NationStates Jolt Archive


Why does everyone hate the US so much?

La Terra di Liberta
26-05-2004, 05:37
Now, I'll admitt I'm highly anti-US fairly often, mostly because I hate the Bush administration, war in Iraq and this far right wing bs. But, I don't out right hate the people, they seem to be very friendly (for the most part) when I am a tourist there. Some people think that the whole country is facist or something. The closest thing to modern facism is the Nazi-like party in Austria, which is a decendant of it. Even that is just an extremely right wing party. The US like every other ocuntry does need to make some changes but hey, I'd rather live there than most places in the world. The last thing the human race needs is to hate each other. Last time that happened, we had World War's 1 and 2, the Cold war and now terrorism. I'm not a peace loving hippy either, we just don't need to be trying to blow each other to hell. I know some people will hate me for this, others might not give a sh*t but meh, I could really care less about that.
Kryozerkia
26-05-2004, 05:38
I hate it.... But, they are like the annoying next door neighbour. No matter how much you hate the load and noisy bastard, they aren't just going to disappear off the face of the earth....
Monkeypimp
26-05-2004, 05:39
I don't think you'll find too many people who'll say that they hate every American.
Kryozerkia
26-05-2004, 05:40
I don't think you'll find too many people who'll say that they hate every American.That is true... You hate your neighbours, but not the little baby ;)
Thunderland
26-05-2004, 05:50
Unless the little baby cries at 3 in the morning.
Kryozerkia
26-05-2004, 05:51
Unless the little baby cries at 3 in the morning.In which case, you shoot it and put it out of its misery.
Hakartopia
26-05-2004, 05:53
Unless the little baby cries at 3 in the morning.In which case, you shoot it and put it out of its misery.

No, you put it out of *your* misery.
Ice Hockey Players
26-05-2004, 05:53
I don't think you'll find too many people who'll say that they hate every American.

No you won't...you won't get a lot of people who actually admit to hating every American. Doesn't mean they don't.
Kryozerkia
26-05-2004, 05:54
Unless the little baby cries at 3 in the morning.In which case, you shoot it and put it out of its misery.
No, you put it out of *your* misery.
That is another way of putting it...
Deeloleo
26-05-2004, 05:56
I hate it.... But, they are like the annoying next door neighbour. No matter how much you hate the load and noisy bastard, they aren't just going to disappear off the face of the earth....

I truth, we're more of the good-looking nieghbor, who has loud parties and doesn't invite you, drives a nice car, bangs your wife when you're not looking and knows there isn't a damned thing you can do about it, because he can kick you ass.
Kryozerkia
26-05-2004, 05:58
I hate it.... But, they are like the annoying next door neighbour. No matter how much you hate the load and noisy bastard, they aren't just going to disappear off the face of the earth....

I truth, we're more of the good-looking nieghbor, who has loud parties and doesn't invite you, drives a nice car, bangs your wife when you're not looking and knows there isn't a damned thing you can do about it, because he can kick you ass.
That too...

Of course, we are the little neighbour who sits, waiting until the right moment when that neighbour needs help and laughs at them for having been too brash ;)
MKULTRA
26-05-2004, 06:30
hating Bush is an expression of Love for America
Celestial Paranoia
26-05-2004, 06:58
Why does the US hate itself so much?
Colodia
26-05-2004, 06:59
I hate it.... But, they are like the annoying next door neighbour. No matter how much you hate the load and noisy bastard, they aren't just going to disappear off the face of the earth....

I truth, we're more of the good-looking nieghbor, who has loud parties and doesn't invite you, drives a nice car, bangs your wife when you're not looking and knows there isn't a damned thing you can do about it, because he can kick you ass.
That too...

Of course, we are the little neighbour who sits, waiting until the right moment when that neighbour needs help and laughs at them for having been too brash ;)

and then we take part in a huge fight and take ALL OF YOUR CREDIT and teach our children how our neighbors didn't do **** in the fight.
Nuevo Kowloon
26-05-2004, 08:14
Why does the US hate itself so much?

Leftist Guilt.

No, I'm serious here-we've had a significant portion of our elite, mostly on the Left, who felt bad that we were #1 in every single catagory you could name in the 1960's, so they did something about it-only they're under the misapprehension that they haven't succeeded in demolishing enough, so we have an EPA that drives the manufacturing out, Corporate Leaders who downsize and outsource and don't give a shit anymore, Union Leaders who won't do anything about the fact that their one-partyness has basically marginalized their members and sped up the loss of paying jobs, politicians who're big on spending and raising taxes, two parties that are basically the same (one wants to dismantle things faster), a plague of lawyers (far worse than locusts, lawyers try to eat your soul as well...), an "Entitlement Culture", parents that give their kids to the schools to raise, then wonder why they have little sociopaths that shoot up their schools, get knocked up, hooked on stronger versions of what their hippie parents were doing at the same age, and later on torture prisoners for kicks because even the Officers and NCO's that were supposed to be in charge didn't give a shit.

