dendriite schreef:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Monday, May 28, 2001 9:49 PM
> Subject: Re: Pride and Arrogance Re: American Attitudes (wasRe:Hardworking?)
>
> In a message dated 5/26/01 4:05:40 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> writes:
>
> Sonja sez:
>
> But if you insist my opinion can be condensed as follows: I don't think that
> any
> US citizen has any justification whatsoever for the obviously displayed
> contempt
> for and arrogance against other nationalities. Even if you'd add a list of
> accomplishments attributed solely to the US that would be twice as long I
> still
> think that it's not a justification to get so loud and self appraising.
> Others
> have discovered and achieved just as much or even more.
>
> Bob sez:
>
> Stepping from the outside of this by now nasty dispute: Several times you
> have mentioned that you find the posts of those who disagree with you funny.
> Since the posters were not trying for humor, it seems you view these
> opinions
> as inferior. That is, I do detect more than a bit of arrogance in your
> responses.
>
> Rob sez:
>
> I have to agree with Bob, but for different reasons. I detect a bit of
> condenscension myself but I tend to overlook it.
> What I find a little irritating is an unspoken idea (real....imagined?) that
> ....sure Americans have *some* things to be proud of, but they shouldnt act
> like they are proud.
> One gets the feeling that others think Americans should be more humble than
> those same others.
> I apologise for any of my fellow countrypersons who may have offended your
> national pride. Allowing for a few dysfunctional individuals, I am sure that
> none of them intended to be malicious.
>
> You may call me arrogant when I say that America is *the* greatest country
> in the world. But why would you doubt me? We are you.
> We are people from every land come together.
> I myself can claim descent from Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany,
> Switzerland, American natives, and........and.........and The Netherlands.
> My cousins and nieces and nephews are Mexican, Italian, Eskimo, and African
> (BLACK) to name just a few. And we are proud.
>
> Yes...I am sure you run across arrogant Americans, but I do not believe that
> that is typical of Americans as a whole.
Running across repetitions of statements by Americans like 'we founded the
united nations' or 'we freed the Netherlands' or 'we won WWII' and the likes is
getting on my nerves a bit. Maybe it is just that I'm not good enough with words
to express the feeling of contempt for other nations who participated and
contributed even more then the US to those events that _for me_ lies behind
(usually casually thrown) remarks like that. As for national pride.... I really
could care less. It's just that the eternal repetition of how good and
wonderfull the US is, regardless of all it's rather numerous bad things is
getting somewhat tiresome and even at points rediculous. So if that kind of
feeling resulting from rather blunt statements of achievement makes me arogant
in the eyes of US citizens like Dan, John, Bob, Gautam or Rob I don't know what
to do about it. Suggestions?
No offence intended or taken.
Sonja
