American exceptionalism

[DanaC]

Oh I've heard it. But it isn't a phrase that people find 'insulting'. There's more of a tendency to roll our eyes at it :p

The concept of Americans believing themselves and their nation to be superior and somehow chosen by God can be insulting - insasmuch as it has been used to justify some fairly shitty stuff - but most empires have their equivalent. We did when we were a 'great power'.

I think most Europeans are more concerned with what the US does, than they are with how Americans refer to themselves. Especially given tat most Europeans also have a fairly inflated sense of their nation's specialness and quite a lot look down on the US as brash and a bit full of its own importance.

but no -

There's no more insulting phrase to Europeans!

not even close.

[BigV]

Originally Posted by DanaC

snip--
I think most Europeans are more concerned with what the US does, --snip.

like when an American tells Europeans, and everyone else, what is most insulting to Europeans?