You're missing the point. It's not about one country being better than another. It's not a competition! It's about recognising the fact that there are many opportunities and experiences out there that you will not get in America, and about having some sort of interest in not only finding out more because of all the enjoyment you can get from experiencing something different, but also so as to better yourself and become less ignorant.

And like it or not, believe it or not, based on the comments you have made here, you are ignorant. The fact you're stupid enough to believe that America solves everyone else's problems proves that.

Did you support Bush by any chance?

Indeed, I LOVE our summer time!!! It does get a bit hotter than I like it to be though.
I'm sure there are better places in the world than America, unfortunately for me I refuse to travel out of the US (mostly due to 9/11 & my fear of flying in an airplane).
My dad has traveled & lived all over the world & he has taught me many things about the world outside of the US. :D :D :D
I am totally 100% open minded to another countries ways of living. Most definitely, absolutely!!! :D One day, I am going to plan a round the world trip to many countries who support electronica music & I am going to rave from sunset to sunrise with people from all over the globe!!! :D :D :D :D :D
"- a tendency to be easily sent into mass panic at the government's demand (I happend to be flying out of LAX on 11th September 2004, three years after 9/11 and the airport was covered in signs saying that they were on 'high terrorist alert'! It was insane!)" My goverment makes me crazy... I do not completely trust the "system."
As far as the drinking age goes... if a person is old enough to fight & die for their country... they are old enough to drink, IMO. :-P

You don't fly because of 9/11?!? Seriously? Are you also too scared to drive a car then?

You do realise that your chances of being killed in a car accident are tens of thousands of times higher than your chances of being killed in a terrorist attack? In fact, your chances of being struck by lightning in your life MORE THAN ONCE are higher than your chances of being killed in a terrorist attack.

Even without the terrorist fear, your chance of dying in a plane crash is still only one in 46million. (One in 46 million passengers that is) Meanwhile your chance of dying from being struck by lightning is much higher at 1 in 19 million! And the chance of being killed in a car accident is 1 in 5000! So if you don't fly because of a fear of death, really you'd better stay away from cars too.

(I would however understand if you didn't fly because of a phobia of heights. That is a psychological problem and different)

Thank you though for being the perfect example of the stereotype I gave of Americans all being scared silly because of the government's terrorist scare campaigns (which of course was just to round up support for the Iraq war anyway).

Also, you don't need to fly to leave the US. What about Canada? Or Central America? Sure, it would take longer to drive, and you'd be at a higher risk of dying during the journey than if you just got on a plane and flew... but you'd feel safer.

Wong again, "Thank you though for being the perfect example of the stereotype I gave of Americans all being scared silly because of the government's terrorist scare campaigns ", I never said that I was afraid to fly due to fear of a terrorist attack. Airplanes make me nervous, it's not that I'm afraid of heights.. I love heights!!! :D :D :D I've flown 2x in my life, the experiences weren't bad just a bit nerve racking. I really don't drive my car a whole lot either... too many bad experiences through out my life. My dad was hit by a drunk driver, my husband's cousin/best friend was killed in a car accident, I've lost friends due to car accidents but I am not afraid to drive, it's just not my favorite or my # 1 way to travel. :P I will drive now & then but for the most part my husband drives me where ever it is that I need to go. :D :D :D

Umm... what is "I refuse to travel out of the US mostly due to 9/11" SUPPOSED to mean then, if it doesn't mean that you don't travel because of fear of terrorist attacks??

And you do realise that passengers can die in car accidents as well as drivers? Getting yourself driven around by your husband hardly makes you safer (unless you're a bad driver that is).

