NationStates Jolt Archive

This is the worst thread ever. Just loads of factual errors and flaming!

American people are like all people, some of them are cool, some of them are dicks, and most of them are somewhere in between. American culture is the same, Americans have made some great films, music etc... Some great books have been written by Americans, and then on the other hand America has produced alot of mediocre bullshit, this is nothing to be ashamed of every group of people is the same.

Americans who constantly tell us that "We could not survive without them, that our countries suck, and they don't give a shit what the rest of the world thinks" are fucking arseholes! Fortunately they are also in the minority, Unfortunately they're also in government at the moment.

This is the worst thread ever. Just loads of factual errors and flaming!

American people are like all people, some of them are cool, some of them are dicks, and most of them are somewhere in between. American culture is the same, Americans have made some great films, music etc... Some great books have been written by Americans, and then on the other hand America has produced alot of mediocre bullshit, this is nothing to be ashamed of every group of people is the same.

Americans who constantly tell us that "We could not survive without them, that our countries suck, and the don't give a shit what the rest of the world thinks" are fucking arseholes! Fortunately they are also in the minority, Unfortunately they're also in government at the moment.


Your entire first paragraph is excellent and needed to be said. The second is a bit harsh on our government, but I'll let it slide because its partly true. I've said this a million times on message boards here and to my European friends when we've talked about this issue, but it's worth saying again. Don't bitch about American culture while eating McDonalds fries and drinking Starbucks coffee. Don't bitch about American culture while listening to Eminem or Bruce Springsteen. Don't bitch about American culture while watching Desperate Housewives or going to the cinema to see Star Wars. Its pretty simple. If you don't like our culture then don't pour your time and money into it. You cannot claim to hate the monster while feeding it.

Bitching about our military is more valid, but realize that being a superpower is cyclical. Russia was in the same position we are now 30 years ago and Britain 100 years ago and France before them. Just because we're currently taking our turn and we're in the age of mass global communication doesn't mean we're doing it any worse than these countries.

By the way Celebrity frogs the "don't bitch" portion was not directed at you.

Your entire first paragraph is excellent and needed to be said. The second is a bit harsh on our government, but I'll let it slide because its partly true.

It probably is only partly true, but since we live in a world where the media, and individuals, like to focus on the negative. This is the impression that alot of people outside of America have got of the American government, and as you say, it is partly true.

Don't hate USA. It produced my cutie pie boyfriend after all :D

My girlfriend's over there, now, but I know I'll be much happier when I can get her out of there.


Government: definately. Culture: some. People: those intelligent enough to know what the Bush government really had done, but still re-elected them, yeah. The others who voted for him, I just feel sorry for.

Let's not get into slagging off other countries here- this is purely about America! Why don't you have a look at www.sorryeverybody.com (http://www.sorryeverybody.com)? I personally hate George Bush, not Americans. Although I was angry (to put it mildly) at the Americans who 'turned a blind eye' to the havoc Bush was wreaking on the world and voted for him anyway- I call that selfish. I mean, look at Guantanamo Bay and Abu Ghraib! You've got to be sick to condone that!

"The culture and the government, but not the people. "

The culture and the government are reflective OF the people. :rolleyes:


well, in a normal democracy they are, but knowbody knew that bush was going to blow up iraq when we elected him. his pillow probably spoke to him and told him that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction.

as far as reelecting him, at least he didn't have helmet hair.

i hate america, as they have the olsen twins, and i dont :(

To Christ it does. Sorry, but i'd rather please Christ than you. I'm pretty sure Christ would be on the side of the US in terms of IRaq... i don't imagine he'd feel much empathy for a ruthless dictator who favors only 20% of his population.

And as for impotent... lmao. I know you don't think we're impotent.

Does it really please Christ that you fight wars in his name?

I've never liked the idea of US alone invading Iraq - should be a matter for the UN. Agreed - there are some countries in the UN with no balls, but US forces invading will help create more terrorists.

However, done is done and my country helped and I think the situation now calls for all of the invading/deliberating countries to take up the task of rebuilding the country, not only with soldiers, but also with economic relief, as that might help, seen before in Germany (and the rest of europe) after WWII with the Marshall Plan. The Iraqi ppl might not love the US (Europeans mostly don't), but at least, the majority won't hate you.

I don't hate USA or the people, nor the culture, nor the government. I do however dislike some of the ideas that are spawned in the US government.
But from dislike to hate is a road i don't wanna take - US is a BIG country with as many if not more different people, religions and habbits and opinions as any other country in the world.
I vote no to US as the worlds police force, but yes to US as a nation worth consulting.

Seems like you're the one bashing America. I can't recall any wars America fought for Christ.

basically any of them. they may not announce "right everyone, lets do this for christ", but by saying things like "there is evil in fallujah. his name is satan", or whatever it was, they are making a link between christianity and their wars, and imply that they are fighting against satan.

Well, the US goverment has done more harm than good to the world. Killed some hundred of thousands in direct intervention. Other millions indirectly. But hey the people under its thumb are contributors, after all. Angry protestors can only wonder how americans support its goverment.

Look, man. That kind of talk is just uncalled for. It's exactly this kind of crap that makes us look like a bunch of barbaric neanderthals who have nothing better to do but throw our own feces at each other. Get your facts straight before you try throwing your weight around. The European Union has been built on hard work, sweat, and setting aside a lot of pride. The politics involved in the process of uniting such different peoples under a common banner are mind boggling. Their economy is very strong, and they have plenty to offer in the world of trade. There is a reason why the Euro is stronger than the Dollar, you know.

Just to be clear, you may think you look smart and tough right now, but you've got nothing. Just sit back and pay attention in history class. You'll learn a thing or two.

You arent seriously going to try and compare the EU's economy with the Us's are you? If you plan on doing so maybe you ought to look at the actual numbers instead of reading commentary from the NYT and Paul Krugman.

You arent seriously going to try and compare the EU's economy with the Us's are you? If you plan on doing so maybe you ought to look at the actual numbers instead of reading commentary from the NYT and Paul Krugman.

All Hail Paul Krugman!

You're Austrian? Then why are you bothering to ask me why America is so very disliked.

I got news for you. Except for euros on game chatboards, Americans are not disliked.

Sure, kids on internet forums and press people might not like Americans, but business people do. People who live and work with American comapanies. People who supply goods to companies that work with American companies.

I cant tell you about much, but I will take any bet that India LOVES America. I would also bet that China LOVES America.

The only people left are pathetic whiners from the EU that think they should be paid 10 euro per hour for the same job someone else is willing to do for 10 rupees. Because if a white man does it, it is obviosly worth so much more

"Well, the US goverment has done more harm than good to the world. Killed some hundred of thousands in direct intervention. Other millions indirectly. But hey the people under its thumb are contributors, after all. Angry protestors can only wonder how americans support its goverment."

And Europe hasn't? And 3rd World Civil Wars Haven't? People bash America for stuff their and other governments have done.

"Protesters wonder how Americans can support their government."

Well, we're alive, aren't we? Government's job is to protect, not look good to other peoples. No matter what other countries say, we won't care? Do you live here? Do you vote here? Do our 90% of our laws affect you? No, No, and No. Stop bashing the American government and leave that to the 49.9% of us who hate every move they make.

Also, responding to a very early post, concerning the idea that Iraq and Afghanistan are religious in nature: That's just foolish. Iraq is made up of mostly Shiite Muslims, who are a small minority. Afghanistan was an attempt to catch Al Quaeda terrorists...there's really nothing else there. It's a wasteland. Iraq, well, the oil idea isn't too bad...except that we can't get much oil out without being seen/having it blown up.

Also, ever heard of The Crusades? THE Holy Wars, involving every European country (up until the Reformation by Henry VIII, so I guess I could leave England out.) at the time?

Also, ever heard of The Crusades? THE Holy Wars, involving every European country (up until the Reformation by Henry VIII, so I guess I could leave England out.) at the time?

Ahem... just a short correction there : Henry VIII lived in the 15th century, several centures after the crusades. And the English did paticipate in the crusades... ever heard of Richard the Lionheart?

Ok. I'll try again:

Your President is a devout Christian, most of your congressmen are. Most of them and BUSH made their decisions based on their religious morals (which I believe to be false). In no other western country do religious people hold so much POLITICAL power. This is what we call SECULARISM. The War in Iraq was pretty poorly disguised as a war which clearly had anti-Islamic/Pro-JudeoChristian motives behind it. Any war America wages against a country which posed no threat? Based on the MORALS of the Americans Saddam was worth toppling. Considering most Americans have christian morals, QED

You had me going. For a lttle while I was thinking of things to say to you.

