Very informal metric, I know, but illuminating nonetheless.
After noticing some of these groups on my Facebook feed (yes, I'm old, sue me), I did a little counting:
Facebook groups that are called some variation of "I love USA": 12 groups of at least 100,000 members, including 8 of 230k or more, 5 of 300k or more and 2 of 500k or more.
"I love Europe" One group over 100k: 192k members
"I love Canada" One group over 100k: 156k members
"I love Germany" One group over 100k: 186k members
I love England (or UK), Japan, France, Spain, Australia etc.: no groups of 100k
"I love China": Ha. Don't make me laugh. Maybe enough people for a tea party.
The post that showed up on my feed was "One day I will visit America 🤍" with a picture of the Sun setting behind the Statue of Liberty and American flags in the foreground. The post was by a person with an Arabic sounding name, and the comments on it were hundreds and hundreds of "Amen" variations.
Now, of course, I'm not saying that this is evidence of the greatness of the USA and I'm interested in getting into a debate about GDP per capita, Gini coefficients and mandated paid maternity leave. I get all of that.
What I'm asking is: Why?
Why do you think the United States, with all its warts and with all the hatred from people who think the USA encroaches on freedoms around the world, do soooo many people still consider it the shining city on the hill?
I have a theory, but I'll listen first.
After noticing some of these groups on my Facebook feed (yes, I'm old, sue me), I did a little counting:
Facebook groups that are called some variation of "I love USA": 12 groups of at least 100,000 members, including 8 of 230k or more, 5 of 300k or more and 2 of 500k or more.
"I love Europe" One group over 100k: 192k members
"I love Canada" One group over 100k: 156k members
"I love Germany" One group over 100k: 186k members
I love England (or UK), Japan, France, Spain, Australia etc.: no groups of 100k
"I love China": Ha. Don't make me laugh. Maybe enough people for a tea party.
The post that showed up on my feed was "One day I will visit America 🤍" with a picture of the Sun setting behind the Statue of Liberty and American flags in the foreground. The post was by a person with an Arabic sounding name, and the comments on it were hundreds and hundreds of "Amen" variations.
Now, of course, I'm not saying that this is evidence of the greatness of the USA and I'm interested in getting into a debate about GDP per capita, Gini coefficients and mandated paid maternity leave. I get all of that.
What I'm asking is: Why?
Why do you think the United States, with all its warts and with all the hatred from people who think the USA encroaches on freedoms around the world, do soooo many people still consider it the shining city on the hill?
I have a theory, but I'll listen first.