Do you ever think about how lucky you are to be born in America?

Actually I have done so, on many occasions. It's a very lucky thing to have been born in the USA in the second half of the 20th century.

The country is hardly perfect (in addition to its major problems, it also has minor ones: weird money, flag, and anthem), but its pluses more than offset the negatives.

Just one benefit, often overlooked or taken for granted, is that almost all native-born Americans are native speakers of English, which is now the global language. We are very, very fortunate not to have to learn it as a second language--and to have the resulting international job opportunities (to teach it to others).

Your words indicate that you think Americans are the most privileged, I don't believe that is the case.

One measure, not saying its beyond argument:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality-of-life_Index

You think the average person from America is better off than the average person from Switzerland? America doesn't have universal health care!

I'm trolling with that last sentence, kinda.

Besides Canada is much better.

or87 wrote:

Just one benefit, often overlooked or taken for granted, is that almost all native-born Americans are native speakers of English, which is now the global language. We are very, very fortunate not to have to learn it as a second language--and to have the resulting international job opportunities (to teach it to others).

I think there are lots of benefits to learning a second language!

nope

luck has nothing to do with it.

I worked hard to be born in America.

Somas wrote:

or87 wrote:

Just one benefit, often overlooked or taken for granted, is that almost all native-born Americans are native speakers of English, which is now the global language. We are very, very fortunate not to have to learn it as a second language--and to have the resulting international job opportunities (to teach it to others).

I think there are lots of benefits to learning a second language!

So do I--having studied maybe eight foreign languages--but I don't see how that gainsays my statement: that Americans are lucky in being native speakers of Earth's global language.

Somas wrote:

Your words indicate that you think Americans are the most privileged, I don't believe that is the case.

One measure, not saying its beyond argument:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality-of-life_Index

...

Have to agree with you. I think a better proposition is that you are very lucky if you were born in any of America, Canada, Switzerland, France (well, maybe not France), Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, Australia...

Modern, well-developed democracies are much better places to be born than the alternatives.

I often think about how lucky I was not to have been born in much of the world. But I'd likely feel that way if I'd been born in any post-industrial country.

Gonna have to agree wrote:

Somas wrote:

Your words indicate that you think Americans are the most privileged, I don't believe that is the case.

One measure, not saying its beyond argument:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quality-of-life_Index

...

Have to agree with you. I think a better proposition is that you are very lucky if you were born in any of America, Canada, Switzerland, France (well, maybe not France), Germany, The Netherlands, Japan, Australia...

Modern, well-developed democracies are much better places to be born than the alternatives.

I think that was a major part of his point. We are lucky if we are born in a civilized country with a great deal of freedom, as compared to the ones that are severely lacking in civility and freedoms.

I often think about how lucky I am to have come here.

And then I look around at native-born Americans, voting against schools, voting against the environment, voting crooks and idiots into power, and I think, "wow, they really don't get it. They don't understand how the rest of the world lives - what the alternative is."

I'm not saying that, having reached adulthood, certain people wouldn't prefer to live elsewhere in the world. I spent a year in Germany and had an absolute blast, in fact.

But a native born US citizen carries a lot of weight and affords a lot of clout. Some benefits are tangible and some are intangible. Hell, being a natural-born US citizen and passport holder gives Americans huge advantages when it comes to relocating to another country. Like it or not -- culturally, linguistically, monetarily, etc etc -- the world respects and looks up to Americans.

feeling patriotic today wrote:

the world respects and looks up to Americans.

really??

Electric Youth wrote:

really??

Have you ever traveled abroad? Being an American has its perks...particularly with the female denizens.

Chuck Norris wasn't born American. America was born Chuck Norris.

feeling patriotic today wrote:

Hell, being a natural-born US citizen and passport holder gives Americans huge advantages when it comes to relocating to another country.

Are you serious? Like what?

It is now a serious DISADVANTAGE to be a US passport holder when living abroad. Financial institutions have to report everything to the IRS, and in many cases they are turning away US passport holders.

E.g. relocating to London as an American subjects you and your family to derision until you prove you are not a complete yahoo.

Asia is marginally better, but not much, and certainly among any expat community in the world being an American is a strike against you now.

Lyndon Larouche wrote:

Are you serious? Like what?

It is now a serious DISADVANTAGE to be a US passport holder when living abroad. Financial institutions have to report everything to the IRS, and in many cases they are turning away US passport holders.

E.g. relocating to London as an American subjects you and your family to derision until you prove you are not a complete yahoo.

Asia is marginally better, but not much, and certainly among any expat community in the world being an American is a strike against you now.

Try being from an impoverished latin american or african country. Or, better yet, try traveling to America from one of those countries. The passports are worthless -- you essentially have to prove you pose no risk of overstaying. Thus, you have to be of means.

Ichwill wrote:

Thus, you have to be of means.

And, being from one of those countries, chances are you aren't.

Ichwill wrote:

Try being from an impoverished latin american or african country. Or, better yet, try traveling to America from one of those countries. The passports are worthless -- you essentially have to prove you pose no risk of overstaying. Thus, you have to be of means.

The advantage is not an "American" passport, it is a "Modern Developed Country" passport.

Four of six of my mother's siblings were murdered by Israel before their 16th birthday. My mother and uncle made it out of the Israeli death camps alive. Americans have no idea how fortunate they are to live in freedom and democracy. We can do whatever we want in this country. Be happy to be an American. Not everyone can be so lucky.