Klc,

I'd have to disagree with that a bit.

Why is it that when an immigrant comes to the US, they have to assimilate right away or else they are deemed 'different'? If you move to Europe or Asia there is less of an expectation to do things the way they do them.

As I stated before, Americans think they have invented everything, only it doesn't work in their own country. Germany has adapted to foreign workers a very long time ago, and since the EU expanded, every European country does its best, while US Americans are so focused on themselves, there is no space for adaption, or even consideration anymore.

But are we truly culturally isolate? Probably the great genius of the American culture is that we take other cultural influences and fuse it into the culture to where we don't even think about it. Case in point the Cowboy. One of the great Icons of American culture (Cowboy politics) is actually decendant from Spanish Vaqueros. Most of the things we associate with cowboys were imported from Mexico, we just fused it so well into our cultural awareness.

Not exactly true about the French hating Americans.They only hate us in peace time.Thhey love us when we are bailing their as--s out of every war that they have been.i have not been to France but I did have the misfoutune to be in the Congo a few yrs ago where there were French mercenaries and all the ariorit employees were French and believe me they hated us and as a result I have no desire to go to France nor would I jepordize one American life to bail them out again.I kinda like the mixture of american culture.After all it's made up of every culture in the world.

KLC hit a valid point I think.

Some US states are bigger than many European countries. While it is possible in Europe to, for the weekend, get into a car and visit 3-4 countries for the heck of it...

So of course KLC is right - when people who have different cultures are that close, it will have an effect.

The closest we can come is the Mexico border with the US. Bourdain on Travel Channel had a good show on that - basically how a fusion of two cultures exists on the banks of the Rio Grande... a TexMex if you will

"Not exactly true about the French hating Americans.They only hate us in peace time.Thhey love us when we are bailing their as--s out of every war that they have been."

Oh god...........

I am sure you were in the Commando under Hoare right man? In the Congo?

Did you fight in Biafra also?

Sorry couldn't resist

In what way were you expected to assimiliate? Was it in the context of you having to prove that you weren't just another rude American? Or was it just a self-imposed desire to be accepted into your new community?

KLc brings up a good point. What is it to be "American"? I know that defintion will be very different between someone in New York City, and Dallas.

Diffy cultures are out there, you just have to find them. I hang out in alot of Asian shops because I buy swords and daggers from there. I watch Japanese cartoons on TV and the computer. I have friends from around the world and its fun to listen to their stories about life across the pond.

But thats it

I like being an American, even tho people all over the world would personally like to see me die, even tho I never met them. I like Hamburgers, hotdogs, and anything that can be grilled.

BTW, French movies suck. Not that USA has made much better, but I don't get the whole french noir" thing

Allen,

I am a Hamburger, does that mean you like me??????

Yes it does! But I won't eat you tho. Your too old for that kind of play

Thank you very much

so I'm old, am I????

Your like 500 in cat years, I mean thats wayyyy over my limit jking!

Name me one foreign movie that people saw in the theatres (cinemas really)?

Just a couple...
El Laberinto del Fauno
28 Days Later
28 Weeks Later
Life is Beautiful
Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon
Shaun of the Dead
Hot Fuzz
Children Of Men

There is a theater here in Toledo that shows Hindi movies every Saturday morning.

Awe my poor lil sad hamburger! *hugs*

Wait... Why are we crying again?
What did I miss?
What's going on?!

I'm an old hamburger, with the emphasis on old

At least that's what Allen said.