Overlooked you “money” comment.
I said: Try to pay them less and see what happens.
I can have everyone who wants money to come to my place and work for me on condition I pay them more then everybody else, no?
It has nothing to do with me, my country, my culture.
It has to do with the capitalist buying the non capitalist.
That has no other value then the value of money. Or has it.
Salaam. A
This sort of viewpoint really ticks me off. I don’t define myself by my country (America). I do not define my lifestyle as “American.” So I have no idea what you are talking about when you say “live like Americans.” Are you talking about living in houses and apartments, like most people in general, or are you talking about things you see on TV? Or are you basing all of your assumptions about America on one asshole that you happened to meet while you were here? Why are you defining Americans by where they live? This country is a large melting pot of all kinds of different cultures - to assume that we have one culture here would be inaccurate.
Also, while my political leaders are extremely vociferous about their views on America vs. everyone else, I don’t happen to share all of them.
Additionally, I believe it is safe to say that all Americans do not assume that everyone wants to live in America. Nor do I think it is fair to assume that all American’s want everyone to live like we do here. Different areas have different resources and different cultures, and people should be allowed to live according to their own customs.
To Ryan you said “How about educating yourself on the ME instead of going on with your illusion that they are all “oil nations” and “oil sheiks”?” Well, how about educating yourself about Westerners before you claim that we all want others to live like us?
Also, you said that you undergo culture shock every time you travel from Europe to the US, and that “I think there aren’t that many people in the US who can actually understand this.” Frankly, I think you’re wrong. I’ve travelled all over the globe, and have lived in a variety of different countries. During my travels, I have learned that people, while they have different customs everywhere, are still people, and that if you treat them with respect and civility, they will treat you with the same respect and civility. Yes, there are assholes everywhere. And there are quite a few of them in America, but there are just as many in Europe, the Middle East, the East, South America, etc.
You shouldn’t judge people based upon geography. Not only is it misleading and inaccurate, but doing so assumes that where you come from is better, which makes you just as bad as you think we are.
You have a very prejudiced view of Americans, and frankly it’s somewhat offensive. What makes you think that we necessarily hold any of these opinions? I don’t. I like my country, despite its flaws, but I’m not of the opinion that every other country in the world is green with envy over the United States, that everyone fervently wishes they lived here, or that my values need to be crammed down the rest of the world’s throat.
Well the “Western” system seems to enable that type of paying scheme. I suppose if the opportunity to get paid 80k in Angola for the Angolo Tel came up people might still opt for Ottawa, Boston, Dallas, London, etc.
And I did read your OP, the echo was staggering. Could you at least help poor old me and define this “West” you’re talking about. Is it just America? Would it include Canada or perhaps France or Germany?
overlyverbose
I think you should read the former posts to see that this “living like Americans” is not something that comes from me. But from someone who claimed that everybody want to “live like Americans”. On which I replied.
And no, I’m not wrong in my perception that not many US’ers can understand that the US is so very different from Europe.
I don’t know what you mean by this. I don’t touch this in my OP. I ask a few questions.
Salaam. A
Alde, all cultures are guilty of ethnocentrism, not just “Western” ones.
Ah but apparently the “West” insists on its belief system
Grey,
Like many others you think that all the prosperity of the so called “developped nations” is only due to the people living there.
Locate the USA or any of your examples in the middle of a desert for a few years without a drop of rain. That would already cause a panic never seen. I don’t even need to go over all the rest of the external factors that decide about the living standard in certain nations.
Try for example to imagine that you have to travel every day 7 hours for a bucket of water because where you live there simply is no water, even when you drill for it until you reach the other side of the earth. How many hours are left for all the rest of your occupations.
And yes, “it” includes Canada and whatever you like that is commonly known as “West” in the meaning of having European influence and roots when established in the current form.
Salaam. A
Grey,
where do I mention “belief system”?
I think you must be sleepy today.
Salaam. A
possum,
Yes, but not all cultures claim that theirs has to be the best for the world.
The most recent example of a Western nation forcing itself including its view on “how to become like us” on an other nation and people is Iraq.
It wont work like they dream it would since Iraqis are not US’ers… But that is an other story for an other topic.
Salaam. A
Alderbaran, you’re a lousy predujice.
As for the Oil, erm, would you remember that the Middle east is sitting pretty on alot of resources? But you have elected leaders and supported dictators who are lousy at putting this resource (Oil to develop their nation) to good use. Ahhh yes but of course, it is the Wests fault of taking advantage of an opportunity.
Alderbaran I keep telling you, stop wasting our time here, if the Wests so bad, then act and stop bitching.
Aldebaran, while I do appreciate the fact that many US’ers haven’t had the same opportunities to travel that I have (and that you have had as well), I still think you’re wrong in saying that Americans don’t understand the difference between living in the US versus living in Europe. However, would you please clarify the above? To me it seems as though you are making the assumption that because Americans live in America, they don’t understand living in Europe. To me, that is basing your judgement of people upon where they come from, which is what you were just denying. If I’ve got it wrong, please don’t hesitate to correct me. I’m serious - if I’ve misunderstood you, tell me (not that I don’t think you would). 
One thing I will say is that, while you seem very educated, and have obviously travelled extensively, I’m somewhat surprised that, after your travels, you have such malignant feelings toward the US and the West in general. My experiences have always been wonderful anywhere I’ve travelled. They’ve been occaisionally smudged by an unkind comment, or men thinking I’m easy, even though I’ll soon be married, just because I’m an American woman. Every nation, as you have illustrated with your post, has its stereotypes about other countries. And in some cases, they’re based on fact. Which is unfortunate, but true. So, to some extent, you could say that America is nosey, pushy country seeking to impose our will on everybody else; however, in that same vein, you could say that the Middle East is a region of warring, rich despots who keep everyone else in their area desperately impoverished by their blatant disregard for humanity. But that wouldn’t be true of every place in the Middle East, or even most places there, now, would it? As far as I am aware, not every country in that region is ruled by asshole oil sheiks, and not every country there treats people inhumanely. America is the same way - yes, our leaders are louder than we are, and they are doing some shitty things to other countries. But if you’ve read the statistics lately, I think you would see that Bush and his policies are rapidly falling out of favor with the American people. Not everyone wants to impose the West upon Iraq and other Middle Eastern countries. I’m surprised you don’t have a fuller picture of the US if you have travelled here so often.
Since the “West” had yet to be defined well, i figured its “belief system” would cover the term I was looking for. YMMV.
He means anything, White Christian, possibly male and Blonde too.
Pathetic.
Guess how I decided on my username. C’mon, guess! 
Hahaha I got the idea from Bruce Almighty, Alderbaran reminds me of that guy whose the news presenter being forced to say stupid things on air by Bruce.
That was definitely one of the best parts.
Ah so now Japan and South Korea count. Good. Seeing how they are resource poor and yet manage to be affluent, democratic and by your blessing “Western”.
Besides I said
The system of personal freedoms, capitalism and rule of law allow for the people to acquire affluence. That seems a far cry from
.
Saying something doesn’t make it so. Do you have something to back up this claim?
You know exactly what she means by this, or should. The questions in your OP are based on a offensive view of the “arrogance and ignorance of the west”, particularly the American people. Presumably this speaks to your relative humility and wisdom.
:eek:
I think it’s better he brings his misconceptions here than act on them. C’mon, fightin’ ignorance and all that…