But now it is clear that you are one of those "special" people. Have fun with your theories and warped perception of the world. Keep believing in the secret agenda that is shaping global politics. good luck. Make sure to wear the special hat to prevent "them" from taking over your brain.

As an Indian (from Asia), I can quite honestly say that I admire the US.
Quite simply, they've done whats needed to be done to keep their country on top since the 1930's. It has a very successful economy and is the worlds oldest democracy. Most of its populace lives in comfort. In short, the US has done well for itself.

This doesnt mean I agree with everything they do, though. Certainly, supplying F-16's to a dictatorial hub by saying they will be used to fight terrorists is codswallop at best. But thats what realpolitik is all about, and I can accept that.

Also, I really dont understand how naive some people can be. Those who pass stupid commnets like "Geroge is a dumbass" or "bible thumping nutjobs" really need to get their heads out of their asses and take a look around. In the end, the US government does what it needs to do to keep itself on top. Nothing less, nothing more. This is also what the governments of China, India, Japan, RoK, Australia and Poland do. Western European socialists, on the other hand, engage in populist measures to get votes, not worrying about whether they forsake their nations future in the process.

My apologies for the lack of clarity in this post.

As an Indian (from Asia), I can quite honestly say that I admire the US.
Quite simply, they've done whats needed to be done to keep their country on top since the 1930's. It has a very successful economy and is the worlds oldest democracy. Most of its populace lives in comfort. In short, the US has done well for itself.

This doesnt mean I agree with everything they do, though. Certainly, supplying F-16's to a dictatorial hub by saying they will be used to fight terrorists is codswallop at best. But thats what realpolitik is all about, and I can accept that.

Also, I really dont understand how naive some people can be. Those who pass stupid commnets like "Geroge is a dumbass" or "bible thumping nutjobs" really need to get their heads out of their asses and take a look around. In the end, the US government does what it needs to do to keep itself on top. Nothing less, nothing more. This is also what the governments of China, India, Japan, RoK, Australia and Poland do. Western European socialists, on the other hand, engage in populist measures to get votes, not worrying about whether they forsake their nations future in the process.

My apologies for the lack of clarity in this post.

I thought there was a considerable amount of clarity in that post, and there's a lot of truth to that. Government's exist in large part to perpetuate themselves.

Oh. And Iceland is the world's oldest continuous democracy, by the way.

I cant say i dislike America, i rather apreciate what its done so far. Not saying i agree with everything America does, or the way it does it, but i prefer America to be no. 1, to the other alternatives that are around. One thing i dont apreciate though, related to the way America does things, its that it left Romania and eastern-europe to the russians after WW2. Allowing the russians to keep influence over these countries was a mistake, and if it was after me, WW2 wouldnt have stopped untill russians were back with their army inside their national borders.

Haha...Thank you for not reading to naything I said. Thank you for twisting my words, you did a really good job for how quick that took. a Theocracy is a certain Religion becoming law. Just what it says in the Religion, people ACTUALLY WANT THIS...they are ignorant to see that who they hate are doing the same thing...just with a different Religion. ESTABLISHMENT CLAUSE doesn't allow it...sorry. A memeber of the Church doesn't have to be Overt Governemnt, **** I've lived a better life than George cocaine-Snort-Drive-Drunk Bush.


It is generally unwise to post while on drugs.

You had me going. For a lttle while I was thinking of things to say to you.

So you're saying that flawed Christian Ideology has no influance over the President or Congress?

If this is so, how do you know that Sadam was bad?

Not saying i agree with this guy, but i think thats wat hes trying to say.

I got news for you. Except for euros on game chatboards, Americans are not disliked.

Are you sure?

Pretty much everyone I know expresses opinion of anti-american sentiment, ranging from mild disapproval of foriegn policy through to complete disgust of certain elements of american culture.

And I live in the UK. In Europe it's worse.

I don't like George bush, so that would count as hating its goverment. Don't take this as an offense but I think its people can sometimes be annoying and stupid and it seems like America is the fattest and poluted country. Then again it has some beautiful places, and some nice people. I don't hate hate it, I just don't like it sometimes. Other times I really wanna visit it.

The American government has consistently puts its political and economic interests above those of the people their decisions effect. Sadly, history is replete with instances of this coming from almost every nation in the world. I think what makes the American government stand out in its wrongdoing is the amount of military and economic power they wield. Putting a side the maxim that power corrupts, and it certainly has, the more power a nation wields the more people will be victims of its injustices. It's not that America is governed by people of a lower moral caliber than other nations, it’s just that when they mess up, they mess up big.

I thought there was a considerable amount of clarity in that post, and there's a lot of truth to that. Government's exist in large part to perpetuate themselves.

Oh. And Iceland is the world's oldest continuous democracy, by the way.

Really? I figured that 4 beers might have made me worse for the wear ;).

Government's exist in large part to perpetuate themselves.

Precisely. I'm glad you agree.

Are you sure about Iceland being the oldest continuous deomcracy? Mind if I ask for a link?

Thanks.

If you define "getting things done" as "bombing people who are not like you", then yes, The US China and India get alot of things "done". including that all are perfectly good examples of highly indoctrinated authoritarian states. I think those three countries fall very neatly into the 14 totalitarian characteristics.

The US is the largest Democratic Republic and India is the Largest Democracy in the world. How you can use the word Totalitarian to describe these places is beyond me. However, it has been my experience that some people are so brainwashed that they spew garbage nonstop and it doesnt even occur to them what they are saying.

Yes, President Bush is a Christian. Yes many other political heads of the US are also professed Christians. I won't say that this Judeo/Christian morality hasn't effected the judgement of our government at all because it has. However, in terms of morality, what has been taken from Christianity are only the fairly basic principles. Bush isn't trying to convert Iraq or anyone else in the world for that matter. I'm not saying its right, but Bush has essentially boiled it down to a fairly basic good vs. evil war. That is something that isn't unique to Christianity. That is Bush acting as a CONSERVATIVE not simply as a Christian. Conservatives tend to be much tougher in terms of foreign policy. Conservatives also incedentally tend to be protestant Christians. Again not saying any of that is right or wrong or the case in every instance. All that I am trying to say is that saying its some "flawed Christian viewpoint" that is causing Bush to make his decisions is just as simplistic as people boiling Iraq down to good vs. evil. Most of Europe is liberal (not new information I know) so naturally they tend to be less tough on foreign policy. Thats just the nature of politics. What I'm saying is that its Bush exercising Conservative politics more than religion that's affected the situation in Iraq. There are plenty of Christians who are against Iraq and many who are against Bush for that matter.
I realise I've rambled on and may be a bit unclear so to summarize:

Bush exercising conservative politics moreso than his faith (granted Conservatism and Christianity do intersect often)

Boiling complex issues into simplistic arguments (e.g. one of the posters saying its Bush's flawed Christian ideology running the US and Bush boiling iraq down to good vs. evil) is BAD.

The reason the USA is disliked is because it acts like a playground bully.
It likes to push around smaller nations who don't have the strength to fight back. Of course it doesn't pick on it's friends.
It didn't pick on Serbia because of human rights, that was just an excuse, it picked on Serbia because it could. If Human rights was the issuse they would have done the same thing they did to Serbia to Turkey many years earlier.
The so called "war on terror" where the USA has pledged to take on terrorists and the nations that support them, which most of the world found ammusing and mad the USA an international laughing stock as everyone knows that more funds have been raised to support terrorism is the USA than any other country.
The envronment, most of the major industrial nations in the world have agreed to cut emmisions etc in a bid to reverse or at least slow global warming, but not the USA. The USA have refused to take part in this because the President thinks it may cost his party some votes in the next election and they believe that no one can force them to take part.

Really? I figured that 4 beers might have made me worse for the wear ;).



Precisely. I'm glad you agree.

Are you sure about Iceland being the oldest continuous deomcracy? Mind if I ask for a link?

Thanks.
"The parliament, Alþingi, was founded in the mid-19th century as an advisory body to the Danish king. It was widely seen as a reestablishment of the assembly founded in 930 in the Commonwealth period and suspended in 1799."

"... It boasts the world's oldest parliament, Alþingi (English: Althing), which was established in 930, although it has not run continuously since that date."

So their parliamentary assembly was founded several hundred years before ours in the U.S., I'm afraid.

