I would say better, fist there were the English, their empire, they invented the imperialism.
I'm going to have to leap to the defense of the Brits here. They were neither the first nor the last to practice Imperialism.
Then came the Americans, learned well from their maters, invented the cultural imperialism, and english spread all over hte world...
Eh. I think the term "cultural imperialism" is goofy. I mean, it's not like we really care if other countries eat at McDonalds. Most Americans don't even realize there
are other countries unless we go to war with them.
It's
your choice whether you watch our movies or not. We could not, to be quite honest, care less. Everyone complains about this every time a nation gets dominant. Sixty years ago, every scientist in the world spoke German, because german engineering was the world's best, and they led the world in just about everything. Today, America happens to be on top. In a hundred years it might be someone else.
And, I might add, it's not just other countries that are having this problem. Here in the Southeastern US, we used to have a very distinct culture. With a few exceptions, it's largely been absorbed into "mainstream culture," whatever that is. The southern accent is a dying thing, I'm afraid.
Globalization is not some America-inspired jugernaught. It's a blending of all cultures. I have a Roman Catholic friend that believes in Karma. I personally have a tendency to spell "behavior" as "bahaviour" and "gray" as "grey" when I'm not paying attention. Spanish words and catchphrases are invading the American English language at a rapid pace. America isn't changing other cultures. Well, that's not true, it
is changing other culutres, but those cultures are changing the American culture too. Despite what a lot of people not from America think, globalization is a two-way street. Everyone is affecting everyone else.
And, on a lighter note, the only thing that
really bothers me about E/E is calling Potato Chips "crisps" (I think they do, anyway. It's definitly not "chips") If there's any culinary invention uniquely American, its' chips. We invented them, so we get to name them. You limey Brits can't go around changing the name. You can add in any extra u's if it makes you feel any better, but you can't outright change the name.
