Cultures growing apart.

Yes, absolutely. What will happen when the solution is no longer "to send the fleet" everytime there is a problem of national pride? I know this will sound preachy, but it needs to be said anyway: American politicans need to learn to become warriors for peace again, rather than just warriors. Otherwise the lessons Ragusa points out will be a tough taskmaster for all of us.

BTW, Spelly did not bring up the matter of race; and that she was responding to it seems pretty rational to me. Race has nothing to do with the issue at hand and is off topic. It is only one small part of the dynamics of culture and I'm sure that European culture has its dynamic of race also and is not exclusive to any particular. The real issue is American vs European culture; that they are becoming more divisive is the real point of Darkwolf's topic. Nevertheless, the point is well taken that America cannot reasonably deny its European influence. And I agree that to do so, is absurd, which I think is a large part of Pac Man's point. The influence (for better or worse) on America cannot be underestimated.

Yet, what is unsaid and really implied in Pac Man's potent one-liner is that America is the major culture (as far as world powers) and that it is becoming more clearly defined in its own right. And that it no longer (if it ever did) needs the "approval" of its allies to act in its own interests. America has a right to its own national identity, that almost goes without saying. But to throw diplomacy out the window, in favor of the "big battalions" is a mistake that America will only regret in the long run, IMO.