The concept of a "long standing alliance between Europe and America" is nothing but a myth. Throughout the 19th Century, we fought wars, directly and indirectly, declared and undeclared with England, France and Spain. In 1902, we nearly came to blows with the Kaiser over his plans for Venezuela. After great reluctance (and shear stupidity on the part of a one Wilhelm Hohenzollern), we entered WWI. The politics of war and peace left a bitter taste for us: we didn't even ratify the stupid treaty that was supposed to solve all problems for all times. As a result, the public was reluctant to get into "another mess in Europe" now called WWII. We helped oust that maniac with the hokie mustache and then propped up the western half of the continent so as to keep the other manic dictator and his successors out.
We are a nation mostly populated by people who fled Europe for a better life here. If Europe is so great, then why did we leave? And there's the problem with Europe: the smart ones either came here or went to Australia.
Twice in the last hundred years enough; is saving Europe from their own problems a third time since 1917 too much? Maybe not; but don;t bet on it.
The smart ones come from all over the world - making it the only consistently ever-improving gene pool on the planet.
Hear! Hear! My mother's folks were Ukrainian immigrants. Lovely, warm, sophisticated people. I'm a xenophile to this day because of them.
We are a nation mostly populated by people who fled Europe for a better life here. If Europe is so great, then why did we leave? And there's the problem with Europe: the smart ones either came here or went to Australia."
My sentiments exactly. America is the anti-Europe.
Just recently watched Frank Capra's Why we fight series. You are right. WWII was seen as "another mess in Europe." They took opinion polls even back then and the people would have none of it. Some bone-chilling similarities in attitude.