America hates itself because we've had forty years of Actors, Teevee Stars, Singers, and Sportos telling us we're bad people and don't care enough. We've had fifty years of Professors saying the same thing.

Leftists want a Proletariat to represent, Righties want a dominant power structure and neither one wants to take any responsibility or be accountable for the results.

Our politics is occupied by the most megalomaniac, diseased, egotistical and "Superior" kind of hypocritical assholes, our electorate is burned out and cynical, our kids are savages, and our industries are leaving with tax-dollars supporting the move and Regulators trying to push them out faster.

It's simple self-disgust, those of us who remember what we're supposed to stand for, watching as our values are perverted, our beliefs corrupted, and the most ridiculous and frustrating things are done-by both dominant parties, in our name, without our consent, while the burger-eating, dope-smoking, beer-guzzling Frat Boy washouts and chronic whiners vote in droves.
26-05-2004, 08:41
I hate the US cuz they are dirty scumbags that prance around in tights and smoke weed all day. oh wait a second, thats the dutch... my bad.
Jeem
26-05-2004, 08:48
I hate it.... But, they are like the annoying next door neighbour. No matter how much you hate the load and noisy bastard, they aren't just going to disappear off the face of the earth....

I truth, we're more of the good-looking nieghbor, who has loud parties and doesn't invite you, drives a nice car, bangs your wife when you're not looking and knows there isn't a damned thing you can do about it, because he can kick you ass.

I dont hate the US but I do dislike the following:

The arrogance (as displayed above)
The ignorance (as displayed in their actions)
The hypocrisy (as in they supported terrorists for years until it happened to them)
The fanaticism (as will no doubt be shortly displayed by fanatics "defending the flag!" and cursing me for daring to criticise the almighty US of A)
The stupidity (as in "These Iraqis are cowards for not fighting fair" despite the fact that the US has every weapon imaginable and the Iraqis are lucky to have an RPG and/or rifle)

:twisted:
Raysian Military Tech
26-05-2004, 09:05
Who cares what france and germany and russia think of us?. Honestly, what does it matter?

And the UN? Who cares if they get involved? They're a bunch of corrupt wackos who seek to reform the world to their own ideals... appease the bad guys, shut up the good guys.
IIRRAAQQII
26-05-2004, 09:07
Anti-US government Pro-Italy
Raysian Military Tech
26-05-2004, 09:08
Anti-US government Pro-Italyyeah... italy... where terrorists are harbored like Oil ships :)
Ascensia
26-05-2004, 09:12
Common jealousy. European nations long for the days when they mattered, when they had their knife to the jugular of the world. Third world nations feel they got a bum deal, blaming our success and their failure on luck.
Deeloleo
26-05-2004, 09:13
I hate it.... But, they are like the annoying next door neighbour. No matter how much you hate the load and noisy bastard, they aren't just going to disappear off the face of the earth....

I truth, we're more of the good-looking nieghbor, who has loud parties and doesn't invite you, drives a nice car, bangs your wife when you're not looking and knows there isn't a damned thing you can do about it, because he can kick you ass.

I dont hate the US but I do dislike the following:

The arrogance (as displayed above)
The ignorance (as displayed in their actions)
The hypocrisy (as in they supported terrorists for years until it happened to them)
The fanaticism (as will no doubt be shortly displayed by fanatics "defending the flag!" and cursing me for daring to criticise the almighty US of A)
The stupidity (as in "These Iraqis are cowards for not fighting fair" despite the fact that the US has every weapon imaginable and the Iraqis are lucky to have an RPG and/or rifle)

:twisted:B.O.O.H.O.O.!
Free Soviets
26-05-2004, 09:34
yeah... italy... where terrorists are harbored like Oil ships :)

i don't know if 'harbored' is the right word. 'employed by the government' is closer. goddamn strategy of tension.
The Freethinkers
26-05-2004, 10:19
Hmmm, I think there is an important distinction between hating the American Government itself and America itself.

I am an avid critic of American foreign and domestic policy, and yet I still find myself coming over to see my friends over in the USA and enjoying every minute of it.

