what if this had been in America?

Byrnzie

Anyway, this thread seems to be venturing into the realms of the antagonistic. So I'm out of here. Don't wanna be getting another ban.

Still, thanks for the input.

It was...emotional!

DS1119

Byrnzie wrote:

DS1119 wrote:

If you don't think the US dominates the headlines worldwide you truly do live in a bubble somewhere. Pop the bubble man...it's ok. Put one of the 12 pairs of jeans you have...crank some American pop music on the radio...turn on CNN...read the Wall Street Journal....and relax. It's ok.

The U.S doesn't dominate any headlines here in China. And they don't dominate the headlines in South Korea either. Also, the U.S doesn't dominate the headlines in the U.K either. (All places where I've lived for long periods).

Maybe some other posters outside of the U.S can chime in here and tell us if the U.S dominates their headlines? Dmitris, does the U.S dominate headlines in Greece? Marina, does the U.S dominate headlines in Argentina? Emmi, does the U.S dominate headlines in Finland? (Actually, I already know the answer to that last one as I've spent a lot of time in Finland. And the answer is 'No').

Sorry to dent your self-esteem my friend. Maybe you should stop worrying about your country's self image so much and find something more productive to do? Like fishing, or learning to play the guitar?

I don't worry about my country's self image. Personally I couldn't give a shit what the world thinks about the US...however their news sources seem to indicate something different. Along with their TVS, radios, pop culture, political positioning etc seems to do.

DS1119

Byrnzie wrote:

Anyway, this thread seems to be venturing into the realms of the antagonistic. So I'm out of here. Don't wanna be getting another ban.

Still, thanks for the input.

It was...emotional!

Don't respond then...becasue you only prove my point!

dunkman

DS1119 wrote:

dunkman wrote:

DS1119 wrote:

Yes I have. Through Europe actually. They played a lot of US shows on TV, US music on the radio, and they all wore jeans. Pretty sure the entire continent spoke English as well...but that was just pure coincidence.

I went through America... they played lots of hispanic shows, latin music on the radio and they all wore Bermuda shorts pretty sure the entire continent spoke Spanish as well.... but that was just pure coincidence

I don't speak Spanish and I don't know anyone who does. I don't see road signs in SPanish or even SPanish newspapers here. Hmm..

you've missed the point.. yet again.

You said EVERYONE wears jeans in Europe.... not true :fp: but I love how you think America's greatest cultural contribution to the world is denim trousers...

you also said everyone on the continent spoke English... I'll remind you that English is a British language and not an American one... so fuck knows that the point of you typing that was?

I also know that US radio plays tons of British music on its airwaves... what point this has I have no idea? but The Beatles win against ehhhhh fucking Aerosmith or whatever shit US rock band didnt conquer the world. British culture is actually more apparent throughout the world than US culture. After all we did conquer a 3rd of the world at one point so it kinda infiltrated into their lifes.... if by US culture you mean other nations like Coca Cola and watching re-runs of Friends then thats true, but British culture is a bit more than that... its culture for a start

redrock

dunkman wrote:

but I love how you think America's greatest cultural contribution to the world is denim trousers...

Even that can be disputed....

Jason P

Byrnzie wrote:

The U.S doesn't dominate any headlines here in China. And they don't dominate the headlines in South Korea either. Also, the U.S doesn't dominate the headlines in the U.K either. (All places where I've lived for long periods).

Except when Romney is in town.

Also, with all those Guardian links you post, I find that hard to believe.

Jason P

Who Princess wrote:

Well, we can get by in the States with just English, although I suspect we might be speaking some version of Spanglish in another generation. I understand the need for knowing other languages if you live in proximity to many other countries. It's just the attitude against learning another language that tends to bother me. In college, I used to hear people rail about how unfair that was, how they would never need it. Maybe you won't need it but it also teaches you about other countries and other cultures. It makes you think more as a citizen of the world, so to speak, and I think it encourages you to take an interest in events in other places. I minored in German and I still like to look at Der Spiegel on line.

I also tend to think it teaches you a lot about your own language as well, but I think that's just me.

I agree that we can get by with just English. That's also what makes learning another language so hard. Unless you have plans to go to a country where the language is spoken, most of what you learned will be forgotten.

I have some cousins that send their kids to a school where only French is spoken (which I find odd since they don't speak French ... I can only imagine how much havoc my siblings and I would have caused if we had a secret code that our parents didn't understand). I think they will retain it since they are starting in elementary school, but I have friends that took Spanish all the way through high school and college and they can't tell me what the people on Telemundo are saying.

If a second language is a priority, the education system needs to start it in elementary school ... hell, I know how to say water and count to ten in Spanish thanks to Sesame Street (cerveza was learned later in my life for good reason )

dunkman

redrock wrote:

dunkman wrote:

but I love how you think America's greatest cultural contribution to the world is denim trousers...

