Do people REALLY hate Americans?

[nutshell]

I love this one: "They'll miss us when we're gone" and so forth. I might suggest that much of the perceived american "attitude" comes across as bratty teenaged pie-eyed nationalism.

Mr. Guy, you're jumping to conclusions. I made a simple statement and I'm sorry if you read more into it than I intended. I in no way stated that they would "miss us when we're gone." I sincerely want to know what it would be like, for good or bad, if America shut down for a day. What are the pros and cons?

 

[nutshell]

It looks like Mr. Guy wasn't the only one jumping to conclusions. Let me clarify once again.

I suggest shutting America down for a day to see how the rest of the world gets along. The lesson may be beneficial for both sides. Non-Americans may discover that they really do need America and Americans may discover that the rest of the world can get along just fine without them. It might be a good lesson for both sides.

 

[mr.guy]

Nutshell,

I think you've got that backwards. The US is very much a part of the world; it seems some americans draw comfort with the notion that they do indeed "step lightly" upon this planet. THAT is a definate misconception, and isolationism a far off promise to oneself that they could retreat from the world with no harm done; wrong, wrong, wrong. We're all involved.

 

[nutshell]

Nutshell,

I think you've got that backwards. The US is very much a part of the world; it seems some americans draw comfort with the notion that they do indeed "step lightly" upon this planet. THAT is a definate misconception, and isolationism a far off promise to oneself that they could retreat from the world with no harm done; wrong, wrong, wrong. We're all involved.

But to what extent? Will the world collapse without America's involvement or will it not miss a beat? Obviously, the reality is somewhere in between, but I wonder which extreme it leans closer to.

 

[anders]

Well obviously I may be wrong, and it's kind of foolish to make definite statements before I've even been in America once (I haven't). It's just the decisions made by your politicians are often so incredibly stupid, that it has become my belief that the majority of the American population must also be idiots, since they support this government and their decisions. Also the many polls about Americans attitude towards gay people, atheists, etc... don't help my view of them.

I don't hate USAmericans. I loath their government , and regard the majority of them to be morons the way they have voted. But if they let their leaders attack yet another country that is no threat to them, it won't be impossible that I will try to attack any US citizen or property that I can.

Everyone wants to come to this country because its suppose to be the land of the free.

Count me out. I've been in the US for one week - even before Dubya - and I was more scared of walking the high street in broad daylight than one evening when losing my way in New Delhi and probably walking where no non-brown man ever strayed. Excepting most African countries between Egypt--Morocco and South Africa, a few former east Asian USSR countries, and Pakistan and Burma, I honestly think that I would feel more free in any other country than the US of A.

 

[nutshell]

I don't hate USAmericans. I loath their government , and regard the majority of them to be morons the way they have voted. But if they let their leaders attack yet another country that is no threat to them, it won't be impossible that I will try to attack any US citizen or property that I can.

That's right. We should just wait for the terrorists to attack us on our own soil. Oops! They already did that!

Count me out. I've been in the US for one week - even before Dubya - and I was more scared of walking the high street in broad daylight than one evening when losing my way in New Delhi and probably walking where no non-brown man ever strayed. Excepting most African countries between Egypt--Morocco and South Africa, a few former east Asian USSR countries, and Pakistan and Burma, I honestly think that I would feel more free in any other country than the US of A.

Thanks for the stereotype. I suppose you enjoy cheese with holes in it.

By the way, yesterday was tax day in America. What percentage of your income do you pay your goverment in taxes?

 

[maggie2]

Speaking as a Canadian, let me tell you how I feel about America and Americans. I have no problems with average Americans. Really, we're very much alike. Most Americans I've met are lots of fun to be around. I belong to this forum and several others and find most of the Americans I meet here to be very much like any Canadian I know.

What I really detest about America is your government. I think that Bush has totally ruined your country in the last few years. And I hate what I see happening in America...the loss of freedom you all are experiencing. I hate to see our neighbors being walked over by their government.

There are two things I'd like to see more Americans do.

1. Listen to news from somewhere besides in the USA. That's easy enough to do now with the Net. You can always check out a Canadian newspaper or a British one or one from some other country on the net. Why do that? So that you could get a more balanced view of world events. I watch the US news and also the Canadian news. I also check out the BBC occasionally and believe me, the news is quite different when you see it from another perspective.

2. Quit thinking that America is so great. Yes, it is great, but no greater than many other democratic countries. Canada, Austrailia, and many European countries have just as much, and at the moment, somewhat more freedom than the USA has. These countries have just as much to offer as the USA. Realize that your country is worthy but so are many other countries.

Apart from those two things, I don't see any need to change much about our neighbors to the south. You all are friendly, pleasant and overall, good people and I know that most Canadians enjoy being around Americans.:flower:

 

[Feathers in Hair]

What I really detest about America is your government. I think that Bush has totally ruined your country in the last few years. And I hate what I see happening in America...the loss of freedom you all are experiencing. I hate to see our neighbors being walked over by their government.

Thank you. :hug:

I think it's hard for some people- specifically those that call everyone who disagrees with them 'unpatriotic'- to understand that Americans can love their own country while speaking out or wishing to change things in it.

I miss being able to watch CBC!

 

[nutshell]

Thank you. :hug:

I think it's hard for some people- specifically those that call everyone who disagrees with them 'unpatriotic'- to understand that Americans can love their own country while speaking out or wishing to change things in it.

I miss being able to watch CBC!

Feathers, did you watch "howl?"

 

[Feathers in Hair]

Feathers, did you watch "howl?"

I did! Now you have to come over, so I can watch it again! (I think it's right up there with "Spirited Away"!) :hug: to you, too!

 

[Bastet]

Do I hate Americans? No...in fact I fell head over heels for one.

While I think the administration as it stands bites the big one, I can't say I like my own much better lol. There are a few notables I wouldn't **** on if they were on fire, but I have also made many friends, a few very close ones.

Wanted to live there not long ago, and given an opportunity and the right reason, I'd still jump at it...crappy administration or no. Adminstration does not the general public make.

That about sums it up for me.

 

[Opethian]

gee thanks for not being judgemental........If Americans are so stupid and our politicians are so dumb, why are we the only super power?
It seems like I could cut the envy with a knife in here.

Because they fail to realise that economy and military are not the only important things in a country. Making decisions that benefit military expenses and a higher economy will always be more important in an American government eyes than helping the poor, saving the environment and the few beautiful parts of nature there are left, a good education for your children, etc... No, it's all about oil, money, and guns. That's the American government's attitude: make the rich richer and keep the poor poor and dumb. Sure, it's a great way to become a super power, but what use is it to be a super power if you don't do anything good with that power?

I love America and would not want to live anywhere else. It strikes me as amusing that some on this forum bash America while failing to site the short comings of their own country. I also find Americans spend less time trashing other countries then they do us. Is there room for improvement? Of course. But why don't people clean up their own yard before trying to clean up ours.

Now that's a bit of a hypocritical statement. America doesn't do anything but interfere with other countries and sticking their noses everywhere they can if there's a benefit for them in it somewhere. They think they have the authority of being some kind of world police, while they don't. I think it's time for America to start cleaning up their messes in their own country, stop spending billions of dollars on military, and start thinking about the faraway future instead of the extremely near future.

 

[Nehustan]

I don't hate anyone for the misfortune of their own birth, that would be ridiculous, tho' having said that people do. In Nazi germany they 'hated' people for being mentally ill, disabled etc. I'd like to think that I would have resisted hating people that were considered a burden on society then, as I hope I do today.