Because I love the ridiculously cheap gas, food clothes, I love the enthusiasm for everything, the sheer confidence that seems to permiate everywhere I go. I love the laughably inept adverts on TV, I love the fact the sports sections in American supermarkets you can actually buy rifles and shotguns, I love the fact that roads go on for miles. I love the cars that are bigger than my house over here in the UK.

Because I like the people...and...thats why I think there's still hope for America yet. But you really do need to start getting a grip and start looking at people beyond your borders as either terrorists or whiners.
Kirtondom
26-05-2004, 10:22
Who cares what france and germany and russia think of us?. Honestly, what does it matter?

And the UN? Who cares if they get involved? They're a bunch of corrupt wackos who seek to reform the world to their own ideals... appease the bad guys, shut up the good guys.
Because when they all start to turn a blind eye to terrorists raising money in thier country and training and recruiting people there, you'll be faced with hundreds of 9/11s, and unless you shut you borders to everyone and trade with no one there will not be a thing you can do about it.
As powerfull as you are you still need friends, or you could withdraw from all the bases on soil not your own and weaken considerably the ability to defend your nation.
Does the following 'They're a bunch of corrupt wackos who seek to reform the world to their own ideals... appease the bad guys, shut up the good guys' refer to Russia or the US?
Cromotar
26-05-2004, 10:31
Common jealousy. European nations long for the days when they mattered, when they had their knife to the jugular of the world. Third world nations feel they got a bum deal, blaming our success and their failure on luck.

Well, that's laughable. I lived for 12 years in the states; the greater part of my childhood. I then moved to Sweden and my life improved dramatically in several ways. I do not miss America and can sincerely say that I never want to live there again. Not because I hate Americans in general, but because I hate the way it's run. Jealousy my arse...

As for the success/failure thing, it's just a phase. Europe had it's shining era, and it passed. America's will pass too, in time (Bush & Co. are doing a heck of a job speeding it along, btw), and another nation will take its place. That's the way the world works.
A Small World
26-05-2004, 10:47
Most Americans thnk they are the only country on the globe, or at least, the only country that matters. The US President is one of the peole with this opinion. And most americans don't think about a bigger picture, and even though they are friendly to your face they laugh at you behind your back...But I have to say I like America. Because not all the people are like that, and it is a place where new ideas can be tried out (it is not as traditional as, for example, Europe).
Niggolien
26-05-2004, 11:01
don't you have better things to do, kiddies???You've got a f*ing country to rule. or guide. or lead. or something


PACE, brothers and sisters, PACE! ;-)
Lawnmowerville
26-05-2004, 11:03
Why does everyone hate the US so much?

Because it's easy.
The Pyrenees
26-05-2004, 11:12
Who cares what france and germany and russia think of us?. Honestly, what does it matter?


Yeah, why does International Diplomacy matter? What has the world done for America?

America are like the bastard son of the world family, who's run off and owns a successful car dealership and claims he did it all by himself. And the rest of the poor family need his money, but don't REALLY like him that much. And he always spoils Christmas dinner with his watches and rings and cars...
Greyenivol Colony
26-05-2004, 15:48
it is not as traditional as, for example, Europe.

thats not true at all. america clings to traditional ideals with a pathological fear of all things propgressive. europe has had tradition for centuries longer than the US so while europe has got used to it the novelty still hasn't worn off for america. just look at europe historically, during the 19th century it was spewing more ideas than america has had in its entire history...
Bottle
26-05-2004, 16:00
i'm an American, and the reason i hate the US is the hypocritical nature of our current society and government. the one that really pisses me off at the moment is how we claim to be trying to bring democracy to Iraq, when AMERICA IS NOT A DEMOCRACY. the founding fathers went to great lengths to prevent America from being a democracy, and our way of life is totally incompatible with actual democracy. we have a representative republic, and there is a VERY VERY BIG DIFFERENCE. people who don't know that difference should not be trying to set up governments in other countries, let alone trying to run ours (President Bush i am looking in your general direction).
Gordopollis
26-05-2004, 16:03
Americans, though generally very nice people cannot understand why people in the rest of the world don't want to be just like them. This is the cause of many problems....
Thunderland
26-05-2004, 16:06
Who cares what france and germany and russia think of us?. Honestly, what does it matter?

And the UN? Who cares if they get involved? They're a bunch of corrupt wackos who seek to reform the world to their own ideals... appease the bad guys, shut up the good guys.
Because when they all start to turn a blind eye to terrorists raising money in thier country and training and recruiting people there, you'll be faced with hundreds of 9/11s, and unless you shut you borders to everyone and trade with no one there will not be a thing you can do about it.
As powerfull as you are you still need friends, or you could withdraw from all the bases on soil not your own and weaken considerably the ability to defend your nation.
Does the following 'They're a bunch of corrupt wackos who seek to reform the world to their own ideals... appease the bad guys, shut up the good guys' refer to Russia or the US?

