Another perspective?
The USA is 228 years old (counting from declaration of independence - 221, if counting from constitution), OK - as I do not know from when the USA count themselves, let's say about 225 years.
Think back in history - where were our countries in that time, and what (other!) development have our respective societies had? Hey, when my grandfather became adult, Germany still had an emperor - when my father became adult, Hitler was a very recent, factually contemporary, memory...
In the 20th century (remember? That was just recently <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/winkwink.gif" alt="" />) every Middle European nation (safe Switzerland) has fought AND LOST wars - on their ground. In every family native to this region family members have died, lost property, felt the direct consequences of war - first hand information has been passed on to the next generation - that's us. Biased, tainted at times - maybe; but also real lifetime experience.
There have been famines, depressions, dictatorial governments - all affecting not only a part, but a significant part, a majority of the population.
Blessed America had a lot less of all that - at least to the point of affecting the whole population; and that in itself is quite an achievement -
which accounts for a number of cultural differences in attitudes toward
- governmental control;
- self responsibility;
- protectionism;
- missionarian zeal;
- social care;
- hospitality;
- discrimination;
- economics (how often have any of you changed a basic thing as the currency?)
... (you name it)
The times are changing - rapidly, and for all of us, undoubtedly. For some, it's (and was) a development on a reasonably straight line - for others it's (more was now) a jumping progression - over hurdles and in various directions.
