<p>salone4u is a hs student applying for Fall 2012 college admissions in the US. He/she already lives here.</p>
<p>I’m a she…lol. You creeped on my profile didn’t you?</p>
<p>^ This is the Parents Cafe. It’s call that for a reason. Most of us already have children at home to argue with, lol.</p>
<p>Um… No one tries to kick you out when you comment on other threads. I can freely comment where I want to. I bet some of those that commented here don’t have children.</p>
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<p>Oh my…there is a reason. Most people are polite and would never say that to you. But as Americans who have often been assumed to be Canadian, I can say that Americans might actually not realize what people say about Americans when they think they are not present. Don’t get me started. Or how it feels to hear your child get insulted by being called an American with a disgusted tone (imagine hearing someone called an ethnic slur…only substitute “American” for the key word).</p>
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<p>Funnny. :D. And true.</p>
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<p>In 3rd grade I lived in Canada as an American, unbeknownst to my teacher, who told the class that “all Americans are pigs.” I never forgot that.</p>
<p>salone4u, we have several regulars in the parent forums who are students and I, for one, value their point of view. Their posts are thoughtful and mature. :)</p>
<p>Regarding the impoliteness of eating while walking around…I’m wondering if that notion does exist…but is mainly from the older generation from the more “noble”* classes. </p>
<p>I say that as that’s something I’ve heard from my grandmother…except she didn’t single out Americans so much as the “younger generations”** in general. </p>
<p>Heard similar admonitions about eating and walking even here in the US…but it’s almost always from older Americans of the WWII generation and before who are/identify with upper/upper-middle class quasi-aristocratic Western European customs. </p>
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<li>Sarcastically, of course.<br></li>
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<p>** Anyone who was born in the 1930’s or later.</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, a lot of Americans seem to feel entitled to their government benefits (Medicare, Social Security, government contracts to their employer, etc.) but also seem to feel entitled to pay less taxes. And then they seem to get angry about the government being unable to balance the budget.</p>
<p>Ugly American Experiment
<a href=“Ugly American experiment - YouTube”>Ugly American experiment - YouTube;
<p>Yes, most people are too polite to say what they really think about Americans–but sometimes it slips out. When I lived in Switzerland, a grad student I knew did a summer internship in the US. Afterwards, he reported he had a great time–the people he worked with were very friendly and invited him to do things with them on weekends(which probably would not have happened in the reverse situation), and the Americans were not nearly as “superficial and uncultured” as he had expected. Of course, I assumed that he thought I was an exception to his stereotype.</p>
<p>Just my opinion…but Americans want everyone to be…uniform and the same</p>
<p>I’ll give an example, as a Sikh, I wear a Turban, and another article of faith that is mandated is a Kirpan, a small knife, which represents Sikhs commitment to justice and fighting against oppression</p>
<p>Whenever there is a news story about a Sikh being fired from his job because they won’t allow turbans, the overwhelming opinion of people is that “well he should take it off or leave the job”. There are no exceptions. </p>
<p>I’ll also give an example of the kirpan. In Canada and England, as well as most of Europe where there are a lot of Sikhs and they command quite a bit of respect for what they’ve done in WW1 and WW2, the Kirpan is freely allowed in schools, offices, etc. here in America, there have been several court cases regarding Kirpans in schools, etc. all have supporte the right of Sikhs to wear Kirpans, but public opinion is very much against it, for obvious reasons, but people dont make a conscious effor to understand what it means to Sikhs and that it is NEVER used to attack anyone nor have there ever been instances of people trying to attack anyone. </p>
<p>Just my 2 cents</p>
<p>rsingh13- you can’t say something is an “overwhelming opinion” unless you know everyone’s stance on it. The loudest voice doesn’t always represent the majority feeling.</p>
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<p>I find it odd that America is portrayed as such a far-right country with respect to Europe considering that some of Europe’s draconian policies restricting personal liberty could never be enacted in the U.S. For instance, there is a movement in France to prohibit Muslim women from wearing a veil. Also, free speech is not valued as highly in Europe. </p>
<p>I don’t think prohibition of carrying a knife into schools represent a desire for Americans to be uniform and the same. It’s a bad policy to allow people to bring weapons into school.</p>
<p>starbright–what’s the difference in being nice or polite? My feeing is that if we go to another country with a kind and loving attitude, we get the same thing back. Your experience may vary.</p>
<p>turbo93, I don’t know why you’re pushing the Elbonia thing, but I love that nobody has picked up on it yet.</p>
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<p>Canada does. And we even provide the children of immigrants with free language classes so that they can keep or learn their native language! :)</p>
<p>I think that there is much that Americans can learn from other cultures. And they don’t have to go far! It always amazes me how uninformed so many Americans are about Canada when it’s their next door neighbor.</p>
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<p>alwaysamom, would you be willing to say more regarding what Americans should know about Canada, or could learn from Canada?</p>
<p>I caught the Elbonia thing too. Love it. I think the next time someone asks me what my nationality is I will use that.</p>