Quote:
Originally Posted by Snuffleupagus
He could live in the Amazon Jungle and he wouldn't be wrong about what most Americans think about the Hamas/Israel war.
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Americans hold some real contradictory ideals, but it is part of being an American and the fabric of the nation. I've been lucky enough to have lived in four states, and visited all but three, over my 30 years since becoming a naturalized citizen. The nation's people are as varied in culture as the geography of the country, but they all share a certain value that you only get if you are born here - a crazy belief and confidence that the United States is the greatest country to every exist and is all but infallible in what it does. People that come from elsewhere don't "have this gene" and never will, which makes those of us who became Americans by choice rather than by birthright, somewhat detached from the lunacy. I firmly believe that this is what drives the anti-immigration feelings that so many Americans share, regardless of geography or party affiliation.
Another part of being American that people from other countries just don't get is the loyalty they show to their team and their communities. Once they are entrenched in a community, they rarely turn their backs on that community even if it means compromising their principles. It is downright bizarre to watch at times, but it is uniquely American because of the absolute dedication they show. The only way I can explain it to Canadians is to look at how Leafs and Oiler fans support their teams, then multiply it by 1,000 times. The fanaticism they display for their cause is unwavering. And they do this in every aspect of their lives, not just the sports teams they support, but everything including their politics. It truly takes an act of God to change minds, even if all the proof in the world is laid at their feet.
The toughest part for non-Americans to grasp about the United States is its politics. The form of representational democracy employed here is very messy and complex. The crazy methods they use to try and manufacture balance does as much damage as it does good. The power the states have make broad federal controls difficult to enact, and then the power structures which vary from state-to-state make that much more labyrinthine. Lost in the discussion is the power of traditionally non-politically affiliated positions at the county and municipal levels, which greatly influence how the regional politics operate. That is without diving into the powers of the executive, judicial, and legislative powers at each level or how the political or operational components of government check or influence each other. Because there are 50 very different approaches to all of this it makes politics extremely difficult to understand or engage in effectively, which is why most Americans have become reticent to engage in politics or vote in elections outside of the presidential election every four years. The manufactured complexity within the system makes it very difficult for the average person living in it to understand it let alone those who live in other countries and try to understand the machinations through their national lens.