Good morning John;

I have read a great number of books that indicate the accomplishments of citizens of the United States during the 19th Century. Specifically in the areas of science and technology, anything that the United States did was inferior to the accomplishments of Europe. I am sure that such thoughts still persist.

As I recall, the Netherlands was the first country to pay back the United States for its World War II debts. I know an American from my old neighborhood in San Francisco (three doors down from where I was raised) who moved to the Netherlands and truly enjoys the people and country.

I have a niece who is a professor at the University of Rotterdam, who enjoys the Netherlands. Since I was a child I have had neighbors and acquaintances who are from the Netherlands, and they are a gracious and friendly people.

Everyone is entitled to an opinion for whatever reason. One person does not speak for a country. In fact that person may change his/her mind at some point of life for better or worst – whatever that may be. :)

Tom



>Good points, Tracy. I have been careful (I hope) to distinguish between Walter and his ilk with the Netherlands government and peoples as a whole.
>
>But the holier-than-thou attitude is very prevalent there and elsewhere in Europe. I don't understand it.
>
>>I am curious how old Walter is? I hope he responds. The reason I am curious is simply to determine if perhaps his perception is common to a specific age group? This happens in every country. The young often view things differently than the yuppies, and other age groups as well. His views could be his alone, could be a small segment of the population, or it could very well be commmon. I never met anyone in Holland with viewpoints like Walters but then the times I was there were in the 80s and much has changed here since the 80s and I imagine as much has changed there as well.
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>>>I guess it just takes me longer to get riled up.
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>>>Sanctimonious Europeans piss me off. Here we have a bunch of numbnuts who have tried for centuries to kill each other off. Only in the last 60 years have they learned to get along and now, suddenly, they believe they're morally superior and smug. Recently, the Balkans rekindled long standing feuds and what do these bravehearts do? They act like the proverbial woman with a mouse in the room until the US steps in.
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>>>Evan made a good point and my response was killed by a bad connection. There are Dutch in Afghanistan now helping out against the Taliban. The Netherlands is not a bad country and the Dutch are not a bad people. But they owe so, so much to our principles and out steadfastness that I can't countenance the sort of holier-than-thou junk I am reading.
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>>>They have been protected by their own and others excesses for almost a century. Without us, God knows what would have become of them. Surely that deserves a measure of respect. No one expects them to agree with everything we do...but, jeez, at least put it into perspective.
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>>>>>It's useless to debate this further. I have strived to explain to you that our culture is different than yours. You don't want to accept that.
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>>>>>Instead, you judge our culture on your value points and think that you are superior.
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>>>>>I have avoided doing the same.
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>>>>>But not now.
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>>>>>Your entire country could vanish from the face of the Earth and it would not matter in the slightest. No one would lament the loss of Dutch culture or heritage - you would become a minor branch of a museum experience.
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>>>>>Your country matters little because it takes no chances and defers to the strengths and whims of others. I'd rather live in a country that takes chances and has principles than in one that perpetuates an effete existance predicated on the goodwill of others.
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>>>>Oh, so you have finally come to my initial statement to this cretan. I said, "what has your country to offer the rest of the world?" or something to that effect. The US is simply the greatest nation in the history of the world, and yes that includes all the warts. As flawed as we are, we are the greatest nation. I only hope we can continue to exist with all the illegal aliens (hmmm, I'll bet Dorkland doesn't have that problem) and Dummycrats running stuff. In all fairness, the repubs who have been in control haven't done much either. If this is such a terrible country, why are we trying to keep people from coming IN, illegally. Other countries erect fences to keep their own citizens inside their boundaries!