I read the previous article by Peter West and it was full of cliched generalisations. The US is so huge and diverse it's more like a continent than a nation-state and so generalisations are going to be more dodgy than generalisations about somewhere like Australia or Britain.

I could say a lot about why I like the US but one thing I particularly admire is its gay movement which has been pioneering in many respects and a role model for gays in Australia, Europe and elsewhere. America may be home to Fred Phelps, the Christian Coaltion and the like but it is also home to Larry Kramer, Harry Hay and the activists who have fought the religious right tooth and nail and not given into anti-gay bigotry.

Peter West didn't mention this side of America - which is a shame because there is way more to the US than what George Bush would have you believe.

So 'American re-visions: it’s all about us' is making the startling point that 'America is more complicated than the cliches suggest'? Indeed it is - but perhaps we might also expect rather more complex arguments on online opinion than statements of the obvious.

A good article in some ways but I must disagree.

It seems to me that the fundamental myth/lie about the USA is its belief in its exceptionalism. At least this ideology is the driving force behind much so called "conservative" thinking---the thinking that drives the neo-so called "conservative" project to bring "freedom" and "democracy", and of course "jesus" to everyone on the planet----using bombs and shock and awe if necessary.
Actually I was wrong there. Bombs and shock and awe have always been the modus operandi---check out the USA invasion of the Philipines.

Check out the contents of Renew America--The American Century etc etc etc and so on---the idea of USA exceptionalism is as and deep rooted as apple pie and of course violence and guns.

Manifest destiny.The Moroe doctrine was the original statement of this intent. The entire planet is now the playground where this doctrine is dramatised. Resistance is futile. Submit or we will bomb the crapp out of you---or sabotage your economy.
A recent book by a Canadian titled America Alone reinforced this deluded hubristic notion.

Simply put the ruling myth is that the the USA is part of "god's" plan for humanity altogether, and that Americans have "god's" mandate to bring "freedom", "democracy" and "jesus" to every square inch of the planet. And of course that "god" is white skinned---you niggers, brown and yellow skins better watch out.

Never mind that the USA was founded on grand theft, genocide and slavery. Slavery being of course theft and murder on a grand scale too. This dark legacy has yet to be accounted for. It has left some very dark shadows or engrams in the collective USA pysche.

Speaking of theft. The USA made hundreds of treaties with the Native Americans. It broke most of them as is still actively trying to renege on those treaties that still hold force.

I think bleating out of anti-American cliches again gets ponderous. We've heard it all before. It is too easy to do from Australia, which is smaller has a chronic inferiority complex and sordid history in colonising the land.

This article is a criticism of the "American Dream".

In the opening quote comparing America to an addiction, a drug or a vice, is merely two-dimensional. The dream is as innocent as Disneyland, but the set gives allowances for the belief in snake oil, the bogey man in the haunted castle, goofy and the wonders of pristine make-believe. It is not the reality that is the point, it is the heroics of Don Quixote shooting down "them windmills".

From my experience of living in America, the people are kind, generous, in their insular lives. Their customs are different, they and their bravado are often more an act affirming patriarchal right than a sincere quest. For example, it is considered rude to talk politics on the dinner table there.

The dinner ritual is the norm where the head of the house does the cutting and the bowls are left virgin before the prayer. Then the "kin" hop in for their blessed meal.

Ritual has been lost in Australia as we are not sure which direction to cringe from. We are not sure how to balance responsibility, in our house, at work, or running the system. We obsess about what we don't want rather than what we want. If we want something, it might mean more work. The doors fly open and either a culture or labor from a poor country does this for us, or the control of culture or labor is handed to the superpowers.

As for cultural imperialism that pervades our media, art, and every form of expression, surely this fits a gap where modern blandness left a gap for such quirkiness to be invited in. Australia seems to invite cultural intrusion and complains about it later.

We have extraordinary cultures to protect in Australia and its up to us to uphold them. We can't blame America on everything.

welcome to reality, hohum. if it's any comfort, in recent years the native americans have been getting a lot of money back through their gambling casinos, which provide facilities many states don't have due to anti-gambling legislation. poor compensation but a big improvement on nothing.

it's amazing how many people think america is a champion of democracy. shows the power of sustained lying by the yanks, and widespread sycophancy among client governments.

the same technique is used in oz, naturally. most ozzians refer to oz as a democracy, shows the power of politicians, academics, and media proprietors to achieve the same result as a "ministry of truth".

Just one question.. Is America a Country or a Continent?

I'm from Dominican Republic, and I consider an American, with different culture of Canada, United States, Mexico, etc.

plinio, you're from an island in the caribbean, not america. i can understand your confusion though, the usmc has 'visited' so often you might well wonder why you can't vote in american elections.

Yeah, Plinio - I did bit of a double-take over that "continent" thing too. Had always thought that America - the continent - comprised North America and South America while The Americas also included the islands surrounding this continent. So that yes, America is a continent but no, the United States are not?