Wikipedia article on Iceland. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iceland)

i think the right question here is why does america hates the world, americans have entered wars with almost all counties, starting with there fight for independence against the british untill the iraqi war, and im not talking about military war, but also economical, political wars,
wars that have been mainly targeted almost all arab countries and muslim countries, like sudan, palistine, libya, iraq, yemen, syria, lebanon, somalia and saudi arabia, as for the muslim countries, it targetted afghanistan, iran, pakistan(befor bush's declaration of war against terror) and many more...
yet people call the terrorists when they try to take revenge from the mothers, children and others that die... the whole concept of "terrorist organizations" that are found in the muslim world is based on revengous fanatics that explain islam in the way that they will benifit from, and tell these explanations to poor uneducated people that know shit about islam...
and creat there organization. (ofcourse giving it a name including Jijad, or islam, to sound fundamentalist).
the US gov. must think why the Arabs and other parts of the world have hatred to american governtment, while accepting the european governments that supported war on iraq.

Lessee, why don't we like America that much... I guess I can't speak for everyone else, but there are a number of things that always get me. Before I start, I'm not criticising you for past mistakes; I'm criticising your nation under a probably completely unjustified stereotype of your current attitudes. I understand that, to a very large extent, those who I'm talking to have no part in what I'm complaining of, but you're asking about why we don't like the American Organisation, which is why I'm responding as such.

Firstly, your economy is based on a system where everyone has to fight with each other in order to get by and nobody has a problem with walking over people to get ahead, where availability of resources are ignored if their use will generate enough produce (and if they do, any other use is sacrificed to create as much capital (spelling?) as possible), where health is considered a luxury that must be purchased by those that can afford it, where the purchase of lethal firearms is condoned and where excess produce in the extremes is considered Good Business Practice. And yet, somehow, it works. It always strikes me as a grave injustice that the arguably most economically successful nation in the world (ignoring the whole War on Terror funding fiasco) is the one whose economic structure is so strongly contravening the principle of human empathy.

Okay, fair enough, Socialism has its flaws. You do get "sponges" that force the rest of the workforce to put in more effort for the same gain. And perhaps competition does help to create conditions favourable to the consumer. I'm not questioning that. What I am questioning is the ethical justification of how your underlying trade structure functions; it seems so inherently selfish, is all I'm saying. Perhaps I've missed something in the idea, but that's what it says to me.

Next is the concept of Democracy. It's a case of "you should practise what you preach". How can you possibly claim you're adherent to the principle of democracy when the most say you have in the government of your nation is once every four years when you make a choice of two politicians, both of whom have very similar standpoints on the major issues of the time? Already, it seems like the Iraqis have a more democratic system than you do; they had a wide range of parties to chose from, and the government that results will be either a coalition one from several varied social groups or one that strongly relies on communication within government and doesn't simply rule by decree like the leading party in America can do very easily (given that the party that wins in a two-party system automatically has a majority).

The UK is, of course, even worse than the US in that respect, and Blair is similarly deluded into thinking that he's off on some quest to democratise the whole world. I'm just as disenfranchised with my own government on that issue, so don't take that one too personally.

One other one is that, I suppose, I am annoyed at the level of influence you have. I don't consider it jealousy, as some have suggested, as I don't believe any one power should be so central to global affairs, never mind one with the military capability to wipe out every other one almost single handedly. Similarly, I really dislike the waves of smugness generated over the climax of the cold war; many of you genuinely think that you "won" and that everything you did during it was therefore justified. Let me tell you that the number of people the world over who feared for their lives over your destructive power during that time would never feel that, just because one side outlasted the other, the whole conflict was somehow worth bearing. You and Russia share responsibility for a very dangerous and effectively meaningless period of human history, but at least Russia isn't proud of it.


Those are the main ones, I guess. Sorry if I come across as another typical Euro fanatic, but I think there are certainly issues that you should address given your current status in the world stage.

Must interject...
http://www.co.jyu.fi/~np/hate/USAHate.html

And equal time for the opposite viewpoint...
http://www.ilmatar.net/~np/usa/

I don't hate the USA or the Americans in general at all.

I do hate the arrogance of some Americans, especially the present American government, in their complete disregard for the rest of the world at times. I also dislike American trade policies, disregard for the environment, aggresive and dangerous foreign policy etc.

But, no, dislike of the American government's action does not translate into hatred of all things American. Sometimes it seems that Americans can translate any criticism (no matter how big or small) of their government as a forthright attack on everything in the USA. I have to admit, this is also a rather annoying trait.

Next is the concept of Democracy. It's a case of "you should practise what you preach". How can you possibly claim you're adherent to the principle of democracy when the most say you have in the government of your nation is once every four years when you make a choice of two politicians, both of whom have very similar standpoints on the major issues of the time? Already, it seems like the Iraqis have a more democratic system than you do; they had a wide range of parties to chose from, and the government that results will be either a coalition one from several varied social groups or one that strongly relies on communication within government and doesn't simply rule by decree like the leading party in America can do very easily (given that the party that wins in a two-party system automatically has a majority).

That's an unfair and not entirely accurate characterisation of the situation in American politics. Bear in mind, again, that the party that wins the White House does not win the Congress. This is not a parliament that we have here. In fact, if one party wins the presidential election, that doesn't mean they have a majority in Congress. Also, even if a party has a majority in Congress, the percentage of votes required to pass a bill is usually such that it's difficult for a bill to pass without numerous compromises and negotiations before the piece of legislation actually comes up for vote.

i would also like to make something clear about islam... islam is not less spiritual or peacefull then Buddhism or Hinduism, it calls for self clearance, and to have a roadway straight to god, and makes it clear in several versus in the quran that everyone has his religion, you keeo yours to yourself and he keeos his, but in social life you treat each others as humans, islam also shows that in eveything, but the problem in the muslim world today is that most dont know the right islam.
islam was the first to give women the right to inherit or even own her own money or business, and was the first to BAN SLAVERY in all the lands it expanded to.
when islam was the superpower of the world, it was so wealthy that the wheat it grew was too much so after giving the extras to the poor, the remaining wheat would be thrown on the mountains so the birds would eat them, while today the USA throws tones of wheats in the sea to stabalize the price of the wheat, while there are hungurs in africa... so how can anyone call an empire that invented Algebra, sociology, and drew the first right map, a barbaric terrorrist fundamentalist state.

im only asking people to read the history of islam from a neutral prespective, and judge by himself.

But, no, dislike of the American government's action does not translate into hatred of all things American. Sometimes it seems that Americans can translate any criticism (no matter how big or small) of their government as a forthright attack on everything in the USA. I have to admit, this is also a rather annoying trait.

The thing you have to remember is that this 'trait' isn't so much a personality quirk that all 280 million of us just happen to share. In our public education system, we're more or less indoctrinated to worship the institutions of our government and to feel as though we have a close relationship with our government, so oftentimes when many of us hear criticisms of our institutions we tend to take it somewhat personally.

The thing you have to remember is that this 'trait' isn't so much a personality quirk that all 280 million of us just happen to share. In our public education system, we're more or less indoctrinated to worship the institutions of our government and to feel as though we have a close relationship with our government, so oftentimes when many of us hear criticisms of our institutions we tend to take it somewhat personally.

I find your observations interesting. Do you think that it is correct to have this indoctrination in school?

I don't hate the USA or the Americans in general at all.

I do hate the arrogance of some Americans, especially the present American government, in their complete disregard for the rest of the world at times. I also dislike American trade policies, disregard for the environment, aggresive and dangerous foreign policy etc.

But, no, dislike of the American government's action does not translate into hatred of all things American. Sometimes it seems that Americans can translate any criticism (no matter how big or small) of their government as a forthright attack on everything in the USA. I have to admit, this is also a rather annoying trait.

You fail to mention that many people that are criticizing us fail to make the distinction between us and our government. Ive read in fact several replies on this thread that have said they hate our government and then by default us since the majority of us elected it. Yes Americans are sometimes arrogant but it seems the rest of the world is suffering from a hardcore inferiority complex lately. It boils down to a school yard game of king of the mountain. We have the power right now and we do what it takes to keep it. Everyone else wants it so they try to take us down. Its just about power. We have it so everyone else bitches. When we lose it we'll bitch about how we hate whoever gets it (I'm personally hoping for Lichtenstein because thats a fun word to have to say a lot).

That's an unfair and not entirely accurate characterisation of the situation in American politics. Bear in mind, again, that the party that wins the White House does not win the Congress. This is not a parliament that we have here. In fact, if one party wins the presidential election, that doesn't mean they have a majority in Congress. Also, even if a party has a majority in Congress, the percentage of votes required to pass a bill is usually such that it's difficult for a bill to pass without numerous compromises and negotiations before the piece of legislation actually comes up for vote.

