All of you need to read Mark Steyn.

I was just pondering the “Art of Living” idea today. I am an American, and I am work addicted for sure. The idea of not being in a rush is so foreign in my American experience. In fact, I often work through lunch. The idea that Europeans have a more relaxed and creative/relational focus is appealing. Yet my American culture is deeply embedded. When I took a writing workshop with senior citizens this summer, I was maddened by the pace. They acted like they had all day, and it took two months for me to acclimate to their group.

this blog shows the similarity of europeans and amecricans . the europeans and americans can learn many things from each other.thanks for giving this wonderful information about these similarity.

brian said: The United States gives more in aid to the rest of the world than any other country.
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The US gives more in numbers. But its no where near most European countries in terms of the % of its Gross National Income (GNI).
For example, Sweden gives over 1% of its GNI while the US gives only .17%. This does exclude private American donations which are more than its Government. The US ranks 21st of 22 developed countries in giving! Thats quite low.
But the point I want to make is that… what I find more impressive is a country giving a higher percentage of what it earns than pure numbers. We have something to learn.
http://www.globalissues.org/TradeRelated/Debt/USAid.asp

And then there is the curious case of my country, the UK, an intriguing blend of European and American material. We work much longer hours than the rest of Europe, are pretty good for scientific innovation, and have similar social issues. However if you ask the guy on the street what he cares about most, it’s usually family and leisure time just like the rest of Europe. We have a small-ish but high-tech military that is interoperable with the US, but we’re also slowly losing our sovereignty to the EU. To be honest, I’m a little confused about exactly what my country’s identity is…

just differents and interesting ,but none of my business
how about the differents between China and Japan.
^_^

Hi, I’m from Belgium and I’m studying informatic sciences… I first of all think that slartibartfas’ comment is right… I personnaly don’t think european press is the one whos got the least diverse opinions about stuff happenings all over the world… I mean, come on, from my point of view, american press is soooo controlled by the government. I believe that the censure in the USA is way higher than it is in Europe, because I have to admit there always is censure.
I mean, your country is the one making scandals for a star’s tit appearing on a live show, the one censuring Marylin Manson video clips and last but not least (for the examples…) is Michael Moore, whose movies are being censured in the USA, while such movies, call it society-criticizing or government-criticizing, is very appreciated in Europe…

I really don’t see your point there.

When you talk about US being the best country tolerance wise, I advice you to check up the cartoon south park and look for the episode called “tolerance camp” in which it describes enough the paradoxe that is “tolerance shouldn’t bring to intolerance”… Being too tolerant doesnt mean it’s a good point in my opinion.

Also, I’m european, as you know, and I am also an idealist, aswell as I’m pragmatic. I mean both can fit together. As an example of this, the European Union is both a pragmatic and an idealistic investment. Don’t you think?

And my last point will be about this quote of yours “Whether or not a high contrast society is a good thing or bad thing is in the eye of the beholder.”

You say you north americans like debating on things, so I’m gonna put one: in economics (studies), you’ll learn that fluctuations the bigger they are, the worse it means. I mean, you will always choose the option that gives you less risks. Imagine you are engaged in a small summer job in which you sell cold drinks. Wether the weather is hot or not, you will earn, let’s say, 800$ at the end of the job or 500$, respectively. 800+500 = 1300. Or you could choose another place, with less variances in the weather, for the same job, in which you would respectively earn 700$ or 600$. 700+600 = 1300. Economicly speaking, you will rather take the second job, because it gives you less risks. That is the same case for US/EU. You say that USA is the country of the richest of the rich and the poorest of the poor. (And you can’t say europeans people have a bad living) This means this is a bad thing, due to this definition. Now you could probably give counter-examples, there always are, but fluctuation is the key that should give you an answer to wether its bad or not: US = 1300 (800+500) / EU = 1300 (700+600).

I hope I wasn’t too subjective… But this is my two cent. Have fun with it

Romain

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You wrote a good article about the differences between Europeans and Americans, even though its of course generalizing. But thats the sole chance to compare it somehow, so its still a very good approach. My compliments.

I only want to contest one single thing. You wrote regarding the press that European papers are less diverse. And as example you point at the articles about the Iraq war. I would say this argument is quite flawed. What you did prove was not that our papers are less diverse but that we look at international politics from another perspective than you do. What might be in the US still controversial is already beyond good and bad in Europe.

If the limitation of the freedom of speech would be discussed in the US, your papers would be as homogene on this issue like ours were on the Iraq war.

Last but not least, I would suggest you to read on European issues as well, and you will see that this partisan separation of the country the US knows very well, is not something limited to the new world. We here in Europe know that very very well too.

Thanks, Slartibartfas, for participating in my blog. I’m always happy when our European friends give their take.

You, as a European citizen, are a much better commentator on the European press than I am, and you may have point. I still believe that the U.S. corners the world market on diversity of opinion. Of course, each of our views are colored through our own continental lenses, so we just might both be right within our own frame of reference.

You’re awesome for taking the time to carry on the discussion!

leisure time, we tend to make up for in work ethic. In his view, Europeans tend to place a much greater emphasis on the arts, spending time with family, and relaxation. I know which I prefer . . . but I’m a European, even if I now live in the USA. [link]

Its also more than likely that the American family trying to get it all done in a single weeks’ vacation would appreciate being allowed a couple more weeks to ‘smell the roses’. ======================================== Further reading; Genius Types What Europeans and Americans can learn from each other

While I agree that Europeans have many advantages over us, I take issue with the whole “know your roots” thing. Mind you, I’m closer to my roots than many Americans, given that both of my parents were born outside the US. I’m fairly aware of those roots, but I try not to think of myself as “Russian” or “Canadian” – especially not Canadian.

But one of the things that I LOVE about most Americans is their ability LET GO of ideas of heritage. I get irked by people who are many generations removed from a culture pushing it around like it MEANS anything (“I’m Italian! We’re Irish!”). No, you’re not. You have no ties to that culture beyond (maybe) a last name and a habit of getting drunk on certain Catholic holidays. Unless you participate actively in it, let it go.

I guess I say this because I’ve witnessed far too many couples from different cultures split up because their “backgrounds” and their “cultures” wouldn’t permit their union. I don’t care how old a culture is – I call bullshit when an Indian guy can’t marry a French girl becuase both sets of parents are horrified by the match. I’m sure some people balance culture and modernity, but culture is so often used to keep people apart that I’d rather we all gather under a broad, new identity.

Thanks, Andrea, for the comment. You raise a very valid argument that we should’t blindly do what our cultural roots tell us to do if it no longer fits our value system, but I also believe that you can know your roots and still think for yourself.

No culture is perfect, but there is some good in each culture. By at least knowing where you come from, you can build your own value system with your cultural influences as a base.

I hope that I didn’t give anyone the impression that the European way is better. I just think that it’s different, and that both sides can learn from each other.

Thanks, again, for your take.

Very interesting. I spend some time in Europe this summer and it definitely gave me some respect for the European art of living.