Let's really talk about the USA.

[Deleted]

There are a lot of great things about the US and I'm glad to live here, but I think you're kidding yourself if you think there are only about five other places on the planet that are as nice. I've traveled internationally pretty extensively.

Well home sweet home applies to the US aswell I guess

[Wildtree]

Generalization at its finest. Just FYI, I wouldn't mind living alongside foreign neighbors. Not that i do though. On the contrary, a vast majority of European countries are extremely culturally homogenous. So i seriously have no idea what you're talking about.

Agreed...
My hometown. Nuremberg, Germany:

Population count 2011
German - no migration background: 300.863
German - with migration background: 113.056
EU foreigners - 33.428
Non-EU foreigners - 56.055 (those are mostly Turks, and even some US Americans)

Religion:
Christians, Muslims, Jews, Atheists and non-religious, Mandeans, Bahai, Buddhists (Theravada, Mahayana und Vajrayana), Hindu.

All in all sounds very multicultural. Yet the city has never lost it's medieval atmosphere, and the people are very rooted to the region. There's even a very distinct and unique dialect used, which is only found there. As long as one shows the will to contribute to the society as a whole, and to adapt to the native customs and culture, they are fully accepted, and no one has a problem with them enjoying their own cultures and exercising their customs and traditions for themselves.
The hell, anyone telling me what language to use in my own home. The primary language used here in my home, almost literally in the center of the US, is German. I know when to resort to English, I have enough manners to know when.
I think in some aspects Europeans are just a lot less selfish than Americans. In some other aspects however it's the other way around. It really depends on the topic.
We Germans are really not that big with fundraisers. We don't have Girlscouts or Boyscouts raising money through selling cookies. We believe that that's the govt job to provide that money. After all that's why we pay taxes. To provide for the community. We don't have neighborhood watches for the same reason. We pay taxes as the first reason for the government to provide us with every protection we need. Socially, Security, and Convenience too in form of top quality infrastructure.
And in case of some tragedy in our street, we tend to be rather introverted. We usually don't approach the neighbors if they need any help. If they do, they will ask.
That part is a lot better in the USA, the small community neighborhood sense, that's hard to find in Germany. Not impossible, but rare.

[morlem]

What is there to talk about? The USA is a worthless dumbass country that gets worse and worse everyday. canda and eourpe are 100x better places to live in. every news story that comes out of the USA makes me kinda sad for the poor saps that live there.

[Infracted]

[jmt]

As an American who loves his country, http://i.imgur.com/FwZS5.gif .

[Catta]

There are a lot of great things about the US and I'm glad to live here, but I think you're kidding yourself if you think there are only about five other places on the planet that are as nice. I've traveled internationally pretty extensively.

Yea, i would think that the Nordics, Switzerland and Benelux are pretty far up there. And I know you would say the same of Estonia I cant speak for it - havent been there. But in the Nordics the Baltics aren't viewed favorably.

[Wikiy]

Yea, i would think that the Nordics, Switzerland and Benelux are pretty far up there. And I know you would say the same of Estonia I cant speak for it - havent been there. But in the Nordics the Baltics aren't viewed favorably.

Also, when we're talking about countries that are "as nice", you might as well fit in Germany, Austria and France there. I'd also say UK, but then I'd also have to say the Czech Republic, which is actually as developed as the UK, and Slovenia, which is more developed than both. And i obviously can't say that because that would make me a DAMN COMMIE!!!

[LolretKJ]

Wow that healthcare rating is terrible, the rating parameters I mean. Morocco's healthcare system is superior to countries like Canada, New Zealand, and Australia?

Morocco is essentially France.

---------- Post added 2012-12-28 at 05:18 PM ----------

I realize many people cannot afford the same levels of international travel as others; however, until an American has spent any time abroad, it is very difficult for him to understand just how lucky he is to call this country home. For all of our problems, I can guarantee you, there are only about five other places on the planet that are as nice.

Sure, people romanticize parts of Europe, but even in Europe's finest cities, you wouldn't want to live there once you see how "globalized" they are. Globalization is all fine in theory and works wonders in an economic sense, but trust me, you do not want to live in some weird concrete apartment building where all of your neighbors speak different languages. There's something to be said for the comfort and peace of mind that comes with Main Street, USA.

The U.S. is unique in that we have people of all races, religions and ethnicity living together, but we share one common spirit. We have come to this country because we wanted to, because we sought freedom and because we believed that personal accountability was more important than tyrannical nanny-ing.

As for American racism, at least our racism is overt and our people have the ability to have their eyes opened over time. Look around the rest of the world; people keep grievances and vendettas and hatred alive for generations. Whole swaths of tribes and clans would murder whole swaths of other people if given the chance because of some perceived slight that may have occurred a thousand years ago. American racism? Ask the Chinese how many disparaging words they have to describe the white man? In Cantonese alone, there are more than twenty.

After visiting London twice now, I really want to live there. I'm saying this as an American who has been to England, Scotland, Wales, France, Belgium, Austria, Germany, and Italy.

Currently I live in Los Angeles, so it's about as ethnically and culturally diverse as it gets in the U.S. From personal experience, I can tell you living in an apartment building with 5 different languages is more of a interesting learning experience than anything else. The person living in the apartment next to me is Korean and speaks fluent Korean and decent English. The landlord is German, speaks German, and extremely good English. There are over a dozen Hispanics living in this apartment building that all speak Spanish, some don't even speak English. There are also a few Chinese and Japanese people that speak their respective languages living here as well.