Fair enough. I concede on that one due to personal ignorance on the second half of that paragraph. I'd naturally assumed that bills only required greater than 50% of the house. I still feel, however, that two parties in themselves would greatly struggle to accurately represent its populace. Or maybe I'm again ignorant on that, and America is not that diverse in its popular opinion.

*Shrug*

(I'm personally hoping for Lichtenstein because thats a fun word to have to say a lot).
Or maybe Azerbijan. Say it with me: Az-er-bi-jan

The more practical question would be 'Why do eurpoeans feel that they speak for the world?"

The fact is that in most nations American is percieved well; Japan, Brazil and Poland to name a few in very different regions.

The arrogance of europe is the more amazing question imho. They seem to think we should care what they think about us, but when was the last time you ever heard them ask or even care what Americans think of them???

You fail to mention that many people that are criticizing us fail to make the distinction between us and our government. Ive read in fact several replies on this thread that have said they hate our government and then by default us since the majority of us elected it. Yes Americans are sometimes arrogant but it seems the rest of the world is suffering from a hardcore inferiority complex lately. It boils down to a school yard game of king of the mountain. We have the power right now and we do what it takes to keep it. Everyone else wants it so they try to take us down. Its just about power. We have it so everyone else bitches. When we lose it we'll bitch about how we hate whoever gets it (I'm personally hoping for Lichtenstein because thats a fun word to have to say a lot).

Sometimes you need to understand that in Europe (maybe not in USA?) we refer to governments by places (e.g. Berlin is doing "X", USA is doing "y", Moscow has enacted "z"). I think sometimes people assume when we insert USA or Washington etc into that kind of expression that we are condemning every American personally, which is clearly not the case.

The more practical question would be 'Why do eurpoeans feel that they speak for the world?"

The fact is that in most nations American is percieved well; Japan, Brazil and Poland to name a few in very different regions.

The arrogance of europe is the more amazing question imho. They seem to think we should care what they think about us, but when was the last time you ever heard them ask or even care what Americans think of them???

I think we don't ask as much because we haven't got such a complex about being hated.

However, if you look at results of the surveys you mention, Europe is actually perceived more positively in the world than USA overall. I don't make any comments in this entry as to why, but it is an undeniable fact.

Some recent surveys:

http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/BBCworldpoll/html/more_01_19_05.html

http://www.pipa.org/OnlineReports/BBCworldpoll/html/more_01_19_05.html

I find your observations interesting. Do you think that it is correct to have this indoctrination in school?
No, I definitely don't. I think teaching a respect for institutions is one thing, but only if it's accompanied by a very thorough understanding of how those institutions work (which I think many of us in the U.S. lack). I can't speak for myself, though. I'm a political science student.

It's the way political parties, the electoral system, and news media are set up that are to blame, I believe. There is more than one political opinion in the United States, but you wouldn't really get that impression watching our major news networks unless you chose to watch C-SPAN (network that airs congressional debates, major political events, etc.). Also, broadly general, right-leaning election platforms are adopted by national-level politicians in order to garner votes from smaller, rural, conservative "swing states" that hold a large balance of power in national elections.

No, I definitely don't. I think teaching a respect for institutions is one thing, but only if it's accompanied by a very thorough understanding of how those institutions work (which I think many of us in the U.S. lack). I can't speak for myself, though. I'm a political science student.

.
I would agree. The indoctronation you describe is what one would expect to discover in a dicatorship or one-party state, not a country which calls itself democratic..

I think we don't ask as much because we haven't got such a complex about being hated.

However, if you look at results of the surveys you mention, Europe is actually perceived more positively in the world than USA overall. I don't make any comments in this entry as to why, but it is an undeniable fact.

being perceived 'not as well' as Europe is a far cry from 'hate'... Unless you are European maybe... I won't comment on the other aspects as well since that really is a forum of it's own. It simply negates the whole silly argument that 'the world hates America'.

Meanwhile, there is the question, why does Europe think we should care? You don't see Paraguay wringing their hands over what Europe thinks about them...

being perceived 'not as well' as Europe is a far cry from 'hate'... Unless you are European maybe... I won't comment on the other aspects as well since that really is a forum of it's own. It simply negates the whole silly argument that 'the world hates America'.

Meanwhile, there is the question, why does Europe think we should care? You don't see Paraguay wringing their hands over what Europe thinks about them...

I agree with your first paragraph completely... the world doesn't hate America as far as I can see, just as I said earlier, for me personally I don't like the policies etc of the US government (I said some reasons why above, so won't bore you again by repeating them). As I also said above, I don't think this equates to hatred of USA.

As for your second paragraph, I believe it is usually the Americans that care that they perceive themselves as being hated - I also went into this above. Europe doesn't generally care that the Americans think they are hated.

So, as far as I can see, I agree with you.

[QUOTE=Bashan]Back in High School, why did you hate that fat annoying kid who seriously claimed to be good at everything - academics, athletics - when he really was a rather dim candle and had no athletetic ability. He would always act pompous, bragging about his amazing abilities and qualities, which the only thing he had less than abilitiy were friends. He would have an annoying voice, often times high, or he'd lisp, or it would sound very much like his mouth was full of saliva. He would talk fast and incoherently, and no matter how valid his point you still wouldn't want to listen to it and it would still sound stupid, mostly deafened by your own seething hatred. God, I hate people like thatQUOTE]

Wow, I have one of those in my class, and I'm a Norwegian.

I just want to pitch in that governments reflect the people in most of the western world, and, having said that, I would like to point out that 5 out of the 9 south American countries hold an enormous resentment towards the US. Also, it's disgusting to me, an Argentine, to know that the US has subverted the south American economies, doing all possible to force them to subject to their will, and worst of all, for having gone AGAINST their own declarations several times. Next time an american says the US defends the continent, I will hit him, I will hit him HARD. The US vetoed an attempt to aid Argentina in 1982 during the Falklands War, the US instated all of the authoritarian regimes of Latin America, and then allowed them to completely disregard Human Rights. So, before an american goes off saying that Europe can't even clean up their own Human Rights abuse, please make it clear to them they WILLINGLY allowed it to happen unabated for several decades on the very continent they swore to protect, and in fact claim to protect.

I would agree. The indoctronation you describe is what one would expect to discover in a dicatorship or one-party state, not a country which calls itself democratic..


Incidentally, in your post above - your second quotation of me - I didn't actually make that quote, perhaps you could change it? Thanks! :)

Quote changed, you're welcome!

Your other point is true, by the way. And while I don't like our current administration one bit, I would still not go so far as to say that the U.S. is either a dictatorship (otherwise I wouldn't be able to air my political views openly), or a one-party state.

I think that, fundamentally, the problem is that we are reaping the consequences of an education system that has been drifting in a negative direction for quite some time. I wouldn't say it's deliberate - just an issue of mismanagment. Still - democracy doesn't function without educated people at the polls and if something drastic isn't done to change the state of our social studies curriculae, it's only going to be a short matter of time before someone chooses to really take advantage of low political awareness in this country.

Sometimes you need to understand that in Europe (maybe not in USA?) we refer to governments by places (e.g. Berlin is doing "X", USA is doing "y", Moscow has enacted "z"). I think sometimes people assume when we insert USA or Washington etc into that kind of expression that we are condemning every American personally, which is clearly not the case.

That's a fair enough point. However, imagine you're a German and I say "I hate Germany." I might mean I simply hate what your government was doing, but wouldn't you be offended despite the fact that I didn't mean every single German? Not only that, but look at the poll that starts this thread. Clearly there is plenty of hate not only for our government but for the American people.

Quote changed, you're welcome!

Your other point is true, by the way. And while I don't like our current administration one bit, I would still not go so far as to say that the U.S. is either a dictatorship (otherwise I wouldn't be able to air my political views openly), or a one-party state.

I think that, fundamentally, the problem is that we are reaping the consequences of an education system that has been drifting in a negative direction for quite some time. I wouldn't say it's deliberate - just an issue of mismanagment. Still - democracy doesn't function without educated people at the polls and if something drastic isn't done to change the state of our social studies curriculae, it's only going to be a short matter of time before someone chooses to really take advantage of low political awareness in this country.

Oh no, I don't think it is actually a dictatorship or one-party state... however, this would be a feature you'd expect to find in one. That's why it concerns me that it is existing.