Even that can be disputed....

you are indeed correct

Denim has been in American usage since the late 18th century. The word comes from the name of a sturdy fabric called serge, originally made in Nîmes, France, by the André family. Originally called Serge de Nîmes, the name was soon shortened to denim. Denim was traditionally colored blue with indigo dye to make blue "jeans", though "jean" then denoted a different, lighter cotton textile; the contemporary use of jean comes from the French word for Genoa, Italy (Gênes), where the first denim trousers were made.

catefrances

DS1119 wrote:

I don't worry about my country's self image. Personally I couldn't give a shit what the world thinks about the US...however their news sources seem to indicate something different. Along with their TVS, radios, pop culture, political positioning etc seems to do.

you say you dont worry about your countrys self image but do you think about the impact your country has on the rest of the world.. or is that something that doesnt worry you either??

Who Princess

Jason P wrote:

I agree that we can get by with just English. That's also what makes learning another language so hard. Unless you have plans to go to a country where the language is spoken, most of what you learned will be forgotten.

I agree. I was fairly fluent in German when I was in college but later had no one to speak it with. It was very frustrating. It comes back if I'm around it though, as when I had a German co-worker. He was pretty patient with me.

Jason P wrote:

I have some cousins that send their kids to a school where only French is spoken (which I find odd since they don't speak French ... I can only imagine how much havoc my siblings and I would have caused if we had a secret code that our parents didn't understand). I think they will retain it since they are starting in elementary school, but I have friends that took Spanish all the way through high school and college and they can't tell me what the people on Telemundo are saying.

If a second language is a priority, the education system needs to start it in elementary school ... hell, I know how to say water and count to ten in Spanish thanks to Sesame Street (cerveza was learned later in my life for good reason )

Here in Texas and other border states, it makes plenty of sense to know some Spanish. Despite many people's perceptions, immigrants want to learn English. But people tend to fall back on their native language in certain situations. I work in social services and can get through a few essential phrases but when people are under stress or dealing with something critical, it helps if they can speak with someone fluent in their native language.

Not a lot of use for German around here.

Who Princess

DS1119 wrote:

dunkman wrote:

DS1119 wrote:

Yes I have. Through Europe actually. They played a lot of US shows on TV, US music on the radio, and they all wore jeans. Pretty sure the entire continent spoke English as well...but that was just pure coincidence.

I went through America... they played lots of hispanic shows, latin music on the radio and they all wore Bermuda shorts pretty sure the entire continent spoke Spanish as well.... but that was just pure coincidence

I don't speak Spanish and I don't know anyone who does. I don't see road signs in SPanish or even SPanish newspapers here. Hmm..

Weren't you thinking of moving to the Southwest? If you do, you're going to meet a LOT of people who speak Spanish and see plenty of signs in Spanish and Spanish publications.

A number of my co-workers are fluent in Spanish and they're not immigrants either, legal or undocumented. Our receptionist speaks it, which you might expect, but so does our executive director (the CEO or el jefe).

Drowned Out

The US does not dominate headlines anywhere but the US. I would imagine that in westernized nations, the closer to the US the nation is (physically and culturally), the more frequently you would see headlines about the US there. Why? Not because of the superior influence of your culture, but because the closer you are to the US, the more likely you are to have ties to it, and the more likely consumers are to be interested in it…which is the bottom line with headlines – selling the media (and ad space) from which it comes. That aspect is about money, not some admiration of your culture. Aside from the personal interest aspect here in Canada, to a lesser extent in Mexico, and I’d imagine an even lesser one in other ally countries, I have rarely, rarely seen any mention of the US in foreign papers, aside from articles about trade, or military action. In other words, empire. That’s not culture.
The cultural influence the US DOES have in other countries is in part a result of empire building. I won’t pretend US culture is without merit. But for the most part, it’s all integrated into a broader western collective.

This whole argument is….kinda redundant. WESTERN culture dominates ALL western nations. Euro-centric culture…. The US is a nation of immigrants…. Without the influence of Western European beliefs, traditions, and ideals, American culture would be completely different. You might even consider aboriginal culture a part of your own :roll:

DS1119

dunkman wrote:

you've missed the point.. yet again.

You said EVERYONE wears jeans in Europe.... not true :fp: but I love how you think America's greatest cultural contribution to the world is denim trousers...

you also said everyone on the continent spoke English... I'll remind you that English is a British language and not an American one... so fuck knows that the point of you typing that was?

I also know that US radio plays tons of British music on its airwaves... what point this has I have no idea? but The Beatles win against ehhhhh fucking Aerosmith or whatever shit US rock band didnt conquer the world. British culture is actually more apparent throughout the world than US culture. After all we did conquer a 3rd of the world at one point so it kinda infiltrated into their lifes.... if by US culture you mean other nations like Coca Cola and watching re-runs of Friends then thats true, but British culture is a bit more than that... its culture for a start

I guess i deviated over to culture last night...too much to drink last night...but oh well. It does still actually dominate the world but that's another thread. And to think that the rest of the World doesn't concentrate...over analyze....put the US under the microscope...is just plain ignorance.

