Are American's too Arrogant and Prideful?

[Storm]

Yeah, Okay!

Well, our foreign policy does fuel terrorism, for instance. Not saying it's all our fault, but our hands aren't spotless, either.

 

[dust1n]

Which Americans?

All of them I guess? I guess, I'm suppose to take a random sample of the population and, without using any system of statistics, come up with some kind of blind claim.

 

[ChristineES]

Short answer: yes.

You didn't state your case very well, though. In particular:

This has nothing to do with American arrogance.


No, it doesn't. We are the most powerful nation. That doesn't make us the "best" by any standard other than force, but it's just facts.

Very good post, Storm. I missed you.

 

[Storm]

All of them I guess? I guess, I'm suppose to take a random sample of the population and, without using any system of statistics, come up with some kind of blind claim.

One can discuss cultural attitudes without attributing them to each individual.

 

[Warren Clark]

For a direct answer to the topic question...

YES.

Not for the same reasons you listed though.



Youtube - Bill Maher - America is Stupid

 

[Skwim]

Yes you may have fashion and cool cars, but is the ability to sell them with using sex possible? (I know not all advertisers use sex to sell, but most do)

Sure it's possible. You even say it is.

Shaving commercials for example. Since when does a woman disrobing have absolutely anything to do with shaving? Do the advertisers believe people are naive enough to believe that if they use their product this will happen? America is way to obsessed with self indigences, which to me I see as a weakness.

You said sexuality is being used "to the point of being detrimental." That's what I'm looking for, examples of this detriment.

If you are too busy trying to blow smoke up your own ***, you lose touch with facts at hand; you become too busy thinking how easy it is to do things because you are so great, then pertinent facts are negated. (NOT ALWAYS, but yes at times; once is too many times)

While a nice supposition I suppose, this still doesn't equate with a negation of power.

When kids go to school more worried about what they are going to wear as opposed to if they have their homework done, they are learning this behavior somewhere.

If this was true then I might agree, but lacking evidence I can only surmise you're indulging in gross exaggeration here.

Did you ever see the movie "Good Will Hunting"?

I am not sure of the exact situation, but yes while internationally traveling, I did hear someone state "they cannot do that to me, I'm an American"; this was based on experience as well as medial portrayal (its been done on the big screen as well as in documentaries).

Then why say, "you will rarely hear someone state. "you can't do that I am American' "?

 

[Revoltingest]

Bill Maher....a good (bad?) example of American shortcomings.

 

[horizon_mj1]

You've got to be kidding! I was stationed in Italy back in the 80s and in a lot of ways some Americans have it much better than they did (I liked Italy, it was a great place). I am just saying that in my family, we are not rich. We had to borrow money to buy food this week from my husband's father. We drive a 11 year old car. We have very slow dial up modem (which is better than some places that have no internet at all). And we live in California. And we are NOT alone at all, there are poor people all over this great country of ours, and since you are an American, you ought to know that. :thud:

Of course I do! That is one of my problems. We call ourselves so "great" yet we choose to help others before helping our own Really!? Imagine if we had all of the money we have placed in helping other nations, do you think just maybe we could do something for the ones willing to try and make their lives better? I myself had a situation some years ago; I was working, but told being I was working and not pregnant, I could not receive a medical card. It took quite some time for my Dr. to expree the need I had for an knee operation (thankfully I recieved coverage); due to the time it took, my husband and I lost our home. Do you know how infuriating it is to want to work and do things for yourself and be told you do not deserve any help unless your either pregnant or disabled?

 

[dust1n]

One can discuss cultural attitudes without attributing them to each individual.

We certainly could, but claiming an entire population is arrogant and prideful, in general, seems to me to be... well, a little arrogant and prideful. Is it really fair to determine the traits of 8,000,000 people based off one? What is 'too' prideful and arrogant anyway? Is there some agreed standard for pride and arrogance I wasn't aware of? Like, I should be at least this arrogant, but no more than this arrogant? Is arrogance, like, bad enough in itself; isn't any too much?

 

[Storm]

We certainly could, but claiming an entire population is arrogant and prideful, in general, seems to me to be... well, a little arrogant and prideful. Is it really fair to determine the traits of 8,000,000 people based off one? What is 'too' prideful and arrogant anyway? Is there some agreed standard for pride and arrogance I wasn't aware of? Like, I should be at least this arrogant, but no more than this arrogant?

But we are, culturally. You agreed with the quote, so what's the issue?

