Which countries history and culture do you admire?

[Julie4]

You can choose as many countries as you like

[nightdrot]

Probably the two I most admire - I don't include my own country - is Britain and Japan. Especially the former.

Britain's obvious influence in the world, from an historical perspective, is pretty impressive. A pragmatic merging of the traditional and the innovative that made democracy durable without it becoming revolutionary,

To be sure, today the UK is not what it was, but a nation whose institutions are clearly democratic and yet includes things like the monarchy and the House of Lords - anchors to tradition and stability - is not to be dismissed lightly. Throw in the historical contribution by men like Burke, Disraeli, and Churchill and Britain has earned my admiration.

As to Japan, that is a bit of an eccentricity on my part. It is not a nation that I would necessarily want to imitate - the cultural aspects are far too alien to a man raised in the West. Yet here again, Japan has managed a pragmatic blend of its' ancient culture with a certain adaptive skill that is impressive. Even more so given that, ironically, that adaptive skill led Japan down a very dark road for a time.

Japan entered World War II in part because it was attempting to compete in the world of the European imperial powers while at the same time retaining its' insular culture. That led, suffice to say, to disaster and yet, when Japan was defeated it did not "throw the baby out with the bathwater," so to speak, but simply recalibrated its' culture and institutions to new circumstances and thus the state that it is today.

By the way, I would throw France onto the list. While I find France's political history to be less impressive, there cannot be any doubt about that country's contributions to art and culture. For that matter, whatever my disagreements with it, there cannot be any doubt about France's historical influence in the political arena and certainly France's ability to recover from the catastrophe of the two world wars deserves admiration.

Having said all that, as a student of politics and history, my tendency is to respect other cultures that have developed organically and democratically. That is no easy thing to pull off in the tumult of history.

[Julie4]

For the UK I knew, but for Japan I couldn't have imagined. I thought you would have put Italy.

Personally I admire too many countries 😂 my list

- Uk

-Usa

- Germany

- Italy

- Japan

- China

- Iran

- Iraq

- Turkey

- Greece

[Julie4]

And you were not obliged to add France to the list, lol. I am speaking with people here who are indifferent to the achievements of France. You know, tastes and colors are not to be discussed. I mean, I hope you didn’t do that because I am French. We all have our preferences, and I would not have taken it badly at all if you had not put France among the countries you admire.

[nightdrot]

First, I think it is impressive that you admire so many countries. It speaks well of you on so many levels.

Oh, and as for me and Japan, that is - I admit - something of a quirk on my part. My orientation is mainly European, but that is the funny part of Japan - it basically sought, after the Meiji Restoration, to mimic Europe without losing its' own essential identity.

Oh, and as for France - believe me, I meant it. Grant, the UK is the top of my list, but as a student of history, France has earned my respect. Not always and not to the extent that the UK has, but still - and oddly especially right now under President Macron - France deserves respect and admiration.

Great chatting.

[RingOfFire]

The United States of America and the American culture.

The country that refused to be subservient to any other and fought valiantly against tyranny to win its freedom against the most powerful army on earth and against all odds.

The country that represents the greatest and most unique experiment in individual freedom in the history of mankind.

The country that more people are desperately trying to get into to live than all the other countries of the world combined.

The liberator of more people than any other nation in history. The premiere military might that all free nations of the world depend on to protect them from tyranny and evil.

The largest, strongest and most powerful economy in the world with the world's most coveted currency.

The country that creates more prosperity, gives more charitable contributions and lifts more people out of poverty throughout the world than any other.

The country that discovered more medical breakthroughs and developed more technological inventions that have saved and improved more lives than any other in history.

The country that invented the culture that has been adopted all over the world and is now accepted as the norm.

[RingOfFire]

And after 55 years, America is the only country to this day that had men walking on the moon.

[hellothere90]

Ancient Persia. Iran has been ruined after Islamic invasion but Iran was a great civilization. Zoroastrianism is a really interesting religion.

[avery58]

Greece, Egypt, Mexico, China, Japan, India

[avery58]

Turkey too

[RavVid]

The US and Canada are very similar to Australia in that we are all Anglo settler countries. So it is easy to find something within my cultural boundaries to admire.

Can appreciate what we derived from the UK very much and I prize our democratic traditions. 1688 was a watershed year as I have said before.

I will be surprised if France is not a top mention by nearly everybody. Italy, Greece too.

Japan will get many references I am sure.

Truth is I don't have the broad sweep to say much about non European countries.

After the above I'd drop back to Early Anatolian Farmers and the various fertile crescent cultures.

