NationStates Jolt Archive

For Mercy sake's people...I certainly have disagreements with some of them...but for cryin out loud...I have seen no less then 4 posts all dedicated to "Why the World hates us" types.

I happen to be a centrist leaning to the right on most issues..but that doesn't mean I go along with everything the current Administration does, and it doesn't mean I like all the quirks that America and my fellow citizens exhibit toward non-Americans..

Some of them get violatile..just like some of us do on some of these posts, it's hard to maintain one's emotions from the anonymity of a computer screen..we might not get so bent out of shape on discussions were they held face to face..

I think at their core...that no..Europeans are not jealous of us...nor do I think that all Americans are arrogant cowboys. They are nations that have existed for millenia in some cases...and as such seem perplexed when we take actions that to us seem righteous but to them seem ill-conceived.

I had a friend once...actually I met him during time in Kuwait during the first Gulf War shortly after I was recalled from retirement..one thing bout him....he's not a Kuwaiti...he's an Iraqi, my infantry platoon had taken him and about a battalion-sized unit as prisoners..thru a Kuwaiti Liason I got to know a few as they were being transported to the EPW areas..you know what my friend told me.

He asked me how old the US is...I said roughly 200 yrs...he cocked his head to the side and said..."My country is over 3000 yrs old..perhaps when you have gotten as old as we..then you can tell us how to live?" Then he asked me..."You are an Sioux right, I see your people killed Americans once (easy enough mistake, it's not like he realized there are many tribes and mine is but one)...I said "Yes..but we had to end our war in order to survive as a people"....he said.."yes..that is why we had to end our war..in order to survive as a people....gotta admit..the guy had a point.

It's true, many Non-US posters don't hate US posters. We hate your current administration; we hate your foreign policy and we don't like the way your government does things. So, when we say we hate Americans, we mean the government (and the few here that were flamers, of course).

Good thread & post Salishe. Coming from someone who has been dubbed 'anti-American' I am getting tired of trying to explain the difference between commenting, debating and disagreeing (which is really just democracy and freedom of speech in action) and out and out hatered.

I'm working with an American in China now and he's a top bloke. He dosen't get all uptight and start thinking I'm victimising him everytime I say something political which happens to involve the US. He hears me have a go at my government all the time. I suppose that is the benefit of face to face discussion.

I have noticed I have disagreed with things you have said from time to time but you haven't gotten all personal and pissed off about it which is good.

How long were you in the Army for? (if you don't mind me asking)

Good thread & post Salishe. Coming from someone who has been dubbed 'anti-American' I am getting tired of trying to explain the difference between commenting, debating and disagreeing (which is really just democracy and freedom of speech in action) and out and out hatered.

I'm working with an American in China now and he's a top bloke. He dosen't get all uptight and start thinking I'm victimising him everytime I say something political which happens to involve the US. He hears me have a go at my government all the time. I suppose that is the benefit of face to face discussion.

I have noticed I have disagreed with things you have said from time to time but you haven't gotten all personal and pissed off about it which is good.

How long were you in the Army for? (if you don't mind me asking)

I was a Marine from 1966 - 1986..retired with a full 20..but was recalled from retirement to serve during the first Gulf War because they had a shortage of combat-arms Staff Non-Comissioned Officers who actually been in combat. After that I shelved the uniform again and went back to the joyful aspect of retirement..only to have to get a civilian job..lol

Actually, good post, Salishe and Kryozerkia.
You both seemed to pretty much hit the nail on the head.
(and I don't mean that to come out as a sort of Blazing Saddles-esque
"Howard Johnson is RIGHT" comment, either)

It IS the administration that we dislike, as well as those
mouth-breathing, knee-jerk "defend the administration because they
represent us and ours" egocentric reactions.

I don't hate every American out there...that would make no sense.
That would be like me hating every German because of what happened
in WWII.
Sometimes I hear those "only in America" type stories, which certainly
make me wonder :lol:
but that doesn't mean I hate you.

An important difference between US-thinking and others is that in the US people believe that it is wrong to speak out against your government. As a UK citizen, this is very strange to me. Here you can turn on the TV and see programmes ("tv shows") making fun of our politicians, including those currently in charge.

The USA has produced extraordinary wealth and extraordinary abuse of wealth. It has produced remarkable documents and structures enshrining human rights and also abused the rights of countless others. It has defended the world in times of desperate need and threatened it in others.

It is beauty and the beast.

And, of course, this applies to humanity as a whole.

:shock: Wow, concensus.

To Salishe

I have crossed your path before I believe and we have a difference in opinion, that is true. It doesn't make me anti-american. I agree with you this time that it is a disagreement on policy, and I have posted before that it is not only the US policy but also the UK policy that I am against. Its the policy not the country.

I tend to leave forum discussions as soon as the remarks start to get personal and the insults start flying because at the point there is no point in continuing as it is just becomes a slanging match.

You may not have my support for your views but you do have my respect.

Cheers.

:D

Hate is a word that gets thrown around a lot. When In reality it should be rarely if ever.

I don't hate Americans at all. I hate stupid, ignorant people. If they happen to be Americans...that's not my fault.

And i also have a big problem with American Government. That's about it.

It's true, many Non-US posters don't hate US posters. We hate your current administration; we hate your foreign policy and we don't like the way your government does things. So, when we say we hate Americans, we mean the government (and the few here that were flamers, of course).

