It's ok, go ahead - be proud to live in the USA !!

[ColinEssex]

There's a lot of advantages to living in the UK and the USA - I often wonder whether our own self-criticism and anxiety holds us back (and a problem in all other countries)

There must be some attraction to coming to the UK. We have had 40,000 illegal immigrants landing here this year from France. Why do they travel up through Europe to get across the English Channel to the UK? When they get here, they are put up in city centre hotels, paid for by the UK government. They are entitled to free healthcare and clothing and schooling. They get money in the form of benefits, and they are usually granted citizenship to stay in the UK. Just what is the attraction?
Col

 

[NauticalGent]

There must be some attraction to coming to the UK. We have had 40,000 illegal immigrants landing here this year from France. Why do they travel up through Europe to get across the English Channel to the UK? When they get here, they are put up in city centre hotels, paid for by the UK government. They are entitled to free healthcare and clothing and schooling. They get money in the form of benefits, and they are usually granted citizenship to stay in the UK. Just what is the attraction?
Col

Why, it is YOU of course!

 

[Isaac]

I'm not sure this is strictly true.
You very rarely hear a normal (Non Media) British person saying they are any good at anything.

We could be accused of thinking we are superior, but we very rarely actually come out and say it. From a public perspective that's definitely a more American trait.
We do of course have a smug satisfaction that we are obviously superior

Because we do have centuries of history it's not the only thing we are good at displaying, but as a visiting tourist, you are unlikely to see medical and other world-leading scientific research that is carried out within our industries and our Universities.
We still make some of the best cars in the world. And our real beer is better

Unfortunately, our government and politicians have joined the ranks of the highly untrustworthy, and are out of touch with reality, and the news is now social media frenzy driven rather than objective and fact-driven. Our media isn't quite as polarised as the US news networks, but you still need to get three or four opinions from different sources to get some degree of balance.

I guess I would agree with all that. It's the smug satisfaction that perhaps is less subtle than you may think.
Funny - some people say Americans are self absorbed, (and yes, strictly speaking too many Americans are self-absorbed), but I think people in Britain come across haughty (somewhat different than being self absorbed, for sure). Perhaps everyone is right to some extent.

I guess I just am reacting to decades of self-talk that Americans are bad, Americans are stuck up, Americans think they are "all that" - then I did finally make my trip to Europe recently (but haven't talked about it for some of these reasons), and was somewhat disappointed. I realized that Americans are really not all that bad, rather, some of the less than desirable things about the UK (and Ireland, but that's a different story) stood out to me and I gained some national pride of my own back (not terrible in its own right). Everywhere I went it seemed like the cities and towns were 90% built for the tour coaches needs and 10% substance. I greatly admired the history of it (sincerely), but I realized that most people I saw were engaged mostly in simply taking care of tourism - which is the thing I call not "substance", although there is nothing whatsoever wrong with it. Frankly it is very lucky - I imagine if I had an empire where all I had to do was collect tickets at the door, such were the crowds of people lining up to see a rock or a series of rocks to take selfies - I'm sure I would whole heartedly make the most of that, too.

I also noticed that when coming into a place of business, the attitude of the shop owner is more of "you're lucky to be here, that I let you come in" rather than "I'm lucky you're here, you're the customer"--I realized it is that customer service attitude that America is perhaps known for and Britain, not so much. In all fairness, I read a lot into that situation that maybe some people do not.

And Minty - I appreciate your comment about the substance of medicine and business that I probably am NOT seeing, I'll take that to heart.

As you probably noticed, in my a few years on AWF I don't generally talk negatively about the UK or my friends' nations generally speaking, but I suppose some of Col has rubbed off on me and I finally needed to get some stuff "off my chest". I realized no country is perfect - and definitely saw some of those imperfections on my trip.

Also, I enjoyed a number of things. Mostly the peaceful countryside and the small towns--despite being jam packed with tourists from East to West by the inch. I was happy to see where CS Lewis met with his friends in a pub, though I noticed I was the only tourist appreciating it.

 

[Isaac]

There must be some attraction to coming to the UK. We have had 40,000 illegal immigrants landing here this year from France. Why do they travel up through Europe to get across the English Channel to the UK? When they get here, they are put up in city centre hotels, paid for by the UK government. They are entitled to free healthcare and clothing and schooling. They get money in the form of benefits, and they are usually granted citizenship to stay in the UK. Just what is the attraction?
Col

i agree, immigrants want to come to both of our countries. (by the way, we've had about 2 million this year and that's just the ones illegally crossing).

but, I think we BOTH should admit that much of it is a matter of proximity. most of central & south america want to come here, most of poorer europe wants to go to your country.....for obvious reasons that have to do with how difficult it is to build those huge canoes..

i have NO idea why any human being would want to live in London, however. that much i can say with certainty! (of course in fairness I have no idea why any human being would want to live in New york city, either)

 

[ColinEssex]

i have NO idea why any human being would want to live in London, however. that much i can say with certainty!

I lived and worked in central London for about 3 years in the late 1960's, you know, summer of love and all that.
Col

 

[moke123]

I have no idea why any human being would want to live in New york city, either)

You have to do it to appreciate it.