Hmm, little Fraggle -kitty has her claws out & wants 2 pounce up on it!!! *Hissss* Meeeooowwhissss* *lol* Just kidding. Really though, I understand that you have your opinions & that you feel strongly about them but you are coming across as being confrontational. Are you looking for drama? Wanna fight? *hiss hiss* Kidding again. It's as if you're looking for any reason you can find to justify stating that I am a stereotypical American. *Le yawn* Be a little more open minded, ya? There are many other reasons other than the fear of terrorist attacks, as to why I wouldn't want 2 fly or travel out of the country. 9/11 had a HUGE effect on me & my life. Though I am not afraid of terrorist attacks, flying just reminds me of some very distressing times in my life. 9/11 reminds me of many distressing times in my life. So many people around me were effected by it. After everything to do with 9/11 went down, flying for me, well I guess I'm not sure how to explain it but it just doesn't make me feel comfortable. Going to an airport alone stresses me out & being the chillaxed lil mama that I am, I'm not a fan of stress. Make sense? Like, flying is just stressful I guess, the crap that I'd have 2 go through to even get on the plane. :-/ FYI: Aside from losing friends & family due to car accidents, I don't like to be behind the wheel of a car as much as I enjoy being the passenger seat because I find it to be more peaceful not having to be the driver. My husband & I travel to other states now & then for different events (mostly to California 2 attend their annual massive raves), my husband loves to drive (he loves Nascar, use to race his car @ RMRW in SLC, UT), he puts a lot of money and work into his cars & loves to show em' off when we go out, so I let him drive me around. I am a very good driver, I use to think the roads were my race track, when I 1st started driving but now days, I drive with caution, like an old granny from what my husband says. *lol*

Do you know how to paragraph?

I've completely forgotten how we got onto the subject of flying.

I don't think you understand the term 'open minded'. My saying you not flying because of 9/11 (when you'd virtually said exaclty that) doesn't make me close minded. It may mean I misunderstood what you meant (but then with paragraphing like that, it's hardly surprising), but it doesn't mean I'm close minded.

If flying makes you uncomfortable, then don't fly. I still stand by my comment that it's possible to leave the US without flying.

Driving with caution is sensible though. :)

Awww, now you can't justify saying anything real to me so you're going to criticize my lack of paragraphs. *lol* Yes, IMO, you seem a bit closed minded. *shrugs* :-/ :D :P

I agree with a lot of the stereotypes that have been posted, but I also agree that they stereotypes and don't really represent the masses in America.

Personally I can't say I love this country, though I think the last 8 years had a lot to do with that. I don't like how much our government lies to us and keeps things from us.

I like where I live, though. Maine is a great state, we're very 'green' and liberal and a lot of the people are great (but, a lot aren't). Plus we just legalized gay marriage, so I'm pretty happy to be a Mainer right now ;D.

Oh the drinking age is very retarded. Also, isn't your age of consent like 18? I find that odd.

I can think of another stereotype! All Americans have big houses. Whenever I watch an American show, even a reality show, you all live in huge fuck-off houses! I realise you all don't but it seems like you do! ;)

I think age of consent there is determined by state. If I'm right, it can be 16, 17 or 18 depending which state you live in.

Hehe. Yes, all Americans live in 90210-style mansions. Just like how, if you believe Made of Honour, all Scottish people live in castles on tiny little villages. ;D

actually, the age to drink in America is 21 in all states!

I wasn't talking about age to drink. I know that's 21.

We were talking about age of consent (as in to consent to sex). It's 16 here.

Oh, I misunderstood..sorry! :-)

It can actually be from 14 up, I think. Iowa or something like that has a low age of consent.

14? That's shockingly young!

Iowa is quick to accept. Though I don't like 14 as the Age of Consent, I'm glad they adopted gay marriage. ;)

Its 12 in Vatican city!!!!

That's ridiculous, because the Vatican is the only entirely male state in the world. Yet the Catholic Church doesn't believe in homosexual liasons? Why is it encouraging them at 12!? Nuts, yo!

Its brilliant!! haha

nuts indeed! lol :-P

What, you don't live in a castle?!! ;D

LOL @ "All Americans have big houses". It may seem that way, considering what is shown on the television, I totally see where you're coming from. :D :D :D

I hate that!

I wish i had a big house. Although, I'd prefer to have more LAND than a bigger house. My little house is rather cute.