Are we Americans more cranky than most?

I watch all these debates and all the news and the way people in this country argue about things, even the way we argue about things here on DU and i keep coming to the same conclusion: Americans for some reason seem pretty hotheaded and are likely to see disagreement with someone else as a moral failing of the highest order. Is the rest of the world like this? Or is my proximity fooling me into thinking that we are like this while other modern industrial nations are not?

I began thinking this after watching "Bowling for Columbine" because in that movie, Moore attempts to try to understand why is it that Canada with gun ownership and sharing many things with us, does not share our high murder rate and seemingly doesn't share our rather high level of anger and fear.

And it occurred to me while watching that movie that when we believe things we are inclined to believe them with a moral ferocity frequently unsuited to the issue.

If I'm making a valid point, then what explains this?

The main thing I can come up with is our distinctive religious heritage. I am no theologian but Puritanical beliefs and evangelical Christianity are very strong elements in the US and not nearly so strong elsewhere. As a practical matter, our Puritanical history perhaps gives us a tradition of believing things with religious zealousness. Further, evangelical Christianity has a much stronger presence here. In the US, denominations that stress the individual's relationship with God/Jesus (generally Evangelicals) are a much larger proportion of the population here than those denominations emphasizing the role of the individual within the community of God/Jesus (e.g. Catholics and other "older" religions). Combine these things with our emphasis on the importance of individuality and I'm left wondering if there is anything nearly as strong in influence which commits Americans to the health of the community at large and the well being of individuals within that community.

And I haven't even begun to try to explain our levels of fear, despite living in a fairly wealthy, relatively free and relatively and safe society.

Whatever it is, and I don't think I'm imagining it, generally speaking, we can be a pissy group when we get our hackles up and if we only did that about say World War II, Slavery, etc. I can see it, but it goes beyond the big issues.

This is something I've been thinking about for quite a while. I'm wondering what you all think.

oops
:yoiks:

But only because we're more stressed than most. We work longer hours, have less time off, have fewer protections, lousy access to health care and no real safety net compared to the rest of the western nations. Whether we admit it out loud or not, most of us know we are just a paycheck or two away from disaster.

I also think our fear mongering media plays a role as well.

I think I'd feel a lot less stressed just knowing that was not an issue.

I agree. The issue may be associated with our preoccupation with the notions of freedom, independence, personal space and property. It seems that we tend to stake claims to opinions and beliefs and take personal umbrage when we perceive that personal claim is violated. In other words, our opinions are our property, and when they are questioned we might lose them, thus we feel we are losing part of out identity.

Just because we change our minds we have not changed who or what we are. Perhaps if we were to give up trying to turn everything we do into personal property... uh, excuse me.

Hey you kids, get off my fucking lawn!....

:shrug:

expressing the idea much better than me.

I am reminded of someone else more eloquent than myself. George Carlin once said, "Ever notice how your shit is stuff and everyone else's stuff is shit?"

fix the problem.

If we were truly "cranky," there would be a lot more real protest against the policies of the repukes and the corps, ala the Europeans.

Now, they know how to be (and act) cranky.

Whenever you have millions upon millions of people adhering to illusion that masquerades as reality ... well, I suspect that is a major component of what the OP alludes to.

anything. It is extremely self-centered and self-limiting. Uneducated. Un-worldly. Also I agree with all of the above. And AMericans are loud mouthed and rude and nuts. Mostly Republicans.

it's just you and me Jesus, all the way. :fistbump:

:sarcasm:

:D

And puts people into survival mode - fight or flight - even when they don't really have to be. The wealthy that benefit from the social darwinism are always on-guard, protecting their wealth. the poor ones are especially angry because of the stigma attached to "handouts" - they spit on the very safety net that would pull them from the brink, because their sense of pride is more important (until they actually need aid).

I think the connection is subconscious. I also think the fear and anger gives them an endorphin rush.

Well having traveled a lot throughout the US Id have to say that the it really depends on where you are in the country and sometimes debate is just a discussion other times its a match LOL. Here in New England Id say we are pretty on edge most of the time and quick to become very opinionated.

But thats only my opinion. :toast:

Only behind the French as far as attitude and self-importance.

LOL maybe that's why Republicans always use the French as scapegoats, they are the only ones with more of an attitude than us.

"the squeaky wheel gets the oil"