RoR: Forum

When I visit the Chapters book store in Montreal the "hate Bush" books are always the one's on prominent display (I sometimes take the opportunity to swap some of them out) - but I thought that was just a Canadian thing.

Post 1

Tuesday, October 5, 2004 - 7:51pm

Yes, the good will and the "everything-will-be-fine" optimism of normal American people were also among the things that amazed me most when I first came to the US. I feel that whatever makes American people to do so is probably the same thing that makes this country great.

Post 2

Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - 4:57am

I think that attitude stems from our ability to solve problems (or the belief therein). Got a challenge? We'll take it. Got a problem? We'll solve it. I mean this not in the sense of the government, as they've made a disaster of things, but it is a general sense of optimism that permeates our cultural makeup. It may also be why we are perceived as so arrogant by other cultures -- we have extraordinary confidence in our abilities. Whatever it is, we can handle it, and nothing will prevent us from finding a solution. I love that. :)

Post 3

Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - 6:52am

"Having just spent three weeks in the US, I was struck once again by how similar and yet how very different that country is from Britain. The thing that really hits you between the eyes is the optimism. You meet it again and again in everyday situations, particularly in the cheerfulness with which Americans deliver any services that are required. Instead of the surly jobsworths of Britain who are always doing you an enormous and onerous favour, American waitresses, counter staff, car park attendants and the rest all convey the impression that they are actually delighted to share the human race with you."

It is the English people that have such a low opinion of themselves. It has become indoctrinated into them from long ago that they have committed some great crimes against the rest of the world. Their neighbours - Scotland, Ireland, Wales and former colonies are constantly telling them this. They have heard it for so long now, that they have come to believe it. When in fact, it is a load of rubbish!!!

But whenever they forget for a minute that they are supposed to be apologetic for who they are - they can be some of the most cheerful, joyous and optimistic people around. Just watch "the last night of the proms" without jumping up and down with joy!!!

Remember that the majority of voters in the UK still prefer Blair as Prime minister and that the anti-war against pro-war polls have stayed on average around fifty percent to fifty percent for the last half a year or so. (Prior to that the majority were pro-war).

Turn the tables for a minute and suppose that Tony Blair had led Bush into the Iraq war. Would not the anti-war lobby in the US also then be denouncing Blair as if he were Satan too?

Post 4

Wednesday, October 6, 2004 - 10:22pm

Since I've never been to the UK, I cannot comment on whether Ms. Phillips characterizations are accurate. I would suspect, though, that any such cultural differences might have something to do with the fact that America is perceived as a "land of opportunity," a place where you can achieve your dreams without anyone else holding you down. Why wouldn't such a climate breed optimism?

But at the same time, I don't see why the UK or any other Western country wouldn't also be condusive to a similar spirit. Perhaps the higher degrees of socialism there have eroded people's concisoussness to the point where they don't think they are capable of taking on the challenges of life? That's just a guess - I honestly don't know.

Post 5

Thursday, October 7, 2004 - 4:38am

It's the damn weather over there. How can anyone be optimistic with such a cloudy sky? ;)

Post 6

Thursday, October 7, 2004 - 8:24am

That's a point.
British people do seem to moan a lot about the weather.

In the US you can be happily...
"Singing in the Rain"

However, you can also feel melancholy about a...
"Rainy night in Georgia"

All balances out in the end really :-)

(Edited by Marcus Bachler on 10/07, 8:25am)

Post 7

Thursday, October 7, 2004 - 8:42am

"But at the same time, I don't see why the UK or any other Western country wouldn't also be condusive to a similar spirit."

Maybe it has something to do with the first batch of people who immigrated to the New World, and the subsequent immigrants who's willing and able to give up everything they had in the Old World to come to this unknown land. I think these were/are special people with special spirits.

I am very much taken to the history of Texas after visited Alamo, San Antonio. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, people came to Texas from Europe, US, and Mexico (well, Texas was then part of Mexico). They didn't really care that much about which country they'd belong as long as they had the opportunity for a better life. So being a Mexican was just fine. However, when Mexican government started to impose unfair taxes and restrict granting citizenship to the new immigrants. The Texans revolted. The Texans died in Alamo were from many states of US, from England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Denmark, as well as native Texans and Mexicans. They were caucasians, Latinos, blacks, and American Indians. It was a fight not for any racial, religious, nationalistic, or any other ideological causes, but simply the freedom and liberty of being able to live a better life. That's why people would first came to Texas to be a Mexican, and then wanted Texas to became independent from Mexico, and then chose to became part of US. I think this is exactly the same spirit that caused US to become independent from England.

Post 8

Friday, October 8, 2004 - 11:59am

I don't know if there is such a thing as "American" optimism. Definitely something to ponder on some more. Where I see tremendous optimism is in many of those who choose to come here (often with great effort), and those who dream of coming here. I was one of those.

Post 9

Friday, October 8, 2004 - 9:04pm