Reply #32: america-forget the idea

[poe]

the "american true character" is a mix of things. "good" is the exception and more to the point an oversimplification. suv's are the biggest selling auto that is not "good" that is greed. have you ever lived in the south. it is nascar and wal-mart and there is more viciousness than you may care to admit. "if you think these guys are mean wait til you meet their constituents", is a refrain in texas political circles. it's true. check out the millions of religious fanatics. they seem so milky and nice. wrong. these people are intolerant and myopic. check out many of the liberals who talk about civil rights etc. but won't cut back on their lifestyles. selfishness is closer to the defining character of the american.
having hitched around in numerous countries there is only one where getting a ride is difficult-america. in most other places you'll get lodging, food and a rowdy good time. here it is glares and possibly arrest. and i assure you most folk in other nations think american PEOPLE are dangerous, loud, imperious and uninteresting. they are right.
forget this america rah-rah nonsense. it is just an illusion of artificial demarcations and made in bangladesh flags. the american character can not be seperated from the form and function of it's government though i wouldn't necessarily hold every one responsible for dick cheney's actions. but many want to kick arab ass and even more simply don't care.