Loïc had a great entry this last week about the curious thing that Americans do when he meets them: they immediately apologize for their country. Loïc's take is reflective, rather than judgemental, and he points out his own regrets in France.

When I was in Prague a month ago, I had a chat with some Irish gals over some absinthe. I mentioned that a lot of Americans, when travelling abroad, don't want to be seen as American. I've received this advice from other Americans: "Put a Canadian flag on your bag when you're travelling; you'll be safer, and make more friends."

I, for one, am glad to be part of the culture I emerged from (North American, that is), and glad to take advantage of some of its benefits. There's a lot to complain about; I'm not too fond of the state military budget, and on the cultural front, the reigning consumerism tends to lead us to dark things. But I'm proud of our racial diversity (highest in the world!), which has been embraced amazingly (though we've still got a ways to go, each of us); I'm also proud of the Socratic spirit with which our (higher) education is conducted, which I understand is not universal around the world: the British empire's education system stamped that rank-and-file rote system on most of its colonies. I'm even slightly proud to be of the culture that does the most and best (imo) pop culture innovation in the world: progenitors of hip-hop and enough of the best rock-and-roll to remain a leader. It feels awkward to say these things, because I spend so much of my time trying to open my worldview beyond the US borders, but it's important to account for what assets one has. If France didn't want to stand up for Etienne Decroux, if Poland couldn't be proud of Jerzy Grotowski, where would we be?

Some folks have a pessimistic bent, and can't see the upside to their community; other folks are appallingly optimistic, that is to say, jingoistic, and can't see the damage they're wreaking. Thanks, Loïc, for not being either.