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Why are we (or was I) taught that America is SO amazing and special?
I love this country and wouldn't live anywhere else, but being taught that you are special and unique is the equivalent of treating you like a child and it is dangerous, especially when it damages your education.
This is an example: I was never told that England had a checks and balances system of government before the Revolutionary War. (Thomas Paine talks about the failures of their government in Common Sense). How many "dumb American" jokes can you make from hearing that?
I don't need to be told this to know it (because I know), and make all of the jokes that you want; that is not the point. I want to know why Americans are told we are one-of-a-kind. We aren't. We are one country among many and we live in history just like everyone else.
(If you were taught that England had this system of government, that's great. Again, that's beside the point; it's only an example I'm using to make my point).
3 Answers
- 7 years ago
Because there is soooo much history that it makes sense to focus on the most relevant to you, i.e. your own county's history. In school you get a flavour for a subject but it's only a tiny snapshot of what you can learn if you want to expand your studies.
Every country is unique (even if there are similarities to this form of government or that one) and it's natural to feel pride in your country's achievements (unless you're British, in which case people will think you're mad). No country get's it right all the time. American style pride in one's country is something that I and many other people here wish we could generate, but on the whole we are too miserable!
What you seem to be getting at is the importance of critical thinking, honourable opposition to government and openmindedness about how to make things better.
Source(s): just another Brit... - 7 years ago
I understand what you mean but there are definitely reasons to be proud of being american for a few century country weve climbed that ladder to the top and even though the checks and balances were in place they didnt apply to the colonial settlement we were secondhand citizens that
Got taxed out the ***
Source(s): History buff - 6 years ago
Sometimes I proud that I'm American some times not
Cuz,when I hear that there are more than 3.5 millions,homeless makes,me,of,course sad
But when I hear that my country is the strongest country in the world makes,Me of course proud there's no country in the world quite amazing there's bad side and good,side
