I don't think that's just America. I think everyone in world and throughout history uses foreign countries as a stand-in to make an argument. I remember readi

I don't think that's just America. I think everyone in world and throughout history uses foreign countries as a stand-in to make an argument. I remember reading an article about about some Roman writer - Tacitus? I don't remember who - who was describing the German tribes. The article though questioned just how much we could really learn about those people from the Roman writer because it seemed like they were just using the Germans as - like you say - a crutch to make an argument about how Romans should be. The Germans respect their parents. They serve in the military. they're brave and loyal. They're not merchants - etc. etc. And heck, it's an effective argument - this isn't just what I think, look with your own eyes at those people who aren't us that do this thing so well. Sometimes it's ever true. :-)