Are Americans self-absorbed?

CPO Tim Dickey — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 06:55:06 -0500

The Canadian PM is making a point that we need to start paying attention to the rest of the world. Do you agree? What are your thoughts on his comments?
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CN_CANADA_TRUDEAU_AMERICANS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-03-03-22-44-26

News from The Associated Press

TORONTO (AP) -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians would appreciate it if Americans paid more attention to what's going on around the globe.

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Mar 5 at 2016 7:11 AM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 07:11:40 -0500

CPO Tim Dickey great article, I agree, sometimes I just concentrate on what's going on locally and nationally. "
Having a little more of an awareness of what's going on in the rest of the world, I think is, is what many Canadians would hope for Americans," he said in a transcript released to The Associated Press on Thursday.

Response by PO2 Skip Kirkwood made Mar 5 at 2016 7:54 AM

PO2 Skip Kirkwood — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 07:54:08 -0500

First, who asked him? WE are none of his business.

Second, we have nearly bankrupted ourselves providing aid, comfort, assistance and money to many around the world - even those who hate us and try to kill us. Maybe we should stop that for a while and see how things work out?

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Mar 5 at 2016 8:25 AM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 08:25:50 -0500

Damn it Chief. I'm not self absorbed, I'm wonderful, I'll be more than happy to tell everybody how wonderful I am. LOL! Now on a More Serious Note, I've always been interested in everything and since my experience in the Navy I've come to view myself as a World Citizen and very much interested and involved with the world around me. I've always been one to stand up for the Underdog. Needless to say I'm very active in Social Media and my Support of Liberal Causes to include LGBT, Minority, Palestinian Issues has made me the Unofficial Editor of Several On-Line Newspapers for those issues. I must be the weirdest looking Gay Black Muslim, LOL! 21 Years as a Navy Spook has done it's damage, I am not your Typical Self Absorbed Old White American.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Mar 5 at 2016 10:40 AM

CPT Jack Durish — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 10:40:18 -0500

Which would you watch: The train wreck or the grass growing? We (Americans) are the bull in the china shop. We create "a disturbance in the force" with every hiccup and fart. If Canada's economy collapsed, the ripples would barely reach Duluth. If America's economy collapsed it would be a world-altering event. Right now we are teetering on the brink of self destruction. Like the Worm Ouroboros, we are consuming ourselves. Is it any wonder that we are sucking all the air out of the room?

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Mar 5 at 2016 11:32 AM

PO1 Brian Austin — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 11:32:58 -0500

Generally i would say yes, the American public is pretty well self absorbed. I would say most people don't have a clue what's going on outside their own little personal bubble. As long as they have their weekly dose of American Idol , newest smart phone App and play time on Facebook, they're fat, dumb and happy...and ignorant about what's going on around them.

Now the American government obviously not, since the rest of the world expects us to play World Cop.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Mar 5 at 2016 1:01 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 13:01:50 -0500

CPO Tim Dickey I believe that the United States goes through period of different leadership and focus each time we have new President or over several decades. There have been times in our history even during WWI and WWII that we took a back seat until it started affecting the United States directly and we were attacked by the Japanese at Peral Harbor, and maybe we had taken a back seat to terrorism until 9/11, but at the same time when we have been at war and involved in our world conflicts our own country has taken a back seat. We have so many issues we need to fix within our borders its unbelievable. (i.e., unemployment, homelessness, hunger and poverty wihtin our very own borders, crime, drug abuse, and the list goes on), so I think there has to be a balance between both. We need leadership that recognizes the dangers to our sovereignty as a nation outside our borders and works hard to fix the problems inside our borders. Just an opinion!