Curses. you beat me to saying it first. It does matter what the world thinks of us. President Bush talks about that all the time. He talked about it this week as a matter of fact. He talks about it every time he speaks of bringing freedom to Iraq. If we are to be an example of freedom, then we need to understand world opinion.
Greater Dalaran
26-05-2004, 18:02
The reason people dont like America is because they will try and take over everything possible then when they make a mess (e.g. Iraq) they will leave it to Great Britain to clean up the mess.
Lets take Iraq for example, they invaded the country guns blazing killing everyone then leaving UK to rebuild the peace which has resorted in many British soldiers being killed. Americans also in there trigger happy manners have probably killed more Britons in what they call 'accidents' BUT still never had the common decensy to appoligise. Thats not even 1/8 of the reasons America is hated by many.
La Terra di Liberta
26-05-2004, 23:56
Someone said it's easy to hate the US. Well, truth be told I find it a heck of alot easier to hate Argentina or North Korea. I hate Argnetina cuz I'm English and with all the Falkland Islands crap and North Korea because Kim Jong Il is a war lord, a murdered and starves his citizens. I dislike the US at times yes but they're are country that I find much worse.
La Terra di Liberta
26-05-2004, 23:57
Tactical Grace
27-05-2004, 00:39
Common jealousy. European nations long for the days when they mattered, when they had their knife to the jugular of the world. Third world nations feel they got a bum deal, blaming our success and their failure on luck.
Well, that's laughable. I lived for 12 years in the states; the greater part of my childhood. I then moved to Sweden and my life improved dramatically in several ways. I do not miss America and can sincerely say that I never want to live there again. Not because I hate Americans in general, but because I hate the way it's run. Jealousy my arse...

As for the success/failure thing, it's just a phase. Europe had it's shining era, and it passed. America's will pass too, in time (Bush & Co. are doing a heck of a job speeding it along, btw), and another nation will take its place. That's the way the world works.
I fully agree. I am glad my family left America for the UK in my early childhood, and I am proud to be a European. I went back there for a couple of weeks earlier this year, and there is nothing there worth missing. It's just another country, no better than any in Europe. In time, its era of ascendancy will pass, and it will decline and fall like all the European empires (and all others), including the one which created it.

Sic transit gloria mundi, indeed.
Liberal Technology
27-05-2004, 00:42
People hate the US for a number of reasons. I do feel that the media blows somethings out of proportion as well. Americans indulge in a lifestyle that is wealthy, and over-the-top, and for the rest of the world, that is viewed with relative contempt. Arguably, the yuppie lifestly is starting to catch up with us. Our actions in Iraq, and the recent events at the Abu Ghriab prison certainly haven't helped things. Our overall attitude of unilateral do-what-we-feel-like because we're the biggest is also a contributing factor.Most importantly, we're different. It's easy to hate Bush, (as an American, I hate him too). The people in the Middle East are raised to hate the "western devil" etc... And because of the clash between Western and Eastern mindsets, we may always be hated. It would do us a great deal of good to simply not reelect GW Bush, or impeach him for gross incompetence. We need to seriously re-evaluate our foreign affairs.
Amarius
27-05-2004, 01:27
I love how people endlessly criticize Bush, when clearly it is the liberal congress to blame. Just take a look at this: http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/analysis/toons/2004/05/20/lang/index.html This is exactly what I mean. Bush is doing a good job as president. I'd hate to see what Gore would have done on 9/11.
Amarius
27-05-2004, 01:29
Deeloleo
27-05-2004, 01:44
Americans, though generally very nice people cannot understand why people in the rest of the world don't want to be just like them. This is the cause of many problems....The problem is everyone, Americans included, believe that they are right, not only that but everyone believes they alone are right. I say let everyone decide for themselves.
Temme
27-05-2004, 03:40
I don't hate Americans. I don't even hate America. I wouldn't want to live there.

1.) Too right wing--now, not every American is right wing, but the culture of America is very pro-business. As a socialist, I figure that too much business is a bad thing.
2.) Too militaristic--they're trying to get Canada, where I live, to participate in their missile defence program. They figured that Iraq was hiding weapons of mass destruction, even though there were none. They also never did catch Osama.
3.) Paris Hilton--need I say any more?
Sheilanagig
27-05-2004, 06:06
I don't hate the US, but I can take a few guesses as to why other people might. We're obnoxious. Let's face it, we tend to let our worst ambassadors escape and take European holidays.

