Reply #65: Some thoughts [View All]

[HGSpectre]

Very interesting discussion and I'm sorry to hear that your wife's experiences cause her discomfort. A non-confrontational "As an American, I don't really think it's fair when people use sweeping generalizations about people" would at least make them think (hopefully) about their comments.

This is also not an isolated situation by any means. I forget where but I recently read an article on Americans living in France having the same difficulties. Then again, look at some of the very public expressions of the American view when it comes to "The French". Cheese-eating surrender-monkeys?

Individual vs. collective identities will always collide when it comes to hot-button subjects. Perhaps in the case of America it is more common because the word "American" doesn't just refer to nationality, it represents a way of life - one that is continually being portrayed as the ultimate ideal all others should strive to imitate.