Countries that have preoccupied Americans the most since 1900 • Hacker News Board

Re: Countries that have preoccupied Americans the most since 1900

#21

Post by Fnoord » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 12:23 PM UTC

blauditore wrote: post #16

Why was Germany not more prominent during WWII (but apparently during WWI)?

The main threat came from the west (Japan). Especially after Pearl Harbour. Before that, the US was neutral, officially. [1]

In the beginning of WWII (not sure exactly till which years but at least 39-41), the US only fought in Europe via pilots (the UK greatly lacked pilots), and transport boats. The ground troops only arrived before D-Day at which point the US did get [more] involved in the WWII in Europe.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutrality_Acts_of_the_1930s#E...

Re: Countries that have preoccupied Americans the most since 1900

#22

Post by enitihas » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 12:24 PM UTC

Santosh83 wrote: post #11

As someone from India it is probably a good thing that the US has seemingly not had us in mind at almost any point during the last 100 or so years, except for a brief period when we conducted some nuclear tests during 1998(?)... /s

Also during the Nuclear deal in the end of 2008

Re: Countries that have preoccupied Americans the most since 1900

#23

Post by daeken » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 12:28 PM UTC

oxymoran wrote: post #15

Emma_Goldman wrote: post #3

A few things which I found of note: 1. The blanket of Union Jacks, especially in the first half of the 20th century. 2. The impact of the Korean War clearly pales in comparison to the impact of Vietnam. 3. If you didn't know better, it would look like the US and China were at war. 4. France in 1926-27. I'm not sure what happened in France of international significance then? The bombing of Damascus?

The US and China are at war. Economic war. Cyber war. The Cold War never really ended, the players and the venues just shifted.

> The Cold War never really ended, the players and the venues just shifted.

That makes a good soundbite, but I think that changing the players and venues means it's a different war.

Re: Countries that have preoccupied Americans the most since 1900

#24

Post by lordnacho » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 12:31 PM UTC

What's interesting is if you did this for just about any other country, there would be a wall of star spangled banners.

If you ever travel outside the US, you inevitably hear about what the US is doing, what they're discussing, who the important people are, etc. The reverse is not true:

- Everyone outside the US knows the top US politicians. You even know what issues they are discussing, like gun control and healthcare.

- You'll know the names of the states. How many other foreign countries do you know the subdivisions of?

- You might also hear about the US sports leagues.

- You know what movies are big in the US. You know what songs are popular.

Re: Countries that have preoccupied Americans the most since 1900

#25

Post by A2017U1 » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 12:36 PM UTC

lordnacho wrote: post #24

What's interesting is if you did this for just about any other country, there would be a wall of star spangled banners. If you ever travel outside the US, you inevitably hear about what the US is doing, what they're discussing, who the important people are, etc. The reverse is not true: - Everyone outside the US knows the top US politicians. You even know what issues they are discussing, like gun control and healthca…

One little thing my American expat friends always find strange: maps are centered "wrong". As in the US is located at the top left and Asia is on the right.

I'm quite sure this is the world standard map, but apparently many grew up only with one that has the states centered.

Re: Countries that have preoccupied Americans the most since 1900

#26

Post by aloisdg » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 12:39 PM UTC

lordnacho wrote: post #24

What's interesting is if you did this for just about any other country, there would be a wall of star spangled banners. If you ever travel outside the US, you inevitably hear about what the US is doing, what they're discussing, who the important people are, etc. The reverse is not true: - Everyone outside the US knows the top US politicians. You even know what issues they are discussing, like gun control and healthca…

it is related to soft power[0] and we argue that it is a form of imperialsim[1].

[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_power [1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism

Re: Countries that have preoccupied Americans the most since 1900

#27

Post by Santosh83 » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 12:41 PM UTC

lordnacho wrote: post #24

What's interesting is if you did this for just about any other country, there would be a wall of star spangled banners. If you ever travel outside the US, you inevitably hear about what the US is doing, what they're discussing, who the important people are, etc. The reverse is not true: - Everyone outside the US knows the top US politicians. You even know what issues they are discussing, like gun control and healthca…

Depends really which section of the media you analyse. The majority of headlines on media channels and newsprints here are mostly on domestic matters. News about/from the US will find mention on the international section unless it is 'big' news.

And most people in the world probably don't know US politicians beyond the current President and his/her main challenger (during election time).

Re: Countries that have preoccupied Americans the most since 1900

#28

Post by malmsteen » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 12:43 PM UTC

lordnacho wrote: post #24

What's interesting is if you did this for just about any other country, there would be a wall of star spangled banners. If you ever travel outside the US, you inevitably hear about what the US is doing, what they're discussing, who the important people are, etc. The reverse is not true: - Everyone outside the US knows the top US politicians. You even know what issues they are discussing, like gun control and healthca…

Yes and no. Most people know the state because of movies, not because of news.

But I agree we talk a bit too much of the US (here in france)

Re: Countries that have preoccupied Americans the most since 1900

#29

Post by simplesleeper » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 12:43 PM UTC

lordnacho wrote: post #24

What's interesting is if you did this for just about any other country, there would be a wall of star spangled banners. If you ever travel outside the US, you inevitably hear about what the US is doing, what they're discussing, who the important people are, etc. The reverse is not true: - Everyone outside the US knows the top US politicians. You even know what issues they are discussing, like gun control and healthca…

I know the subdivisions of most of the countries I've been to, which includes most of Europe, Australia and USA...

The US spends a lot of money exporting its media, so it can't be surprising that everyone follows its movies and songs or that in London we occasionally have to endure a temporary hysteria about hand-egg (american football)

Re: Countries that have preoccupied Americans the most since 1900

#30

Post by Santosh83 » Sat, Dec 22, 2018, 12:44 PM UTC

blauditore wrote: post #16

Why was Germany not more prominent during WWII (but apparently during WWI)?

Because as I understand it, the US was largely aloof until Germany started pursuing atomic weapons and even then the Manhattan Project was done very secretively. So until Hitler started incarcerating millions of people and threatened all out war on Europe, the US wasn't really bothered all that much. So naturally Germany hits the headlines for the final 2 years of the war, and then Japan for a year because Pearl Harbour and Hiroshima/Nagasaki bombings.