Are Europeans too smug, condescending and secular...

[_son of Ishmael]

Imagine that there is a house on your street with peeling paint and an untended lawn out front. The grass is overgrown in some spots and dead in others due to under watering.

The children in the house are dressed poorly and one boy is involved with a street gang. One of the teenage girls is on her second pregnancy (by a different father) and still unmarried. A rusting, unrunning car sits against the curb.

Every morning the father of this family knocks on your door and tells you he has the best house (designed by God), the best family (loved by God above all others in the neighborhood) and lives the best lifestyle.

American exceptionalism.

No wonder people in other counties feel a bit put off.

Have you been driving in my neighborhood? And by the way, that car does run.

[_Quasimodo]

Imagine that there is a house on your street with peeling paint and an untended lawn out front. The grass is overgrown in some spots and dead in others due to under watering.

The children in the house are dressed poorly and one boy is involved with a street gang. One of the teenage girls is on her second pregnancy (by a different father) and still unmarried. A rusting, unrunning car sits against the curb.

Every morning the father of this family knocks on your door and tells you he has the best house (designed by God), the best family (loved by God above all others in the neighborhood) and lives the best lifestyle.

American exceptionalism.

No wonder people in other counties feel a bit put off.

Have you been driving in my neighborhood? And by the way, that car does run.

So that's you down the street!!! You should stop by for a beer.

[_son of Ishmael]

Only if it is not American beer.

[_Quasimodo]

Only if it is not American beer.

Although it is getting much better. I promise, no Miller High Life. How about Guinness?

[_son of Ishmael]

Only if it is not American beer.

Although it is getting much better. I promise, no Miller High Life. How about Guinness?

Guinness is good, very good....

[_jo1952]

...to understand Mormonism?

Michael Otterson, the Church's Chief Spokesperson, says "yes"...

The bulk of European coverage, by contrast, remains cynical if not outright mocking, says Otterson. “Lots of Europeans, especially the British—and I can say this because I’m British—have smug, condescending attitudes toward Americans anyway. So do many French and Germans. Mix into that this idea of religion and the fact that many of them come from a completely secular background, and it’s really hard for them to understand the depths of American pluralism.”

http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2 ... light.html

I am glad to see that the posters have turned this thread into a comedy. I went to the link and read the entire article. Drifting's OP question is a misrepresentation of what Otterson actually said.

I do agree with what Otterson DID say. As a fan of history, I have recognized that Europeans are pretty consistent in being "smug and having condescending attitudes toward Americans". Sadly, this included their attitude about the American Indians. Worse yet, that attitude toward the American Indians was incorporated into the fledgling United States of America....sigh. In other words, man is generally not much different from one country to the next.

Are you guys going to be drinking that Guinness served at room temperature? I think most Americans are confident (what?? smug?? ) in their belief that Europeans haven't figured out what the best way to serve beer is.

jo

[_Drifting]

Jo, can you show me where my OP misrepresents what Otterson said (and which I quoted)?

[_ludwigm]

... Europeans are pretty consistent in being "smug and having condescending attitudes toward Americans" ...

[_jo1952]

Jo, can you show me where my OP misrepresents what Otterson said (and which I quoted)?

Sure, here is what he said:

The bulk of European coverage, by contrast, remains cynical if not outright mocking, says Otterson. “Lots of Europeans, especially the British—and I can say this because I’m British—have smug, condescending attitudes toward Americans anyway. So do many French and Germans. Mix into that this idea of religion and the fact that many of them come from a completely secular background, and it’s really hard for them to understand the depths of American pluralism.”

No where does he specifically mention Mormonism as being victimized by European smugness. He is representing their overall general attitude about American pluralism due to their own secular background. At best Mormonism and ALL religious affiliations are INCLUDED in his choice of words; i.e., "American pluralism". In other words, the basic problem when dealing with Europeans is their condescending attitude (which is founded in their secularism) toward Americans; regardless of the subject matter. You put your own spin on the article in an attempt to present something negative to say because he is LDS. However, what you wanted the article to say, it just didn't.

This is just a transparent and sorry trick which anti-LDS use; or for that matter, a common trick of anyone who holds a grudge and agenda -driven purpose against a person, a concept, or an organization. Sad thing about using tactics like this.....it has a tendency to distort not only current issues; it will also distort history when future readers review what was happening in 2012. It will be just as difficult for them to wade through opinions, agendas, etc., to try to determine what actually took place, as it is for us today to determine the true historicity of any subject matter. When researchers are so employed, they will need to be aware of the attitude of Europeans towards Americans, in order to come to a more complete and educated view of what they will finally believe was actually taking place.

jo

[_Drifting]

Jo

Otterson was speaking in his official capacity of Chief Spokesman for the Church. Ergo, he was speaking about Mormonism when he stated Europeans don't understand American Pluralism etc.