I dont remember who it was but i liked it so much that i saved it in a text file:
Unlike many other countries in the developed world, where it is almost traditional to travel internationally soon after graduation, most americans will never stray outside their own borders; so they get no real firsthand experience of what the rest of the world is like, and can only form opinions based on what they were taught in school (not much) and what they see on TV (typically biased).
You pledge allegience to the flag every morning in school; proceed to learn about Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Paul Revere, Lewis and Clark, Slavery, the US Civil War, how approxiately a dozen Americans defeated the entire English army, then Hitlers army. And that about sums up all the world history you'll get, at least until college (university), if you attend.
Those with more worldly experience may have visited the 3rd world country below them, Mexico, or (what they consider) the 51st State above them, Canada. Some may consider Hawaii an international destination.
I would guess less than 1% of Americans have gone any further.
I have met a scary number of adults here who think that England is still ruled by the Queen and that the USA is the only country with 'Freedom' or 'Democracy' or toilet paper. They do try to give you that impression.
Call it patriotism or propaganda, but this country is more fanatically in love with itself than any other. It really puts itself on a pedastool. Flags on everything. Declarations of 'Land of the Free, Home of the Brave', 'These Colors Don't Run', and other silly solgans on billboards. Businesses even whore out 911 in radio commercials, using patriotism to push product. Politicans compete with eachother on how many times they can incorporate the phrase 'Greatest Nation On Earth' into their speeches. It would border on bizarre if you weren't so used to it.
So of course, with all that around them, a lot of people believe it.
But all the flag-waving and rhetoric would be no more than annoying, if not for the fact that it is blinding the population to abuses of power. America is not a facist regime Yet. I don't know that it ever could be. But they are certainly putting the tools in place to make that a possibility. And that's far more significant than the particular individual who happens to take office.
Unlike many other countries in the developed world, where it is almost traditional to travel internationally soon after graduation, most americans will never stray outside their own borders; so they get no real firsthand experience of what the rest of the world is like, and can only form opinions based on what they were taught in school (not much) and what they see on TV (typically biased).
You pledge allegience to the flag every morning in school; proceed to learn about Christopher Columbus, George Washington, Paul Revere, Lewis and Clark, Slavery, the US Civil War, how approxiately a dozen Americans defeated the entire English army, then Hitlers army. And that about sums up all the world history you'll get, at least until college (university), if you attend.
Those with more worldly experience may have visited the 3rd world country below them, Mexico, or (what they consider) the 51st State above them, Canada. Some may consider Hawaii an international destination.
I would guess less than 1% of Americans have gone any further.
I have met a scary number of adults here who think that England is still ruled by the Queen and that the USA is the only country with 'Freedom' or 'Democracy' or toilet paper. They do try to give you that impression.
Call it patriotism or propaganda, but this country is more fanatically in love with itself than any other. It really puts itself on a pedastool. Flags on everything. Declarations of 'Land of the Free, Home of the Brave', 'These Colors Don't Run', and other silly solgans on billboards. Businesses even whore out 911 in radio commercials, using patriotism to push product. Politicans compete with eachother on how many times they can incorporate the phrase 'Greatest Nation On Earth' into their speeches. It would border on bizarre if you weren't so used to it.
So of course, with all that around them, a lot of people believe it.
But all the flag-waving and rhetoric would be no more than annoying, if not for the fact that it is blinding the population to abuses of power. America is not a facist regime Yet. I don't know that it ever could be. But they are certainly putting the tools in place to make that a possibility. And that's far more significant than the particular individual who happens to take office.
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