How can americans who have NEVER left the country say its the best?

Question

Seems kind of rediculous to me. I have been to14 other countries. I love America ( I am in the military) but my views are not blind and media driven.

BTW Canada does not count lol

PC this question is asked in all seriousness because I deal with people everyday who fight for everything they are told and hate others from other countries for virtually no reason.

Answer 1

I lived in Panama for 2 yrs in the late 70's which was NOT a bad place to be....but it did open my eyes to the blessings of our country....you had to watch what you said while in public ..you dare not talk bad about their president Toreos back then..I was told there are ears everywhere...the Laquardia (their police force and army) hated Americans and you had to watch yourself when off post...you had your poor Panamanians and your rich ones...very few in between....as much as I got to love Panama, I would NEVER want to live there...I love the US and would never want to live any place else.....and you are right about people who have no idea about what its like in other country's...but I question those who have never been outside this country and BASH it....they need to see how other people of other nations have to live..maybe they would appreciate this country more....

Answer 2

I agree wif "just plain jim" and "Gabriela V". It is subjective and Americans need to stop allowing the media to dictate what they view as the US being the best.

I'll give u a short example. Remember in da 80's we had WWF. Hulk Hogan (the hero) would always fight some other wrestler who would also be a legitimate US citizen. But when it came to the crunch and the hulkster needed help the crowd would chant "USA! USA!". Although the other wrestler is definitely an american. I mean for cryin out loud wat was da deal here. So i guess from that young age many americans were already socialized into thinking the are no. 1.

Another example I have is baseballs world series. What is meant by world series when only american teams are playing? Where's da rest of the world in this so called world series?

Remember the saying "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". This places emphasis on people viewing their nation as the best as a truly subjective statement.

My advice to many young americans is explore the world. Meet new cultures and people. You will be better off.

Dylan88 I think the problem with your squad mates is that somewhere along the line a shift from being patriotic to being a hate monger occured. You can't blame them after all you guys have been in country for awhile and eventually sanity and morals wear thin. (I'm ex military 2 n living in S.E.A. now n loving every minute of it btw haha!) I'm just gald that at least you're not like the rest of them and recognize this problem.

My advice is don't let their attitudes affect you and keep a straight head on. i wish you all the best dude. As they say in Malay ,"Selamat berjalan tugas".

Answer 3

You might as well ask if you love your sometimes mischievous brother or sister. I have been to countries I found very accommodating, interesting and on the surface with a lot more culture than mine, the USA. We have a good country waiting to become a great country once we get past a lot of inconvenient truths.i.e. fulfilling the constitution and Bill Of Rights for all our people. But yes, I would not live or I could not live anywhere but here because we have the best that the people of the world have brought and made it better. From corn beef and cabbage to burritos, quarter pound hamburgers, we do it better. Then the diverse population we have is great. The music( mostly African in origin) is our very own; it is American. We can complain about racism that exists, poverty, politicians for life, powerful PACS, picking on the latest arrivals and blaming them for every ill we have including being too fat,etc. however when all is said and done there is no place like home; the good ole USA!

Answer 4

Not to put military experience down, (I'm ex military), its one of those ways that can skew the brain into thinking that USA rocks and everyone else sucks. You are fortunate to have gone to 14 other countries. Can you imagine how a troop would feel after coming to Iraq from South Central Los Angeles? --- he'd probably think that USA is best.

Anyway - I have found that a lot of people who have never been out of the country, or maybe only to Mexico on a cruise ship has a totally skewed view of the world.

The best experience I have ever had is getting out of the states and realizing there is a whole world out there beckoning to be explored. And that many countries are not better or worse then the USA, they are only different. And the most important, it's not the governments that make the countries, its the people.

I encourage everyone, even the Ugly Americans who want to teach the world through trying to shame others to death that the USA is best, is to get out of their armchairs and visit the world. Not on cruise ship, but rather throwing a backpack on and just do it.

Peace

Jim

.

Answer 5

Because this is the only country that they know, My Father was in the Military too and we traveled to other countries, and alot of other countries are so much more Beautiful than America, including the people and their culture. Don't get me wrong I love America, I am half American and half Filippino, I have dual citizenship and I can't wait to go back. Some people just don't know that there are other better and beautiful places. These people are Dull...

Answer 6

Easy, the United States public is arrogant. With our landmass we could accomplish far more than we are accomplishing. You look around the country and think everything is great, but then you realize that all the houses are mortgaged to foreign financers, the nation is in debt, and if ever the money supply were cut off, we would plummet. Our economy is artificial. Japan has 1/3 our gross domestic product and a very small land mass from which to work from! Germany has around a 1/4 our gross domestic product and again, a very small land mass in comparison. The European Union has a greater gross domestic product than the United States.

Evidence of our rich get richer and poor ger poorer economic structure: Per capita we only rank 8th in gross domestic product. One of the top countries in gross domestic product per capita? Norway! With a near cradle-to-grave welfare system no less.

We citizens of the United States will sit around gloating about how good we are, until the world slaps us in the face and we realize we're just another fallen power.

Answer 7

Because it is pure ignorance. These people are the Sean Hannity type. He would rant how he lives in the greatest country "God gave man." Hmmm... didn't God was an American. But at the same time he would say he never even left the country. It's like declaring a winner at a wine tasting contest after trying only one wine. People like this are embarrasements to our country and are the reason why people call us dumb, fat, and ignorant.

Don't get me wrong, I love this country even in the dire state it is in right now. I have visited coast to coast many times. But I have also visited many other countries and experienced cultures and experiences these folks will never experience because of their ignorance. It's quite sad.

I watch foreign films, study foreign languages, eat many ethnic foods and try to experience everything this big world of ours has to offer. When I talk to people from around the globe it seems they do the same. But when I talk to people here they think eating sushi, watching a Dutch movie, and practicing Mandarin is bizarre. They think having to take a foreign language class in college or High School is a chore not a rewarding opportunity.

This is a great country, but it will only get better when people broaden their horizons. People here have a great tendency to shut themselves out from the rest of the world. This is unfortunate, because while we have great things here to offer, there is a lot more out there too! I say enjoy it!!

Sorry for the rant but I feel very strongly about this.

Answer 8

Well,you know how a 5 year old says that his mommy is the best mommy in the whole world? Sort of like that. If the kid has been fortunate enough to only know one mommy at that age,he thinks she's terrifff,man,because his WIDE experience of 5 years in this world tells him so,never you mind that he doesn't know a thing about anybody else's mommy. Well,that's the age mentality of those who say our country is the greatest although they have never left it,somewhere about 4 or 5.

The rest of us have made it to about 14 or 15 and we're like those ornery teenagers that have discovered mommy's clay pedestal and we're always complaining about her because we love her sooooo much that we want her to be perfect!

A few of us are actually adults and can live with mom's faults ,love her anyway but not get carried away in the process to the point of condemning everybody else's mom. The world is not a zero sum game. if your mom is great,that does not diminish mine and vice versa.

Answer 9

I guess it is the same as people living in other countries saying that their country is the best. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your country and your culture. On the other hand I wonder how people who have never been out of the U.S.A. can say that we are not the best.

Answer 10

two possible answers: 1. Some are ignorant and close minded.
2. You don't always have to EXPERIENCE some things to know about them. People can read and study other cultures and places without actually experiencing them, those who actually choose to do so.
I've personally been out of the country, and so far the US is still my ideal place to live. I've seen some lovely scenery and met some nice people, but the US is still the best fit for me :)