h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I don't know if it is due to the Olympics or just my recent appearance in the electronic forum of chat, but I in the past 3 months I have encountered many Aussies. Although most are polite and even down right nice, they are all pretty adamant about one thing, Americans suck. They laugh hysterically at our politics and our culture. They believe the stereotype of the Ugly American Traveler and they don't understand why we take ourselves so seriously. My pleads of being "the leaders of the Free World" are met with morose head shaking, "you just don't get it!", and "every other country just laughs at you guys behind your back!"

No, I do not get it. What is wrong with being American? Yes, we have our bad points, what country doesn't? But we have good points too. My country is full of decent hardworking people. And it is true that those with nothing can make a good life here, even an ideal life if one works hard enough. Although we are not exactly perfect about taking care of our own, we don't expect anyone else to. And yes, we are the capital of political correctness, which is hardly firmly intrenched here by the way, still I prefer the inclusiveness of that philosophy to the rein of hate we have known before. We have vanquished our foes, come to the aid of our allies, produced many miracles (medical and otherwise) and stood firm against those who criticize our very existence. And although we claim leadership it is not a title we take lightly. Yes, we are at the center of our existence. Yes, we have the power to cause havoc among ourselves and, unfortunately, others. But I would argue that if you really look at America and Americans (of the USA variety) it could be a whole lot worse!

That is what I should have called my "Australian/American Dance" piece! Now I discover I can't edit my journal entries. A little too late!!!!

*hugs Intriguing Woman*

There, there, we don't ALL ~hate~ you, we just find it funny how some Americans take themselves so seriously. (Like the President)

And you have to remember most Aussies haven't actually visited America* or encountered Americans on a mass scale (usually as tourists, where any nationality is annoying), they really just take their views from Hollywood movies and bad TV imports - can you blame us?

*nb: Aussies usually do the travel thing which includes SE Asia, Europe or S America, but only a few of us get round to acknowledging there are some specutacular places to visit in N America - sad but true - just don't take it personal...