Although the USA has the worst problem with political apathy, the whole of the west is also suffering from it. Our last national elections had our lowest turnout in 50 years (79%), so it is an increasingly common problem. The reasons are a debate for another thread though probably.

thanks for changing the quote- i guess you were quoting someone else? Sometimes the little tags go wrong for me also. :)

That's a fair enough point. However, imagine you're a German and I say "I hate Germany." I might mean I simply hate what your government was doing, but wouldn't you be offended despite the fact that I didn't mean every single German? Not only that, but look at the poll that starts this thread. Clearly there is plenty of hate not only for our government but for the American people.
Yes, I agree. Saying "I hate Randomland" is something very much stronger and different. I guess there are extremists everywhere, but also people who don't quite realise the strength of the language they are using. I sometimes wonder if you asked them "Do you really hate every Randomish person?" they might rethink. Sometimes people exagerate and over-sensationalise their position on NS to attract attention.

It's the same as Americans who say "I hate France"/ "I hate Europe" etc etc. I wonder if they really do genuinely hate every French-person and European.

Yes, I agree. Saying "I hate Randomland" is something very much stronger and different. I guess there are extremists everywhere, but also people who don't quite realise the strength of the language they are using. I sometimes wonder if you asked them "Do you really hate every Randomish person?" they might rethink. Sometimes people exagerate and over-sensationalise their position on NS to attract attention.

It's the same as Americans who say "I hate France"/ "I hate Europe" etc etc. I wonder if they really do genuinely hate every French-person and European.

I don't think most people in the U.S. who say "I hate France" or "I Hate Europe" do it fully meaning it with all of the gravity the word "hate" connotates.

So you think Christ wants America to invade Iraq. You think Christ gives a rats ass what the US Army does? Think god is with your troops?
Thou shalt not kill.
God hates it when man fights wars. He certainly does not support either side.
PS Military chaplains are hypocrites.

Isiah 45:7 - "...I make peace and create wars..." - Interesting God you've got there, no?

Borgoa, I agree. I think what we need to do is to think of some better language rules for blanketly (is that a word? not likely) hating entire countries. From now on when you say you hate Randomland you must say whether you hate Randomlands entire government, entire culture, entire population etc. That way at least you've narrowed down slightly which entire aspect of the country you hate and there is no confusion.

Examples:

Bad: I hate America.
Good: I hate the entire American Government.

Bad: I hate England
Good: I hate the whole of English Culture.

Bad: I hate France
Good: I hate all French people.

If we stick to these simple guidelines there will be no confusion as to who everyone hates and why.

Isiah 45:7 - "...I make peace and create wars..." - Interesting God you've got there, no?

Care to discuss the quote within the context of Isaiah 45, as it was intended to be discussed or are you just going to keep throwing out disjointed bits and pieces?

The more practical question would be 'Why do eurpoeans feel that they speak for the world?"

The fact is that in most nations American is percieved well; Japan, Brazil and Poland to name a few in very different regions.

Europeans don't feel they speak for the world, they feel that they speak for Europe.
I would also point out that Poland is part of Europe, so when you refer to Europe, you also refer to Poland.

US double standards do it no favours. The Human rights issues in Turkey with the Kurds are far worse than anything the Serbians did and yet the US felt a need to get involved in Serbian issues but ignore the Turkish ones, but then Turkey gives the US a payoff in the form of airbases. Had Serbia been giving the US something it wanted no doubt the US would have turned a blind eye to them as well, but they weren't so they got bombed.
Of course it wouldn't hurt the US if they offered a proper apology for the casualties of "friendly fire" or for when their bombs and missiles miss the intended military target and hit a civilian one instead, or even when miss the country they were targeted at and hit a different country entirely as they did with one of their cruise missiles targeted at Serbia.
Would it really hurt the US to offer a proper apology when it's military messes up? I know it may be embarrasing for them to say that they cannot tell the difference between an Ally, an Enemy and a Neutral Party, but it would make the famililies of the British Soldiers killed by the US feel better (In the first Iraq war fought to remove them from Kuwait more British troops were killed by the US military than were killed by the Iraq military).

"the culture and government not the people" is the most popular choice.

But. . .the people create, support and maintain the culture and government. They are not mutually exclusive.
That was probably said before but I'll be damned if I am going to read through hundreds of posts to find it.
The third choice is like saying, "I hate what you stand for and your actions but I like you." or "I don't like you but please be nice to me!"

Funny, humorous and chuckleworthy. :eek:

I love America and Americans, I just hate George Bush's guts... :sniper:

Back in High School, why did you hate that fat annoying kid who seriously claimed to be good at everything - academics, athletics - when he really was a rather dim candle and had no athletetic ability. He would always act pompous, bragging about his amazing abilities and qualities, which the only thing he had less than abilitiy were friends. He would have an annoying voice, often times high, or he'd lisp, or it would sound very much like his mouth was full of saliva. He would talk fast and incoherently, and no matter how valid his point you still wouldn't want to listen to it and it would still sound stupid, mostly deafened by your own seething hatred. God, I hate people like that... (I'm still in High School) This I hope was an accurate analogy portraying America.

Backed up by evidence? Pssh! That was all the evidence I needed!

(Heh Anal is in Analogy hehehehehehe... yeah I'm American)

lol..that's arguably the best analogy/explaination I've ever heard. And I agree. I'm American, and I happen to not like America/ns much at all, for the reasons other people dislike America/ns.

Back in High School, why did you hate that fat annoying kid who seriously claimed to be good at everything - academics, athletics - when he really was a rather dim candle and had no athletetic ability. He would always act pompous, bragging about his amazing abilities and qualities, which the only thing he had less than abilitiy were friends. He would have an annoying voice, often times high, or he'd lisp, or it would sound very much like his mouth was full of saliva. He would talk fast and incoherently, and no matter how valid his point you still wouldn't want to listen to it and it would still sound stupid, mostly deafened by your own seething hatred. God, I hate people like that.

If that's America then Europe is the kid who used to be the most popular kid in school until the new kid moved to town, stole his girlfriend, popularity, spot on the football team and got better grades. Now all he can do is fume about how much he hates the new kid and think about the past.

Oh yes Christ was real pro-war. :rolleyes:

Matt. 10:34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

This is why the religious right tends to back any war effort. They believe the infidels deserve to die and go to hell. Perhaps they do deserve this, but why send them there? Shouldn't there be an effort to save rather than destroy? Sounds more like radical Islam than true Christianity.

Wow. Something on topic! :)

The whole red/blue thing is a bunch of hooey. It's politics, sure, but we're all pretty much the same. There are REGIONAL differences in the US. IE: You can't get pizza in Nebraska (or, nothing a New Yorker would call pizza), and you can't get grits in Boston.

I live in Connecticut and work in New York City. I've been in over 30 states, and spend a lot of time in Washington DC and South Carolina. I never feel like I do when I'm in Prague or London or Vienna.

Grits in Boston??????

You cant get decent grits North of Georgia. Maybe the carolinas, maybe. I have even tried the the supermarket kind, I think the police would have turned a blind eye if I burned down the place.

If that's America then Europe is the kid who used to be the most popular kid in school until the new kid moved to town, stole his girlfriend, popularity, spot on the football team and got better grades. Now all he can do is fume about how much he hates the new kid and think about the past.

Actually Europe would be the old teacher who shakes his head sadly. America would be the big kid in the playground that tells everyone to be his friend or get beaten to a pulp.

Matt. 10:34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

This is why the religious right tends to back any war effort. They believe the infidels deserve to die and go to hell. Perhaps they do deserve this, but why send them there? Shouldn't there be an effort to save rather than destroy? Sounds more like radical Islam than true Christianity.


Just before people start jumping on you, I want to say that its the RADICAL part that should be emphasized and I think that is what you meant. Radical Christians have done plenty of damage through history (KKK, Abortion Clinic Bombers, Crusades) as have certainly radical Muslims, Hindus, Jews etc. (probably not Jainists though since the accidental killing of an ant is viewed as badly as murder :) ) Also I don't think saying all of the religious right wants infidels to die and go to hell is a good idea. Certainly if its an "us vs. them" situation yes thats true, but even the religious right would prefer things to be done peacefully (though they seem to be willing to go more quickly to war) and certainly don't wish hell on ANYONE. Obviously some people do but that doesn't fall within the tenants of any form of Christianity even conservative Christianity.

Also, I'm pretty sure you know this, but obviously Christ isn't advocating war. He's saying more that he didn't come to make people happy and tell them their good, but to force people to actually take a stand for what was right and follow him, which would have been very divisive, hence the sword metaphor.