Response by LTC Stephen F. made Mar 5 at 2016 1:10 PM

LTC Stephen F. — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 13:10:21 -0500

I think there are many in this nation who are self-absorbed CPO Tim Dickey and the same could be said for Canadians and many other developed nations. People who are "well off" tend to be more self absorbed than those who live from day to day.
I find it ludicrous and insulting that Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Canadians would appreciate it if Americans paid more attention to what's going on around the globe. The fact that it was on a USA TV program was even more insulting - 60 minutes has gone down hill over the decades.
Since James Monroe initiated the Monroe Doctrine in the early 1800s this nation has used our capital, foodstuffs,, and blood to help sustain and in many cases fight for others. In the past Canada helped others in WWI, WWII and to lesser extent in other wars. They fought in WWWI and WWII before we got involved.
We share a common culture and common defense interest [NORAD] with Canada in many respects and for much of out shared nation existence we have been on the same side[exceptions American Revolution and war of 1812]. I do not decry Canada so much as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2016 1:34 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 13:34:59 -0500

Yeah, to some degree, but so is the rest of the world. Give me a break.

Response by CSM Charles Hayden made Mar 5 at 2016 9:54 PM

CSM Charles Hayden — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 21:54:02 -0500

CPO Tim Dickey Considering the 'accidents' that occur because people are so focused on their cell phones, yes, we are 'self-absorbed'.

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 5 at 2016 10:46 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 22:46:49 -0500

As a nation I don't think it's possible to be completely self-absorbed, even if you are isolationist. As individuals; well... I don't think there's a more applicable term for a lot of people out there. Being in the military, we're all more likely to have traveled to other countries all over the globe, so of course I take offense to being called self-absorbed. But on the flipside, I'm sure we all know people who haven't even left their home state once in their lives, hell, I know a lot of people in my home town who have never even so much as left the county, even though Canada's maybe only a half-hour drive from their doorstep at the most.
Calling somebody self-absorbed is good for dealing with an individual, but it's ridiculous to say that about an entire country.

Response by CPT Alexander Grant made Mar 6 at 2016 12:32 AM

CPT Alexander Grant — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 00:32:46 -0500

I agree.
The thing is, most Americans do not understand the global impact/reach of America, and how it affects the rest of the world. However, we go *crazy* trying to argue with each other about what our foreign policy should be. I think we should pay attention to the rest of the world, for our own good, because we need more insight into what is happening around us than whatever politicians tell us.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Mar 6 at 2016 3:19 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 15:19:29 -0500

Sounds like Penis envy to me.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 6 at 2016 7:13 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 19:13:38 -0500

I've always felt it's the Canadians who are smug and self absorbed. If they're that interested in the rest of the world, they need to get more involved in world affairs by sending their Air Force, Navy, and Army troops into the worlds wars. The world could use some of their money. The stuff shirt needs to get a life.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Mar 28 at 2016 4:39 PM

CPT Pedro Meza — Mon, 28 Mar 2016 16:39:52 -0400

Thanks to the internet and business we have become a global community, and need to accept that pay more attention to our worldly surroundings. Recall when President Bush (dad) stated it is a "New World Order, prophecy full filled.

Response by PO3 Sandra Gomke made Jun 2 at 2016 11:23 AM

PO3 Sandra Gomke — Thu, 02 Jun 2016 11:23:13 -0400

The individual American has to be a little self-absorbed. It's how we work for our livings. Feeding our families, paying for schools, planning for retirements and hopefully getting a vacation someday. But we also put money in the jar for Tsunami victims and Syrian refugees. The average American is a generous and sympathetic soul. We're not hard-hearted. But it's hard to watch American tax-payer dollars go to unappreciative countries. I personally would like to see less of it going oversees, since I see where it could be used to help those in need in our country.
Now, I don't make a lot of money. But I do try to do what I can here at home. At Christmas, the bell ringers will get my change. I don't have grandkids yet so I buy toys for Toys for Tots. The rest of the year, if I have $20 to spare, it's used to buy books or current cd's for my local VA's Rec Therapy office. Yeah, I guess I'm more than a little self-absorbed. I like knowing where MY money is used.