Reflection+on+the+American+decadence

We lose our stature in the world because our wastefulness and ignorance sometimes overpowers our redeeming qualities. I feel that since Americans believe we are superior, they forget to acknowledge other countries in such aspects as language and culture. We assume that when we go to other countries, they must automatically know English. Besides being ignorant, we tend to have a reputation for begin extremely greedy and wasteful. We waste our gas, our resources, our energy, and our food. When I was in France I was always met with confused looks when I announced that I was American. They would look me up and down and then question my authenticity. I think this happened a lot because I am not a good representation of the typical American stereotype. I am not obese, obnoxiously loud, or ignorant to other cultures. Sadly, these are many of the qualities associated with Americans. And sadly I’d have to agree with that statement. In France, I always tried to distance myself from other American tourists. I felt embarrassed to be associated with many of them. The different Frenchmen I encountered bombarded me with questions I could barely understand. What I understood of them though, was that they wanted to know about our huge SUVs and grandiose lifestyles, I didn’t know how to respond. Europe is very refined and dignified, but here in America, we like to showcase our wealth. I find that to be very vulgar. Again, this reinforces the notion of our ignorance to how we appear to the rest of the world. We seem to think it doesn’t matter. But my encounters in France have changed how I view Americans. However, I wouldn’t say we are all bad because even though other countries may view us in a certain way, it is also ignorant of them to believe all stereotypes.

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