Are we only allowed to talk about the good stuff? Doesn't that prove the point of arrogance?

 

[horizon_mj1]

You said sexuality is being used "to the point of being detrimental." That's what I'm looking for, examples of this detriment.

Having children feeling uncomfortable is IMO detrimental (this has happened not only with my own children, but other children I personally know). When sexuality is portrayed as being the right thing, then kids mock this behavior, then we have the audacity to wander why they are popping out kids left and right??

While a nice supposition I suppose, this still doesn't equate with a negation of power.

True power is pristine IMO, if you can use your brain for something useful instead of being full of it, I would see as power of will.

If this was true then I might agree, but lacking evidence I can only surmise you're indulging in gross exaggeration here.

The evidence is in asking a kid's opinion. You may just be surprised.

Then why say, "you will rarely hear someone state. "you can't do that I am American' "?

I must have type Oed, I apologize. Please do not get me wrong, I honestly love America and am glad I have been a part of this country all of my life; I just at times see things rather pessimistic as opposed to optimist (unusual with me, but it happens).

 

[Valjean]

Yeah, Okay!

You don't see that the "terrorist threat" we so fear is "blowback?"
You don't see that installing puppet leaders in Iran or Arabia might **** off the populace?
You don't see that injecting ourselves into the Soviet-Afghanistan war might have repercussions?
You don't believe Osama Bin Ladin when he cited our refusal to dismantle the Prince Sultan Airbase in Arabia after the Gulf War as the cause of the Twin Towers attack?

Read some history, Skwim. The US is an empire. People object to military and economic domination. We **** people off and then we're outraged when they fight back.

If you keep poking at a hornet's nest, don't pretend surprise and outrage when you get stung.

 

[horizon_mj1]

Short answer: yes.

You didn't state your case very well, though. In particular:

This has nothing to do with American arrogance.


No, it doesn't. We are the most powerful nation. That doesn't make us the "best" by any standard other than force, but it's just facts.

IMO it does. People running around naked/extremely under clothed have either have extreme confidence or extreme arrogance.

 

[Storm]

IMO it does. People running around naked/extremely under clothed have either have extreme confidence or extreme arrogance.

Personal taste in fashion is not a valid criticism of another's character.

If you don't like it, don't look.

 

[Skwim]

Well, our foreign policy does fuel terrorism, for instance. Not saying it's all our fault, but our hands aren't spotless, either.

In some case our hands aren't, but to make the unqualified claim as Seyorni has doesn't compute as even close to reasonable.

You don't see that the "terrorist threat" we so fear is "blowback?"
You don't see that installing puppet leaders in Iran or Arabia might **** off the populace?
You don't see that injecting ourselves into the Soviet-Afghanistan war might have repercussions?
You don't believe Osama Bin Ladin when he cited our refusal to dismantle the Prince Sultan Airbase in Arabia after the Gulf War as the cause of the Twin Towers attack?

Read some history, Skwim. The US is an empire. People object to military and economic domination. We **** people off and then we're outraged when they fight back.

If you keep poking at a hornet's nest, don't pretend surprise and outrage when you get stung.

My wasn't a denial of any of the truths that lie in your examples, but to your unqualified claim that "Americans create the very threats they purport to counter," and the implication that we alone are responsible for making "the world a dangerous place."

 

[Storm]

In some case our hands aren't, but to make unqualified claim as Seyorni has doesn't compute as even close to reasonable.

Gotcha.

 

[ninerbuff]

Yep. Many people in America have NO IDEA, what it is to really struggle for food or housing or just getting clean drinking water. I hear lots of whining all the time.

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Yep. Many people in America have NO IDEA, what it is to really struggle for food or housing or just getting clean drinking water. I hear lots of whining all the time.

Ah, so having easy access to clean water makes people arrogant.

Makes perfect sense.

 

[horizon_mj1]

Personal taste in fashion is not a valid criticism of another's character.

If you don't like it, don't look.

Yeah no kidding, but if you sit and watch tv you can not avoid having it shoved in your face. I do not want my children acting sexually promiscuous, but it is a battle at times when they are constantly being taught sexual promiscuity is proper behavior. I have no problem with people "expressing" themselves as long as it does not infringe on the rights of another.

 

[Revoltingest]

Yep. Many people in America have NO IDEA, what it is to really struggle for food or housing or just getting clean drinking water. I hear lots of whining all the time.

Yeah, those miserable third world foreigners who whine about famine, pestilence, & dirty water are so annoying.