<p>Actually, it’s not any of the negative traits above so much as the suspicion that business owners who open businesses in their neighborhood without even bothering to try learning Spanish or hiring Spanish speaking workers are “disrespecting” them/their heritage and aren’t really interested in being part of their local community…especially considering they/their parents experienced much racist/ethnic prejudices and economic exploitation from English speaking Americans when they first arrived from the '20s till the '60s. </p>
<p>Because of those negative experiences…the older generation and the first-generation kids who are boomer/Gen X aged and fully fluent in English in my area tended to avoid patronizing businesses which didn’t try to make an effort to learn Spanish/hire Spanish speakers. Fortunately, most business owners realized that making an effort…even a stumbling one at speaking Spanish* and hiring some Spanish speaking locals went a long way not only for better business…but also gaining acceptance/goodwill in the local community. </p>
<p>Incidentally, this is also one factor in why some small areas within ethnic enclaves also exhibit similar attitudes…including Chinatown. Fortunately, greater awareness and willingness to learn about other cultures from the '90s onward has greatly lessened this attitude among older generations of immigrants within those areas. </p>
<ul>
<li>Still remember a few Spanish basic greetings and an insult or two from my childhood days.<br></li>
</ul>
<p>
</p>
<p>This isn’t just strictly a foreign phenomenon. Saw plenty of this same lack of following queues/lines growing up in various parts of NYC…especially before the start of its gentrification in the late '90s. Also witnessed this in areas ranging from rural Ohio to various parts of the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic.</p>
<p>Recent redesigns have creates some color differentiation (but less than for many other countries’ currencies), but still no size differentiation, between commonly used denominations of US currency. The $1 and (rarely used) $2 notes were not redesigned, presumably because counterfeiters do not bother counterfeiting them (one of the motivations for the redesigns was to make the notes more difficult to counterfeit).</p>
<p>At the community mental health center where I work, translators are hired, paid for, and scheduled for any families that need it. These are often parents who aren’t there legally, and no one bats an eye. I use translators several times a day. Are there other countries do that? I guess they don’t have to.</p>
<p>In any case, I am learning Spanish way faster than I did in high school and college. </p>
<p>And by the way, my uncle and BIL are raising those goats in the south, where there is apparently a market for them. The market may not be from those born here, but they are Americans now! </p>
<p>I like how many of our Olympic teams are so ethnically diverse.</p>
<p>My travel has not been so much to Europe, but compared to some places I have travelled, I like having clean water and reliable electricity.</p>
<p>More like some Charles Bronson movies about some architect urban liberal turned hardcore vengeful vigilante after family was affected by some violent NYC thugs, gang movies like Warriors, etc. </p>
<p>The first two seemed to be the most cited by those American out-of-towners and suburbanites…even those from the tri-state area. Each time they do, all I can do is roll my eyes at the overdramatized and outdated stereotypes.</p>
<p><a href=“regarding%20dangerous%20gun-toting%20America”>quote</a> As an American, I believe it by reading crime statistics and about the NRA Lobby. If people in America think they are safe by the huge gun ownership, think again!
[/quote]
I don’t agree with your point. The vast majority of Americans and the vast majority of space in America is very safe regardless of the gun ownership. For example, I own several guns (for skeet shooting and WWII historical ones) and haven’t shot anyone yet! Most gun owners have never shot anyone, especially legal gun owners. </p>
<p>There are some very limited number of locales in this country where I wouldn’t go venturing around at the wrong time but that’s very very small - usually certain sections of certain cities. Almost everywhere else is fine.</p>
<p>I don’t know where you live but if I was as concerned about the safety of the area as you indicated in your post I’d move.</p>
<p>But let’s not turn this into a gun ownership or political debate - I just posted my perspective in the context of this thread.</p>
<p>It’s funny that I received that comment from someone in Australia since it’s the only place I’ve ever been where I’ve had a rental car vandalized (almost new car broken into and slashed everywhere with a knife), and this is out of hundreds of rental cars in most cities in the USA and many countries in Europe. Note that it didn’t lead me to think Oz is an unsafe area - it was just a bit ironic.</p>
<p>
The weird thing to me is that it seems to be getting much worse in Europe for the graffiti but at the same time much better in the USA, at least from what I’ve seen. I see new tagging done every now and then but it usually gets covered over right away. Studies have show that if it gets covered over right away it reduces the incidence of tagging. Leaving a wall tagged only invites more tagging. What bugged me the most was the tagging on old monuments and cathedrals in Italy - tagging a hundreds of years old iconic monument was a shame. Leaving it tagged is almost as bad.</p>
<p>It’s funny how on this thread we’re talking quite a bit about the USA and Europe for example but we could have the same discussion about the western USA vs the NE USA or England compared to France or Germany compared to Italy, etc.</p>
<p>On the common ground - I’ve noticed after traveling in many countries in many parts of the world as well as all over the USA that generally speaking, the people I’ve met and talked to and worked with have been very nice. It didn’t matter if it was in South America, Mexico, Switzerland, Scotland, Japan, Israel, or the west, midwest, southeast, northeast of the USA , and many other places, there were nice and cordial people everywhere. This was true regardless of the race or religion of those people as well.</p>
<p>I think this thread is about gross generalizations though since once one gets below the surface, people are about the same everywhere. It’s the surface stuff we generalize about with the ‘other’ locales.</p>
