You mean like rocket science? I'm sure that the NASA folks in Huntington, Alabama would disagree. Much of the US's early space program was developed in Alabama. Much of our current aerospace research continues to happen in Alabama. Alabama as a state has committed a fair amount of seed money to foster continuing aerospace research.

instead, from most americans you likely get a bunch of american superiority and jacobin ideology regurgitated from popular mythology and government propaganda. let it not be said that we americans were not susceptible to advertising.

it would surprise many to know, apparently, that the romans didn't administrate all of their empire directly either. the parthians, dacians and egyptians all were proxy states for much of their imperial affiliation. in fact, most historical empires consisted of agglomerations of proxy states under the influence of the imperial power. in 500 years time, i think there will be little question that germany, japan, korea, britain and many others (yes, canada too, i suspect) were in fact american client states by the very nature of their close alliance and dependence on protection, as well as the widespread cultural influence and adoption.

it amazes me that anyone questions the existence of american imperialism — and 95% of americans will tell you that they aren't imperial. i think the lack of perspective on that question goes to the core of why we americans don't understand islamist terrorism and its wider antiamerican sympathies around the world. if you view it for what i think it plainly is — an insurgency against foreign imperial government that maladministrates its subjects, directly and through proxies, in the mideast — the nature of the issue and what might be done by america to resolve it becomes quite a bit clearer, imo.

Those people are singing American style music. American music? Jazz, Rock n Roll, Country, Blues, Rap, even the cornball broadway musical originated in America, and that's just the beginning. Many forms of music from around the world went into evolving all these forms, but that only further proves just how non-fascist and open America is to outside influences. It's when we shut our doors to the world (as so many would like to do) we become backwards.

Well, without even consulting any references, and confining myself to Mississippi, I can name:

Jimmie Rodgers (the Singing Brakeman, the father of country music)

Elvis Presley (I assume no description is needed)

William Faulkner, novelist, story writer, and film dialog writer

Ransom Wilson, flutist

Leontyne Price, one of the greatest sopranos of the twentieth century

All of the above, I believe, were born and raised in Mississippi; they didn't just pass through. No, I've never lived in Mississippi, and have spent only a year and a half living in the south. And yes, I can name Canadians who have made notable contributions to science and culture; in fact, I am sponsoring a local performance by Louis Lortie in a a bit more than a month.