Somehow, I've managed to develop relationships with these people, even if they don't speak perfect English. I eat dinner at my Korean friends house once or twice a week because she is a fantastic cook and makes me kimchi(which is amazing).

I have to have a good relationship with the landlord otherwise my ass is gone.

I may not go over to other peoples apartments for dinner, but I can wave and have a decent conversation in the bits and pieces of Spanish and other languages I've picked up from being around these people.

[Dyra]

Morocco is essentially France.

Do you mean Monaco?

I'm of differing minds when it comes to America. It's absolutely fascinating as it's big and brash, the place where movies are made, so many different climate regions and lots of food.

But then it does have it's dark side with all the guns, and the health care system and the education. I'd love to visit one day day, but I don't think I could live there.

[Rooflesstoofless]

You forgot to mention horrible racism issues too compared to other countries.

Like compared to other countries that have 90% or greater ethnic homogenization? Because countries like that rarely even have a context to evaluate what is racist and what isn't.

Just about any country with sub-75% homogenization of ethnicity or its ethnic majority in a state of flux has race issues.

[Catta]

Like compared to other countries that have 90% or greater ethnic homogenization? Because countries like that rarely even have a context to evaluate what is racist and what isn't.

Just about any country with sub-75% homogenization of ethnicity or its ethnic majority in a state of flux has race issues.

I hear Japan is both very homogenous and pretty racist. In the other thread they post pictures of signs saying that you cant enter this or that without an ethnic japanese escort.

---------- Post added 2012-12-29 at 03:18 AM ----------

Like compared to other countries that have 90% or greater ethnic homogenization? Because countries like that rarely even have a context to evaluate what is racist and what isn't.

Just about any country with sub-75% homogenization of ethnicity or its ethnic majority in a state of flux has race issues.

Ethnicity is a very broad term...

[vastx]

I'm sorry, I'm all for freedom of religion and such, but to say one religion is more legitimate then another is just wrong. The only thing that can be legit is science. (And even scientists can be proven wrong, but only by other scientists using more science)

If there was 1 religion that had it 'right' we would all be practising it, because if a theoretical god would exist we wouldn't be able to perform 'sins' since that god would have made sinning impossible by universal law (law as in laws of physics, not paper holytext law)

I was attempting to draw a correlation between the other poster's mindset and that of a typical American they more than likely would despise.

[Rooflesstoofless]

I hear Japan is both very homogenous and pretty racist. In the other thread they post pictures of signs saying that you cant enter this or that without an ethnic japanese escort.

Exactly. They appear racist to you and I because we are looking at it with a different context and bringing a very different schema than they are. The gravity of certain words aren't the same to them.

[Themius]

Like compared to other countries that have 90% or greater ethnic homogenization? Because countries like that rarely even have a context to evaluate what is racist and what isn't.

Just about any country with sub-75% homogenization of ethnicity or its ethnic majority in a state of flux has race issues.

I didn't face any racism that I can remember in Europe. It's been said in this thread because (for all intents and purposes) I'm black and the racism is more geared towards muslims.

[Realsykes]

You forgot to mention horrible racism issues too compared to other countries.

lol yeah right, every other country I've been to is much, MUCH worse. If anything we are the least discriminatory nowadays.

[Onyxeyex]

lol yeah right, every other country I've been to is much, MUCH worse. If anything we are the least discriminatory nowadays.

I went to china last summer and boy do they stare.

[LolretKJ]

Do you mean Monaco?

I'm of differing minds when it comes to America. It's absolutely fascinating as it's big and brash, the place where movies are made, so many different climate regions and lots of food.

But then it does have it's dark side with all the guns, and the health care system and the education. I'd love to visit one day day, but I don't think I could live there.

I meant Monaco :P I feel dumb

[breadisfunny]

So you would refuse to help your government yet you expect them to help you ?

Perfect idea, anyone who wants financial aid from the government for any reason should be required to enlist in the armed forces even if it is only as a reserve unit, these people should also be the "only" ones called to jury duty, Furthermore they should be required to perform a minimum of 30 hours community service per month"military training counts" (make them work for the money moreso than they would if they got off their lazy asses on their own)

so because of medical reasons that disqualify me from joining the military i shouldn't get any help at all and we should disbar any potentially smart college students from getting assistance in paying for college?

[mvaliz]

As an American who loves his country, http://i.imgur.com/FwZS5.gif .

...you do realize where that animated GIF is from, don't you?

You're kinda throwing a pie in your own face via that animated GIF as a representation of you loving your country....

[Deleted]

So you would refuse to help your government yet you expect them to help you ?

Perfect idea, anyone who wants financial aid from the government for any reason should be required to enlist in the armed forces even if it is only as a reserve unit, these people should also be the "only" ones called to jury duty, Furthermore they should be required to perform a minimum of 30 hours community service per month"military training counts" (make them work for the money moreso than they would if they got off their lazy asses on their own)

Did you read starship troopers recently? Then you must love the old cold war Scandinavian system then all male was drafted and did serve in the military or civil defence unit (example fire fighter) there was plane to draft all female to but the cold war ended before that, some was medical unfit for service, but to the point all was drafted, but all did have the privilege of a welfare state like free education and health care.

30h/month it is about 1/5 of full working time that's really hard work for minimal government support as "salary" compare that to "normal" paid military and civil servants, I do a better work then a young inexperienced person but he/she get a much more money because he/she was lucky to get a "real" employment.

[Catta]

Exactly. They appear racist to you and I because we are looking at it with a different context and bringing a very different schema than they are. The gravity of certain words aren't the same to them.

Im pretty sure they are racist and not just appear to be. That it doesnt carry stigma in the culture is something else.