DS1119

catefrances wrote:

DS1119 wrote:

I don't worry about my country's self image. Personally I couldn't give a shit what the world thinks about the US...however their news sources seem to indicate something different. Along with their TVS, radios, pop culture, political positioning etc seems to do.

you say you dont worry about your countrys self image but do you think about the impact your country has on the rest of the world.. or is that something that doesnt worry you either??

As long as we keep chugging along...to be quite honest I couldn't care...and I'm pretty sure that's the feeling of the majority here...and the feeling of citizens for their respective countries worldwide as well.

JonnyPistachio

DS1119 wrote:

I guess i deviated over to culture last night...too much to drink last night...but oh well. It does still actually dominate the world but that's another thread. And to think that the rest of the World doesn't concentrate...over analyze....put the US under the microscope...is just plain ignorance.

:fp:
is your buzz from last night still following you around?

Do you know the meaning of Dominate?

dominate (ˈdɒmɪˌneɪt)

— vb
1. to control, rule, or govern (someone or something)
2. to tower above (surroundings, etc); overlook

DS1119

Who Princess wrote:

Weren't you thinking of moving to the Southwest? If you do, you're going to meet a LOT of people who speak Spanish and see plenty of signs in Spanish and Spanish publications.

A number of my co-workers are fluent in Spanish and they're not immigrants either, legal or undocumented. Our receptionist speaks it, which you might expect, but so does our executive director (the CEO or el jefe).

I don't understand your point? Many along the border here in NY can speak French as well. :?

DS1119

JonnyPistachio wrote:

DS1119 wrote:

I guess i deviated over to culture last night...too much to drink last night...but oh well. It does still actually dominate the world but that's another thread. And to think that the rest of the World doesn't concentrate...over analyze....put the US under the microscope...is just plain ignorance.

:fp:
is your buzz from last night still following you around?

Do you know the meaning of Dominate?

dominate (ˈdɒmɪˌneɪt)

— vb
1. to control, rule, or govern (someone or something)
2. to tower above (surroundings, etc); overlook

I recommend you do some google searching. Unless you live in China...is google still banned there?

JonnyPistachio

DS1119 wrote:

JonnyPistachio wrote:

DS1119 wrote:

I guess i deviated over to culture last night...too much to drink last night...but oh well. It does still actually dominate the world but that's another thread. And to think that the rest of the World doesn't concentrate...over analyze....put the US under the microscope...is just plain ignorance.

:fp:
is your buzz from last night still following you around?

Do you know the meaning of Dominate?

dominate (ˈdɒmɪˌneɪt)

— vb
1. to control, rule, or govern (someone or something)
2. to tower above (surroundings, etc); overlook

I recommend you do some google searching. Unless you live in China...is google still banned there?

Google? You want me to learn about US culture in Malta from googling? You've got to be kidding.
Are you missing the point that perhaps you should reconsider the phrase US Culture DOMINATES the world. Do you realize how irrational that sounds? You could say that some US culture is popular in Yemen. Or dang, the Japanese sure do enjoy a Harley. but "Dominate?" Come on man. Its embarrasing. Do you know how old culture from italy is compared to the USA? You've taken history right? Or are we just talking about reality shows and Justin Beiber?

DS1119

JonnyPistachio wrote:

Google? You want me to learn about US culture in Malta from googling? You've got to be kidding.
Are you missing the point that perhaps you should reconsider the phrase US Culture DOMINATES the world. Do you realize how irrational that sounds? You could say that some US culture is popular in Yemen. Or dang, the Japanese sure do enjoy a Harley. but "Dominate?" Come on man. Its embarrasing. Do you know how old culture from italy is compared to the USA? You've taken history right? Or are we just talking about reality shows and Justin Beiber?

It;s truth actually. I'll use your Yemen example...how much culture from Yemen has trickled into US culture?

JonnyPistachio

DS1119 wrote:

JonnyPistachio wrote:

Google? You want me to learn about US culture in Malta from googling? You've got to be kidding.
Are you missing the point that perhaps you should reconsider the phrase US Culture DOMINATES the world. Do you realize how irrational that sounds? You could say that some US culture is popular in Yemen. Or dang, the Japanese sure do enjoy a Harley. but "Dominate?" Come on man. Its embarrasing. Do you know how old culture from italy is compared to the USA? You've taken history right? Or are we just talking about reality shows and Justin Beiber?

It;s truth actually. I'll use your Yemen example...how much culture from Yemen has trickled into US culture?

That has nothing to do with it. Nice try spinning it around though. Point is -- that you didnt address -- is that US Culture doesn't dominate the world. It simply doesn't. Yes, it spreads easily...but dominate? Nope. This is why the rest of the world thinks were arrogant. I'm done, see ya. Off to the Lounge car...