Some Questions concerning America

[The Harkinator]

US government foreign policy, US government in general, I certainly don't hate the American people. I think it is just that they are led by a blind eagle, that has nuclear missiles tied to its feet.

The USA seems to get involved a lot in the affairs of other countries and it's not always beneficial. I also agree with the guy who gave the reason about America funding the IRA, the US government directly financed terrorism. Against the country I live in. Who is Allied with the US.

I think your politicians way of going about things isn't right (though that may just be because its different to mine)

Winston Churchill: 'I could never be an American policitcian, all that shaking hands of people I don't seem to care about would be exhausting.'

I haven't made much sense with this.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

I've lived there for a little over 9 years, and I don't hate it. There are a ton of really stupid people (a sizable portion of whom appear regularly on Fox for some reason...), the "we are the greatest" mentality of some people is blatantly contradictory to any statistics in education, population health, religiosity, income distribution, science acceptance, etc. The politics of the US are a nothing short of a mess. It's not the unstable 3rd world dictator kind of mess, just the pandering to extremists and the pathetically low level of discourse in politics and in the press. Oh, and lobbyists, aka the sort of cancer cancer would get if cancer could get cancer - the base cancer is the political system, obviously. Remember health care reform? Not having that pass is essentially proof that the whole political system is screwed. Oh yes, the previous presidency. I know calling it fascist is a low-brow move, but the label is quite apt. There were repressions of basic freedoms in the name of non-threatened safety, profiling of anybody not looking "right," massive amounts of corruption/cronyism, wars for the sake of war (and profit!), government authorized torture, etc. The whole pretending-to-be-the-world-police thing didn't help either, and your broke economic status doesn't make it any more bearable.

Yet aside from all that, it's a great place! I received a great education (not high school obviously, god that was pathetic), I met wonderful people, I saw the great natural wonders of your land, and I loved to explore the facets of your culture. All in all it's just like any other country on earth; some people are great, some are assholes. Some years are great, other years are awful (hint, last ten, /hint). I had many wonderful times there, and I had many shitty days as well. And I still write "we" when referring to the US, go figure...

But kindly allow me to return a question: why is it that so many US citizens claim to love their country so much, despite its many and quite obvious flaws?

 

[rokkolpo]

People hate medicine and modern technology-- THATS why they hate america. Give them food, medicine, cars, entertainment, and the best pornography on earth, and they'll take it and cut your heart out for not giving more.

Because America only does those things?
And are the only ones in the world that do it?

>_>
You are kind of the reason people dislike America, arrogance.

 

[donisaac]

I'm from Spain, and although I have never actually hated the U.S, and have always understood that their politicians are looking out for their people and their country(something Spain's government has completely forgotten how to do). Having said that, it does really piss me off the the only reason Spain has nothing left is because of the U.S. The Spanish-American was really pisses me off, there was no reason for war, the U.S and Spain were on good relations(we helped in your revolution) and then all of a sudden, POOF, Spain looses Cuba, Philippines and Puerto Rico.

 

[Gudrests]

In answer to emeraldrafael, a lot of people stopped viewing America as a superpower a long time ago. You are in massive debt with shaky leadership and your influence can only stretch so far.

Massive debt and shaky leadership means nothing when the military still functions the way it does. Something does not have to be viewed as a superpower for it to be a superpower. If anything its an incredibly good thing to be viewed as dumb and useless....we do have our dumb and useless...every country does, Let the smart sit in the back and do what they do and use the dumb to make our enemies think less of us...underestimate us. 2 planes....and then we can successfully take over a nation while still being "peaceful" to the civilian population...not a bad job. And influence can stretch as far as missiles....guess what...they have quite a range.

 

[Yellowbeard]

People hate medicine and modern technology-- THATS why they hate america. Give them food, medicine, cars, entertainment, and the best pornography on earth, and they'll take it and cut your heart out for not giving more.

Wait, I missed it, when did anyone mention Japan?

 

[Yellowbeard]

Double post

 

[Bluntman1138]

It is because the uneducated majority of this country like to spout shit off like "We are the greatest country God gave Earth in the History of mankind".--Sean Hannity and Fox News

Yet those people fail to realize the FACTS that the US is not even in the top 10 of anything these days, except for consumer goods intake, Military spending, and prisoner population.

