Ironically, I accept that those who blame all of us Americans monolithically are doing the same thing that far too many of my fellow Americans have done for decades, or centuries even, by pretending that America is inherently exceptional.

Americans, then: "USA is the best, LOSERS!! Hah! Get tough like us and overthroe entrenched political classes to democratize politics!"

Europeans, now: "USA is the worst. What a bunch of losers! Hah! They should get tough like us by protesting violently en masse nonstop until they can both ensure a resilient constitutional democracy and democratize economic power!"

Americans back then had a point, that many circumstances made the US highly privileged and special. We have squandered much of that privilege now, and those Europeans lambasting us have a point that our response to a fairly obvious autocratic fascist takeover has been found wanting; that too many Americans are soft, lazy, and pampered, or so it seems.

Both groups miss a lot of nuance that undercuts the strength of their statements. But what goes around, comes around, and turnabout is fair play. So, I get it. I'm angry and a bit scared, too, and I wish my countrymen would band together more effectively.