Beauty

[glmama]

On 7/20/2014 suzyQ3 said:

On 7/20/2014 birkin baby said:

On 7/20/2014 gazelle77 said:

plus they stink over there.

One can wash away body odor but a stinky attitude is stinky everywhere. Too bad that can't be fixed with soap and water!!!!

Unbelievable, isn't it, birkin baby? I almost think someone who makes such a comment must be pulling our leg. That's my story, and I'm sticking to it.

I've traveled a bit in Europe and certainly didn't see any more dirty or stinky people than I see in the U.S. I don't romanticize ANY country, including ours. Once you start getting all nationalistic, it's too easy, then, to become xenophobic.

And that leads to many of the problems in this world. What was that wonderful quote from Mark Twain? Here it is:

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”

I have loved this quote forever, suzy, thanks for posting it here.

[Deanie]

Good Grief. Each culture has something to offer. The beautiful cathedrals of Europe, the Fjords of Scandinavia, etc. Does maximizing one minimize the other? However, I take umbrage over the flaunting of European "advantages" over ours. Much of the money that is spent on Europeans "advantages", comes at American expense. Not one country in Europe has a standing Army that is designed to act as protector in the world. Germany is able to spend a great deal of money not worrying about its own protection because of the USA. NATO not withstanding. So, when we are extolling the "advantages" of overseas, please remember at what cost it is to us. And, please, do not take my word for it. Do your own research on this issue.

[hyacinth003]

On 7/19/2014 HappyDaze said:

But no one has whiter teeth than Americans!

Or teeth in better condition!

Hyacinth

[pinkskates4]

On 7/20/2014 terrier3 said:

On 7/20/2014 MurphsMom said:

I think Europe is "primitive" compared to the US. I have visited several countries and they just seem "way behind us" in so many ways. I laugh when I hear people rave about the fashion, food, etc. Sorry Europe cannot compare to the US. And, I agree - personal hygiene is not "up to par".

Germans are FAR ahead of us re: energy. Many homes have solar panels - in Germany, not exactly known for sun and warm weather! They are much further along than we are re: freedom from outside energy sources. They conserve everything - including water.

Their educational system is also far ahead of us. If students are superior, they can get advanced degrees for very little money. If they aren't gifted students, they are trained in trades starting at 16 years old.

They admire us for some things...we admire them for others.

We can both learn from each other!

Then why is Germany so concerned that Russia might limit their supply of oil and gas - to the point that it influences their willingness to stand up to Russia?

The international community is isolating Russia for annexing Crimea. But Germany is treading carefully in putting pressure on Moscow. When it comes to energy supplies, Germany is extremely vulnerable to Russia's whims.

A glance at the facts, however, shows that it will be hard for Europe to turn its back on Russian energy - at least in the short term: 30 percent of the EU's natural gas imports are currently from Russia. When it comes to oil, 35 percent of the European Union's supplies are of Russian origin. And Germany's dependence on Moscow is even higher: the country sources 36 percent of its natural gas imports and 39 percent of its oil imports from Russian energy suppliers.

http://www.dw.de/germanys-russian-energy-dilemma/a-17529685

[segrl21]

On 7/20/2014 brewhaha said:

A lot of them don't shave their pits either.

That is a misconception. I've lived in many European countries, as part of a job, and had Europeans as roommates. Most do shave and it depends on the actual county and age. The younger girls tend to shave. Even if they don't, nothing wrong with it.

[suzyQ3]

I'm surprised that this thread has become rather political. I'm not sure at all that we or any country needs to keep blaring its own horn so loudly, whether it's in regard to cleanliness (ridiculous comments), style, or anything else.

[Colonel Meow]

On 7/20/2014 suzyQ3 said:

I'm surprised that this thread has become rather political. I'm not sure at all that we or any country needs to keep blaring its own horn so loudly, whether it's in regard to cleanliness (ridiculous comments), style, or anything else.

I'm also uncomfortable with the political bent that this thread has taken on. The thread was already offensive enough without bringing politics into it.

[ive been framed]

People everywhere are fine with the way they live and most likely have been living their ways forever. What is so terrible?? It's just Different. What's so bad??

[ive been framed]

... and what do you think Europeans think of those pictures of Wal-Mart customers on the internet? Is that what all Americans are like?

[terrier3]

On 7/20/2014 Dagna said:

On 7/20/2014 terrier3 said:

On 7/20/2014 MurphsMom said:

I think Europe is "primitive" compared to the US. I have visited several countries and they just seem "way behind us" in so many ways. I laugh when I hear people rave about the fashion, food, etc. Sorry Europe cannot compare to the US. And, I agree - personal hygiene is not "up to par".

Germans are FAR ahead of us re: energy. Many homes have solar panels - in Germany, not exactly known for sun and warm weather! They are much further along than we are re: freedom from outside energy sources. They conserve everything - including water.

Their educational system is also far ahead of us. If students are superior, they can get advanced degrees for very little money. If they aren't gifted students, they are trained in trades starting at 16 years old.

They admire us for some things...we admire them for others.

We can both learn from each other!

Then why is Germany so concerned that Russia might limit their supply of oil and gas - to the point that it influences their willingness to stand up to Russia?

The international community is isolating Russia for annexing Crimea. But Germany is treading carefully in putting pressure on Moscow. When it comes to energy supplies, Germany is extremely vulnerable to Russia's whims.

A glance at the facts, however, shows that it will be hard for Europe to turn its back on Russian energy - at least in the short term: 30 percent of the EU's natural gas imports are currently from Russia. When it comes to oil, 35 percent of the European Union's supplies are of Russian origin. And Germany's dependence on Moscow is even higher: the country sources 36 percent of its natural gas imports and 39 percent of its oil imports from Russian energy suppliers.

http://www.dw.de/germanys-russian-energy-dilemma/a-17529685

Germany is next to Russia. In fact until the late 80s, half of Germany was part of the Soviet Union.

Yes, they are dependent on them for gas and oil. But their economies are very intertwined...Russia imports a lot of products from Germany.

It would be as if we had a major gripe with Canada...VERY complicated.