A young persons view - Human-beings twisted minds
Reader comment on item: Europeans: From Venus?

Submitted by Matilde Andersen (Denmark), Apr 15, 2009 at 12:01

Hello.

Many may wonder why I even bother writing on a 7-year old post.
Well, to make it short. It's because it matters.

Before I get into all the hard stuff, I'll start by saying I'm a girl, soon 15 years old and I live in Denmark, in Northern Europe.
I've read most of the answers, all that, by a glance, caught my interest.
I think it's very sad to see how people generally end up protecting where they're from, and blaming everything on the other part.

Let's start off with what people has said alot about in this discussion:

- Americans doesn't know about anything outside their own borders, unless it's war. (Seems to be the feeling of many europeans)
This is to make a problem bigger than it really is. America is a new country, and their population comes from all over the world. The good thing about that, is that all people can come to America and still feel a little bit of home. They are always changing, and they are the 'Land where dreams come true', 'Land of the Brave', 'Home of the Free' etc. etc. because everybody can be something in America, no matter where you're from.
The reason why they're the 'Land of The Braves' are because they are not afraid to do something. If they want to get it through, they WILL it through! This may come from the time where America was born. Young, old, poor and unemployed people made a country from the dust.
So now they can make something from nothing. And certainly, some of them know that themselves.

The other side of the coin is that maybe America may be a little too We-Can-Do-It-And-We-Can-Do-It-On-Our-Own.
There is a tendency that some Americans don't think they need the rest of the world. Because the have the greatest military forces. They were a great help to Europe under the World Wars. They fight terrorism.
But, but, but. Is it a great way to ask Iraq to leave their bombs, when they themselves stand with a weapon against Iraqs throat?
Is it good for a country to focus on the world, but forget themselves?
Look at 11/9, yes, this was defiently well-planned and all, but America didn't think something like that would happen to them. 'Traitors among their own lines'. The same with the Columbine Massacre, and the Virginia Tech massacre. Where were the people to take care of these youths? I don't mean the parents, I mean, who checked that felt comfortable with themselves and looked out for them? ... And was the We-Fight-The-Wrong-mentality a HELP to get these teens to leave the guns at home?

Now, new point.
Europe are jealous that America are on all the power that formerly were Europe's.
- At some point, I agree. Before America, long before America. Europe were at the top of their game. They owned the oceans, the technology, the wisedom and the land. But then the working class, who (unknown to the upper class of Europe) were the one who made Europe so great, travelled to America. At first, Europe were still the best. They were still the richest. But then came the World Wars. And America were much better prepared than a great deal of Europe. After the Wars Europe had lost billions. America still had many, many people left and didn't lose nearly as much. So the before great Europe know needed to plead their little sister-country for help. So naturally, it may have been shameful for Europe. They were poor and had lost millions, so jealous come naturally when they saw the growing, great America.

Americans don't have any culture.
-Relax, people. Both Europe and America is still growing. Europe is growing because of the massive loss at the wars, and America is still very young.
Culture comes of history and traditions. A young country like America is still trying to find their own way. I think they try hard. They are starting to have traditions that doesn't exist over other parts of the world. I hope they continue growing.

Europeans are wimps.
- This makes me associate to the first statement, and the one above this. Like I said. Both Europe and America is growing. You only learn from your mistakes. Most people know this saying. Perhaps this is why Europe doesn't fight anymore? They have lost very much, and they don't want that repeated.
Though, I must say that personally think that it's soon time for the Europeans to put themselves together.
They may have gotten scars from their previous wars, but now they seemed scared by the mere THOUGHT of fighting. Europe should stand up for themselves. But, for God's sake, don't raise weapons to fight terrorism. Because I still think that's one of the most idiotic ideas in the century.

Now, no more statements. But I just want to talk about somethings that this debate really shows something about:

Nationalism
It seems like everyone here try to protect their own country and make it the greatest. I've been in a America at several different schools, the common thing were that they all promised to serve their great, all-loving mother nation, no matter what. Every morning they did this!
They could make it sound like America was God's gift to the world. This, as a Dane, made me shiver. (<How could you make small children devote themselves to their country, when they couldn't even spell it's name? ... And on many parts the European countries isn't much better. Italy, France and Spain have absolutely no movies on televisions, where they speak english. They synchronize the whole thing. That surely isn't the way to go, if you want them to understand the English-speaking part of the world better.
In Denmark we claim that we have one the greatest countries in the world. That we are international, and great and have great connections. My ass, we have.
We have lost about every war we have EVER been in the last 300 years! About 85% of the World population would have no idea where the country was, or what the capital was! Oh, yes, and we are on the 15 nations with most alcohol per person per year. (That could have something to do, that we can buy it legally when we're 16 and assume at whatever age, if our parents says it's okay)

...Anyway. Everybody is a little of nationalist and America and Europe both have made major mistakes, but also done a lot of great stuff.

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