General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Americans are the loneliest, most isolated people [View all]geretogo
(1,281 posts)Hello . If one travels to Europe especially the Nordic and Mediterranean countries the difference in cultures is immediate .
Every day people walk the streets and are not afraid to say hello and recognize you as a fellow human being .
They gather in open spaces in the town with lunches to sit and talk . They move slower and take time to enjoy simpler
things like good food at the many out side cafe tables , art works , shopping at local businesses not Corporate chains .
Here in America you can go to many towns and cities and you notice the rush to buy the latest whatever , grab some lousy fast food
and then rush home . I went back to a small town in Pennsylvania where I grew up and I could not find one person on the streets any where . They stay isolated in their home and very few know their neighbors . I think this is prevalent in most suburbs across America .
In America you have value only to the extent to what you can buy . The culture of America is money . He that has the most money rules . Over two hundred years ago the French philosopher Alexis de Tocqueville commented in his book " Democracy in America " .The
thing he noticed most in observing the people was that most conversations included the words-- Money , cash , how much ,or cost .
This is just one persons observations .