American Excess

Sometimes it seems people from other countries tend to look at Americans as boorish and excessive.

Some of the reasons why they think that have to do with a certain American spirit. It's a spirit of adventure, of enthusiasm. It's that little thing inside each one of us that says, "Hey, this is America. You can be anything you want to be."

It's that spirit that makes us feel somehow superior to other countries.

Of course, militarily, there's no argument. America is superior. I suppose one could spend hours debating social and cultural superiority.

Nonetheless, I believe it's that spirit that gave us our independence. It's that spirit that made America what it is today. And that spirit is still embodied in lots of things we Americans do.

We love competition. We love success. We love to have fun. Perhaps sometimes we may not be as thoughtful, insightful and introspective as we should, but hey, we're Americans.

So I take issue with those who deem us excessive because of our adventurous spirit.

I think the American spirit is a good thing.

But I must say there are some things we Americans do that raise even my eyebrows from time to time.

Excessive things that seem to defy logic. I certainly would never deny anyone the right to do these things, but sometimes I just don't get it.

There's the whole food/diet contradiction.

These days, everybody alleges to be health conscious. There are South Beach diets and Atkins diets and all manner of other diets. There are fitness centers popping up all over, dozens of companies hawking fitness equipment on TV. There are myriad health stores filled with vitamins, herbs and supplements.

Survey says?

We're the fattest and most out of shape as a country we have ever been.

And at all the fast food places?

Supersize.

Another thing that seems bizarre to me is horsepower.

I can understand a fascination with things that go fast - I own a motorcycle.

But really, I don't get the automotive horsepower craze.

And the horsepower craving comes at probably the worst time in history.

We're all supposed to be concerned about the environment now.

We're all supposed to be concerned about dwindling oil reserves.