On a day-to-day basis, I wouldn't say that I'm too selfish. Frivolous, yes, selfish, not really. But as a whole, I think all of us are very selfish - all the time, too.
Americans, people envy us, people hate us, but they will never be us. High thinking on my part? Of course. I'm American, that's how I think. Stereotypes will NEVER go away, just remember that part.
Not every American is selfish. Not every American has a high ego, or high self-esteem. Not every American is greedy.
But I'm not talking about individuals. I'm addressing our society as a whole. We're greedy; everything we have is big, awesome, power-packed, filled to the brim with extras, money controls our hearts, 'me' thoughts our brains.
But why?
Why do we need the biggest cars? Why do we need the biggest houses? Why do we need every video game console known to man? WHY?
Over in Europe, most people don't have half of the things that we do and they're happy! We have a lot more (we also weigh a lot more, but I won't go into that) than they do, material-wise, and we're never satisfied. We want more, more, more.
Me? I'm greedy at times. I like big, shiny things at times. I enjoy money a lot of the time. I guess I'm a stereotypical American?
However. I'm not wealthy. I don't own a gigantic Escalade, nor do I care to. I still yearn for material possessions, but nothing large...small things -- books, CDs. However, the keyword is want. Want, want, want.
We want. Not "we need." Though a lot of the time, we say 'need' to replace 'want,' so it sounds less selfish.
What do you think? Challenge me. I'd love to read a good rebuttal. =)
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I think it is those people you are talking about that make everyone else look bad. My family used to be very poor and all I wanted was to not sweat to death inside the house. This was a want, but to me it is almost a need when it is 100 degrees outside and inside the house.
I believe it is technology that has corrupted us. In a land of lazy people. Vacuums that run by themselves,cars that start with out a key. I can proudly say I have never used a dishwasher in my life and I am 20. I don't own an ipod and I don't want to. Technology is really what made us lazy and spoiled always wanting more.
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
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No, no, no, that "want" you had WAS a need that inadvertently turned into something desired, because as you know, you can die from heat. =( So really, it was something needed for survival.
Anyway, yes, the people I am referring to are the ones that make everyone else look bad. That was the main point in my entry; it's a stereotype, but there are too many people like that and so everyone else (i.e. France) that looks at us are repulsed at the "American way." Am I wrong?
You're right, though. Thanks to technology, we don't have to pick up a pen to correspond with someone (though I LOVE writing letters and I don't enjoy talking on the phone).
I don't have an iPod. We don't have a dishwasher (we don't even have a dryer, we air dry our clothes). My car is 13+ years old, just seven years shy of being my equal in age.
=)
I figured that was a need, but I hate greedy people so I don't want to come off as that.
I understand that others see us differently (countries) But I also believe we need to look at them differently as well. Many Americans see them as bad people also. I don't think you are wrong at all about that. We do the same as well though. I don't and you may not but others do. Some even hate their own people. I dislike people in general. lol but that still doesn't stop me from wanting to help others. Not all people are bad especially all the wonderful people I have met on this site.
I love writing letters. the phone is a good invention for people you can't always talk to. But I agree I don't like talking on the phone that much. It is good to let people know what is going on. I worry sometimes if people are late. So that is good.
We have a dryer but we used to air dry our clothes. Our rental home is 200 years old. When it was first built it had an out house. Of course we have plumbing now, but it is very old. My car is 5 years old but has alot of miles and I just got it when I was 19. I also have never been on vacation lol. That is sad one day I will though I hope. I totally understand where we are coming from.
http://www.progressiveu.org/032913-lupus-uncureable-wait-what
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There's a difference between a need that is also a desire and a desire that isn't a need but is portrayed as one. I'm not sure how to make that clear in my entry, but I think we subconsciously know? Hehe~ Oh well, don't worry. I don't think less of you for wanting something you really needed; that was something you couldn't help. It's when people desire things that are materially unnecessary: luxurious cars, shiny cell phones with every feature available known to man, etc.
Anyway, you're right. We look at Canada because they're neutral and don't really do anything. However, they're not as conceited as we are and they're rather humble. They don't go in to war when they don't have to (I have never heard of Canada in a war), unlike us, the country that tries to be everyone's superhero. We look at Europeans as wusses (like France) because they don't always want to fight. Unlike us, they're not too bully-like, and I think we could take a few pointers from them.
Plus, in letters, you can draw funny pictures and use cute faces and oh! The endless possibilities.
My house was built in the 50s, but the construction of the house is so poor, everything's crooked and falling apart. lol Our house used to have well water, but because they outlawed well water here, we had to get normal plumbing. I've been on vacation but to the same place when we go: Maine. I have an aunt up there so we stay there. Every time. I've been to Florida once, but not at my expense. I've never stayed in a hotel or a motel. I've never been on an airplane. I've never been to a baseball game (or any professional sports game for that matter). I've never been to a concert. (I'm going to Warped Tour and if that counts, that'll be my first concert!)
I sense we have a lot in common in different ways. =)