Ditto. I very strongly dislike the US government, so I would probably be classified as an "America Hater" but, I have nothing against individual Americans whatsoever.

As Voltaire once said:-

"I may disagree with what you have to say, but I shall defend, to the
death, your right to say it."

Bump til every one of my country's NS posters sees this...hopefully it'll make sense for some...but for those who are still confused...No...the Euros aren't jealous..and NO..they don't hate individual American citizens. It is the current administration's policies that they are pursuiing...policies which even I tend to agree with..but I respect their disapproval of them.

DP

The funniest is when people accuse me of a) hating Americans, and then in the same breath accuse me of b) backing Democrats.

You would think the one would preclude the other....

However some of this could be mitigated if people took the extra moment to check what they post. Be specific and criticize Bush, or "the current administration" rather than "America this" or "America that". Because then it is unclear and people do tend to get annoyed at being lumped into a group. I know I've made that mistake once or twice, but I try to catch myself first.

Hell, America itself is deeply divided on many of the top issues of the day.

Does half of america hate americans?

I think not....


-Z-

An important difference between US-thinking and others is that in the US people believe that it is wrong to speak out against your government. As a UK citizen, this is very strange to me. Here you can turn on the TV and see programmes ("tv shows") making fun of our politicians, including those currently in charge.

You clearly don't watch American TV much then.

Ever see a show called Saturday Night Live? (Where I live, its on NBC at 11:30 every Saturday). They make (or try to) fun of Bush so much the horse they beat is a pile of pulp right now.

An important difference between US-thinking and others is that in the US people believe that it is wrong to speak out against your government. As a UK citizen, this is very strange to me. Here you can turn on the TV and see programmes ("tv shows") making fun of our politicians, including those currently in charge.

You clearly don't watch American TV much then.

Ever see a show called Saturday Night Live? (Where I live, its on NBC at 11:30 every Saturday). They make (or try to) fun of Bush so much the horse they beat is a pile of pulp right now.Making fun of thePresidents speech paterns is allright, as long as nothing of substance is critisized.

Good thread & post Salishe. Coming from someone who has been dubbed 'anti-American' I am getting tired of trying to explain the difference between commenting, debating and disagreeing (which is really just democracy and freedom of speech in action) and out and out hatered.

I'm working with an American in China now and he's a top bloke. He dosen't get all uptight and start thinking I'm victimising him everytime I say something political which happens to involve the US. He hears me have a go at my government all the time. I suppose that is the benefit of face to face discussion.

I have noticed I have disagreed with things you have said from time to time but you haven't gotten all personal and pissed off about it which is good.

How long were you in the Army for? (if you don't mind me asking)

I was a Marine from 1966 - 1986..retired with a full 20..but was recalled from retirement to serve during the first Gulf War because they had a shortage of combat-arms Staff Non-Comissioned Officers who actually been in combat. After that I shelved the uniform again and went back to the joyful aspect of retirement..only to have to get a civilian job..lol

That's a fair whack in the Marines. I had (or should I say 'would of had'?) a great uncle who was in the Royal Marines but he got killed in Korea. The pension not good enough, hey? If I spent twenty years in the defence force which included active service I'd want a decent retirement package. What job do you do now?

But yeah, US posters, read what this man wrote. I think this thread proves you don't 'hate' the US and don't 'hate' all AMericans (admittedly, some piss me off with what they say). Come on, I welcome you to have a go at my government. PLEASE! ! !! ! !

Hey I just made one honest topic about my feelings. Not my fault it ends up into a big topic full of the continued people going "well the U.S. has done nothing without being half-asses SOB's..."

It's true, many Non-US posters don't hate US posters. We hate your current administration; we hate your foreign policy and we don't like the way your government does things. So, when we say we hate Americans, we mean the government (and the few here that were flamers, of course).
Okay, but how about this, try to distinguish. Saying "I hate Americans" and then coming back after people have been offended and saying "I only meant I hate your current admin." is a load of bs. Distinguish. "I hate the American admin." works far better.

An important difference between US-thinking and others is that in the US people believe that it is wrong to speak out against your government. As a UK citizen, this is very strange to me. Here you can turn on the TV and see programmes ("tv shows") making fun of our politicians, including those currently in charge.


:lol: I mean no offence freind,Where I'm from we constantly make fun of our politicians. In public,private,and in our media.We make fun of ourselves as well.If all you've seen is our news,then you've completely misjudged us.I have a good rant I may put up in a couplr of day's.I think it's funny,you may not.I makes fun of politicians,and especialy uf there overzealous supporters.note "uf".My spelling is atrociuos :lol: I think I've drunk one to many beer's and it's time for bed considering I just worked a ten hour shift. :D good luck and good bye.

I don't hate Americans at all. I hate stupid, ignorant people. If they happen to be Americans...that's not my fault.

And i also have a big problem with American Government. That's about it.

Agreed!

I have been around a bit to know that most people don't hate us. We might annoy them to no end but hate?....

What I find intresting is the people that responded so far. Those that I have read and figured they were mainly pissed about the shrub are here and yet others are not.

Curious and will watch this thread! ;)

The Americans I have known have all been generally warm and friendly people. It would take a hard person indeed to hate them.

The Americans I have known have all been generally warm and friendly people. It would take a hard person indeed to hate them.

Agreed, to an extent. Most Americans I have met I have gotten along with quite well, they being warm and friendly people, some, however, were a different story . . . .