Trent Ruble's Blog: The Other Way It Is - Posts Tagged "reputation"
Ugly Americans
I recently saw an article on the internet about the perceptions people from Europe have about Americans. It wasn't pretty. Nearly all the opinions were negative and most of them deserved. Although I thought it ironic that a German man said we were "arrogant."
In addition to our perceived arrogance, the foreign representatives thought we were loud, extremely religious, heavily armed, and overly friendly yet superficial. In addition, we are an obese people who eat super large portions of extra fatty foods. And, it's evidently easy to spot an American man in Europe because of our polo shirts, stretched as they must be. Some said that, in spite of these negative opinions, they liked America and Americans. We must be a likeable sort considering how many people bypass our legal process and just move in with us.
All of the interviewees were liberal and thought of Americans as conservative to the point of craziness, using our nomination of Donald Trump for President as an example. But, there's a reason for our way of thinking and they (or, at least, their ancestors) caused it.
Our conservatism dates to the late 1700s when our forefathers revolted and eventually overthrew our oppressive English government. This led to a government of our own. However, people were rightly concerned that our new government would eventually become just as oppressive as the one under which we'd just suffered. In 1789 the Bill of Rights was introduced in order to protect us from just such a government. These rights include ten constitutional amendments protecting our freedoms of speech and religion, as well as our freedoms from compulsory self-incrimination and unreasonable searches. In addition, the bill gave us states' rights and the right to own firearms. None of these rights were intended to protect us from one another, but from tyrannical government.
Although liberals, even in this country, don't want to admit it, anyone can see that these rights are in jeopardy. However, most Europeans have never enjoyed these rights and don't understand what's at risk. I believe that, if given the opportunity, citizens of countries outside our own would love to have some of the protections we have and would then be desperate to defend them. As for being superficial, loud and fat... we'll work on that.
Long live the Bill of Rights!
In addition to our perceived arrogance, the foreign representatives thought we were loud, extremely religious, heavily armed, and overly friendly yet superficial. In addition, we are an obese people who eat super large portions of extra fatty foods. And, it's evidently easy to spot an American man in Europe because of our polo shirts, stretched as they must be. Some said that, in spite of these negative opinions, they liked America and Americans. We must be a likeable sort considering how many people bypass our legal process and just move in with us.
All of the interviewees were liberal and thought of Americans as conservative to the point of craziness, using our nomination of Donald Trump for President as an example. But, there's a reason for our way of thinking and they (or, at least, their ancestors) caused it.
Our conservatism dates to the late 1700s when our forefathers revolted and eventually overthrew our oppressive English government. This led to a government of our own. However, people were rightly concerned that our new government would eventually become just as oppressive as the one under which we'd just suffered. In 1789 the Bill of Rights was introduced in order to protect us from just such a government. These rights include ten constitutional amendments protecting our freedoms of speech and religion, as well as our freedoms from compulsory self-incrimination and unreasonable searches. In addition, the bill gave us states' rights and the right to own firearms. None of these rights were intended to protect us from one another, but from tyrannical government.
Although liberals, even in this country, don't want to admit it, anyone can see that these rights are in jeopardy. However, most Europeans have never enjoyed these rights and don't understand what's at risk. I believe that, if given the opportunity, citizens of countries outside our own would love to have some of the protections we have and would then be desperate to defend them. As for being superficial, loud and fat... we'll work on that.
Long live the Bill of Rights!
The Other Way It Is
The stories and opinions of author Trent Ruble.
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