We are behind in all these:
Education
Medicine
The Arts
Technology
INDUSTRY
Jobs
Ratio to poor and rich
Politics
Religious Tolerance (when compared to countries that have religious tolerance)


Americans are not liked because of the attitudes the majority of this country has. (Atitude by people that have NEVER set foot outside of the country btw) So when us educated Americans like to leave to get away, we have to say we are from Canada, because they will automatically think we are one of the uneducated masses that have this attitude. Also, they hate us because of our national "role model" celebutards. The UK's biggest role model is Richard Dawkins, ours is the like Lindsey Lohan, and Mike "The Situation".

Come to think of it, i hate Americans just as much as people from other countries as well. I CANNOT WAIT TO MOVE AND BECOME A CITIZEN OF AUSTRALIA!!!

 

[alrekr]

I'm from Spain, and although I have never actually hated the U.S, and have always understood that their politicians are looking out for their people and their country(something Spain's government has completely forgotten how to do). Having said that, it does really piss me off the the only reason Spain has nothing left is because of the U.S. The Spanish-American was really pisses me off, there was no reason for war, the U.S and Spain were on good relations(we helped in your revolution) and then all of a sudden, POOF, Spain looses Cuba, Philippines and Puerto Rico.

To be fair us Brits helped to ruin your economy back when we promoted piracy as long it wasn't a British ship you were looting.

Back on topic:

Isreal is one big reason to get angry at the USA. Back when Irgun was killing British troops(Britain was given the task of looking after Palestine until it could become its own independant country); not only was there a massive anti-British movement in the US but funding was even given to support groups like Irgun. The US even promoted immigration of Jews in Palestine while trying to prevent immigration of Jewish refugees into the USA.

Then you have the whole helping to fund the IRA.

Then there's the recent foreign policy of lets invade some stuff.

Then there's the whole Europeans are all "commie faggots" vibe from much of the (very large number of) poorly educated people from the US.

High number of extremist groups (mainly right-wing)

Oh and the way Wall Street was being run and how it helped cause a reccession (wasn't the only cause)

One of the last western countries to ban slavery and took even longer properly stop it

Produces a large number of idiot famous people who in turn cause similar such people to be made in other countries

The way the USA uses a bastard version of english and have the gall to say I'm wrong when I spell colour correct and not like color (Fuck you word-processors made in the US).

The British even agreed to spell sulphur like sulfur as long as the US pronounces aluminium correctly. But no they still say it wrong.

 

[ace_of_something]

It's not that they don't like american citizens personally. It's that they don't like american involvement in global politics and 'global policing' that our govt. seems to do.

But mostly everyone's opinion changed rather harshly when this man took office.

I'm old enough to remember when everyone didn't hate us except certain groups.

It has little to do with him. And you must be pretty old then, because as far back the 60s it was common for Americans to travel Europe pretending to be Canadians so they would get a better reception.

I'd say the US has had a questionable reputation at least as far back as when you refused to enter WWII until someone bombed you directly.

Fair enough, I'm mostly going off personal experience. When I traveled around Europe/China in 1999 everyone was 'neutral' to 'friendly' in 2004 there was harsher criticism and bile directed at me.

Perhaps, it isn't increased only that thanks to the Internets we're more aware of it. I still think a big part of it was things the Bush administration decided we should do on the global stage.

Of course there are people that have hated us since 1776 (or 1812 ) so you could argue it's always been that way.

Side note: People in Egypt were not friendly to me at all in 2001 (month of May) though i had the sinking suspicion it wasn't so much the american as it was the 'really really white' (blonde hair, blue eyes, 6'6") thing that set them off.

People in China were super cool to me but i think it's because they assumed i was a money pinata waiting to be opened.

 

[ace_of_something]

The way the USA uses a bastard version of english and have the gall to say I'm wrong when I spell colour correct and not like color (Fuck you word-processors made in the US).

The British even agreed to spell sulphur like sulfur as long as the US pronounces aluminium correctly. But no they still say it wrong.

Yeah but we speak very different then we did in 1776. So do the British in fact you're version of English is just as different from back then as ours is. It's fair to say they're two different things and neither is 'correct', isn't it?
We get to spell it 'fetus' because we actually invented the word. I once got in a heated argument with a guy in London about this. I one when i said "at least i can say words that end WITH a T-H!" Well, not won, he just laughed and mellowed out.

 

[Aulleas123]

I've traveled to Europe plenty of times (places include London, Paris, Dublin, Frankfurt, parts of Switzerland, Belgium, Venice, and Vienna), saying that I'm American and I've never had problems. I believe that people don't have a problem with you unless you're a jack-ass. Being a jack-ass or being polite aren't American exclusive traits so I'm usually treated well based on my behavior, not my nationality.

