Sure I'm an old European! I live here, never intend to leave it, and know a lot about its history, culture and politics.
I await with interest your pearls of American wisdom, especially about the NSDAP. Use simple words, please (ones you can spell).
LOL!
You're not a Nevell Chamberlain trust fund baby, are ya?
Ahh yes, the old wise European's are sophisticated and so well educated, while us "cowboys" just do see the "bigger picture".
I had relatives who were party members of the NSDAP. Who served in the Wehrmacht, and who served on the US side. My family had just immigrated not to long before WWI and parts are still there today. Where do you think 60% of all Americans can trace 1/8 or more of their heritage too?
I lived a total of 21 years in Germany, speak German fluently and served there in the Army as well for 3 years. I went to a German school in my early years. I have traveled to nearly EVERY European nation, including the Balkans. Do you realize that we had 300,000 people in uniform alone stationed in Germany for 50 years, rotating out every three years on average? Millions upon millions of Americans have been stationed in Germany alone.
My brother IS German. He studied Medicine at Justus Liebig in Giessen GE. (http://www.uni-giessen.de/uni/ ) He liked your “socialism” so much that he now lives in Plano Texas!
Point is: There are MANY of us that have lived or visited Europe. Many many more than the other way around. In fact, large parts of Europe: Portugal, Greece, YU, Romania, Bulgaria…..Either were forbidden to travel in the past or today can’t afford to travel to the US. However, the average American can afford travel to Europe and we do it quiet extensively. Then you add in the DoD which has brought millions there over the years.
Fact is, most Europeans get there whole “expertise” about the US from Hollywood and their state run socialist media. MOST who rip their mouth open have never been here, and have NO idea what they are talking about.
A FEW may get a small glimpse of the US IF they vacation here. Then their whole knowledge of the US is based on what they saw in Florida, the Grand Canyon, Alaska or California. Most, and I mean 99% have NO idea about what the US is, what we represent, our values, even how our government works and state is organized. They are “IGNORANT”, but that sure does not seem to slow them down in making broad sweeping statements that are always the same old $hit. Most any discussion I ever had with a German ended up with me explaining how our system of government and justice work. They have no idea about our military, no idea about our history, other than: “We killed the Indians” and “oppressed the blacks.”
All you need to do to be liked by a self-proclaimed intellectual “old” European is string these words together - Hegemonic, imperialistic, neo-colonialist, oil, Bush, Cowboy, Halliburton - and you’ll be immediately accepted as an intellectual; an expert.
If I were you I’d be embarrassed. I’d be embarrassed about what STATE institutions like the BBC broadcast and call journalism! But no, you and other Europeans with your new found fake sense of European Supra-nationalism, believing in this Pan-European dream feel compelled to defend things like using American caskets in election politics (http://medienkritik.typepad.com/blog/2005/09/election_campai.html ). You feel compelled to defend people taking political advantage of catastrophes like in New Orleans. You revel in the Schadenfreude of the carnage in Iraq. You define yourselves through opposition to the US. “Old Europe”, is a very accurate statement. Why do you think it hit such a nerve with those countries like Germany and France?
Is that enough short words and sentences for you?
Red6