Most Americans Not Arrogant

Submitted by Steve (United States), Jun 21, 2006 at 10:21

I have read a lot of the messages on this board and there seems to be an overwhelming sentiment that most if not all Americans are arrogant, lazy and ignorant of the rest of the world. However, this is simply not the case.

First of all, the globalization of business and government models that are based loosely on the American way of doing things is only because they are successful. How would a country full of ignorant people come up with ideas that are emulated throughout the rest of the world? And keep in mind that this is not because we are forcing it on anyone, other countries CHOOSE to do things the way that we do because they want to reap the benefits that they perceive us having. That's not to say that the American way of doing things is perfect, far from it. Our politicians worry more about insulting each other than they do about solving our problems, and I agree Bush has probably fomented hatred against my country more than any president in recent memory.

However, it is unfair to characterize ALL Americans as arrogant, and it is hypocritical to criticize us for being proud of our country and its accomplishments. Who among any other country would say that the country of their birth is inferior? No one. We do not force our lifestyles or way of doing things onto anyone else, but that doesn't stop other countries from using our way of doing things to their benefit and then criticizing us for doing the same. You want to stop American globalization? Then come up with a better way of doing things.

Also, America has the highest immigration rate of any country in the world. At my university, we have so many students from all over the world who are being educated by our social institutions. Three of my closest friends are from Korea, Iran and Turkey. To say that we are ignorant or insensitive to the rest of the world is ridiculous.

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