Americans have a huge sense of entitlement. We feel that people should maintain the same level of customer service and have the same services and products that we have in the US, and other countries resent this. I mean, insisting on bottled water and credit card use everywhere we go, and a McDogfood around every corner hasn't exactly endeared us to the rest of the world. Nor do we do much in the way of finding out about the local culture when we travel, which makes us seem really clumsy and rude. Of course, sometimes we really have no way of knowing any better.

This is just the civilians. God, our diplomats are worse, and they play the game with countries who have it down to a fine art, with corruption included. We get played so many ways, and then when we do something, sometimes not adviseable or not even our business, we do it with a sledgehammer, and tell other countries what is good for them.

That said, I've lived in other places, visited a few too, and I can think of more expensive, less free places to live. We have more of a chance to decide what our lives will be in the US, compared to other places that don't have the space or the money.
Snorklenork
27-05-2004, 06:17
I hate it.... But, they are like the annoying next door neighbour. No matter how much you hate the load and noisy bastard, they aren't just going to disappear off the face of the earth....

I truth, we're more of the good-looking nieghbor, who has loud parties and doesn't invite you, drives a nice car, bangs your wife when you're not looking and knows there isn't a damned thing you can do about it, because he can kick you ass.
Hrm, a bit more like the fat next door neighbour who's very rich and works long hours in a very well paid job. One of his kids is on crack and has left home too, and one of his sons beats him up everynow and then to get some money.

Sure he drives a very expensive car and has the biggest house, and indeed, he thinks that it's wonderful that he does. But he doesn't realise that some of the next door neighbours don't mind being downshifted because they're happy with that, and at least they have less domestic violence, and no children on crack. Also, some actually have a wealthier family on an individual basis, and they're happy with that too.

Sure there may be lots of envious poorer neighbours, but there's plenty who think they live just as well, if not better than the single neighbour in question when they look at more than just the head of the household's income and his assets.

They all do buy a fair bit from the business at which he works though.

Hrm, how far can one stretch an analogy?
Tewedya
27-05-2004, 06:23
Now, I may only speak for myself, but I never once hated the "idea" of America...that collective dream that a few colonials had so long ago....the purity of their resolve for a fairer and more equal government, despite some of the aguments of the details, was admirable.

But, what America has become now is something other than pure in my opinion. The glamour that was once the American collective personality has been replaced with a hatefull personality. I mean, look at us as a whole on the world view...The ever present and all powerful entrepreneur trying to buy and sell the world, the annoying general of the largest army occupying most every nation that raises an eyebrow to us, the self-righteous "we're American so we're always right" attitude that wins over so many international friends...I once had a friend who said that America probably was the most hated country in the world- for jealousy, disgust, retaliation- whatever....but he's probably right...but there's no way we can let our guard down for a minute or at least a dozen nations would love to take us on.

Call me crazy, but what a pickle we've gotten ourselves into. I would've rather had the old American mentality versus the new. So no, I don't hate America, just what it's become.
Ascensia
27-05-2004, 06:50
Common jealousy. European nations long for the days when they mattered, when they had their knife to the jugular of the world. Third world nations feel they got a bum deal, blaming our success and their failure on luck.

Well, that's laughable. I lived for 12 years in the states; the greater part of my childhood. I then moved to Sweden and my life improved dramatically in several ways. I do not miss America and can sincerely say that I never want to live there again. Not because I hate Americans in general, but because I hate the way it's run. Jealousy my arse...
If you like socialism, hey, that's your thing. Whatever floats yer boat man, glad you're happy, but the hostility in your post would indicate some emotional issues with your birthland.

As for the success/failure thing, it's just a phase. Europe had it's shining era, and it passed. America's will pass too, in time (Bush & Co. are doing a heck of a job speeding it along, btw), and another nation will take its place. That's the way the world works.
And what in your post describes why the jealousy of the most powerful nation in the world doesn't exist?
Dankaria
27-05-2004, 06:57
Hate doesnt help anyone! So cool of, and try to learn those stupid americans that fatty BigMacs and war doesnt solve anything!
Free Soviets
27-05-2004, 07:03
I love how people endlessly criticize Bush, when clearly it is the liberal congress to blame.

liberal congress? in the us?!

so what's it like living in the 1970s?
Henry Kissenger
27-05-2004, 07:53
they are like a thorn in the bush. they want to be involved in everything. thats just not fais to other countries.