America is a lot to take in. It is loud, it is large, it has an inexplicable relationship with portion sizes, and it produces and consumes more corn syrup than any other nation on earth. It has also been the subject of more global eye-rolling than perhaps any other country in recorded history, which is another thing they can chant “we’re #1” at.
But here's the thing about America that tends to get lost in the discourse. Underneath the deep-fried everything and the aggressive patriotism and the healthcare system that charges $400 for an aspirin, there is a country that is often surprisingly good at a remarkable number of things.
A user on Reddit recently asked people to share what Americans deserve more credit for, and the answers came from Americans and non-Americans alike. Put down the corn syrup. This one's good.
#41
Research. The US has phenomenal biomedical, medical, and health research infrastructure.
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14points
#42
Self reliance and a (often irrational) belief that they have a unique and valuable perspective. That combo has brought a lot of innovation, good and bad.
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14points
#43
Their customer service,... whether this is a symptom of a litigious or the power of social media.
I live in a country with appalling customer service (outside of our tourist areas) that it is always jarring when i travel to the US.
I live in a country with appalling customer service (outside of our tourist areas) that it is always jarring when i travel to the US.
13points
#44
We are surprisingly good at toughing it out.
A culture of overpriced medical care will make people grit their teeth and get through some stuff that makes most in other countries faint.
Like, it's funny we get told how tough we arnt, and how Americans are "a bunch of p***ys", but in reality, we can walk off a broken leg.
A culture of overpriced medical care will make people grit their teeth and get through some stuff that makes most in other countries faint.
Like, it's funny we get told how tough we arnt, and how Americans are "a bunch of p***ys", but in reality, we can walk off a broken leg.
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13points
#46
Every brit I know that's visited the states is always surprised by how friendly people are at local dives. They're always so taken aback that random people will strike up conversations with them.
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12points
#47
Imo ice cream! It might not be on par with the best gelato places in Italy, but overall American ice cream is fantastic and the baseline is very high.
I love mint chip but I’ve almost driven myself to madness trying to find it in Scandinavia….
I love mint chip but I’ve almost driven myself to madness trying to find it in Scandinavia….
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12points
#48
Compared to other countries I've lived in (UK and Iceland) there's less stigma for having ASD/ADHD and being open about it in SOME STATES. (I live in Washington state, would not be as open when I lived in Arkansas, for example).
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11points
#49
Swimming.
Having two large coasts and a countless number of lakes and rivers has made swimming a part of the fold for the large, large majority of Americans. A common activity for children growing up, and a respected sport.
Over 80% of Americans are able to swim, compared to about a 45% global average. This is down to sub-twenty or single digit percentages in some Asian and African countries, due to a lack of accessible, swimmable bodies of water.
Having two large coasts and a countless number of lakes and rivers has made swimming a part of the fold for the large, large majority of Americans. A common activity for children growing up, and a respected sport.
Over 80% of Americans are able to swim, compared to about a 45% global average. This is down to sub-twenty or single digit percentages in some Asian and African countries, due to a lack of accessible, swimmable bodies of water.
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11points
#50
Improvising. Battlefield, boardrooms, doesn't matter, Americans roll with the punches.
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11points
#51
Improvisation - working together think outside the box quickly to solve a problem.
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11points
#52
Every American I've dealt with both online and in person is lovable, nice and a very good friend.
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11points
#53
Dedication - towards work, towards their nation, towards helping and volunteering in crisis, towards changing their life around and dreaming big.
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11points
#55
D**n there are some bitter a*s sorry people out there
Optimism
Having an opportunity to make a great life for yourself and your family.
Optimism
Having an opportunity to make a great life for yourself and your family.
10points
#56
Freedom of religion. Which I know a lot of people will disagree with, and I totally agree that religion has forced its tentacles WAAAAAY too hard into American politics, particularly in recent decades.
It just blows my mind when I’m reading about some other country and some religion or denomination is just flat-out illegal there. The state decides whether or not your religious beliefs are allowed to legally exist. Even if it’s a cult, to have the government step in and say “No, you’re not allowed, we’re afraid you’ll have more loyalty to your cult than to us” is just horrible to me.
It’s what allows the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and the Catholic Church to co-exist in the same country. Not always *politely,* but peacefully.
It also helps that we’ve never had a state church or religion that you’re assumed to be born into, and you have to file paperwork to get out. If you don’t want to be a member of a religious group and/or you want to stop supporting that group, just…stop. You’re not getting money taken out of your paycheck to pay your minister’s salary. The only time the American government ever sends money towards a religious organization (on an official level, anyway) is if they’re doing some charitable or community work outside of religious belief, like running a school or a food bank. I do believe we need to stop pretending that crisis pregnancy centers are something that needs government funding, but at least they’re getting it under the *guise* of community service and not because “We’re a religion so you need to give us tax money, there.”.
It just blows my mind when I’m reading about some other country and some religion or denomination is just flat-out illegal there. The state decides whether or not your religious beliefs are allowed to legally exist. Even if it’s a cult, to have the government step in and say “No, you’re not allowed, we’re afraid you’ll have more loyalty to your cult than to us” is just horrible to me.
It’s what allows the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster and the Catholic Church to co-exist in the same country. Not always *politely,* but peacefully.
It also helps that we’ve never had a state church or religion that you’re assumed to be born into, and you have to file paperwork to get out. If you don’t want to be a member of a religious group and/or you want to stop supporting that group, just…stop. You’re not getting money taken out of your paycheck to pay your minister’s salary. The only time the American government ever sends money towards a religious organization (on an official level, anyway) is if they’re doing some charitable or community work outside of religious belief, like running a school or a food bank. I do believe we need to stop pretending that crisis pregnancy centers are something that needs government funding, but at least they’re getting it under the *guise* of community service and not because “We’re a religion so you need to give us tax money, there.”.
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10points
#57
Breakfast. I’ve lived in several countries and traveled the globe. No one has a tastier breakfast when done right.
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10points
#58
Publicly available clean and free water for drinking. Water bottle fillers and water fountains all over the place.
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10points
#60
If you eat at a restaurant: a perpetually-refilled cold glass of water. I hate to complain when I travel outside the U.S., but it's a service that I really appreciate and miss when I'm abroad!
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9points