Americans Have No Culture

I'm no patriotic zealot but I nearly got into a fistfight today over some loudmouth who said this to someone else at an audible volume.   He's an immigrant here who is normally fairly nice but has a problem with this "corrupt society".   I said "Keep your sh*t opinions to yourself".   This led to some shouting, I got in the guys face and told him I'd pull his teeth out.   But what bothered me wasn't just his view, it was the fact that he thought he could say it and not have consequences.   Freedom of speech doesn't mean you're not gonna have big problems when insulting an entire nation with little more than ignorant bitterness about a place with a huge multi-cultural tradition.

So what of it?   What exactly is "culture" as the term is used today;  is it a synonym for 'sophisticated' or does it simply mean ethnic & national behaviors?   Most importantly though, what are your feelings on confrontation?   Usually no one wants to say anything or get involved--  is that always the best approach?   Or is it sometimes important to stand up and say "You're an idiot and I'm not afraid to say it" .

^ I did when I was a kid--  good show actually, one of the best comix-based series

^ and what about my other questions regarding confrontation versus appeasement ?

^ Very honest -

Stoney...!?


To be honest it sounds like he was hoping to get a rise out of someone to validate his point that Americans are savages. I say good for you for standing up for what you believe in. I know I can't contain myself when my blood gets to a boiling point. He sounds like an stubborn... t**t, I think they call them in Europe.

^^^and I don't even mind the criticism, it's the arrogant attitude and acting shocked when someone gets angry about it--  I mean at least show some imagination in your foolish assumptions.






Edited by Atavachron - May 23 2014 at 00:10

Atavachron wrote: I'm no patriotic zealot but I nearly got into a fistfight today over some loudmouth who said this to someone else at an audible volume.   He's an immigrant here who is normally fairly nice but has a problem with this "corrupt society".   I said "Keep your sh*t opinions to yourself".   This led to some shouting, I got in the guys face and told him I'd pull his teeth out.   But what bothered me wasn't just his view, it was the fact that he thought he could say it and not have consequences.   Freedom of speech doesn't mean you're not gonna have big problems when insulting an entire nation with little more than ignorant bitterness about a place with a huge multi-cultural tradition. So what of it?   What exactly is "culture" as the term is used today;  is it a synonym for 'sophisticated' or does it simply mean ethnic & national behaviors?   Most importantly though, what are your feelings on confrontation?   Usually no one wants to say anything or get involved--  is that always the best approach?   Or is it sometimes important to stand up and say "You're an idiot and I'm not afraid to say it" .

I'm not sure your annoyance is strictly related to any cultural issues David

(to paraphrase the late and great comic Richard Jenni:

I don't think he's just some country a****le, I think as an a****le, this guy has international potential

For me there's two strands to how we might define culture, historical and contemporary:

1 - shared indigenous or localised beliefs and practices

2 - a pacifier provided by those with a vested interest in maintaining that a majority continue to be either unable or unwilling to express their own ideas

I'm a Brit who emigrated to Australia (I'm still a UK citizen but a permanent resident and taxpayer of Australia but can't vote in their elections)
The popular perception here is that if you are not Australian and criticize Australia you are called a Whinging Pom (there are similar insults for people of other nations) Breaking this argument down, where does it lead us? I mean if I pay taxes and spend money in Australia why can't I criticize their practices and beliefs? I'm picking up my tab for the infrastructure, creating wealth and who knows, maybe imparting the lessons we've learned from thousands of years of history might actually be of some use to a country that is only 200 years young?. Dissent shouldn't be outlawed by a passport,  tax file number or birth certificate. Creating a nation where the indigenous population strenuously prohibits the views of those who are deemed 'aliens' is the polar opposite to the sort of multi culturalism Australia pretends it embodies. We also currently have two concentration camps on Nauru and Manus Island for the indefinite detention of all refugees arriving in Australia by boat. (fair go cobber?) Multi Culturalism is one of the most resilient lies the west ever fooled itself into believing as it has demonstrably failed wherever you look in the first world. Minority races clearly don't want to be assimilated into other so called 'parent' cultures and will continue to gravitate together and do the opposite of the old adage when in Rome etc...(It's hideously ironic therefore that there is a Little Italy and Chinatown in every city in the world and that the first thing Brits look for when holidaying in Spain is a Traditional English Pub.

I agree wholeheartedly that it's very important to challenge unacceptable behavior and call it out for what it is i.e. ignorant and inconsiderate but you are also correct that the vast majority would prefer to turn a blind eye in the fear that becoming involved forces them to do the unthinkable (think for themselves)

I can't agree more. I think we immigrants who work and pay our due have earned the damn right to criticize what we think is not right. Sorry if that offends your sensibility Stonebeard.

That's also correct. The statement is empty, makes no sense. He who uttered it might have had a deeper idea in his mind but couldn't elaborate on it or was just trying to gain attention or, very likely, was just stupid.

It's difficult to detect an American culture when you live in South FL though. But what you say is true and the further you move from the materialistic swamp of the south of the "sunshine state", the more you get in touch with some of that culture.

Edited by The T - May 23 2014 at 00:34

North from Broward County (I'd say actually north from Palm Beach County) and east from the Everglades, yes, I'll bash it every chance I have until I finally move north, at least to Orlando, or, better yet, to the north of the US.