The idea of this thread is simply to provide relief / another viewpoint on the 'other side'
If you are from the US say what you like most about the UK
if you are from the UK say what you like most about the US.
No negativity.
I implore members of the collective and teh to both participate, this may be a waste of time, but it might be a step towards a greater understanding and improved relations.
(I apologise to people from other countries who I have left out).
I didn't say there was't. The US looks to be a beautiful country in places and stuff.
I was talking specifically about the state/culture which has produced nothing of much value. There's the odd exception but they usually fall outside of what anyone would consider culutrally 'American'.
The main thing the US has given the rest of the world is its particular form of white male heteronormative patriarchal capitalist consumerism (and those institutions which serve as advertisments for that way of life such as Hollywood and the music industry etc.).
In art - they've given us some great artists but haven't really contributed much to art dialogue. I don't think their culture allows that. They gave us pop art (that is to say american culture did, whether you think it originated in the US or UK is irrelevant) and abstrct expressionism. Both of which rejected the progress art had made in Europe and were, in different ways, introspective and insular and couldn't possibly lead anywhere (anywhere good at least). There is Whistler, who is generally unrecognised for the progress he did make.
Ok, I like Whistler.
Umm. No idea what I was saying.
Heh sorry came down a bit harsh really. Just I was trying to get people to see what is good about each other's respective countries. Maybe that would inspire more understanding and reasonable debate.
But i'm probably just living in lala land as usual :)
Yes Big Macs do have a certain something about them, I wouldn't say they taste great but I often want one.
Perhaps we should question what they put in it to make us want such drivel.
I like a lot of the people, although many Americans tend to be closed minded towards the idea of alternative religions (by virtue of the fact that they are conditioned to 'believe' in God) which I think impedes on their understanding of other people & cultures.
I like the 'independant' films, such as those directed by Cameron Crowe, Kevin Smith, Richard Linklater (amongst others)
I love a lot of the non-mainstream music as the people involved tend to be those who are dissolusioned by the state, or are open to ideas outside the norm.
I like Pizza Hut & KFC.
It's funny, it's always said that Texas is the right wing state, but we have an office in Austin, and everyone I know who's visited from there has been totally pleasant & seem totally chilled out. I think it's probably a case of 'he who hawks loudest gets heard'
I like the word moron, when spoken by middle-aged East Coast women to their husbands on snowy Boston streets, when it sounds like "mwwwwooooooooooron" and echoes like a plaintive animal cry of lost love in the chill winter air. I imagine it happens quite often. I only witnessed it once.
And I like Mike Watt, Iggy & The Stooges, my basses, pisswater American lagers, the Chrysler Building, Kurt Vonnegut, the films, my American friends and lots of other things.
Good for you, I'm glad to see you doing your bit for happy international relations.
Keep it up and you will soon have some :J