I single out americans, Shrike, because I am one. In particular, I was an american in Japan, with other americans. I can't really say what its like to be a Canadian in Japan, or an Englishman in Japan, now can I? Based on the previews I've seen of the movie, its like this: some Japanese warlord is going against tradition and wants a westerner to teach them a new way to fight. They hire an arrogant american war hero to do the teaching. The warlord gets killed, and the arrogant american gets captured, and ends up having to learn a bit of humility and how to get by in fuedal japan. he ends up learning to respect the culture and going native and helps defend his new home against his former countrymen. I don't know if that's the plot, or what. That's just the feeling I get from watching the extended trailer in the theatre right before Matrix Revolutions. I never got the feeling that this is one of Carl's "Hate Whitey!" movies. I only respond to Carl, because he brought it up.
I mention the book in passing, because it provides very real, very clear examples of the things that European cultures have done over the centuries. The US is an example of a European culture, regardless of which continent we happen to be on. It does not prove anything, but merely expands on an idea.
Originally posted by Carl
only because we got the tech first. any other group would have done the same. just look at the africans with their tribal warfare. imagine that spreading across the globe.
Shows how much world history you know. I seem to recall the Chinese had gunpowder AND rockets for hundreds of years before the Europeans. It took European warring to turn fireworks into siege weapons. Its not about who had the technology first, its how it was used.
Originally posted by Bobboau
I can beleve US Navy sailors and tourists act like arrogant stuck up pricks. but surely there mustbe some normal people, maybe some students or busness people (ehh, maybe not) that help to counter act the idiots
Yeah, there's a few, but they're the vast minority. I did my best to blend in while I was there. I was quiet, respectful, attentive, polite, and most importantly, considerate. I was one of the few. Its no wonder we catch such bad raps everywhere in the world. We swagger around swinging our dicks everywhere we go, declaring our superiority.
Meh. I'll shut up. I'm letting my own prejudices get out of control, just as bad as the idiots I was talking about.
