NationStates Jolt Archive

I'm not anti-american, but there seems to be an attitude among some Americans that anybody who speaks out against America is completely jealous. There are some things I envy of the US, like their power, economy, ect. But there are other parts which I would have no desire for, such as crime, poverty, certain aspects of it's culture and so on. To think that everybody who goes against America is jealous is completely arrogant.

Originally Posted by Mundatia
to say that Europe listens to American music more than vice versa would be wrong, in my opinion
If you're not convinced for the music, this is not the only domain where american culture prevails. Take a look at the box office, in every country you will see films like LOTR, Harry Potter, Starwars... at the top. Then you can visit the streets : there are more MacDonald's than all other foreign food restaurants put together, and they're far more thriving. And if it's not enough, well, the easiest : surf on the web ! You don't find any european site unless you really want to.
The envy is not surprising. And in France (not sure for the other countries), people react by word violence.

Originally Posted by Jambaqstan
And in response to whoeevr talked about Einstein crossing the channel...he probably got much better funding over there for his NUCLEAR-RELATED RESEARCH...
Please do some physics in any domain, see the before and the after Einstein and come back to tell me the US are wrong to put their trust in science by providing such fundings. And, yes, I said "trust" because Einstein didn't just knock the door with a nuclear bomb in the hand asking "how much do you offer ?" as you seem to think.

And the fact that Europe once had this "immensely powerful cultural legacy" is just what the anti-americanists can't bear.
I'm not an anti-americanist but I must say that the European culture scenes in general are still very much alive.

[QUOTE=Canadanadia]To further quote Ronald Reagan: "Ich bin ein berliner" which means, "I am a doughnut." QUOTE]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ich_bin_ein_Berliner

The envy is not surprising. And in France (not sure for the other countries), people react by word violence.
What happened to you when you went to France???

Believe me, I'm not envious. You have no idea how many times I have said this year, "I'm so glad I'm not an American right now."

Envy? LOL

Why would I want to be American?

Culture - My country is 900 years old, but our history goes out for at least 2000 years. We have a past, an identity, an image. But we also have a future. I love the Portuguese language. We have our writers, our musicians, which, though far less comercial than the anglo-saxonic, are very good on their own right. Personally, outside my country, most of my favorite bands are German or English.

Economy - Well, true that i wished my countrymen had a GDP/ per capita as high as the US. Well, but Luxembourg's GDP/per capita is even higher. So I wished even more that we had luxembourg's GDP/per capita.

Military Might - We have no enemies, we do not wish to harm anyone. Our armies and police are strong enought to keep the most immediate threats at bay, so I couldnt care less about this.

International Image - Well, I'm not even going to explain why i don't envy the US on this...


Envy? Should I have to pick a country outside my own (and outside Europe)to live in, I'd pick Japan, Australia, Brazil, or something like that.
The US is only relevant because its irreflected actions have negative consequences in my own country (even if only indirectly). And that, in my humble opinion, gives me the right to bash the US at will. But I do not envy you lol.

Anti-americanism is not the work of just a few ignorant snobs. Many people who are "anti-american" simply dislike our foreign policy. I'm an American, and I don't especially like our foreign policy, and I also don't think that Bush is a very good leader. If that made you anti-americanist, I would be proud to be that. However, it doesn't. Basically, anti-americanism is the act of not liking the american government. Rock, foods, and games have nothing to do with it. Disliking LOTR, or hot dogs, or Star Wars doesn't make you anti-americanist. And with respect to the GDP, in a more socialist-oriented government, the GDP would probably be lower. That, of course, would be offset by the benefits recieved from the government.

I'm sure that if I lived in Switzerland, or Taiwan, or Japan, I wouldn't exactly be clamoring to go to the US. I doubt that so many people envy America's power, wealth, success, or determination. With respect to power, we'd like to have it, but just because I can't be the CEO in my company doesn't mean I hate him. Wealth? Well, moving to the United States isn't magically going to increase your wealth. Success? That's very subjective. People regard success in different ways. And there's but a fine line betwen determination and stubborness. And anyway, if those people all envied the United States, they'd be trying to immigrate. You don't see to many of those people immigrating, do you?

At least two posters have cited LOTR as an "American Film".

As much as I hate the LOTR films and the phenomonen surrounding them, I have to point out that the Books were written by a Brtion, and the Film was shot in New Zealand, directed by a New Zealander, and starring New Zealanders, Australians, and Britons.

