imperialscum said:
Let me tell you this. I have travelled a lot around Europe and nowhere I have seen things as they are in USA. For example in most of the areas of the large cities you cannot feel safe because you are white. People look at you like you don't belong there. Never I have seen such a contrast between poor and rich (maybe in South Africa). Such misery in general and hostile society. The America you described only exists in Hollywood films.
There no place or street in my country that I would not feel safe to go to (except for maybe a few gypsy cramp).
I think a lot of this has to do with you being an outsider in an unfamiliar place.
Not feeling safe in most areas of larger cities because you are white? What?! I'm white and have spent a good deal of time in large cities in the U.S. and have never really felt particularly threatened in general. All big cities have parts of town that aren't particularly safe at night, this isn't just the case in the U.S.
Such misery in general and hostile society? What the hell kind of slum ghettos or prisons were you visiting while you were here? Sure, contrast between rich and poor. I live in a very cheap crummy apartment that isn't exactly in one of the best parts of town, and I love the hell out of it (though I don't currently live in a particularly large city at the moment, population 182,000, I get the distinct feeling you wouldn't feel very safe in my neighborhood on account of your whiteness). My neighbors are generally happy and friendly people too. I went with a friend house sitting a few months ago and found myself in a lavish mansion. Yeah, there is a big contrast there. The lifestyles of the people my friend was house sitting for and the lifestyle my friend and I hold are polar opposites. While we don't have excess money to waste on in ground swimming pools in our backyards or have pretentious European sports cars in our garages, we're clothed, fed, paying rent, happy, and living very comfortable lives.
When I lived in Detroit I rented a place in a slummy part of town, and I felt much the same way (though the reverse racism was pretty alienating at times), my neighbors were awesome, friendly, and very accepting of me once they got to know me. My neighbors and I weren't living in luxury there, but we had full tummies, cable television, roofs over our heads, and probably laughed and smiled more often than those yuppies living over in the ritzy suburb of Birmingham.
You realize that by saying the America Warbler described only exists in Hollywood films, you're essentially making the bold claim that you know what the United States is really like better than someone who has lived here his whole life, based on the fact that you've dropped by for a visit. Hopefully everyone can see how very silly that is. That is exactly like me trying to tell Hey, It's Me and the other English users here that their perception of England is all wrong based on my extended stays in London.