this consciously, I believe we are two cultures separated by a common language. While the Brits don't have exclusivity on being snobbish, some come off as haughty and superior. Americans on the other hand are just plain obnoxious and rude when in other countries. I traveled with a group in Italy and after the first day did not want to be seen with them again. The Brits have a sense of history and carry the Empire with them in certain situations and conversations. Having said that, I think the vast majority of Brits are OK. And times are changing, a younger generation is advancing and the old wars and wounds are fading. God Save the Queen!

Answer 3

1. The Constitution (much copied, never equaled)
a) first amendment
b) second amendment
c) all the other amendments

and, not in any order:

2. Invention
3. Industry
5. Charity
4. Topography and geography
6. Demographics
7. Educational system
8. Economics
9. Free trade
10. Free debate


BTW, freedom to use drugs and have sex shows doesn't make a country like Holland great. You could have thought of something better than that. The S. Koreans and Japanese only manufacture what they copy, they don't invent. AS for the Chinese and the Indians, time will tell if they can overcome political and religious hurdles to become the best at anything.

I don't see people lining up to get into China or India. Seems to me that they're trying to come here to partake in items 1 through 10 above.

As far as home grown innovation: flight, the computer, the Internet (US Army), the automobile, electricity, the telephone, the phonograph, the laser, atomic energy (LosAlamos, Brookhaven Lab), Jarvic Heart, and on and on and on...

Answer 4

Lol, the first answerer points out the one thing you missed-

They think they're the only country with freedom, which they're not.

But to answer your question, American schools practise some pretty hardcore brainwashing, at least the ones I went to did. Especially the "freedom" thing- they go on and on about it, as if it genuinely is the only place in the world where you won't get shot for practising religion or expressing your opinions or whatever. They really don't teach people anything about other countries apart from the occasional bad thing. The media ignores everyone else as well. You'd have to go out of your way to learn things, and people tend not to bother.

EDIT- and a few more of the responses on here point out another one- Thinking they're the only ones who can do well in wars, which they're clearly, clearly NOT.

And Gordon, I would not want to give birth in America, and receive a bill for thousands of dollars, and then have my health insurance cost go up because the baby needs insurance now... no thanks... plenty of countries with equally good midwives and doctors who will let you have it for free.

Answer 5

Well, to work this out properly, you have to work on two things. First of all, not everyone in America thinks we're the best at everything. We've done better in the science fields, in times of war than other countries, aka, building a bomb that can wipe out cities, or finding the cure to Polio. What used to make America great, was that it was a melting pot, people would come from all over the world, to enjoy freedom that they couldn't get back home.
Nowadays, people come to America, not to be free, but to set up mini-countries, like the muslims, the mexicans, the Japanese...they don't like their homelands, but they don't want to call themselves Americans.
It's a sad thing, considering that for 200 years, people wanted to be american.
I think one thing that still drives america forward, is that we are still creative. We've invented a lot of basic items, that didn't come about elsewhere.
The light bulb.
The first mission to the moon.
Atomic Power, both a good and evil item.
Vaccination.
As science, religion, power, and money continue to manipulate it's way in the world, you'll find America is in a struggle to keep it's roots....as well, reinvent itself as a great land.
But to do so, it needs to turn the page, and make itself great again....feed the hungry, keep jobs from going overseas, and reestablish itself.

Answer 6

It's Hollywoods fault, which shows Americans all as fit and extremely hot, and can kick anyones azz.

It's interesting you brought up UK and Netherlands, because unlike northern Europe, in America:
*a woman cannot go topless (only in some cities they can)
*you can get shot for simply stepping on someones property -- and your killer can get away with it! (this actually happened to some poor Japanese kid)
*will not get voted for President if you're an atheist (according to polls)
*government is so local that certain neighborhoods can bar people they dislike (i.e. - minorities) from moving in
*religious groups can form their own enclaves, and sell houses to only their own; if discrimination comes up, the arguement is that they need to preserve their religious communities (I grew up near one of those neighborhoods)
*if you've been in jail, you can't vote

Answer 7

Mystery to me. Even a cursory glance at world history and present day events would show otherwise. But Americans may have enough flexibility and cultural diversity to pull off 'greatness' before its all over with.

Answer 8

yes, in as much as humans are not valued by society irrespective of their status America wld.be light years ahead of many countries in the would. consider this scenerio: assuming 2 people are captured in another land.One of them an American , consider the speed and alacrity state machinery would be moved to rescure just one person.This shows they give real value on their citizens. No wonder some pregnant women would like to give birth in the States.

Answer 9

No country in the world is near perfect. America is a very idealist country, but that's what keeps us motivated to evolve. We made "multiculturalism" hip and I think that our diversity and success makes other nations jealous. Honestly UK, it pisses you off to be 2nd place, admit it. We're more diverse than you and have influenced the world more in our few hundred years than you ever could. The more contact a culture has with others the more it develops. We're the greatest civilization in world history with more influence than all others combined.

Answer 10

Freedom