What I find myself wondering, though, is if the fact that the U.S. has made such a significant contribution to the world gives us the right to behave in a way that is ill-mannered and boorish, as our GUEST, Real American is doing, and to do it with impunity.

Even when responding to negative stereotypes about Americans, it seems to me that we perpetuate those stereotypes rather than dispell them when we react in that way. I'm sure there is a diplomatic way to conduct a disagreement such as this one. It just takes a little more effort.

Perhaps it's that sort of behavior that gives Americans a bad name.