Why the world generally won't listen to Americans

Suffering, pain, tragedy: Americans avoid these like the plague, unless of course you can fit it into a great movie or situation comedy. We really want instant fixes to all types of problems, including long-term deeply ingrained problems. We are such a young country and act so naive and young and brash, like teenagers who fear no pain and see no threat and think death will never come.
For the rest of the world and our influence upon them, how can they listen to an American who quotes a thought or offers a platitude that is supposed to help when the American has often never experienced anything close to the level of pain they have? Much of the world has suffered wars for hundreds of years and longer, racial hatreds that span possibly millenia, have seen the ravages of disease like the bubonic plague, potato famine, and Africa's present experience of AIDS which is much worse than what America has suffered on that front. Religious hatred and even the cultural makeup of some societies leads to immediate rejection and loss on the part of peoples (think of the lower castes in India). These things have shaped much of the world in a deep and powerful way. But in America, we are young and have missed much of this; in general, (not all cases) this is the American problem.

In movies, I generally hate bullies who push their way around. In "Training Day," Denzel Washington's character played a bad cop trying to turn another good cop to the dark side. He failed, and it made the movie so sweet. This theme is repeated often in movies because humans love to see the underdog come back and win. When it happens in real life like the 1980 American Olympic Hockey team? It solidifies a nation. Well, you know what, to the rest of the world, or much of it, America is a bully, who has always gotten what we wanted and put our boot down on those who tried to stop us. Whether we like it or not many people percieve us this way. And that part of America is bad, and I do not support it. That is the part that has not suffered and cannot relate to or have anything to say to the rest of the world.

There is another part of America that the world will listen to, however. The part that is fighting in two world wars on other's lands that freed or helped in those wars, and that cost us lives. The part of us that has gone through slavery and almost tore us apart as a nation, and the continuing racial tensions and problems that exist here. The part of us that has seen freedom's for women, and children, and all races promoted and enforced. These parts are something the world will listen to.

But anytime the ugly, stupid, know-it-all and push-their-weight-around American, whether Christian or not, shows up, it spells doom for any real constructive help occurring or continuing. So when a team of people goes somewhere in the world from America and offers help and assistance where it is needed and especially asked for, the true nature of Christ shines. But when the group of people from America goes out to set those people in another country straight, a problem exists before anyone even steps into the other country. American Christian, you have not suffered enough to have much to say. Stick to the scripture and to serving needs and you will be okay, but do NOT tell the other person how to live life or change their ways; you do not know enough.

The problem is, I have caricatured the two positions as either / or. And they are not. People are on a gradient from servant to bully and all positions in between. But we must weed ourselves of prideful and know-it-all attitudes, wherever they show up. If you have suffered personally, then you may have an opportunity to share personally. And I am not saying American Christians should stop trying to help. But go as servants and offer cool water, the word of God, and a knowledge of Jesus. I am just afraid we don't have a lot more to offer, and until we realize this we will keep being our own worst enemy.
Anytime we offer the love of the Spirit of Christ, we have offered what the world needs. Anytime we offer the presence of Jesus, we have offered what a human needs. Anytime we offer to love and serve and give and help in the Spirit of Jesus Christ, we offer what the world really longs for and needs. Anytime we offer other stuff, American or not, we offer a vial of poison that will kill and cripple the hurting people we go to. Offer Christ. He is enough, and He is the end of what people need.

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