Why do Americans think that America is the whole world?

Answer 1

That's rather unfair. Not all Americans are ethnocentric clods. In fact, most of us have friends and acquaintances that live *shocked gasp!* in places other than the US. Some of us even manage to get time off from work and save up enough money to visit other countries. There's no one I know that wouldn't love to go to another country on vacation.

I've known the kind of Americans you're talking about, the ones that don't care about the rest of the world. Some are in my own family. I've asked them why they're like that and they say the same lines that are drilled into every American when we're young: America (the USA, that is) is the best country in the world, everyone else is backwards and uneducated, we don't need to know about the rest of the world because we're better, oh, and my favorite (sarcasm): "Then go live in France! This is America: love it or leave it!" (My grandfather said this to me when I dared to try to learn French. He would have said the same thing if I'd tried to learn any other language.)

I used to believe that some of these things were true, but as I've seen what the rest of the world thinks and heard about how some other people live, I'm thinking that taboo thought that maybe, maybe the USA isn't the greatest country in the world. It's a humbling thought, really. And a lot of people don't like to feel humbled, so they keep themselves in a shell of ignorance. Frankly, it's embarrassing and it gives people the impression that all Americans are uneducated yokels. Just don't go around thinking we're all like that.

Answer 2

Because the US is such a large country and sadly most of the news they show on television is about or focused on the US. Plus, as small children we learn the flag of allegiance, we hear "God bless America" in practically every event we go to or see, we have American flags everywhere, etc. etc. Like others have said, not every American thinks the US is the whole world, but sadly a lot do.

Answer 3

Oh my. You stated it as fact!
Well, that broad statement is not true, if you're including everybody. I, as an American, will do you a favor and state this simply and clearly: I do not think America is the whole world. It is only one continent of 7, and one country of... well, a large number. I learned this way back in elementary school. We have two hundred and something million people living in our country (I think), and there is 6.5 billion people living in the world. I don't know all the facts, obviously, but I know enough to back up my statement.
...I'm sure some AMERICAN knows the details... after all, there is the percentage that makes up the higher IQ test result group.
Stereotypes sure are frustrating, innit?

Answer 4

Who says we do? I'm an American and I know it isn't the whole world, but I also know that it is the best place to live because of the FREEDOM we have here. We elect or officials and can criticize them without fear of being prosecuted for it. It is the land of the free and the home of the brave you know. We can also worship as we see fit or not worship, the choice is ours.
Our country is also beautiful. I know that a lot of the others are also.
Maybe some Americans do think it is the whole world because it is their world.

Answer 5

I don't. Once again on Y!A, a generalization is made! I don't know any Americans who think that. Of course we are concerned about what happens in our own country because that is what affects us the most. Everyone else in the world seems to hate us, so why would we bother with people who hate and criticize us at every turn?

If you think Americans are insular, think about your reaction and/or the stereotypes portrayed about them. If you got such a reaction just by being where you're from, wouldn't you stick to your own country and own people, too? Just read some of these answers to your question. They sure don't lead me to want to travel anywhere.

Answer 6

Because the rest of the world is slowly being Americanized (grrr). Soon the whole world WILL be America...

Answer 7

It isn't their fault. Americans are self-obsessed, no doubt, but the media is so obsessed with America, that the rest of the world is becoming Americanised. When American culture is everywhere we look (TV, films, how we eat and even speak), it's east to see why Americans think their country is everyone else's world.

Answer 8

the finished international does not hate u.s..it fairly is now a thank you to bash u.s..I even have been to over 25 Countrys worldwide on ever continent.perhaps you may desire to holiday extra and get outdoors of the field stated as u.s..each and every person is conscious the main hated u . s . in the international is Israel.u.s. is the infadel in the Muslim innovations via fact we help Israel.

Answer 9

Because most have been nowhere but where they are.

I have been to other countries and most foreigners are kind and helpful. The Americans just acted like idiot kids with no education.

In Korea, we had Katusa soldiers that worked side by side with us. We used to ride buses to get across the base. One time some Katusas got on the bus and you could of swore it was 1930. The American soldiers including black soldiers, told them to go to the back of the bus and they wouldnt let them sit down by them. Then they called em names like, bucket head, zipper head, ****, etc.

Amazing isnt it. We go to someone elses country and treat them like crap. This is why so many foreign countries hate us. The only reason most countries want to be like us is the freedom to prosper.

Anyone remember Rome and how it was big and spreading like a disease. Well where are they now?

Answer 10

Could be because we are so large and our media only focuses on our issues,we just don't think about other countries.