Any of us who have traveled outside the United States have no doubt run into (if we’ve been willing to see it), the feeling that much of the world has about America – that we are uncouth, loud, and generally pretty obnoxious. In my travels I’ve seen altogether too many examples of Americans that reinforce that feeling. We can be a pretty superior, intolerant bunch, and awfully parochial. I’ve always tried, when overseas, to change people’s minds about that, by stepping outside my little box and trying to see the world through other people’s eyes. A young friend of ours is spending a year in France studying (university-level). She speaks French, and is a really sweet person. She encountered that negative attitude recently, and here’s her story of trying to change it:

I had a guy at a party Friday night ask me if it were true that Americans thought they were the only country that existed. I explained that for many people that is true, that Americans can be very egocentric, etc. He said that he had a very bad taste in his mouth from Americans because they all seemed to not know about anything, and that he heard this and that about us, and how can that be possible if we are such a dominant country in the world. I tried to explain that many americans have never been outside of the country, but we’re also not as fortunate to have many other countries surrounding us as in Europe. We continued talking about the differences, and was a little surprised at my knowledge of his culture and history. He brought up the fact that Americans helped the French at the end of WWII, and that is a big reason he doesn’t understand our lack of compassion in the world at this point of time. He asked me why I would want to come to France to study if I was in the most powerful country in the world. I could only say that I didn’t really know but there was something wonderful I felt when thinking about France and its people, and that’s why I was here to find out why I wanted to be here. I was very humbled by the way he asked me questions and was really concerned about learning why he would hear such things about Americans. It just made me think how important it is when going to another country to represent your country well. Had I been rude or loud and ignored what he had to say without listening, he would have continued to think that no wonder Americans have the reputation they have. As the conversation was coming to an end, he looked at me and said…you have saved a french man from thinking ill of your country. I will now think differently about Americans. This story sounds so romanticized when rereading it, but it’s true. I felt at the time like I was in some amazing back to school special on different cultures mingling. I’m now laughing at myself.

“With great power comes great responsibility,” as Peter Parker’s (aka Spiderman) Uncle Ben told him. America is a young country with a short memory. The world is a big place and we are just a part of that bigger picture, and what’s up today could be down tomorrow. I say vive la difference, vive la France, and vive our friend for being a responsible American! Rant now off…