I almost forgot the Romans. How could I? It has been almost 2 weeks since I thought about Rome. I have been on holidays is my excuse.

[Kaneki05]

Egyptians and Vikings the reason is simple women's rights. That's it. The rest were all just awful.
And to my understand Egypt women's rights become worse the more modern they become ironically. Mostly due to influences from Greeks and Islam especially Islam. It's honestly sad they made Egyptians leave their old faith.

[RyanEC]

I like countries that have a long history and a rich culture.


United Kingdom (England, Scotland)
France.
Germany.
Italy.
Russia.
China.
Japan.
Iran.

[Julie4]

We're interested in the same countries, of course i ajoute the USA.

And I'd add Iraq too, which many people don't know about, but which also has a very rich history.

On the other hand, I have mixed feelings about Russia. On the one hand, I think it has a really rich history and culture. But at the same time I have the impression that this country is really "too" strange, really too different for me to appreciate its culture. I don't know if I'm making myself clear 😅

[RyanEC]

I do like America but we don’t have a rich history like your country for example.

Iraq does have a lot of history but as I understand it a pretty standard Arab nation.

I think Russian mentality is quite different compared to the West but I still have an appreciation for the culture.

[Julie4]

Just because the U. S. doesn't have such a long history doesn't mean it doesn't have an interesting history and culture.

Yes, you may be right about Russia.

Iraq an ordinary Arab nation? 🤔 Along with Syria and Kuwait, Iraq is part of the cradle of human civilization, and it was in Iraq that Babylon was born.

[RyanEC]

I think America has a lot in common with England, Canada and other Anglo Saxon nations so we don’t have a strong unique culture.

I just mean the ancient cultures aren’t continued in Iraq.
I would say Iran continues the culture of the ancient Persian culture in many ways.

[Mettbltt]

ıran is not arab country

[DrPepper12]

The principality oh Moscow as well as Mongol tributary state and tsarist eastern n expansion and the reign of Peter I are all fascinating eras of Russian hy

[Mettbltt]

@DrPepper12 which mongol tributary state

[DrPepper12]

@Mettbltt mucovy principality

[Chazmatazz269]

Japan. I’ve always had a fascination with the nation and its people. I’ve recently been reading and watching videos about living there. I’m strongly considering giving it a go.

[Benlovegs]

Greece and its amazing islands

you should come once and experience orthodox Easter. Amazing few days of pure authentic Greek culture

[JCIrons]

European countries mainly. France. Spain. England. Greece.

[DJB72]

England, France and Italy - in that order. I'm a sucker for architecture going back 2000 years

[itsclearlynicholas]

United Kingdom / Great Britain or Australia. I'm biased. 👑

[itsclearlynicholas]

Or I guess, the USA.

[DrPepper12]

China. The world has NO FUCKING CLUE the debt humanity owes these people.

[goaded]

Pasta, printing, or gunpowder? C:

[DrPepper12]

@goaded you could dig all day and still only scratch the surface

[loveslongnails]

The continent of Antarctica, because there is no c

[KostasKouvalis]

France, South Africa and Greece are probably my top 3.

[OddBeMe]

Funny how each country is both rich in culture and awful history.

[Iron_Man]

Paris, France

[Julie4]

Haha , you can choose several countries lol

[Iron_Man]

I really enjoyed myself in France and of course I like my own country

[Iron_Man]

Very beautiful countryside very impressive France and a lot of history

[Julie4]

Glad to see you enjoyed France, at first I thought you hated us, that's why sometimes I felt like you were saying you didn't like something just because it was French.

I'm sorry about that. Now I know that if you don't like things, or even lots of things that come from France, it's not because you don't like us, it's just that we all have different tastes.

[Iron_Man]

No, I’ve never had a problem with French people. I heard they had a reputation, but they never bothered me except one taxi driver was kind of mean that’s all, but I love the country.

[Iron_Man]

I had a very good experience there

[butterfly_nake87]

India.

Beautiful culture and rich history.

[Anonymous]

None. I just learn from history I don’t admire any history. And the Caribbean culture that I come from is the only one I actually admire.

[Cheerfull009]

My own country, Pakistan, and all Muslims countries

[DrPepper12]

The dar al Islam is a fascinating place of diversity and cultures

[Cheerfull009]

@DrPepper12 thanks, dear

[4ngelic]

italy, greece, france, asia, england

[sheenagwapa]

Philippines, USA, South Korea

[OtterMan68]

Switzerland
Canada

[ellefia]

Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Greece

[Staximus]

Any with really old buildings and good food

[jahaims]

None

[Mettbltt]

Turkiye