bilby
I know you think you are engaged in an epic contest of wills with me, but is really all in your head.
That is absolutely the most entertaining anti-USA rant I have ever heard. Interesting mix of bigotry and ignorant stereotype.
Americans think the rest of the world as poor? Where do you get this drivel from? Which Americans wold that be?
A theme song for you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ee_uujKuJMI
As to the world hating America, I would disagree. I have worked with many from around the world and have heard it all, the criticisms and the positive views.. I do not need to travel to get a sense of that.
Spending a week in Rome or Paris does not bring about cultural awareness, it may give the sense that you are. And perhaps a self delusion of understanding. What you probably mean by culture is the tourist facade.
You gain sensitivity over time actually dealing with cultural issues and communications. I've worked closely professionally with immigrants from India, South Africa, Iran, Somalia, China Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Vietnam, Iran and others who have English as a second language. Once you get past the language, stereotypes, and apparent cultural differences we are all pretty much the same. Eat, drink, family, socializing, work.
Culture and ethnicity is the major cause of conflict today
Kurds-Iraquis
Turks-Kurds
Catalonian separatists
Northern Ireland
Scottish separatists
Arabs-Persians
We look at the inability of Spain, Greece, and Portugal to get its finances in order. Greece is effectively a welfare state that sucked up our tax dollars in a bailout..
We look at the world and think we do it better, and yes even exceptional. we have bee an anchor post WWII. The still bickering European states can not work together without US leadership. They ask for it.
I grew up in the NYC metro area 'multi cultural' before it was called that. Given our cultural immigrant mix you can hardly say we are insensitive. We push assimilation, and at the same time celebrate differences. The NYC St Patrick's Day Parade is iconic. Hispanics widely celebrate Cinco de Mayo and display Mexican flags.
On the contrary I'd say a white Australian from a country which until well into the 1900s had a whites only immigration policy knows little of cultural diversity, and can not grasp what the diversity in the USA means.
In one direction from me there is a Sons Of Norway house. In another a Sikh temple, and another an Asian temple. All within about 5 miles of each other.
I am about 30 miles north of Seattle. When I go to the grocery store on a busy day there is always a mix of whites, Hispanics, blacks, Asians, and occasionally a mid east type. The background language patter is multi language. The Pacific coast inclusive of Vancouver BC is highly integrated with immigrant culture going back to the 1800s.
We look at the chronically unstable Italian politics, the mid east, and other places concluding we do a lot better. We tend to view the Europeans as weak ad unable to work together. Attested to by the half assed response to the Ukraine crisis. Despite the EU France, Germany, and England still play out petty power politics to their own detriment. NATO is useless without the USA.
I do not buy into the paradigm that all cultures are equal. What has Australia contributed to the world post WWII?
For most here Australia would be far too socialist and a 'nanny state'. Do I are about the social differences between Portugal and Germany? Not a bit. Much as the average Portuguese probably care little for other places.
The idea that Americans are singular cultural bad actors is nonsense. Consider French, German, and English nationalism.
Let me know when you have a black PM.
A past Washington governor is second or third generation Chinese. When in China as ambassador the Chinese media called him a 'white banana'. Meaning someone of Chinese ancestry who is part of western society. Jindal governor of Louisianan parents were from India.
My sense is you have your head up your butt on culture in general and the USA. I'd say your rant comes from ignorance and Aussie physical isolation. I'd probably find Australia bland and boring.
Tell me,would you buy a house in a 50/50 black-white split area? If you have a daughter would you be OK with her having a black husband and having mixed blood grand kids? Would your family accept it? Do you think twice about sitting next to blacks in a restaurant? The test of cultural sensitivity is how you react in real everyday situations, not traveling as a tourist. I have been through my own learning curve
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bilby
The US as a modern empire harking back to the British past is as much nonsense as the Zionist conspiracies.
It is right up there with the global Zionist conspiracy theory nonsense. The USA does not rule the world, it is a secret cabal of Jews. Haven't you heard, the USA is a pawn of the Zionists?
As to American hegemony and empire, reality does not fit the definition. If we were empire with an hegemony we wold not face the problems we do. We would dictate. Israel does what it wants, and the Arabs have joined in only in the face of an ISIS existential threat.
Post WWII Europe went its own way. France said fuck off and withdrew from NATO. We could not control Europe if we wanted to.
Japan and South Korea are stable economic centers, beneficial to Australia. We have little political influence over either. America opened trade with China leading to its economic surge, benefiting Australia.
The hegemony Australia has to worry about is China. China arbitrarily redrew international maritime and airspace boundaries to include most of the fish and natural resources and is threatening military action if any of the opposing states respond. Japan, Philippines, Malaysia,Vietnam. China clams the right to control cargo traffic through the South China sea, which affects Australia.
China is developing a blue water navy to challenge the American carrier battle group and enforce its demands. Another maritime security issue for Australia. There are ongoing naval standoffs,
Two years ago Vietnam asked for a US Navy visit as a signal to China, and recently there was a report of military cooperation negotiations with the USA.
The US leads a periodic Asian Pacific joint naval exercise. Japan is considering changing its restriction on the use of its military. It has developed a carrier initially for helicopters, but suitable for STOL fighter jets. China gets enraged claiming a rise in Japanese militancy, laughable. Point being an arms race in your region is developing.
Sometimes I think we should pull back from SEA ad let them all sort it out, intruding New Zealand and Australia both utterly dependent on free ocean navigation. Let them carry the regional burden.
You rant from ignorance and the physical isolation of Australia from the rest of the world. You need to get up to speed on your regional security and trade issues and impacts. Where would Australia’s economy be with a SEA political meltdown or strong Chinese hegemony?
Not as volatile as the Mid East, China and SEA have simmering religious issues.
Power vacuums are always filled. What happens to the region if we pull back?
How's that free trade deal with China going? I read it will bypass the US dollar for the Chinese currency. Your PM in a clip said without exports of minerals to China the Aussie economy would be in trouble. Looks like Australia may be part of the new Chinese hegemony.
The UK announced it will allow borrowing in Yen. China is who Australia needs to watch out for in the future.
America in decline and China on the rise. Hope the American decline is what you and the world hope for..
