Defending America - 5 Key Points

Defending America - 5 Key Points

Author: Francis Tapon December 3, 2020 Duration: 51:48

Ten years ago, I was tired of Europeans unfairly bashing the USA, so I wrote a 5-part series called "Defending America."


Throughout Eastern Europe, I’ve asked, “What can your country teach America?” I’ve documented their excellent suggestions in The Hidden Europe: What Eastern Europeans Can Teach Us.


As part of this process, Europeans often told me, quite bluntly, what they think of Americans. The fact that I’m half-European and that I have no American blood in me (I was born of a French father and a Chilean mother) probably made them more comfortable to share their true thoughts. After getting an earful, it became clear that there are a few things Americans can teach Europeans about America.


(I had often heard similar criticisms in Western Europe, which is why I'm posting this in the Western Europe section.)


There are five themes that Europeans wail against Americans
  1. America’s foreign policy shows that we’re a warmongering, imperialistic nation (see below for details).

  2. The CIA is behind everything.

  3. Americans are fake.

  4. Americans are ignorant.

  5. Americans are devoid of culture.

There’s a lot of truth to these five criticisms. In fact, in my book, I often make fun of these things. However, let’s load up the aircraft carriers and stealth bombers and blast away the five most common criticisms about Americans.


This podcast will feature all 5 arguments in one podcast! 


It was originally made for my Patrons, which they got 6 months ago.


Become a patron too for as little as $2/month!


More info

You can post comments, ask questions, and sign up for my newsletter at http://wanderlearn.com.



If you like this podcast, subscribe and share! 


On social media, my username is always ftapon. Follow me on:



My Patrons sponsored this show!


Claim your monthly reward by becoming a patron at http://Patreon.com/FTapon


Rewards start at just $2/month!


If you prefer to do a one-time contribution, you can send it to my PayPal at FT@FrancisTapon.com


If you prefer giving me Bitcoin, then please send BTC to my tip jar: 3EiSBC2bv2bYtYEXAKTkgqZohjF27DGjnV



Get full access to Francis Tapon at ftapon.substack.com/subscribe

There's a certain kind of travel that changes you, not just your location. It’s the slow, immersive kind where the journey itself becomes the teacher. In WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life, Francis Tapon acts as your guide into this world, exploring how leaving familiar ground can fundamentally reshape your perspective. This isn't about quick tips or itineraries; it's about the deeper conversations that happen at the crossroads of culture, society, and personal growth. Each episode delves into how we engage with places and people, often weaving in discussions about the role of modern technology in both enabling and complicating these profound experiences. You'll hear stories and insights that challenge the conventional tourist mindset, pushing toward a more thoughtful, engaged way of moving through the world. Francis draws from a wealth of experience to discuss concepts like vagabonding and deep travel, making the case that the greatest souvenirs aren't trinkets, but transformed thoughts. Tuning into this podcast feels like sitting down with a well-traveled friend who understands that the real destination is often a shift within yourself. It’s for anyone who believes that travel, at its best, is a powerful catalyst for learning and living differently.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 388

WanderLearn: Travel to Transform Your Mind & Life
Podcast Episodes
Being Russian in Estonia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:40
For the 2019 holidays, we're taking a flashback to over a decade ago. I started the WanderLearn podcast in 2008. I'm pulling this episode from the archives because it's one of my favorite episodes of that era. It was the…
How To Housesit When You Travel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:58
Brittnay and Jayden are The Travelling Housesitters. In the WanderLearn podcast, I ask them:How did Jay get to look after a cat on a catamaran?What websites do they recommend to use to find housesits? Why don't they char…
Backpacking With Zpacks - Matt Favero Shares The Vision [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:56
Matt Favero is the Director of Marketing at Zpacks, one of my top two favorite backpacking gear companies (Gossamer Gear is the other). I ask him:How did he get involved in Zpacks?What backpacking opportunities exist in…
How To Take A Sabbatical - DJ Didonna [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:19:24
After graduating from Harvard Business School and working a bit, DJ Didonna embarked on an improbable quest: helping people take months or even years off work.There's nothing wrong with working nonstop for 40 years. Howe…
Traveling for 30+ Years - Mike Spencer Bown [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:41
This is one of my favorite podcasts this year. I admire Mike Spencer Bown. He's been traveling for the last 25 years. He's been to every country. He's the author of The World's Most Travelled Man.Does he deserve that tit…
How Home Exchanges Work [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:09
Lauren Kahn has done 72 home exchanges!One way to immerse yourself in a foreign environment is to do a home exchange. Lauren's blog offers plenty of advice on how to do a home exchange.This podcast comes in two parts.Due…
Alternatives to the Main El Camino de Santiago Path - Susan Alcorn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:31
Over 2.5 million people have read my article, "10 Reasons Why El Camino de Santiago Sucks." One of those people is Susan Alcorn, who has hiked to Santiago, Spain 16 different times over 9 different routes.Instead of taki…
Life Lessons From A Lion Tracker - Boyd Varty [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:26
Boyd Varty's TED talk about "What I Learned From Nelson Mandela" made Varty famous. His talk has nearly two million views.His newest book came out this week. It's called The Lion Tracker's Guide to Life.Varty is a fourth…
How to Avoid or Survive a Kidnapping [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:31:07
Few people expect to get kidnapped, but it's good to have some education on how to avoid kidnapping and what to do if you are kidnapped.In this episode 59 of the WanderLearn podcast, I interview Olav Ostad, who wrote Sur…
Being A California Mayor: Burlingame's Donna Colson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:29
Donna Colson is one of the five City Council members in Burlingame, California. Currently, she's serving as Burlingame's Mayor. Burlingame is an affluent city with 30,000 residents near the San Francisco Airport. I grew…