I think the article sums up what some Aussie friends have told me; they say they don’t like American tourists much, but they love the US and have a great time when they are here, including their interactions with Americans.
I know a ton of Europeans who love spending time in America, some even own houses here. They say some of their friends back home think they are crazy to go to the US, but all of the people who think that never come here, so it’s just what they believe it to be like here. Aussies are similar I think.
It’s probably true a lot of Americans think America is great or even the center of the universe, but plenty of us know the US isn’t the center of the universe. We had a long history of having a lot of power and prosperity, we have a long history of people clamoring to come here.
The US is full of people who wanted to kiss the ground when they arrived in America as immigrants, and thanked God they were able to have a life here. They passed that sentiment to their children. You have to understand the environment over time and the generational effect. We are one of the first nations to have separation of church and state. It’s really difficult to think the country might be spiraling downward; I mean psychologically difficult. Expressions like our president is the leader of the free world are used all over the world not just in the US. I’ve never been fond of that expression.
Any nation feeling cocky maybe should check itself. If some Aussies are feeling superior to Americans then maybe they are guilty of the very thing they are accusing Americans of. There are good and bad people everywhere. There is QAnon type crazy in many countries, I’d bet money it exists in Australia. The US is a large nation, with a large population, and a small percentage of people in the US is still a huge number. The expression don’t spit in the wind comes to mind.
Most people I know from outside of the US who actually spend time here think the US is amazing for customer service and that Americans are a little ignorant but fun to be with and want to enjoy life, are helpful, and are very open and trusting. I think that’s overall true.
America is possibly moving into another part of its life cycle, we’ll see.