Actually Europe would be the old teacher who shakes his head sadly. America would be the big kid in the playground that tells everyone to be his friend or get beaten to a pulp.

Yeah the old teacher who used to be that same bully, but apparently doesn't remember.

Ahem... just a short correction there : Henry VIII lived in the 15th century, several centures after the crusades. And the English did paticipate in the crusades... ever heard of Richard the Lionheart?

Actually he lived in the 16th Century (the 1500s).

What I think a great deal of the problem is in America is that, as nations go, it is still very young. It is not even 250 years old which is nothing when compared to nations like France, Britain, Italy, Spain, Austria and Germany who have literally spent a millenium, if not longer, getting to where they are today. As such they have a millenium of history behind them and have sorted out most of their internal angst along time ago.

America still hasn't really done that yet: you are still a very divided country who has not really decided on a firm national character to adopt. One half of you are trying desperately to remain Christian and conservative while the other half is battling against that. I am afraid one civil war, no matter how bloody, rarely deals with internal problems - it takes alot longer and probably alot more conflict. For such a country to be leading on the world stage is very dangerous indeed - akin to arming a 5 year old with an AK-47 in a room full of unarmed old men.

The reason why America has managed to gain such control is really more luck than any other reason: you are certainly not mature enough as a nation to have actually earned your position as the super power. America simply managed to be riding high just as the Europeans sank to their lowest ebb and so it has stuck - for now at any rate. Whether America will able to battle China and the EU economically in 30 years time is questionable. The Chinese economy is hitting high after high and in 30 years the EU will probably include Russia, some of the Middle East (Israel are already in the European Song Contest) and maybe even elements of North Africa.

So perhaps American domination is a mere flash in the pan, a flux in the historical elastic, a stastical anamoly that came about through chance circumstances. Or maybe not. Who I am to say?

Ecclesiastes 4:1 Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter--On the side of their oppressors there is power, But they have no comforter.
2 Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, More than the living who are still alive.
3 Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, Who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
4 Again, I saw that for all toil and every skillful work a man is envied by his neighbor. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
----------------------------------------------------------------
You know what? It doesn't matter.

To Christ it does. Sorry, but i'd rather please Christ than you. I'm pretty sure Christ would be on the side of the US in terms of IRaq... i don't imagine he'd feel much empathy for a ruthless dictator who favors only 20% of his population.

And as for impotent... lmao. I know you don't think we're impotent.

somehow i don't think christ would support either side, i mean who was glad when saddam deposed the communist president of iraq? Of course the USA. who supplied Saddam ruled Iraq with chemical muntions to use against the iran and the kurds? USA. bsides, jesus was about love, not war. st augustine is the one who supported war, not JC

Grits in Boston??????

You cant get decent grits North of Georgia. Maybe the carolinas, maybe. I have even tried the the supermarket kind, I think the police would have turned a blind eye if I burned down the place.

I rest my case!! :cool:

Europeans don't feel they speak for the world, they feel that they speak for Europe.


Europeans who think they speak for Europe are also wrong. My British passport makes me part of Europe, and I don't hate the American government, people, culture or any other aspect of America.

I don't hate America or it's people. I hate the current administration, and some of the administrations of the past. I hate the export of US-style "democracy" and "free market economy" to other cultures. I hate the way smaller, unique cultures are obliterated in the wake of cultural imperialism. I hate how the US seems to have a political stranglehold on everyone, and how they bully the UN like a lapdog.

I think the US voting system is a joke. I hate how so few Americans are responsible for electing the most powerful man in the world. That fucking terrifies me - that we can get a maniac in that position because people are too apathetic to become registered voters. I hate to hear people say they have the right to not vote, like it's something to be proud about. When you don't vote, you fail every other person on this earth. You fail every single soldier who died for your rights. If you live in a nation where you can vote, do it, because so many other people cannot.

I don't hate America. I just hate bits of what America is about. Especially the not voting bit. It makes me cry.

(In the first Iraq war fought to remove them from Kuwait more British troops were killed by the US military than were killed by the Iraq military).

I suppose asking you to provide a link to give some semblance of credibility to your claims would be asking too much. I understand the domain 'Imadethisshitup.com' is avaliable if you want to hurry up and claim it.

Fact is, of 24 British casualties nine were from friendly fire - a regrettable rate, but comparable to that suffered by US forces- and the US did issue a statement of regret.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2001/gulf.war/facts/gulfwar/
http://greenvilleonline.com/news/2003/03/31/200303313919.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/breakfast_with_frost/2900439.stm

and that didn't even take me very long. If you plan to make up facts to fuel your anti-americanism I would suggest this is not the forum for you. We live in the realm of the real world.

Just don't like the govt. It's way too heavily swayed by Christian values.

Let me clarify abit if I may (I'm an American government teacher so I think I know abit of where I speak)

1) America is NOT a "Christian nation" like Iran is a Muslim nation. We really do have freedom of religion, and nobody forces you to have any at all. Yep our president is a Christian, this does not make the rest of of us Christians it only makes us members of a country where the current person in office is of a particular religious believe (again unlike many "Islamic Republics" I could name).

2) Yep, we brag an awful lot and nope it isn't right. But if I may, in every major war (albeit except the last two Afghanistan and Iraq) we have been INVITED to get involved. When America continued an isolationist policy we were BEGGED to get involved. Then post-WW2 with Russia looking like it was slowly going to take over the rest of the world we took on a more interventionist policy (monetarily this was done because ours was the only economy not totally reeling from the war). Korea and Vietnam were both invitational wars....on the part of the French. The French were losing their last major colony (Vietnam) and wanted our help to hold on to it, we simply didn't want communism to expand....it was the WORST decision we ever made. If we had simply realized there was no such thing as monolithic communism it would have collapsed sooner rather than later.

3) These days we our Israel's biggest ally and that alone is going to bring us more enemies than anything else. 9/11, etc all of it long term has as much to do with our only true ally in the middle east as it has to do with oil.

And I'm spent..more on this later kiddies!

p.s. I am all for pulling all of our government backing and programs out of other countries. If no one likes us or only wants our help on their terms, why should we continue to be beaten up over our mistakes. There was once an American politician who said "Everyone complains that the US is the world's policeman, but who does everybody call when they need a cop?"

p.s.s.What is wrong with "Christian" values....not what are peceived as Christian, but actual Christian values? If I may quote the Bible for just a second, "I've come not to condemn the world, but to save it."

Steagall

Europeans who think they speak for Europe are also wrong. My British passport makes me part of Europe, and I don't hate the American government, people, culture or any other aspect of America.


Thanks.

First of all the culture is the people.
Second: enough with these studpid threads. Yes we all hate Bush. Get over it. Please please stop posting threads like this, they're so boring

You hate america because your jealous. All you fat little european piggies are rolling around eating frog legs and kicking balls into nets while we americans are hard at work. We have success because we are willing to work for it, and you european folk are jealous because you cant get the same success by eating eel pie and pumping your babies full of wine.


Ban him!!! Ban the fucking Flamer!

And I lived in Europe for a year. Europeans are vastly superior to us, in most informed people's opinion.

Ban him!!! Ban the fucking Flamer!

And I lived in Europe for a year. Europeans are vastly superior to us, in most informed people's opinion.

:rolleyes:

Just don't like the govt. It's way too heavily swayed by Christian values.

True. We need to stop loving our fellow man and stop all welfare, free school lunches, and government assisted housing.

[/sarcasm]

"The culture and the government, but not the people. "

The culture and the government are reflective OF the people. :rolleyes:

I would disagree, they are reflective of the media image of the people.
The government of the US was elected by about a quarter of the american people, because about half do not vote.
The popular culture america displays is precisely that, popular culture, not true culture. :rolleyes:

Back on subject, the Americans interfere too much in other nations affairs without permission, or to further AMerica's interests without concern for other nations. Look at Afghanistan. The Taliban rose because the US used it as a cold war pawn. Look what happened on 9/11.
Many hate america as the symbol of their enemy, interference or they are fed misconceptations.
Much of it is legitimate hatred, America deserves about half the hate directed at it, and Americans should accept that.
If you don't like it, change it. If you don't change it, events like 9/11 will keep occuring

I would disagree, they are reflective of the media image of the people.

There was no culture before media? What kind of media are you talking about? Cable TV? Newspapers? Books? I gotta disagree... also, I'd say that there has been culture as long as there have been tribes... Thus the culture and the government are reflective of the people. You just get to see it on CNN today instead of visiting Tehran or Boston.

