Owlswing
I don't really know why you wish to generalise in such a fashion. I'm sure the people of Marseilles think that the English are all a bunch of thugs.
You simply can't do that with any nationality. And dare I say it especially with a country as diverse as the USA.
I am not saying that the states are not without their faults - gun laws being a prime example - but I have met and I am friends with some thoughtful, caring intelligent Americans; who I know are just as appalled at this act as I and you are. Similarly they see their interventions in the Middle East as a disaster.
So you really have to stop getting that tarred brush out quite so often.
I regret to say that my meetings with persons of American nationality, in particualar servicemen, have been far from cordial.
Fellow soldiers dismissed and cowards and useless idioits who, as soon as they got into a fight, call for the Americans to get them out of trouble - usually, funny, not, when 20 or so Bristish soldiers have been doing perfectly well only to see the Yanks come barging in by the hundred and claim the they "were rescuing the Brisish" and having the Yank papers yelling their praises and ignoring the Brits - both the wounded and the dead.
Soldiers lost in friendly fire in Iraq, and Afghanistan (where, during the first months the British Army lost more killed and wounded to the Americans (friendly fire) than the Iraqis)- those Americans who shot them sent home amd given medals and promotions and the British authorities refused permisionb to question the Yanks involved at the inquests on the ground that America does not, and will not, extradite its citizens to face possible criminal charges overseas.
To see a single WWII Victoria cross holder dismissed by a group of about fifteen US marines with enough scrap metal on their chests to sink the Titanic, as a 'lightweight" for having only six ribbons on his chest and being asked where he was wounded to be awarded the putrple one, probably, according to the sergeant for a hangnail, before they walked off laughing. Britih soldiers were restrained from action as being 'bad publicity'.
NS and Trent, until I meet some decent Yanks, I have only met two I can remember and they were as scared of their countrymen as anyone for both these ladies were pagan and witch, I will keep hold of my tar-brush thanks! At least I can go public with my religion without getting death threats!
Anyway, rather than upset the delicate sensibilities of the Yanks and their friends on this side of the Oggin, I'll shut up.