my new favorite quote

[phineasjones]

from an article in the nation on how europeans see the u.s. (rach read this to me over breakfast at haymarket yesterday - how appropriate).

Will Hutton, a former editor of the Observer, wrote a book portraying the United States as in "the extraordinary grip of Christian fundamentalism"; boasting a "democracy" that is "an offense to democratic ideals," where the "dominant conservatism is very ideological, almost Leninist," and is bolstered by "tenacious endemic racism," with an economy that "rests on an enormous confidence trick," and in which, incidentally, "citizens routinely shoot each other."

Comments

sounds about right

[hominidj.livejournal.com]

i think they've got us pegged.

[wildgreentide.livejournal.com]

That is depressing. On the other hand, the Europeans I've met have almost uniformly been capable of making the distinction between America the country and Americans the people. So while they dislike our government and things about our society, it doesn't usually bleed over into personal dislike of me. Small comfort, I know...

Re:

[phineasjones.livejournal.com]

yeah. well, i wouldn't blame them if they hated us all too, spoiled brats that we are.

and the thing about the general criticism is how unfortunately true it all is. ::sigh:: we stink.