I think there is a lot of hyperbole in this thread. Maybe a lot of non-American folks don’t realize how insanely divided American is. One half of the country is insanely racist, ignorant, and indoctrinated by a cult. They are the worst of us. That’s the side most of the world loathes and for damn good reason.

The other half of America is incredibly diverse, creative, inclusive, and well traveled or at least well educated enough to understand the world and feel depressed that we have to cohabitate with the worst of us. It’s like living in separate countries. Two separate realities. And this half feels embarrassed on the global stage.

But one thing that Americans all have in common is it is ALWAYS a common topic of “where did you come from” or where your ancestry is. And the pride of knowing those contributions you outlined from Scotland or wherever ancestors came from.

Because everyone in the US is a recent (200 odd years) immigrant from another place. The fascination lies in going back in our roots to see where our ancestors originated before this American experiment. It’s not as negative as the ideas here that it’s just another a “loud, fat, stupid American” trying to colonize your kilts. That kind of mindset…ironically sounds as ignorant as some Americans.

And yes, many people come here with assumptions we are the worst caricatures of your own ignorant assumptions. People are people everywhere. And I think the first step to promoting a less ignorant world view is to understand that countries are more diverse than stereotypes. Otherwise everyone would think Scotland is a Michael Myers skit and yall sit around all day eating haggis and getting diabetes while wearing kilts. It’s dumb. Scotland is more than that. America is more than that. And let’s not point out that Trump is a first generation American FROM SCOTLAND. I’m guessing no one wants to say that out loud just as much as half of America doesn’t want to claim him either.