Of late, there have been several posts suggesting that America has no culture or that what culture it has is somehow inferior to that of other societies. Of course, it cannot be both. To suggest that America has, in some sense, an inferior culture is to grant that it has a culture. America most definitely has culture and the culture of America is easily the most dominant of the world. Whether it is McDonald's in the heart of what was once the center of the Evil Empire, or Arnold Schwarzenagger storming across German theatres, or Disneyland sending the French snobs into hysteria, American culture dominates Europe as never before. And it is not just Europe. Enter any shopping center in Asia and the odds are that the music blasting over the sound system is American pop music. Madonna look-alikes speak Mandarin Chinese. Often, American culture is derided by the so-called 'intellectuals'. (And by that, I do not mean the traditional definition of those who use their intellect to make a living as, in a increasingly service economy, there are few people today who would not fit into that category but, rather, people who fancy themselves as in some way gifted to impose their views upon the rest of us, to save us from ourselves.) What is it about American culture that annoys the 'intellectuals' so much? It is precisely that which differentiates it from other cultures, particularly the cultures of Europe ('intellectuals' tending to be europhiles). Whereas European culture (and, indeed, most pre-industrial cultures) sprang from their traditions of aristocracy and the subservience of society to the ruling class, American culture serves the middle-class, the vulgar, if you will. Whereas European culture is concerned with what is exclusive and aloof, American culture is concerned with what is common and accessible. You don't need classes in school in rock music appreciation or the finer aspects of eating pizza. Some have suggested that America is doomed because it has no culture. But the contrary is more likely the case. In spite of the best efforts of the multi-cultural fascists, America has yet to fulfill its manifest destiny primarily because its culture is not only dominating and assimilating immigrants from every corner of the world, it is, indeed reaching out to every corner of the world and creating a world community, a community centered on the individual, every individual not just those gifted with expensive tastes. From the beginning of the passage we can infer that the author ______.