<p>I like how Europeans dress, not everyone wears the latest style from the chain stores. They seem to be able to put on a scarve, few personal accessories, a coat which is few years old to create their own personal style. I also like the fact that women are generally put together when they go out the door - no sweat pants, uncombed hair or sneakers. They also are not as neurotic about having to stay skinny.</p>
<p>When we go to Europe, I like how their restaurants are run, especially in Italy. They often only have few waiters. They take your orders very quickly, and seem to be able get the food to everyone correctly. </p>
<p>As an immigrant to the US, and someone who has travelled and lived in other countries, I really appreciate what the US has to offer. Every time I walk through the immigration line, like yesterday, I just want to kiss the ground. I like how Americans are so efficient, friendly, open and caring.</p>
<p>Nrdsb4, you are sooo right with this one! I can’t count how many times I’ve been waiting to check out of a hotel with two or three desk clerks. Up comes someone else, wanting to do the same darn thing as I and they walk right up to a clerk that is finishing up. Don’t wait to be called, as would be polite. Don’t ask if I’m being served… there is ZERO doubt I’m there first. The “me-first” attitude is sometimes astounding. </p>
<p>I must say Britains know how to que. They are masters at it. If all lines for service (or anything) could be like in Britain, the world would be a better place. ;-)</p>
<p>Well, I’ve traveled all over the world and have never heard anyone be negative or hateful about Americans. About our government, sure, but no bad-mouthing of the American people in general. And, like GladGradDad, I’ve found most people to be really nice, pretty much everywhere. Call me Pollyanna, but that’s been my experience.</p>
<p>What could we learn from other countries? Better funding for higher education, both college and vocational. What could some countries learn from us? Lots of things, but one would be to do a better job of picking up trash/litter. OTOH, my sister says that plastic bags are not allowed in Rwanda. We could learn something from them.</p>
<p>Regarding patiently waiting your turn or pushing like a mob at a Stone’s concert…there are several bus lines located in particularly ethnic parts of SF where if you were to ‘wait your turn’ in line you would literally NEVER get on. I think most of us have the - respect your elders and let them pass instinct. However, in this particular case you pretty much have to elbow granny or just resign yourself to walking.</p>
<p>Americans are too independent. In my culture, we are taught to be interdependent from birth. You were not brought into this world on your own and should remember to help those that did it. The mother is really honored in my culture (I love my mommy…lol). My family helps each other out so much and my siblings and I are in no way angered by this. Independence in America has led to greed and other people not caring about others. It’s really sad if you ask me.</p>
<p>A part of the former in most European/Asian countries I know of is that over there…college is publicly funded…but often reserved only for the more or less academically top 20% of 17-22 year olds. As a result…universities are often free/extremely low cost for the student and his/her family…provided they aren’t winnowed out as most of their peers at the end of middle school and pass highly competitive university matriculation exams/evaluations. In the extreme…this is high stakes on steroids where if a child screws up even once…their chances of going to college and careers which require/prefer college grads or some highly competitive vocational training institutes are practically nil.* </p>
<p>In contrast, high cost, extreme variability in quality of K-12 education, heavy presence of entering college students requiring remedial instruction, and the lack of vocational alternatives which command respect across most/all sectors of society…are some serious issues in US society. On the other hand, the lack of strict tracking and the existence of many colleges with minimal admissions requirements or even open-enrollment…sometimes without requiring graduation from high school means that US society has had a much higher tolerance for providing second, third, and more chances for those who fell off the “conventional path” at some points in their younger lives for whatever reason. </p>
<ul>
<li>Knew several friends/acquaintances from East Asian and Europe who attended high school in the US because they were winnowed out of the “college track” because of poorer grades and/or making a critical mistake in elementary/middle school. One standout case was one older Japanese friend who was expelled in 7th grade and not permitted to enroll in any other school despite excellent grades because he was involved in one schoolyard fight. Ended up graduating from an American high school and college at 26…which wouldn’t have been possible back in his country because of the inflexibility/zero-tolerance policies of their educational establishment.</li>
</ul>
Independence is a great thing about (many) Americans.</p>
<p>Independence doesn’t mean one is greedy or doesn’t care about others but it does mean not feeling entitled and not expecting to be ‘taken care of’ by the government or anyone else. It also means not being saddled with control by others - like the parents (or government) dictating the college major, career choice, who the spouse will be, etc.</p>
<p>Agree with post #138. In other cultures, one has to suffer with interdependence. I’ve heard too many complaints from people come from these interdependence cultures. It’s really sad if you ask me. :D</p>
<p>I’m saying that there is a limit on independence. I’m independent myself, but there is a point where you must realize that asking for help isn’t bad. The last few things you listed, of course I have a choice in them, but relying on others whenin need is great. American always have the need to be numero uno and they achieve that without anyone else. Getting on top means being there alone. They are taught to be number one rather than trying their best. The American Dream lacks siblings, parents, and grandparents. When I achieve my dream, it will be because of my family right now.</p>
<p>I don’t suffer in my family. It’s great to know that I have someone to rely on. My interdependence is to a certain extent. Just ike my independence. I feel like it’s a great balance. I’m one those cases that feel comfortable in my interdependent situation.</p>