Re: A World Without America
Phil,
I think where we differ is that part of your assessment requires that my parents would still have met. You seem more confident in what I would call fate than I am. I would submit that at least three generations that are currently in the US would not have been the same people, and that our unique (but similar to some) culture also plays a role in those collective peoples' ideologies, accomplishments and impact on the planet. I mentioned a similar list of multicultural places that you refer to, but none as large as the US, and I believe that is my point about the math. The sheer numbers, and IMHO, the more variability of the multi part, results in a unique and more diverse whole.
Also, with regard to my fate comment and the impact of environment on behavior, I don't agree with this statement:
"If America wasn't there/uninhabited, you would still be on this planet, with round eyes and white skin, probably with a Cornish accent, (joke...better include that) same family...enviroment....playing with boats...same..same..same...."
I guess this is the age old argument, genetics or environment. I tend to lean toward genetics as having a very strong role in a person's more general tendencies, but I acknowledge a significant role of environment as well. I think that environment has a stronger impact on societal behavior. I have spent a shed load of time in the UK. I know them pretty well, I am currently spending a smaller shed's load of time in OZ. I can categorically say that from my experience we are different peoples on a day to day, hour to hour basis. As far as a country's personality might be described, I believe that Aussies are more like Californians than they are Poms. But I would also say that language and food, you are more like Poms than Americans.
In business I find the average Aussie (whatever that is) to be much more thorough in regards to analysis, risk prevention, even maybe more professional than Americans. They also share little bits of info all over the country and business rumors travel like wildfire. Everybody in the bloody country that is remotely linked to my visits, knows my comings and goings, every trip. It is spooky. When I return home, I'll get an email saying something like: "I know you were in Melbourne yesterday and we are disappointed that you didn't come by to see us". That would never happen in the States. Probably even less so in the UK. A Pom would say "Oh he was here? Well I am glad he didn't come by, I didn't have the time in my diary anyway".
I find the Poms less trusting. They see a crook at every corner, and in many cases there is one. They also pursue wealth individually as more of a status thing, whereas Americans seem to pursue wealth simply to get more stuff, support their family better, and "succeed" (whatever that is). In fact for whatever reason, Poms expect petty crime, they tolerate it and they think (and talk) about it almost non-stop. Also, they treat their Ministers as more of an elite class than we would. Something that struck me was that when a Pom writes to a Minister they will use "we are grateful" as we would use "we would appreciate". I think there is an underlying legacy from the Monarchy that leads to this word choice. And I believe there has to be some impact on thoughts and resulting actions . . .
I think this small description of the differences between very similar peoples
does affect our views of the big picture, and in turn does affect our actions, large and small. Who knows what this world would be like if Australia was the place of 300 million and the US had 20 million and still had a pic of the Queen on her money
I don't believe it would be the same, and I could believe that it could be better. Whatever that means . . .
Oh, oh, BTW . . . I thought we were the biggest contributors to Global Warming. Oh, and how would you even know about it if we didn't produce Al Gore? :=
