XPost: alt.flame.airlines, alt.politics.immigration, alt.airline   
   XPost: rec.travel.air, alt.travel.uk.air   
   From: spam@un.u.nu   
      
   Matt  wrote:   
   > "Sjoerd"  wrote:   
   >>> As for the "lesser countries" comment, I am not ashamed to believe that   
   >>> I live in the greatest country in the world.   
   >>   
   >> Don't you think that is a bit arrogant?   
   >   
   > No I don't think national pride is arrogant.  I think it's a bit silly for   
   > you to be put off by national pride.  I guess you don't like it when people   
   > have a favorite football team either.  After all it's arrogant to think your   
   > football team is better than mine.   
      
   Football teams don't have armies (except English ones of course).   
      
   But this highlights something interesting. We Americans sometimes have a   
   hard time understanding how jarring this "greatest country in the world"   
   stuff sounds to a lot of other people. I can only assume it comes from not   
   dealing with many people from other countries.   
      
   Think about it. If you go around saying you are from the greatest country in   
   the world, that means that everyone who lives in another country is by   
   definition from an inferior place. There is no way you can say it without   
   being insulting. And frankly, there is no "greatest country in the world" -   
   there are countries with better X or better Y, or which suit a given   
   person's personality better, but that's it. Just like there is no "greatest   
   football team in the world" - each football team will be beaten.   
      
   > And we'll keep doing it if there is good reason for it.  And you'll keep   
   > sitting on the sidelines with your head buried in the sand believing that   
   > if you love thy neighbor they will love you back.  Life is not that   
   > simple.   
      
   You sure elide over a lot with "if there is good reason for it".   
      
   miguel   
   --   
   Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)