which includes this passage
>>>Europe and the U.S. have nearly opposite approaches to the question of
environmental stewardship. At the heart of the difference is the way
Americans and Europeans perceive risk. We Americans take pride in being a
risk-taking people. We come from immigrant stock, people who risked their
lives to journey to the new world and start over, often with only a few
coins in their pockets and a dream of a better life. When Europeans and
others are asked what they most admire about Americans, our risk-taking,
"can-do" attitude generally tops the list. Where others see difficulties and
obstacles, Americans see opportunities. <<<
WS: While I agree with the direction of his argument, I think this statement is not true. In my view, Americans are probably among the most risk aversive peoples - as indicated by the inordinate amount of effort and money they spent on procuring security or rather an illusion of it and avoiding anything that makes them even slightly uncomfortable. Risk avoidance - staying in "safe" places and avoiding contacts with anything that looks different from "things at home" - is a rather salient trait of many Americans abroad.
The "risk taking" is a part of the national cowboy/pioneer mythology that has little to do with reality.
Wojtek