As such, I don't think it's really fair to call it an "American" film, just because most of the money came from Hollywood- Artistically and Culturally, It's about as Un-American as a film gets, IMO.

At least two posters have cited LOTR as an "American Film".

As much as I hate the LOTR films and the phenomonen surrounding them, I have to point out that the Books were written by a Brtion, and the Film was shot in New Zealand,
A Briton born in Bloemfontein of Danish extraction?

As such, I don't think it's really fair to call it an "American" film, just because most of the money came from Hollywood- Artistically and Culturally, It's about as Un-American as a film gets, IMO.
I wouldn't say un-american. Maybe non-american would seem less combative.

You're right, "Non-American" is a better choice of words. My mistake.

(I hadn't had my morning coffee when I wrote that, and I think it shows... ;) )

Please do some physics in any domain, see the before and the after Einstein and come back to tell me the US are wrong to put their trust in science by providing such fundings. And, yes, I said "trust" because Einstein didn't just knock the door with a nuclear bomb in the hand asking "how much do you offer ?" as you seem to think.

Oh no, don't get me wrong, I'm just making seemingly random observations. Of course funding into scientific research (of certain kinds) is good. That is certainly not what I think. Einstein merely went to America to avoid persecution as a Jew.

If you're not convinced for the music, this is not the only domain where american culture prevails. Take a look at the box office, in every country you will see films like LOTR,

British author, New Zealand director, filmed in New Zealand, much of the cast from UK and Australia.

Harry Potter,

British author, Argentinian director, filmed in UK, entirely British cast.

Starwars...

OK, this I'll mostly grant you, though it should be noted that Obi-Wan is, and always has been, a Scot and the original film was based on a Japanese film.

at the top. Then you can visit the streets : there are more MacDonald's than all other foreign food restaurants put together, and they're far more thriving.

Actually in the UK McDonald's is getting its arse handed to it on a plate by UK-owned sandwich and coffee chains like Pret A Manger (which, granted it just bought) and Costa Coffee.

And if it's not enough, well, the easiest : surf on the web ! You don't find any european site unless you really want to.

Well that's true but only because BBC.co.uk is blocked here in China. Otherwise I believe it's one of the most popular news sites worldwide. As for other European countries, well, the language barrier is a big issue.

The envy is not surprising. And in France (not sure for the other countries), people react by word violence.

True, but then we English have been getting the same "word violence", and other forms for, oooh, going on 500 years now but we don't cry "envy" every time the word "rosbif" is used. Equally we dish out peurile nonsense of our own just as often but I haven't heard any French people saying we're envious.

Please do some physics in any domain, see the before and the after Einstein and come back to tell me the US are wrong to put their trust in science by providing such fundings. And, yes, I said "trust" because Einstein didn't just knock the door with a nuclear bomb in the hand asking "how much do you offer ?" as you seem to think.

The main reason top academics go to the US is because of the far higher wages, not an indication of cultural superiority. If European universities had the same money US universities have (not crying unfair here, I realise it's a situation of our own making) there's no doubt that they'd attract more. As it is the current US visa system is already resulting in far more students at least choosing other options.

I'm not denying that US culture is highly pervasive, more so than any other modern state (though given our size I'd like to think we British hold our own in terms of music, art, literature, theatre and even movies to an extent, and I'm sure the Canadians could point to their influence on US comedy for one). Rather than envy, though, that just represents the fact that other nations accept that the US has got many things right. It must be remembered, though, that we cherry-pick. Having been to the US on many, many occasions I for one can say there's a number of elements of US culture that I'm glad haven't come over to the UK (the homogenity of the TV broadcast stations for one). Most people I know who are anti-American, whatever country they are from, are proud of their own country's system and values and probably wouldn't change it for anything.

If you're not convinced for the music, this is not the only domain where american culture prevails. Take a look at the box office, in every country you will see films like LOTR, Harry Potter, Starwars... at the top. Then you can visit the streets : there are more MacDonald's than all other foreign food restaurants put together, and they're far more thriving. And if it's not enough, well, the easiest : surf on the web ! You don't find any european site unless you really want to.
The envy is not surprising. And in France (not sure for the other countries), people react by word violence.
.
Music, LOTR and Harry Potter already explained so I'll jump straight to MacDonald's. Here we have our own Finnish fast food chains which have forced MacDonalds to leave some towns completely. They have no customers. In my home town with 82 000 citizens we have one MacDonald's, oh and one Subway, all the rest are Finnish or other ethnics (japanese, lebanese, thai, egypt etc)
And being European your claim about European sites is just ridiculous.