I've only been to New Zealand once, about 1989. It was incredibly beautiful, kind of like the ideal of where I live in New England - all that and then some - but I can't say I was there long enough to get any very clear idea.
Public schools helped create the idea of America and inculcate Americans with a few rudiments of knowledge. To judge by that very American item, the Internet, a few rudiments is all anyone cares to have.
Everybody is xenophobic to an extent.
Democrats hate America being a world power because world power gives power to the nation instead of to Democrats.
Woodstock had a tremendous impact on American artistic life.
Politicians are wonderful people as long as they stay away from things they don't understand, such as working for a living.