The "Arrogant American"

Many of you who have been stationed overseas have most likely heard this expression. Hopefully it wasn't said to you. The "arrogant American" is not a title I want for myself. Unfortunately, I have seen first hand this type of attitude from Americans stationed overseas, both military and civilian. This "type" of person has the attitude that they are above the rest of the world, and should be treated that way. I actually got in a bar fight years ago while in the military with one of these types. I was just sitting there having a drink, when a I heard this guy order, and I mean rudely "order" a beer.  I'm not a large guy, but I'm 6'2" and, at that time, was about 235 lbs, and in shape. I felt I had to stand up for the rest of us Americans that he was misrepresenting. I told him nose-to-nose that he was an embarrassment to the military, and that he needed to walk his ass out of the bar, or he can get carried out. I meant it. I was a bit heated up about his attitude.  I asked him a question, too. I said, "How many languages can you speak?". He said, "One, why?" Well, I knew the girl for a few years, going in and out of that bar many times, and knew she could speak three languages, and about five Filipino dialects. Then I told him, "This girl you called stupid because she can't speak English, can speak three languages, so I guess that makes her three times smarter than you!".  Of course he didn't like that very well, so the punches flew. I got in a few good licks, he got in a few, and then town patrol came in and ended it real fast. He got handcuffed and taken away, because he tried to fight them.  I stood still and didn't resist, and I got to stay there, mostly because the bar owner and workers there told them that I was not to blame.  I'm not a stupid man.  You don't fight town patrol.  They are bigger and they carry a stick, which they will use. He got to eat jail food, and I got taken care of by the girls and got free beer! The "arrogant attitude" did not go over well with the locals, or with the G.I.'s who were there. Many of them bought me a beer and said they were going to do the same thing.
I have also witnessed this too many times with civilians.  Some are just visitors.  Many have the attitude, wrongly, that everyone should speak English to them.  Why?  It's not their native language! If anything else, we should try to learn a few words in their language, since it's their country.  It always makes them smile when you try. These arrogant people look down on their hosts, belittle them, and treat them like slaves. And you wonder why half the world hates us. Now, I agree that our country is a great place. No doubt.I fought for it for twenty years. And we worked hard to get where we are in the world. But many of our problems getting along with other countries is exactly because of these people.  So, lose the attitude!  Enjoy visiting THEIR country. See the sights, make friends, and act like a "real American". The ones who are generous, kind, smiling, fun-loving, and crazy individuals! That's the ones that the world should see!