The government of the US was elected by about a quarter of the american people, because about half do not vote.
The popular culture america displays is precisely that, popular culture, not true culture. :rolleyes:

:confused:
"The culture and the government are reflective OF the people." - me

I have no idea what you're trying to say with this voting thing. (btw: it was 3 million, but that's not the point.) Popular culture does not come from the ballot box, as Hollywood so aptly proves.

Back on subject, the Americans interfere too much in other nations affairs without permission,

Permission?? How often do folks ask for intervention??

or to further AMerica's interests without concern for other nations. Look at Afghanistan. The Taliban rose because the US used it as a cold war pawn. Look what happened on 9/11.

Yep. And now we're cleaning up the mess we made of the Middle East fighting the Cold War.

Many hate america as the symbol of their enemy, interference or they are fed misconceptations.
Much of it is legitimate hatred, America deserves about half the hate directed at it, and Americans should accept that.
If you don't like it, change it. If you don't change it, events like 9/11 will keep occuring

That's quite a point. And quite a silly one. Doing the right thing and doing the popular one are two vastly different things. Look at Zimbabwe or Sudan today: the US (and the world!) have not gotten involved; and the place is a bloody wreck. Afghanistan pre the US invasion was blowing up Buddas and women were lower than dogs.

America isn't perfect. But to say it deserves "half" of an unquantified number is spurious at best.

As the comedian, Lewis Black, said:
Imagine you work at an office, and everyday, a co-worker came in screaming, "I'M THE BEST FUCKING GUY HERE, AND ALL OF YOU MISERABLE SLOBS WOULD BE NOTHING WITHOUT ME!" That is how the world sees us, and that is why they fucking hate us.
That's about it. I don't know how hard it is with the American ''democracy'' but I really don't think it would be that hard to get a foreign policy that doesn't make the whole world hate you and your wars against communism/terrorism/Wepaons of Mass Disappearing/Dictators/whatever.
Voted that I hated the American governemnet and not the people, since I know that there are nice gyus in the US too (been to Florida twice so I know).

I find it very difficult to take a country seriously where 45% of the population believe the Earth was created in 7 days, we are all descentants of Adam and Eve (please explain different races of human beings using the theory of Adam and Eve) and at one point in history some bloke and his family collected every bird, animal and insect on the PLANET and put them in a wooden boat!?!?!?!?!?

AND THEN THEY WANT TO TEACH IT IN SCHOOLS!!!!!

RETARDS!

Elvis was fairly good at singing, but to be honest all English music kicks yank ass since 1960.

I find it very difficult to take a country seriously where 45% of the population believe the Earth was created in 7 days, we are all descentants of Adam and Eve (please explain different races of human beings using the theory of Adam and Eve) and at one point in history some bloke and his family collected every bird, animal and insect on the PLANET and put them in a wooden boat!?!?!?!?!?

AND THEN THEY WANT TO TEACH IT IN SCHOOLS!!!!!

RETARDS!

Elvis was fairly good at singing, but to be honest all English music kicks yank ass since 1960.

Turn off the TV. That's as absurd a generalization as me saying that all Brits love fish & chips, are alcoholics, and have lousy teeth. Very myopic.

BTW: Metallica vs. Oasis. Nope. :)

True. We need to stop loving our fellow man and stop all welfare, free school lunches, and government assisted housing.

[/sarcasm]
We should repeal the laws against murder as well, after all, theyre based on the Ten Commandments and we cant have that!

We should repeal the laws against murder as well, after all, theyre based on the Ten Commandments and we cant have that!

Good point. :D

Turn off the TV. That's as absurd a generalization as me saying that all Brits love fish & chips, are alcoholics, and have lousy teeth. Very myopic.

BTW: Metallica vs. Oasis. Nope. :)



the 45% is a fairly conservative stat. Some research thinks it's higher than that.

fair point on Metallica. They kick Oasis Ass. In fact so do the White Stripes. And the Black Keys. And the Kings Leon.

Bollocks.

Good point. :D
Yay!
*stabs Markreich 72 times with a butcher knife and procedes to go on a rampage throughout NS*

Yay!
*stabs Markreich 72 times with a butcher knife and procedes to go on a rampage throughout NS*

(whew!)
Good thing I can parry! (puts away 1881 Austrian infantry sabre).

We should repeal the laws against murder as well, after all, theyre based on the Ten Commandments and we cant have that!
I think he meant christain values as in ''Homosexuals are evil and must die'' or why not ''All moslims are terrorists and must die'' or even ''Abortion must be outlawed'' although he could mean ''Blacks are animals and should not have the same rights as white people'', not christian values as in ''do not kill another human'' as such values are in fact good for the society.

the 45% is a fairly conservative stat. Some research thinks it's higher than that.

fair point on Metallica. They kick Oasis Ass. In fact so do the White Stripes. And the Black Keys. And the Kings Leon.

Bollocks.

That "research" must be being done in a very small demographic population. ;)

Yep. (Saw KoL when they opened for U2 last Wednesday in New Jersey. They're okay).

I think he meant christain values as in ''Homosexuals are evil and must die'' or why not ''All moslims are terrorists and must die'' or even ''Abortion must be outlawed'' although he could mean ''Blacks are animals and should not have the same rights as white people'', not christian values as in ''do not kill another human'' as such values are in fact good for the society.

There is a BIG difference between what the US is, and what the "rabid" born agains want.

Consider: there have only been 12 years of Democrats in the White House since 1968. Don't you think abortion would be repealed by now if it was going to happen?

Do you really think Americans are bigots and want Jim Crow laws and to kill all Muslims? I hope not!

...I'm fine with folks not likeing the Evangelicals. But they weild very, very little influence. (Thank goodness!!) :)

You have it backwards, the useless fat kid who talks too much is Europe/UN. The kids that actually get hings done are the Us, China and India.

Its the Europeans who claim all sorts of things(culture civilization ect) while not even eing able to clean up the messes in their own back yards(kosovo, serbvia ect).

The impotent fat kid..hell, even a fool will tell you that its france and germany.
it is because i can tell that an article such as this could be written by an american that people dislike the usa. sadly there are too many arogant people within it. i'm sure there are times when you mean well, but really listen to yourself. no country in the world is ever going to be right all the time, that is why it is a good idea to question both what you do and what you have done. listening to world opinion is often (not always) worthwhile too. kyoto would be a nice start.

I think he meant christain values as in ''Homosexuals are evil and must die'' or why not ''All moslims are terrorists and must die'' or even ''Abortion must be outlawed'' although he could mean ''Blacks are animals and should not have the same rights as white people'', not christian values as in ''do not kill another human'' as such values are in fact good for the society.
You seem to have Christians and Neo Nazi's, or maybe the KKK.
Perhaps you should stop getting your news from NS and look around a bit. Maybe TALK to a normal Christian, not just the JW's that come to your door.

There is a BIG difference between what the US is, and what the "rabid" born agains want.

Consider: there have only been 12 years of Democrats in the White House since 1968. Don't you think abortion would be repealed by now if it was going to happen?

Do you really think Americans are bigots and want Jim Crow laws and to kill all Muslims? I hope not!

...I'm fine with folks not likeing the Evangelicals. But they weild very, very little influence. (Thank goodness!!) :)
1. Yes I hope so, on the other hand I've read stories about young girls being denoed abortion after a rape, a ghomosexual being senteanced to 17 years of prison because he had oral sex with a fourteen year old boy (where a heterosexual guy wouldn't get a punishment that hard).

2. It probably would and since it isn't I can only hope that it is going to be.

3. I certainly don't, I just pointed to what ''christian virtues'' he meant.

I have a theory and because it's my theory, it's an undeniable fact; you people are really smelly on world standards. If the USA government would force about three showers per day, regardless of age, on the american populace, I'm sure the rest of the world would willingly submit itself to the superior, squeaky-clean american überfolk.

Seriously.

1. Yes I hope so, on the other hand I've read stories about young girls being denoed abortion after a rape, a ghomosexual being senteanced to 17 years of prison because he had oral sex with a fourteen year old boy (where a heterosexual guy wouldn't get a punishment that hard).

2. It probably would and since it isn't I can only hope that it is going to be.

3. I certainly don't, I just pointed to what ''christian virtues'' he meant.

1. Yes, things like that happen sometimes. Then they get overturned on appeal, most of the time. Nothing is perfect. :(

2. Actually, underage sex is pretty much evenly handled.

3. Evangelical values. Big difference between Evangelicals, Catholics, Calvinists, Congregationalists, & the other Protestant faiths. :)

You seem to have Christians and Neo Nazi's, or maybe the KKK.
Perhaps you should stop getting your news from NS and look around a bit. Maybe TALK to a normal Christian, not just the JW's that come to your door.
1. I'm quite well aware of the differences that exist between neonazists, Ku Klux Klan and other extreme ''christians''.

