A Harsh View of America From Outsiders

Sixty per cent of Americans are overweight, manyaccomplishments in producing material goods. There is
of them obese. It's the fattest nation in the world.no doubt that we are king of the hill with regard to
Who around the world is racing to join that club! Doconsumer goods.
you realize that many Russian women are afraid toWe have surrounded ourselves with camcorders,
come to America because they are afraid they willwide screen projection televisions, Palm Pilots, cellular
become fat like the rest of Americans?phones, and surround sound entertainment systems.
Americans, as a rule, dress for comfort. Some wouldThere is no end to the number of labor saving
say they dress like slobs. Go to any amusement parkdevices that we own, or should I say, owns us.
in America and you will see pudgy, mashed potatoWe are number one in the world in consumption. We
colored thighs sticking out of unattractive shorts.drive around town in our heavy duty, four wheel
They may be wearing a tee shirt with a slogan ondrive sport utility vehicles, braving the rugged terrain
the front that says "I'm with Stupid," or somethingof the shopping mall, transporting groceries from
equally as idiotic. They may have a ridiculous haircutstore to home, children from one activity to another,
such as a Mullet or a Mohawk covered by a baseballand pets to veterinarians.
hat with artificial dog feces on the bill. Many areWe consume forty percent of the world's oil
sporting tattoos of the Zig Zag Man or other cartoonresources in the pursuit of these worthy goals. And
characters on their skin.to pay for all this consumption, we have both
Many Americans Dress Like Slobs -- They Call Itspouses working overtime to pay for mortgages
"Comfortable."that are the size of small countries' Trade Balances.
Look at the way the Russian people dress. WhenWe are taking high blood pressure medication and
they have the means, they dress immaculately. Howserotonin uptake inhibitors like Prozac and Paxil to
many Russians do you think want to see theirdeal with all the stress of paying for the leisure
children dress like the Americans I just described?products we own.
Much of American pride comes from their