Thats exactly my point Cowboys. Just because we grew up watching Hollywood movies, listening to Classic Rock or the Beatles and went to an English medium school gives us an entitlement to feel that we're on par with Americans? Sure, one Pukar Malla or even Designer Gurung might feel like they've achieved a whole lot ( perfectly valid of course ) but does that necessarily mean that everybody else should be entitled to feel the same way? I don't think so.

This reminds me of a typical Nepali ( or even a foreigner ) saying how Americans are dumb and how they claim to be far more intelligent and superior. How many Indians and Chinese are there in Harvard? Now compare them to the number of Americans. Just because 10-15 Indians have managed to get elected as Presidents or CEOs of different Fortune 500 companies doesn't mean bring them on equal level to Americans' achievements, does it? Take a look at scientific achievements or advancements in technology. What's being achieved by foreigners were achieved by these "stupid" Americans more than 80 years ago. So because we're stepping up, we've already risen up to the same level of Americans? I certainly don't think so.

By no means I'm trying to undermine our achievements or even the grasp of English knowledge. Sure, the fact that many of us can speak English fluently is commendable indeed but that doesn't really mean a whole lot. Now if a Nepali author ( with a bestseller ) or a college graduate with English major were to be told that his or her English were good, then s/he might feel a little belittled and the premises of validity for his/her reactions would be valid but an ordinary Nepali being told that his or her English is good is a compliment. Absolutely no need to make a meal of it. Just take it with a pinch of salt and accept the fact! We come from a country with a Per Capita Income of less than $500, so say, if an American were to tell a successful Nepali businessman and tell him that he's done realy well, he is to feel offended? I rest my case.