Why do they want to be us?

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 1:59pm

I have always wondered why other countries feel the need to try to be America. I think that the beliefs of the artist quoted below are hollow. It's not as if Americans invaded his country and forced him to start living like us.

An example I always think of is fast food in foreign countries. Yes McDonalds and others go and set up shop there to turn a profit. But nobody is forcing the locals to adapt to that lifestyle. They have a choice. What is your opinion on America being blamed for the loss of everyone else's culture?

"We are all under the influence -- and it's a very bad influence -- from America," said the 49-year-old Dane. "In my country everything has to do with America. America is kind of sitting on the world. America has to do with 60 percent of my brain and all things I experience in my life, and I'm not happy about that," von Trier said. I'd say 60 percent of my life is American so I am in fact an 'American' too. But I can't go there and vote or change anything there. That is why I make films about America."

http://reuters.myway.com/article/20050516/2005-05-16T160306Z_01_N16697712_RTRIDST_0_NEWS-ARTS-CANNES-AMERICA-DC.html

Updated On: 5/16/05 at 01:59 PM

[AbbaRabbit]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 2:33pm

My cousin Timmy and his wife Sarah took this on a recent trip to Japan. It's an add on a bus.

It amuses me that every other courty wants ot be like America, and people in America are so facinated with other cultures.

Updated On: 5/16/05 at 02:33 PM

[Elphaba]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 2:37pm

it may be because they all think that the streets are paved with gold here.....while we that live here know the truth. We are just as human as anyone else......and perhaps they don't see that......although King George is making a point of making sure EVERYONE knows how bad we can be.

There is nowhere else I would rather live, but with rights being deleted, that could change.

We could eaisly become the Christian version of Iran if we are not careful.......and the book 'A Handmaidens Tale' does not seem so far-fetched....nor does Escape from Los Angeles......

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:06pm

Third world countries (and their people) look up to industrialized nations (and their people) and try to emmulate them. (I say third world because that's what I can relate to) When foreign companies set shop in our countries, local companies with limited resources cannot compete. It's like the war being waged in the US... WalMart or K-Mart going into a small town and destroying the local shops. There's no way they can compete.

And like the US, people want to emmulate what they see at the movies and on tv. And, for the most part, it's America.

But, I agree... part of the responsibility relies on the people of other countries to maintain their idiosyncrasies. It makes me so sad when I go home, and what used to be a nice, rustic beach with a couple of cafes now has Pizza Hut, McDonalds and Burger King.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:09pm

America is losing its pizazz. Well, economy-wise at least. The dollar is rapidly losing value, especially compared to the Euro.

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:11pm

I was born and raised in England, but was an American citizen because of my parents. Although, I only felt English. I was thrilled every time another American something (television show, fast-food joint, t-shirt, whatever) came to England. Now, I wish the rest of the world wasn't so Americanized. It is up to the individual countries to keep their identities.

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:14pm

You know you're Americanized if you say "like" after every other word. Or simply use it as a filler. We have a foreign exchange student from Norway/Netherlands, and she definitely notices a change in her speech, especially using like. Also, we have two girls from England, and though their accent is still present, they have "like" before every adjective.

[ConvinceMe2]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:17pm

How awful! That really is a very prevalent and annoying thing here. What's its origin?

[Aigoo]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:19pm

Beats me. And I know it's annoying, I catch myself doing it all the time, and I try to stop, but any sentence just sounds awkward without it. And even though I try not to (I tell myself in my head not to say it), it just slips out right before giving an example of something, orrr...when I describe something. It's really annoying to myself, but it sounds so awkward when I don't put it in. I'm not one of those people who say it literally, every other word, but I still use it quite often. Better than the run-of-the-mill "ummmmmmmmmm"

Updated On: 5/16/05 at 04:19 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:19pm

"Now, I wish the rest of the world wasn't so Americanized. It is up to the individual countries to keep their identities."

I agree. The first trip I ever made outside the U.S. was to London. I was all set to hit the fish and chip shops. But all I could see was McDonalds and Pizza Hut. It drove me crazy.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:22pm

"How awful! That really is a very prevalent and annoying thing here. What's its origin?"

"Like" comes from the Valley Girl talk of the late 1970's.

Like, gag me with a spoon.

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:24pm

But it's happening everywhere, even in the US. Before it was a thrill to go to NYC for Macy's and Bloomingdales... but now you can find one (or both) of them in every major american city. Every mall across America has exactly the same stores. Why go shopping to LA when we have the same shops here in Seattle? Main Streets are becoming a big-box retailer surrounded by a town.

And yes, I wish the rest of the world wasn't so americanized, and I wish America wasn't so homogenized.

[papalovesmambo]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:24pm

a weak dollar means that american goods are cheaper overseas which spurs manufactuing which is the segment of economy that needs the biggest boost.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 5/16/05 at 4:31pm

"The grass is always greener"

I think you are probably right. Whenever I go to London, I always think, "Why can't NYC be more like this? None of the loud horn blaring. Good Shakespeare theater. Afternoon tea. Why is NYC missing all of this?"