What do you think of the US?

Tegan,that yes,but the misconceptions bug me the most... I feel I should say don't believe everything you read.

Envious - I would welcome being put right about any misconceptions I have - it is good to have facts from the horse's mouth!
Nonu - are you really saying that we can only have opinions about countries we have visited? Don't you think we can learn a lot from books, TV, films, the news.....?

....and America did give us Bob Dylan . A country that creates someone that can write 'Masters of War' can't be all that bad, can it?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ElaYPo8B90

Greatnan I think HE.L would freeze over before abortion would be illegal here again! Don't worry... The fundamental Christians make a lot of noise but they don't worry people.As far as late abortions well that's just wrong anyway unless the women's life is in danger and how often does that happen?

We tend to think of America as a country and not a huge continent full of differing ideals and peoples. Which is where the misunderstandings begin.

That's good to hear, Envious. Now we just need Eire to catch up!

America has also given us John Steinbeck, Ernest Hemingway, Arthur Miller... to pluck just a few names out of the ether. There have also been some very good TV shows like Frasier, and the wacky Six Feet Under and Northern Exposure. My GC are hooked on the Simpsons which takes a pretty unvarnished view of US society and opinions. My GSs don't yet appear to be modelling themselves on Bart!

That's very true about the tv shows, anno - who said Americans have no sense of humour (or not one that matches ours)? These days our home-grown comedies are put to shame by a lot of the US offerings.

I have visited the USA many times, the first in my twenties with my then husband. Ever since my teens, I had been interested in American literature (and this remains one of my great passions). We went to California, hired a Tbird and drove all over the place - to Monterey, Big Sur and the Napa valley. I fell in love with America and each time I visit I feel that way again. One of the things I love is the can do attitude - flying into Seattle about 2 months after the eruption of Mount St Helens, the pilot of our American airline did a detour so that we could fly over the top of it, which was just as darkness was falling. There is no way that would have happened with a British airline! As you can tell by my handle, I love Las Vegas - both the stark beauty of the desert and the razzmatazz of the city. I like the lack of class consciousness that seems to pervade and stultify British society. From log cabin to log cabin could be our motto. It is also such a spectacularly beautiful country. I have met some wonderful people there and have great memories - not the least of which was a proposal of marriage from a Chicago cop who watched me scoop up a poker pot. I was never too sure if he was serious or not

Tegan,so right! I've lived in a metropolitan city in the South most of my life but would be the first to say there are a lot of places in the South I'd never live in!

Ana , I have had a busy weekend .

Nothing & I mean nothing will EVER put me off the US of A.

I luurve it .

Vegasmags, hope you didn't miss your chance to see Chicago!

Nonu,you'll just have to come back and visit areas near me!

Vegas the Pacific coastline is magical. I could travel up and down California forever more, enjoying the wildlife and scenery.

Envious . XX

Nonu, no one would want you to be put off the US. Your enthusiasm is endearing!

SWEETIE > XXX

I get really upset at the view other countries have of England [I say England and not Britain as I feel that they have national identities of their own on the world stage]. I think that, as a people, we are incredibly socially aware and tolerant, and yet the rest of the world seems to hate us [the exceptions being America and Crete]. But I suppose I am basing this on the Eurovision Song Contest . The plan is to visit America next year anyway, so I'll be able to judge for myself, although it will be one of those 'if it's Friday it must be Las Vagas' sort of coach trips.

Envious
Over the years, I've visited most of the East Coast; Georgia through to Maine.
It is such a complex and big continent, so I'll pare down my thoughts.

Dysfunctional politics, very friendly people, beautiful scenery, innovative and culturally diverse.

Always, always enjoyable - but that's probably because I have quite a few members of my family living there.

Oh, and forgot 'isolationist'.

Sounds sort of familiar

Nonu - what makes you think anybody is trying to put you off the USA?

I think that remark may be construed as "Nit picking "

Hell what do I know ?

to g/nan BTW

Laugh !!!!!!!!!!