It's unfortunate Mr. West chooses only to look at the worst of America. Every country has its warts. True, we don't focus enough on foreign languages or world history as a whole; however, Mr West insinuates NO ONE in the US does. Is the ratio for 2nd language fluency that much higher in Australia? NZ? The UK? Mr West, the rest of the world uses cash machines and credit cards; maybe YOU"RE behind the times with traveler's checks. We are a country of immigrants like no other; our race problems are tackled head on, and we don't bring monkeys to the sports fields like our French friends to taunt African players. How are aboriginal relations Down Under? We eat too much fast food, but really, Mr. West, we are loaded with every ethnic restaurant known to man; you couldn't find a good Italian or Chinese one? And yes, we are proud of our all volunteer military, ready to defend Bosnians, Kurds, and others who can't defend themselves, including entering two World Wars to save our European and even, yes, our Australian friends. We're not perfect, but when you're on top, everyone wants to bring you down.

As an American, I am always surprised by the hatred people in other countries have for me. I guess Dr Peter West is supposed to be a smart guy, because he is writing and others seem to think he has a point somewhere in there. It would seem he could have written anything as long as he blasted Americans as anything but human. So here we have a supposedly smart guy talking about Americans as if they were all the same. I have lived with Americans all my life and I can’t say anything that all Americans have in common, except their wish to be free to determine their own outcome.

I want to know why being a Christian is a horrible thing. These people try to convert others by serving them. There are Christians living in God forsaken lands for years and years to serve these people and hope to convert them because of the example they live. I have never heard of anyone converted to any religion with a gun. However, today there is a religion that believes in guns to clean the world of non believers. This would be the Muslim religion not the Christians. Maybe going to a church of any kind would be more productive than sitting around hating people you don’t know anything about.

In response to Rob, I enjoyed my trip to the US back in 2000 and I want to go again. I can't stand the current corrupt, incompetent Administration but then neither can many Americans - including quite religious Americans. And if Americans are regarded as insular, what about my fellow Sydneysiders who regard Sydney as "the best city in the world"? (Cringe).

Part of the problem is result of our habit of saying "America does x" or "Australia thinks y". Countries are administrative conveniences and don't do or think things. People make decisions and take actions. We need to remember that when it comes to discussing America or anywhere else.

For what it’s worth... as an Australian living in the States you may find this useful. I live in NYC and travel to other States so have a ‘feel’ for the country and I find most Americans I meet to be very friendly and incredibly helpful people. They love their country, are proud of it but are hampered by their own insularity. You have a decision to make here as a non-American; let the banal and uninformed comments and inefficiencies get to you or just have a quiet laugh to yourself and get on with it. The US has the world’s best research universities yet the bulk of their colleges produce many graduates who are functionally illiterate by our standards. Ask any Australian here trying to hire a graduate! Still if 1-in-100 is articulate and intelligent that’s 30 million people, more than the population of Australia. I chat to everybody I can and it’s common for non-Americans who have lived here for many years to say Americans never ask about the country they came from while non-Americans always ask. You can have US-born friends here but you will rarely develop the depth of friendships you will with non-US born people here because of their ultimate lack of interest in you or where you came from. We accept that. We have some US-born friends; they are articulate and intelligent, well-educated but because of the limited holiday time and fear of foreign travel they are more aware than most of what they don’t know about the world. I feel a little sorry for them – ignorance is bliss, after all. I also lived in the UK for a couple of years and on balance I would say the cultural ties of sport and sense of humour even out the increasing similarity I see to the US in terms of conservatism, money, materialism etc whenever I visit Australia. So I do agree with most of Peter West’s observations but if you live here you work out where the good food and intelligent chat can be found. It’s not unlike Australia – especially Texas!

On re-reading my post above of course I meant 1-in-10, not 1-in-100. Where's a sub-editor when you need one?

If America is just a continent then why is Hawaii an American State? I think it is all relative to your identity. Those in the US usually identify themselves as Americans.Canada is in North America too as is Alaska. Canadians usually identify as Canadians as they are not in the USA.

Are Hawaiians Americans just because they are a US State? Most Hawaiians have more cultural ties with New Zealand.

I empathise with what you are saying Rob although the use of similar phrases in your postings make them appear confused. Thats just semantics really, though my own grammar and spelling usually stinks.

OK, here are some of my experiences.

I lived in the US in the early 1980s. When I returned to Australia in the early 80s after going to school there, I too had an American accent and looked like an American. This often happens to young Australians who find the accent contagious. Especially the Texas drawl which is easier or even lazier phonetically. I lived in Texas so I caught the accent without much thought.

I had a dreadful time home here in Australia the minute I landed. The customs officers rounding us up in Kingsford Smith Airport barked insults like "you Yanks think you own the place" and "can't you lift your bag? Typical Yank". Then they saw the passport and rolled their eyes in disgust, as if I was some kind of traitor.

Any prejudice I think is a fault in a culture. I was less welcome in my own country than I was in America for months, and then, my Australian accent came back and I was treated like a human being again.

When I had and Australian accent in America, I was always welcome and no one ever insulted me for being Australian.