How Americanised are you?

Post Reply New Topic

I try not to be, I'm not exactly a fan of the USA. Then next minute I'm drinking starbucks and saying things "suck" and I realise how American my country has become.

By spelling "Americanised" with a "z", it tells me that you ARE Americanised. Personally, am not Americanised, and it really saddens me when I see people around me that are.

I think the question should be; "How Soviet-ized are we as Americans?"

I was born in Los Angeles, grew up in the big city, and now I'm a farmer about 40 miles up the coast from Los Angeles... Have a Ford truck and like hot dogs and apple pie, and we have a 35-foot mast with the American flag above halogen spotlights, which can be seen from miles across town. I'm terrified of our government, and did not vote for the current administration.

We pay huge taxes to support causes which are against our beliefs, and we are represented by congress members who do not share an iota of our ideals.

I'm certainly a red-blooded American, if there is such a thing... Oh, and my Great-Great-Great Aunt is Betsy Ross.

Charles

True of all politicians, regardless of which country you live in. It's apparently called democracy. We don't have a real one and neither do you. In both of our countries, real power is exercised elsewhere and it usually, but not always, comes down to who has most money and can buy most influence. Though, at least, you don't have a parliamentary chamber which is completely unaccountable to the people (The House Of Lords).

As for taxes - according to the OECD - you live in one of the lowest-taxed nations in the developed world. Ours isn't much higher than yours - but our disposable income does not go as far because of inherently higher prices on almost everything and often hefty indirect taxes applied to almost everything but the air we breathe. In addition to all that, there's a VAT (sales tax) rate which was 17.5% and is now 20%. As for petrol (gas), that's around £6 a gallon ($US9.58) - though imperial measures confuse me and I'm not sure if an English gallon is the same as an American one.

But I'd still rather live here than there. As, I'm sure, you'd still rather live there than here. We have the freedom to choose, including where we choose to live. Hardly something anyone in the Soviet Union was granted as a right.

I appreciate other cultures, and don't mind incorporating aspects of them into my life when I feel the urge. I wouldn't use the word 'seduce', though.

^^^

Tea, are you a Wiccan? I noticed the new avatar.

Not Wiccan.

Ahh ... Ireland ... County Donegal ...

The triskelion is popular, from Breton to Klingon.

I just associate it most with paganism.

I've organised an "Unprom" the day before the official prom to counter this phenomenon. Four of my friends are going to come round my house and watch two episodes of Sherlock back to back.

I'm also wearing my suit that I'll be wearing for Sixth Form, and getting there in a black cab, and generally doing whatever I can to run counter to the whole culture.

It genuinely sickens me. The girls spend months looking for dresses on the internet. When they find one, they feel obliged to show it off on Facebook. If a more "popular" girl likes it, she'll say she wants to wear it. The girl who found it has to find another dress, because for some reason they all have to wear different dresses And they say WE'RE weird.

I actually genuinely enjoyed my prom. It's just a bit of fun when you're not into the whole popularity thing.
My brother is having his end of junior school prom next month, and he and his friends are going in a limo! My mum thinks it's crazy but I would have loved it when I was in year 6.

It's the triple horn of Odin. Pagan =/= Wicca.

According to some websites I looked at, it's all Glee's fault.....

Though I think the idea took root earlier. First mention I saw for the UK was for 2003/2004(?) . There was certainly none of it when I was at school. All we had was the school disco. If that sounds crap, it was. The highlight was finding out who'd smuggled in the vodka!

I am kinda jealous of denmark because they are rated high up on the happiness scale of countries...and it is pretty up there.

+20


Well said. I really get sick and tired of politics controlling our country. Anyway I don't really know what being an american is about. I don't believe in God and believe religion should be separate from state. I don't like our policies and the wars we've started over in other countries. I wish Americans would stop with these wars in politics, I hardly think one is better than the other. I like the various people living in this country and the freedom we have to express opinions though sometimes I think some of those freedoms go too far, consider the Westboro Church for example. I like some of the history that's been left behind but sadly most of it is being destroyed quicker than you can say progress. I guess you could say I'm a mix of all sorts. I don't know exactly what qualifies for being an American. I hear the ole' God fearing racist redneck american an awful lot. I live in Missouri and have had people assume me to be this bible belt woman who supports the wars over in the East without getting to know me first. I suppose you can say everyone including the non-americans has a little american in them...


Oh and as for culture, I'm very much into foreign films and BBC shows. However these days I don't watch TV for financial reasons. Now I just read books and listen to music or find something on the internet to read or say.