If people complain about American politics, then fine. I think it's silly to be upset that we have a different political culture than they do, I try not to get pissy about decisions made abroad since I believe that other people believe in different things than I do based on their personal or national experiences. But I don't really hold it against people if they want to complain to me about Bush ruining the world then whatever, I never voted for him.

I will admit that I have yet to go to countries in Asia, South America, or Africa, so I don't have a good clue of how the common man/woman feels about me personally or my country.

 

[lRookiel]

Well I know I heavily exaggerated my mild dislike to americans in a rather cruel way, my bad, let me rephrase in a more pleasant way.

the problem is that america is a young country compared to say Europe where alot of the dislike comes from.

Since the united states of america was only set up completely 2 hundred something years ago. this means alot of americans, not all, but alot are less advanced socially and that does aggravate me sometimes when americans are so far up their own arses its unreal.

Other reasons which i dont care about particularly, but still do exist is from George bush being a fool, Religious nutjobs in the south, Apparant greed for the oil in whatever eastern country has alot of the stuff, Aiding the IRA.

 

[Phlakes]

Go outside. Maybe to a grocery store or something (especially Wal Marts after midnight, that's some scary shit). Go watch daytime television. Go research American public education.

That's why.

 

[MidnightSt]

i personally have nothing against america, though i may think that the rate of stupidity of people there for some reason is higher than elswhere*. but i know people who HATE usa, and it's mainly... "because they're bad and big and destroy our culture, today's children are all Coca-Cola and MacDonalds, nobody listens to our nice national music, nobody watches our movies, we have no industry because we import everything from USA... And they mess with things that are not their problems! (Afghanistan, Iraq...)"

or some similarly stupid pseudo-reason.

 

[alrekr]

It's fair to say they're two different things and neither is 'correct' isn't it?

The "isn't it" bothers me; the grammar just seems off. Mabye a comma would help resolve this, hmm still not sure.

I guess it isn't as bad the phrase "I could care less". If you do not care the correct term is "I couldn't care less"; without the n't on the end the sentance means that there is a level of caring that is below what you care, while not stating the highest amount you could care.

If what the people in the USA speak is what they call a different language then they should change the fething name. If you don't want to use the language correctly; start your own gakking relgion language (Dam I must be getting tired).

 

[ace_of_something]

It's fair to say they're two different things and neither is 'correct' isn't it?

The "isn't it" bothers me; the grammar just seems off. Mabye a comma would help resolve this, hmm still not sure.

I guess it isn't as bad the phrase "I could care less". If you do not care the correct term is "I couldn't care less"; without the n't on the end the sentance means that there is a level of caring that is below what you care, while not stating the highest amount you could care.

If what the people in the USA speak is what they call a different language then they should change the fething name. If you don't want to use the language correctly; start your own gakking relgion language (Dam I must be getting tired).

Let me rephrase it in more simple terms.

American-English is a dialect British-English is also a dialect. There is no 'true' form of the language. You speak English just as differently as any American from what English sounded like 300+ years ago. It simply evolved in different ways.

The word is 'damn.'

Grammar is sometimes difficult for me because I'm dyslexic, not because I'm American. Especially, the placement of commas because i can't always physically see them. Makes it hard to learn/remember where they go.

 

[donisaac]

I'm from Spain, and although I have never actually hated the U.S, and have always understood that their politicians are looking out for their people and their country(something Spain's government has completely forgotten how to do). Having said that, it does really piss me off the the only reason Spain has nothing left is because of the U.S. The Spanish-American was really pisses me off, there was no reason for war, the U.S and Spain were on good relations(we helped in your revolution) and then all of a sudden, POOF, Spain looses Cuba, Philippines and Puerto Rico.

To be fair us Brits helped to ruin your economy back when we promoted piracy as long it wasn't a British ship you were looting.

True, but the thing I'm getting at is that while we would have been angry with the UK, if the UK had done the same thing it wouldn't have been surprising because France, Spain and Great Britain(is it called UK in this case? Or is Great Britain fine?) have always been rivals,whereas the US attack was uncalled for.

 

[I Have No Idea]

I've met plenty of Americans, and with a few exceptions I loved them. They were lovely people.

However, to quote Dylan Moran, "American stupid people sound much stupider than any other type of stupid person".

I think I heard a variation on that quote somewhere...."American stupid people are much louder than any other type of stupid people."

 

[Jabberwock xeno]

Probably because our courts are run like a bussiness or competetion as opposed to focused on finding the truth, and you could describe our political state with Rooster teeth's Red vs. Blue.:

All the do is stand around yelling at the other side, not addressing the actual problems.