Shinra: I agree, "ignorance" is a suitable adjective for the new fascination with Japan. They watch a few anime, maybe even recognize Japanese language, and suddenly they act as if they could pass off as a native Japanese in any comparison. And this "shallowness" is a way of life that's embraced far too often -- by people in general, but Americans in particular.
I find Japan to be an intriguing and fascinating country with a rich heritage, and I become further engrossed the more I discover about it (I've studied it for quite a while, and I'm currently learning the language). But when people who has barely glanced at the surface and can't even pronounce "Tokyo" properly go out and talk of how great Japan is... I dunno, I strikes me as sad - in both interpretations of the word.
*** CAUTION: Entering Level 2 Rant ***
Americans annoy me. Not all of them of course, but an alarming percentage of them. Americans with their smug sense of superiority, casually seeing their country and president as the ruler of this planet. What gives USA the right to decide which governments are good and which are bad, and replace them as they see fit? "Saddam is evil, he should be shot"; "Arafat must go away, he's annoying us with his crap about freedom for his people whose land was given to the Israeli, why can't he just do as our president says?". And no other country dare oppose them, GOD it's depraved. The US is suffering from a severe case of megalomania, and the rest of the world has a problem for believing in it.
And what about this nationalism? Especially since Sep.11th, people uniting under the flag, being proud to be a true American ("I bought the T-shirt!"). USA, a country with hardly any history in comparison with the rest of the world. USA, a country where nearly every single person is an immigrant? And the educational system... I'm not saying it's flawed, but when half of the population believes man and dinosaur co-existed (fact), there's something very wrong. This may be because I didn't grow up there, but I just cannot see anything in the US to be especially proud of.
Now I realize these views will offend some people. This may be so, but I've seen so much crap from that country... not all Americans are asses of course, but there simply cannot be enough smart people alive to counteract the amount of stupidity in there. When dealing with me, you're "American until proven otherwise".
People who are willing to reply in a civilized manner may do so. People who feel like saying "who the hell do u think u are, u fucking retard?!" will be referred to my American representative, Mr. Trash Bin.
Also, to those American people that I respect as intelligent individuals (those I talk to): Please do not be offended that I use "American" as a derogatory adjective. It's just gotten to be a habit.
*** END of Level 2 Rant ***
