In honor of 4th of July. "It's uniquely American"

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Not even worth it. Back to America's awesomeness!

 

[ronandannette]

Exactly. There are quite a few things I could say are uniquely American, but not in a good way. I don't want to ruffle feathers so I won't.

Not even worth it. Back to America's awesomeness!

Not sure what happened to what you originally wrote, but nope, it wasn't me in both cases. I agree the comment above warrants an apology too.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Not sure what happened to what you originally wrote, but nope, it wasn't me in both cases. I agree the comment above warrants an apology too.

Edit: Nevermind. I'm not going to derail more. I'd like to just get back to celebrating America.

 

[AJ1983]

On the way to work this morning, I was listening to my usual financial times radio station and they were talking bout charitable giving.

Americans are they most charitable nation on the planet in terms of money and the in 3rd place in terms of time volunteering. Not bad, which got me to thinking of other things that are uniquely "American".

What can you name?

rules: it can be a person, place or thing. It can be silly, funny, sad, quirky, ridiculous. patriotic or any thing.

NO bashing of other countries. no matter where you're from everyone loves their country.


1) In philly we have this NY's tradition called the Mummers day parade. No where else do grown men dressed up in feathers to dance up and down the street.

We also have Mummers where I live (Newfoundland, Canada). It was customary around Christmas for people to dress up in old clothes and go from house to house, with the homeowners trying to guess who the Mummers were. There is even a song called, "The Mummers Song". The custom itself is fading (I guess due to the dangers of allowing unknown masked individuals into your home), but the Mummers Parade keeps the tradition going.

Very interesting, because I did not think it was celebrated in the United States!

 

[CaliBear]

If it will help cheer you up while you're feeling low I will sincerely apologize for the Kinder Surprise comment. It was actually a reference to the over-reach of government into regulating private life, but I am sorry that you took such offence. I don't hate America - far from it, and I don't mean you or your kids any ill will either. Happy 4th!

Thanks, I appreciate it.

Back on topic, I was just reading about China's copycat of Mount Rushmore. Of all things! Ours is still unique though. For one thing, it lacks green hair on George.

Their version:

photo from China Daily

and ours!

 

[JanaDee]

I see you are heated. I was never one that interrupted an American thread, and I certainly never will now.. All countries are patriotic, one must expect and respect that...

That other thread had just as much potential, which was my point, we all joked and people from all over joined in and were welcome.. So yeah, I do think they are comparable if someone wanted to take issue, but nobody did, we were all quite friendly and welcomed everyone.. and on this thread I don't see anyone besides yourself upset....

No, she isn't the only one irritated/annoyed.

The reason the other thread stayed the way it did is because most of us had enough respect to stay out of the thread and if Americans did jump in, it was with something positive to say.

On this board, it always becomes a battle whenever anything pro-USA is stated and how Canada does this and this and this so much better.

 

[mommasita]

Agreed. I am aware I've been very sensitive about the U.S. this week, and I was never even much of a patriot at home. I've been living abroad for almost 2 years and am extremely homesick at this time. So yes, I am sensitive about this and probably moreso than usual this week in particular. However, that doesn't change the fact that someone called Americans stupid in the other thread, people have argued with our positive perceptions of our country in this one, and one person kinda passive-aggresively implied that the things that are unique about the US are all negative. Is it so strange that I think that's rude? Believe me, I'm aware many people hate the U.S. I don't come to the Dis to verify that. Quite the opposite, actually, which is why it's so disappointing.

I'm sorry you are homesick. I get that.. I have never once said anything close to that, and would never.> I am less an hour from the border, so I am OFTEN there.. I could never hate it, nor understand it..

 

[shortbun]

We just got back from The Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are uniquely American and I don't think that's particularly a good thing. Whoa, we were in shock each time we had to venture into town for something. Then-Dollywood, uniquely American and awful. I had always wanted to go there. I dreamed of wide open spaces-just like where she grew up and country musicians wandering the grounds while baked goods smells wafted through the park. Instead I got dirty, crowded, not the least bit idyllic, rock and roll over the loud speaker system and some guy in a wife beater shirt and a huge "White Pride" tatoo who seemed to be everywhere I was. Another expectation becomes a disappointment. sigh. America, do we really have to be like this?

 

[kimblebee]

I apologize for my comments. I would delete them but they have been quoted so will always remain. I was not implying that all things about America were negative. I am sorry if that's the way you interpreted my comments. I go to Fargo every year for the shopping. You have so many products that we don't get up here. That's one good thing about America

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Our geography is pretty neat, I think. Think about how different Hawaii, Alaska, California, New York, Maine, Florida, Texas, Wisconsin, North Carolina, and Colorado all are. We have mountains, tropical beaches, canyons (some are quite "Grand"), fantastic vineyards, beautiful forests, stunning deserts, bayous, prairies, and coastal plains. Driving across this country is nothing short of stunning.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

I apologize for my comments. I would delete them but they have been quoted so will always remain. I was not implying that all things about America were negative. I am sorry if that's the way you interpreted my comments. I go to Fargo every year for the shopping. You have so many products that we don't get up here. That's one good thing about America

And the Jets are another thing, right?

