Question for non-Americans only: Why do Americans genuinely believe their country is the only "free" one in the world?

[InsecureLivesMatter]

As an American, I would like to receive answers only from international folks about this issue. I hear about this whole free speech and oppression controversy, but I feel like a non-American's response will be more credible.

Updates

1 y

They literally ignore me when I try and prove to them about the healthcare in Canada or even in Mexico vs the US.

[NaultD]

Lacking exposure of other places. I am speaking as an American but we don't travel to other countries. The only reason i left the country was from a government program called "people to people" stared by Eisenhower in high school.

I went to Australia and Costa Rica and the world becomes something larger then I've ever know. As an adult I'm still stuck with everyday life. The E. U and Asian countries really make a point to travel for the sake of travel just because. that's true freedom to me honestly.

[DryGermanGuy]

- Awful school education system

- No foreign language skills

- Overhyped, uncritical patriotism, starting in school with flag and anthem

- U. S.-centric media and pop culture

- much less holidays, less international travel and exchange

[InsecureLivesMatter]

"- No foreign language skills"

I would softly disagree on this one. Most of our schools teach Spanish, French, and also German to some extent. Colleges teach plenty of other languages.

[DryGermanGuy]

I know schools teach it. But your students never get proficiency in it, as most of them are not interested in using foreign languages. By the time school ends, they have forgotten most of it.

[Anonymous]

How would we know? For a lot of us the 'American freedom' doesn't make any sense. For me personally your laws that 'give you freedom' are something I would consider the opposite, or even going as far as deficits in human rights. America may not be the worst but I consider it far from the best.

I am prepared to receive hate from all these nationalists allready. Especially on this app.

[ibodi]

I was thinking about it too several days ago.

inspired by taiwanese

but I thought about theory.

that is just freedom from ego. They don't know they molest others and don't know how to deal that problem.

[MountAverage]

The United States is one of the least free countries in the western world. It's basically a third world country by now and it's getting worse every day.

[InsecureLivesMatter]

Would you mind explaining in what way it is like a third-world country? Or better yet, elaborate how it is "one of the least free", as compared to other first-world countries?

[MountAverage]

Very high crime rates, extreme poverty, no universal healthcare, a defacto two-party system, a faux-democratic electoral system, gerrymandering, religious fanatics and all sorts of violent radical groups across the country, death penalty still in place, the new anti-abortion laws. This is not even counting all the hyper-fascist attempts by Republicans to steal elections as well as other insane Republican ideas like Florida's plans to ban teaching about menstruation in schools, or their whole book banning insanity. If these things don't make a country a third-world country, then we can toss the whole concept of third-world countries.

I think this also answers your second question. But I'll add that pretty much every European country is more free than the US. The problem is that Americans have a very twisted, bastardized idea of "freedom" that is more about hyper-selfishness and survival of the fittest (i. e. most powerful and wealthiest). There aren't many western countries with as much suffering going on as in the US. The standard of living is MUCH higher in most European countries than it is in the US. In the US, you can have the best life - if your are wealthy. If you aren't, you're completely screwed.

[MountAverage]

I completely forgot the catastrophic educational system in my list of reasons why the US is a third world country...

[Dargil]

I don't and never have. But we are pretty good even with the Wokesters.