Quote: (01-07-2013 12:21 PM)Ovid Wrote:
I do think, though, that Europeans have historically been more of a 'cowed lot,' and this manifests itself even today. Americans have always been thought of as more unrestrained, brash, and bold in word and deed than men on the Continent, and certainly more enterprising and skilled at moneymaking, too. The ethnic Europeans today are descended from those who were happy enough with the status quo to stay put, while their more defiant, outspoken cousins and brothers took ship to colonize and make something more of themselves. That is not to say that America is wonderful -there is something to say for restraint and moderation, and politically, the US has been making an ass of itself in world affairs for a couple of hundred years now. Yet, one can't help but admire aspects of the national character.
Or it could be argued that the ones who upped sticks and left Europe for the New World were the failures who could not cut it back home and so tried somewhere with less competition. Everything can be spun to suit whatever view point you hold.
Aer have you not considered that the Scandinavians don't give a shit about bigger houses and giant fridges for a reason and that that reason may just be because they sussed out long ago that owning lots of shit in no way leads to happiness or fulfilment? Maybe they sussed out long ago that all that is meaningless and that the path to fulfilment lies in other simpler pleasures. And maybe instead of visiting a country and moaning about the locals not living up to your nations ideals,why not try to see what it is about the locals that makes them more content and happy with their lot. You might just find that you come away with a new perspective.