I’ve noticed a recurring theme in conversations and media where there’s an assumption that everyone around the world aspires to be American or embraces American culture wholeheartedly. While I appreciate the contributions of the U.S. in various fields, this presumption comes off as a bit arrogant.
I really try to avoid this because I know it’s easy for me to slip in to. Recently I thought I read enough context from the post. Still totally wrong, so it’s a work in progress. But I’m trying!
From the other end of this stick as an American immigrant in England, whenever people tell me they dream of moving to America I’m at a loss for how to respond politely.
Its because people watch classic American media like home alone and think its all like that
God, the life Kevin McAllister was living. I showed my kid that movie a couple xmases ago, and the luxury on display was almost revolting.
I think that if they made a modern equivalent he’d be living on a super yacht
I thought he was supposed to be middle class at the time. Nowadays he’d be an only child living that #vanlife and his parents would only be able to afford a staycation.
Well that’s the propaganda - that anyone could live that lifestyle if they worked hard or maybe were smart. That’s what people believed. I can remember my grandma ordered a Disney world tape on VHS and played it for us, asking if we wanted to go to Disney land one day, as though she were asking if we wanted to go to the moon. The American dream was sold to us all, not just Americans. Trump killed it and I’m not sure that that’s a bad thing.
Yeah. Today was the wrong day to relisten to Bo Burnham’s “How The World Works” song. I’m trying to drink less and this ain’t helping.
My first listen. Not sure I should say thanks or pass the tequila.
The only persons I have met that love the USA are people believing you can “get rich” over there. They never go though.
In recent years there has been some “maga” types too, “enable racism here too!!”
I remember quite a few years ago I heard an actor giving a speech about winning an award and he said something along the lines of “I’m so glad to be in this country with its freedoms”. I thought, what specific freedom are you thinking about …? I think other countries would surprise you.
Decades ago yes, now not so much.
Ironic, I suppose, that I want very badly to get the hell out!
