American dream?

We're all living in Amerika
Amerika ist wunderbar
We're all living in Amerika
Amerika, Amerika

We're all living in Amerika
Coca-Cola, Wonderbra
We're all living in Amerika
Amerika, Amerika

Rammstein - Amerika

First, let me state clearly that this is not, I repeat, not an attack on the United States of America, its citizens or its mentality.

Okay then. I just need to get this off my chest, because I've been getting very mixed messages about America and Americans. I want to go to the States to see which of these conflicting ideas about it are actually true, and which are not. I want to share some of those things with you.

First of all, there is the issue of privacy. I don't want anyone to know all about me just because I go on holiday in their country. I don't have anything to hide, but my privacy means a lot to me. Right now, when one wants to go to America, one has to have his fingerprints taken, photos taken, iris scanned, and I don't know what else. As if a fingerprint can predict your future actions.
Now, this is not something unique to America. Recently Japan decided to do this as well, which grieves because I want to go there, too. It's just inconvenient; I'm not going as long as these measures are used.
The lack of respect for privacy, though not unique either, seems to be a general trend among the government people of the world's last superpower. Potential terrorists are traced with phone taps and such - I can understand that. I can not understand the need to tap regular Americans' phone calls and internet use, or infiltrate in groups of clearly innocent people that happen to have an interest in politics. I definately cannot understand the need to know everything about everyone, worldwide, ranging from flight lists to which internet sites they visit. The end does not justify the means. And no, I do not trust Bush or his people with this information. I didn't vote for him; I couldn't as I'm not an American. If I could have, I would have voted for that other guy. Anything but another four years of Bush.

Well alright, this might be an attack on the Bush administration. But they deserve it. However, I will not waste any more words on it, because pretty much everything has been said. If you're interested, you can follow these links:
Recent news article - Bush bans gay marriage.
Bush Watch - critical site about George W.
Bush Flash - critical site about his policies.
Bush or chimp - comparing Bush to a chimp - not very seriously.

One thing I repeatedly hear conflicting things about is that Americans are supposed to be naive, somewhat retarded, superficial, yet very intelligent, friendly and outgoing. I have met some Americans online, most notably on the PLB site, that are very nice, friendly, intelligent, eloquent; a bit crazy maybe, but in a good way. I also can't help but notice rude, superficial and idiotic remarks about the rest of the world (not on that site!), like how Texas is bigger than France and therefore more important. Another example is the idea of returning the Statue of Liberty to France. I mean, come on. Give me a break.

I know not every single American is the same, just like not every Frenchman, Italian or German is the same as the rest. I'm talking generalizations here, so forgive me for that. I am absolutely sure there are Americans that are the nicest people, just like there are those that are absolute idiots. I'm just interested in how they are generally. The common guy - I really don't know what to think about him. That's one reason why I'd like to go there: find out for myself.

Is it true that Americans are afraid to criticize their President in public? That more than a third of the American people believe the end of days, as described in the Bible, will be within their lifetime? Are Americans really such religious fundamentalists?

Do Americans realize the world doesn't end at the United States border? Again, I get conflicting messages. Obviously many children worldwide become less capable of pointing to the right spot on a map when asked for a place, but that's not what I meant. America isn't the world; it's merely part of it. Sure, people know about Russia, Iraq, Afghanistan, France. But do they know it's not the uncivilized "rest of the world" thing I imagine seeing in movies and stories. How about the World Series, that is not global, but just the US and Canada? The number of times I heard the phrase "the whole world" when they actually just meant America, is beyond counting. But is this typical of Americans? I simply do not know.

Any Americans reading this are free to comment. Please do.

And while you're at it, you might read the Declaration of Revocation, by John Cleese. Laugh; it's not to be taken seriously. I think.