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As for American values, I think the best way for me to illustrate it would be with a thought experiment. Suppose that due to an act of god America ceases to exi

As for American values, I think the best way for me to illustrate it would be with a thought experiment. Suppose that due to an act of god America ceases to exist tomorrow. However, it can transfer all its wealth and knowledge to one other country in the world which would propel it to take America's place instead. I'm sure that as the soon to vanish Americans debate among themselves about who should be their successor, China would come very low on the list of proposed countries. Frankly, Americans do not want to see a world where China is the world leader and how China would then influence the world. That's the values gap I'm referring to. That nebulous set of characteristics that groups some countries in the world with America as "us" and pushes other countries outside as "them," and how "we" do not want to live in a world that "they" create.

throwaway587654 6y ago
Depends on the situation. If America vanished because of an alien invasion, and Americans debated among themselves about who could best take revenge against the aliens, China would be at the very top of the list of proposed countries.
- ByteJockey 6y ago
  I feel like Russia would end up higher up on that list. Their active military engagements and large nuclear arsenal make them perfect for that.
mikekchar 6y ago
This may be a bit challenging -- especially I can appreciate how most Americans would fear a world where China is the world that "they" create. However, for a lot of people in the world, there is actually a gap of values where America is the "they" in this picture. I still remember the celebrations in Japan when Obama was elected as president (which I thought was being a bit optimistic, personally -- only so much a president can do, no matter how much they wish to do good (or not)). But the thing for me was, why are all the people in my office so invested in an election, half way around the world, where they have absolutely no say? Of course it is obvious. What the US does affects everybody and it doesn't always affect non-Americans in a good way. In some ways, I think it is good that Americans get some inkling that you don't really want a single country imposing their set of values on the rest of the world. Of course, I have no idea what the best alternative is, but I think it's food for thought.
- LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
  Greece: Acceptable food, weather & landscapes. DEMOCRACY! Corruption. Drama. India: Same, more drama. Italy: Same, historically more corruption & drama. Elegance. France: Same. More chic.

throwaway587654 6y ago

Depends on the situation. If America vanished because of an alien invasion, and Americans debated among themselves about who could best take revenge against the aliens, China would be at the very top of the list of proposed countries.

ByteJockey 6y ago
I feel like Russia would end up higher up on that list. Their active military engagements and large nuclear arsenal make them perfect for that.

mikekchar 6y ago

This may be a bit challenging -- especially I can appreciate how most Americans would fear a world where China is the world that "they" create. However, for a lot of people in the world, there is actually a gap of values where America is the "they" in this picture. I still remember the celebrations in Japan when Obama was elected as president (which I thought was being a bit optimistic, personally -- only so much a president can do, no matter how much they wish to do good (or not)). But the thing for me was, why are all the people in my office so invested in an election, half way around the world, where they have absolutely no say? Of course it is obvious. What the US does affects everybody and it doesn't always affect non-Americans in a good way. In some ways, I think it is good that Americans get some inkling that you don't really want a single country imposing their set of values on the rest of the world. Of course, I have no idea what the best alternative is, but I think it's food for thought.

LargoLasskhyfv 6y ago
Greece: Acceptable food, weather & landscapes. DEMOCRACY! Corruption. Drama. India: Same, more drama. Italy: Same, historically more corruption & drama. Elegance. France: Same. More chic.