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

Oh, I thought of a sort of interesting fact. America is home to one of only 3 blue water lakes in the world. I mean, there are two more out there so it isn't EXCLUSIVELY an American thing, but it does put us in a pretty exclusive club with Canada and Switzerland. For those who do not know and are curious, a blue water lake is a lake in which the water is supplied from an underground spring or source of fresh water rather than being produced by the collection of rainwater and runoff from the surrounding topology--actions that would produce a lake of murky and silt-laden water suspending all kinds of detritus. Our blue water lake is located in Iowa (not Minnesota, as many would think, though it is very close to the border) and is called West Okoboji Lake. Lake Geneva and Lake Louise in Switzerland and Canada respectively are the only other two in the world. Kind of neat, huh?

 

[NFLDERS]

We also have Mummers where I live (Newfoundland, Canada). It was customary around Christmas for people to dress up in old clothes and go from house to house, with the homeowners trying to guess who the Mummers were. There is even a song called, "The Mummers Song". The custom itself is fading (I guess due to the dangers of allowing unknown masked individuals into your home), but the Mummers Parade keeps the tradition going.

Very interesting, because I did not think it was celebrated in the United States!

We are always learning. That Wedding & Honeymoon are getting closer!

 

[Robinrs]

Your big houses and lawns. In the uk if you own a house you don't get them as big and planned out as that. The letter boxes with the flags, your summer camps for kids. We don't have that over here, your friendless. Root beer (miss that) your huge food portions, your gun ranges, Rhodes your wide avail of sports, having your national flag everywhere, huge food portions In fast food places and chain restaurants, the amount of fast food chains there is in the usa, your tv shows taking breaks for weeks and then restarting(we just start a season and finish it straight through, not take breaks from the season) school marching bands and bands playing before sports event. I could think of more if I tried but that's just off the top of my head.

A perspective from someone across the pond.

This describes some areas of America. I never saw a big lawn until I moved to the southern US.

The TV stuff is new, in fact it drives me nuts. We used to see a 13 week season in the fall than reruns in the summer. Now they come back whenever they want to!

 

[North of Mouse]

We just got back from The Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are uniquely American and I don't think that's particularly a good thing.

Why, what's wrong with them? We have 'loved' going to the Smokies, and area for many years!

Just love the '4th of July' and getting ready to do our part in being patriotic - now that's truly uniquely American! Love it!!

 

[EMom]

We just got back from The Smoky Mountains. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg are uniquely American and I don't think that's particularly a good thing. Whoa, we were in shock each time we had to venture into town for something.
If your sensibilities were so offended, perhaps you'd best stay at home from now on.

Then-Dollywood, uniquely American and awful. What did you expect? It is an amusement park.

I had always wanted to go there. I dreamed of wide open spaces-just like where she grew up and country musicians wandering the grounds while baked goods smells wafted through the park. Instead I got dirty, crowded, (Again....it is an amusement park.) not the least bit idyllic, rock and roll over the loud speaker system and some guy in a wife beater shirt and a huge "White Pride" tatoo who seemed to be everywhere I was. I've seen that and worse at WDW. I lived. Come on. It was one guy in a tacky shirt with a tasteless tattoo.


Another expectation becomes a disappointment. sigh. America, do we really have to be like this?[/QUOTE] Yes. Yes. We have to be JUST like this. The Supreme Court just ruled on it. Tomorrow, we will all report to headquarters to be assigned wifebeater shirts and get our offensive tattoos. Prepare to assimilate!

 

[PaulaSB12]

Another thing that is uniquely American is our politics. N one else in the world practices democracy quite the way we do and it is incomprehensible to others around the world, but hey...it works for us....kinda, sorta....ummmm....maybe?

Not true the UK is very democratic the difference is we have three main parties not two and no one gives a toss whether or not the prime minister believes in god or not. It was said here before religious talk that hardly any over here would vote for an atheist president. Nine states have it in their constitutions that atheists ant hold office, and Tennessee past a law allowing gay kids to be bullied on religious reasons.

 

[PaulaSB12]

There is literally ONE post putting down a non-US candy bar, and it is done so good-naturedly and jokingly, as opposed to the comments in here. Most of the comments about food in that thread are putting down Hershey bars, not anything Canadian. There's also the lovely post calling American kids stupid on page 1. Yeah, the two threads are not comparable at all.

Sorry but Hershey bars are weird after taste of sick never had that with any other bar.

 

[CaliBear]

nvm. I don't want to engage that poster after all.

 

[EMom]

Not true the UK is very democratic the difference is we have three main parties not two and no one gives a toss whether or not the prime minister believes in god or not. It was said here before religious talk that hardly any over here would vote for an atheist president. Nine states have it in their constitutions that atheists ant hold office, and Tennessee past a law allowing gay kids to be bullied on religious reasons.

She didn't say that no other countries were democratic/democracies. She said no one else practiced democracy quite like the US. The vast differences in our election campaigns bear that out, if nothing else.