[UA] [UA][OT] America is...

[Greg Stolze]

>I'd love for Americans to be thought of as anything
>but serious. I'd be great to be a bunch of big
>loveable goofballs.  Unfortunately, I think our
>reaction to international incidents leaves much to be
>desired.  In fact, I've been told that America has a
>pretty nasty puritanical streak (which makes us look
>more like uptight bullies who can't take a joke -
>making us more laughable than loveable.)

There's a great bit in Bruce Sterling's book "Distraction" about that.
It's set after America's financial hegemony has pretty much collapsed,
leaving the US as a second class nation.  Paraphrasing, it was something
like...

"Frankly, I'm GLAD we don't have to be the world's cop any more.  Let
someone else handle the body bag problem for once.  Let the Swiss do it, or
the Swedes -- they're better at it anyhow.  Someone polite, but stern.
America is better suited to be the world's washed-up rock star, or the
world's drunken professional bowler."

-G.

As it turns out, my memory is far less detail-oriented than my imagination.

www.waylay.com
www.thehungersite.com



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