The vices of nations

[A. W. Pugin]

I recall hearing a lecture by Father Ripperger during which he explained that persons each have a 'predominant vice'. (I believe this is contrasted with a 'predominant virtue'.)

He went on to say that not only individuals, but families also have a predominant vice, affecting multiple generations. (If you do not yet know your personal predominant vice, then perhaps your family's will be more apparent to you.)

Finally, he stated that nations have a characteristic predominant vice. He gave the example of the United States of America -- greed.

It's all very interesting, but I have not found any methodologically robust theological literature which develops the idea further.

Would anyone care to offer suggestions on what other nations' predominant vices might be? Was Father Ripperger wrong about America? What about Great Britain, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia, China? These countries interest me the most, because historically they are arguably the most culturally significant.

[Michael Wilson]

Great Britain: "Snobbery"
France: "Obnoxiousness"
Germany: "Bossiness"
Spain: "Speaking loudly and too quickly"
Italy: "Excessive hand and body language"; "making people disappear"; "using too much garlic"; etc.
Russia: "Drinking"
China: "Plotting"

[A. W. Pugin]

Great Britain: "Snobbery"
France: "Obnoxiousness"
Germany: "Bossiness"
Spain: "Speaking loudly and too quickly"
Italy: "Excessive hand and body language"; "making people disappear"; "using too much garlic"; etc.
Russia: "Drinking"
China: "Plotting"

There is truth in stereotypes.

Heaven is where the police are British, the cooks are French, the mechanics German, the lovers Italian and it's all organised by the Swiss.

Hell is where the chefs are British, the mechanics French, the lover's Swiss, the police German and it's all organised by the Italians.

[paul14]

Has anybody heard a sermon on Covid19 yet?  I haven't.

It seems rendering unto Science is the new dogma.

[Greg]

Great Britain: Cynicism
France: Superciliousness, with a bitter hatred of the English who dominated them historically.
Germany: Murdering all of the people with a sense of humor.
Spain:  Not too bad, I like them.
Italy: Materialistic
Russia: Fatalists, all of them
China:  Being slavish little drones

[Sempronius]

For spanish people pride has always been a part of their national character.

[Michael Wilson]

U.S.A. Were perfect; that's our main vice.

[A. W. Pugin]

U.S.A. Were perfect; that's our main vice.

Yes, greed.

Most likely, the cultural focus on accumulating wealth and possessions is a consequence of the Protestant Work ethic described by Weber, which imbues American society. Instead of making men more conscientious, it has led to avarice and the exploitation of the poor and ordinary working folk.

[TradGranny]

Here in the US, greed feeds the murder of the unborn, so also do selfishness and a lack of charity.

[Greg]

America is very charitable. 

[A. W. Pugin]

Here in the US, greed feeds the murder of the unborn, so also do selfishness and a lack of charity.

Would you add narcissism to that list?

[paul14]

America's vice is Hershey's chocolate.  Give me Galaxy chocolate any day.

edit: Oh, and I forgot to mention; Cheese.  American cheese is horrible.  Maybe in some of the Italian or french districts they have imported stuff or make it illegally.

My personal favourite.  French Normandy Brie.

Speaking of Vice, here is some from Miami ...

[yt]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lfgf9HatIHI[/yt]

[Reader]

America is very charitable.

Not on a personal level to each other. Just drive here sometime. People can barely fake it as they leave church.

[Greg]

America is very charitable.

Not on a personal level to each other. Just drive here sometime. People can barely fake it as they leave church.

Americans give more money to charity than any other nation.
The left Europe alone after WW2 to rebuild itself when they could have very easily made a lot of vassal states out of all of the countries that had worked with the Nazis.
In my experience of Americans, and I have visited all of the 50 states since 1987, they are not an uncharitable bunch of people.  In fact they are definitely in the top 5 percent of the places I have visited.
Iran and Georgia (the country) would be right up there too.

[A. W. Pugin]

Americans give more money to charity than any other nation.
The left Europe alone after WW2 to rebuild itself when they could have very easily made a lot of vassal states out of all of the countries that had worked with the Nazis.

What about those rubbish ships they sold us during world war II that we only finished paying off a few years ago?