Americanism

In headlines recently, the head coach of the US Mens Soccer Team, Jurgen Klinsman (Zeh German) said that the United States realistically could not win the World Cup. He was also dead serious about it, it was said in an interview with the New York Times. My opinion is that the United States could win the World Cup. If they can beat or draw with Germany and Portugal then I believe they could beat anyone in the tournament. Now, I would call my opinion is an Americanism opinion, there is the sense of personality that comes with being an American. Since Jurgen Klinsman (Zeh German) has stated his opinion, many Americans have voiced their complaints and told the coach literally to go back to Germany. . . and I agree, to a point.

I am more concerned with this idea that there is this persona of being American. We Americans have a distinct culture and attitude. We always want to win, no matter what, we see ourselves as the #1 in the world in everything. If there was a hashtag for Americans it would be #WeWillWinSomehow. The American grit.

It really originated during the Revolutionary War. When the United States was being defeated and they went into Valley Forge for the winter. Washington brought in a General Baron Von Steuben from Europe. When he came out of camp, he described the soldiers as being gritty and wanted to win, there was a different sense about them. Von Steuben thought he was going to be dealing with a bunch of Brits, but in reality, they spoke differently and changed into this Yankee. It is really interesting that it started there and ever since then Americans have had this certain attitude about them. I think the best example I ever heard was from a teacher and how he described Americans, he said "During WWII, the Germans were mechanical, when a car would break down on the battlefield, the driver would call the general, who called the mechanic and took tons of time to just be a certain methodical way, but, not the Americans, when a car broke down on the battlefield for the Americans, everyone got out, popped open the hood and then fixed it and on they went." That really describes America in a nutshell compared to like a Germany.

So I think it was very wrong for the cynic Jurgen Klinsman to say we will not win the World Cup. It is tomfoolery, no one thought the US Hockey Team would win Gold in 1980, but we did. I would compare both campaigns to this World Cup. We are talented and no one expects it. To say there is not chance pisses me off. I-BELIEVE-THAT-WE-WILL-WIN!!!

and that is Americanism for you! That's TJ's Take!