2. I meet quite a lot of christians around here, I enjoy talking to them and I have no problems discussing anything whatsoever with anyone of them. Also, who needs NS when you've got information stuck down your throat no matter where you are?

3. I have so far not been visited by Jehova's Witnesses, I'm very grateful that religious tolerance, satanism, my cynical sense of humour and viewpoint, atheism as well as despise of fundamentalists of all kinds seem to keep them away.

1. Yes I hope so, on the other hand I've read stories about young girls being denoed abortion after a rape, a ghomosexual being senteanced to 17 years of prison because he had oral sex with a fourteen year old boy (where a heterosexual guy wouldn't get a punishment that hard).--what are the facts and figures on these girls who couldn't get abortions post being raped, oral sex with an underage boy? yeah he should be UNDER the prison not in it (has nothing to do with homosexuality--just the fact that he the other person was underage).


3. I certainly don't, I just pointed to what ''christian virtues'' he meant.--Christian virtues--oh you mean Morality, it's true that morality is a hard thing to force on people. Personally I think Christianity is more about caring about people rather than brow beating them with faith. I am quite content that when we die we will see who is right and who isn't. (Hope ya got a cool pair of underwear....hehehehehehehe)

ps. I couldn't care less if someone is gay, thats between them and their beliefs. Doesn't affect me abit, so much for all Christians being gay bashers, huh?

1. Yes, things like that happen sometimes. Then they get overturned on appeal, most of the time. Nothing is perfect. :(

2. Actually, underage sex is pretty much evenly handled.

3. Evangelical values. Big difference between Evangelicals, Catholics, Calvinists, Congregationalists, & the other Protestant faiths. :)
1. According to the newspaper it didn't.

2. Hopefully.

3. Yes, but to avoid any confusion I used the same word as he did.

You seem to have Christians and Neo Nazi's, or maybe the KKK.
Perhaps you should stop getting your news from NS and look around a bit. Maybe TALK to a normal Christian, not just the JW's that come to your door.

I actually talk to the Jehovah's that come to my door. After a half hour, they start to squirm. After an hour? They're making excuses to leave. :)

My goal is to someday convert one back to Catholicism. :D

1. According to the newspaper it didn't.

2. Hopefully.

3. Yes, but to avoid any confusion I used the same word as he did.

1. You gotta give me a little more than that!
2. Yep.
3. Fair enough.

1. You gotta give me a little more than that!
1. Like a number interviewed witnesses and a comment by the judge and a member of the jury? They were all included if I remember things correctly.

1. Like a number interviewed witnesses and a comment by the judge and a member of the jury? They were all included if I remember things correctly.

Dude... like a case? An article? I can't talk about something when I don't know what event you've got in mind...

I think the more relevant question is:
"Why do Americans think the whole world hates them?"

Dude... like a case? An article? I can't talk about something when I don't know what event you've got in mind...Sorry, I don't have a scanner or a one year old newspaper and I doubt that the newspaper's webpage would contain anything of interest and if it does it is in Swedish. So, sorry.

I think the more relevant question is:
"Why do Americans think the whole world hates them?"

A lot of the posts on NS is one indicator...

Sorry, I don't have a scanner or a one year old newspaper and I doubt that the newspaper's webpage would contain anything of interest and if it does it is in Swedish. So, sorry.

...makes it kind of hard to debate the point. C'est la vie.

...makes it kind of hard to debate the point. C'est la vie.
Guess so, never thought something I only used a quarter of a sentence to mention would trig a conversation. Again, sorry I can't give more than my word that I read the article and that it exists.

Why is the option culture and government, and not just government?
Here is a quite interesting article about what is so disturbing to many people: The US against the UN (http://www.heise.de/tp/r4/artikel/20/20137/1.html)
It is just not nice to find someone plainly lying to you and expecting those to like you anyway :headbang: .
And there is all this reference to god. I think no politician should be allowed to speak in the name of god. And no war should be started in his name either. I do not believe, this could be in the intention of any god :eek:
So it is hard to argue with someone who is just claiming to fight the evil, there should be some facts and reasonable thoughts involved.
So I think there is not so lot of hate as such but rather some irritation about some of the actions of the mightiest nation around.

No insult meant at, all! Some of my relatives are living in the US, and some of them are very convinced of their government too.
But why does anybody arguing against the US government has to hate the US as a whole? I do not love our own government completely, so I'm to hate my own nation :confused:

Just my 2 cents...

Isn't it fairly obvious why everyone hates america? I mean,we have all the money and all the most powerful wepons of mass destruction! And,of course,being as f***'n proud as we are,we consider everyone else who has them dangerous,phychotic,and evil nations deserving of death.WHATS UP WITH THAT?!If I didn't live in america,I would have an overwhelming urge to fly to america,tour the white house,and personally maul George W. But that's just my opinion. :mp5:

When the British ruled 1/4 of the globe, everyone hated them, they were the first super power..now its america..i know that lots of europeans think america buts in when its not wanted (suez) or turns up too late when it is, and they are probably right..

Unilateralism. Acting like the Soviets.

You hate america because your jealous. All you fat little european piggies are rolling around eating frog legs and kicking balls into nets while we americans are hard at work. We have success because we are willing to work for it, and you european folk are jealous because you cant get the same success by eating eel pie and pumping your babies full of wine.

People like this make all of America seem like idiots. Of course Bush dosen't help. nor does the Hummer. I am an AMerican who loves his country if you hate me beacuse I live in America then I don't hate you, I pity you. If where someone lives is how you base your opinion on someone your pretty much a complete idiot. If don't like Americans, fine, I don't like you. Of course the stereiotypical American exists but is far less ramapnt that is thought. The Ignorant American is prepetuated by idiotic people who don't actaully know what their talking about. Of course you'd be an idiot not to think America is the scapegoat for a lot of crap that we have nothing to do with. People blame them cause hey, there America why take responsisbilty when you can blame? Plus you'd be an idiot to say that were not the most powerful country in the world. Now don't get me wrong, I hate people who flaunt it but, militarily, we could kick anyone's ass. We have the best economy bar none. Of course China might have something to say about that in a few years, as might the EU. Now the culture issue, our culture does for the most part suck. I hate Wal-mart, SUVs, MTV etc, but again you'd be an idiot to say that a lot of people enjoy our culture. People America bash by day, watch Friends by night. American TV shows, movies, music and fashion are all over. I am proud to be an American and If you America bashed in real life i'd probably beat you up. To which you think, "American idiot." but if I came up to you and said all English are idiots or The French suck or all Russians are morons", you'd beat me up, justifiably. People see idiots like Bush and Toby Keith on TV and think they know America. They don't and they probably never will.

The world hates america?

Wow didn't notice it.

I just returned from France and England. No Frenchman did or say anything against me. Well a damn taxi driver ripped me of for an extra-20 Euros but I doubt it was because I am american. Then again. ;)

As one Frenchman said, "Unless you look like your President, you don't have anything to worry about."

Most people seem to be caught up in their own lives to worry about what the average american is thinking.

They seem to have the "ability" to distinguish the difference between the average american and the shrub.

Hell I even found Parisians to be polite. ;)

-snip-
Hey welcome back, TBF!

Hey welcome back, TBF!

Hey SP!

How's it going?

Got my list of todos back to a reasonable size so the stress factor is much less then usual.

Besides, neurotic people need to hang together for some reason :D

As general I do dislike it, specifically I do not.
It is only that
1) Your president is not too smart (though he does beat Mexico's. Gods what shame!) and has napoleonic ambitions.
2) World Police. Let comunism be! (not comunist, I simply believe in letting things be)
3) You are in a good position and you have power. Everyone loathes that happening to someone else. (childish I know but c'est la vie)

But, to be 100% honest, I don't dislike the Americans any more than I dislike any other people. (but, again, to be honest, the sterotypes do portray you as loathsome beings)

(but, again, to be honest, the sterotypes do portray you as loathsome beings)

Ahh but if you know they are sterotypes, then why listen to them?

Matt. 10:34 "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword."

This is why the religious right tends to back any war effort. They believe the infidels deserve to die and go to hell. Perhaps they do deserve this, but why send them there? Shouldn't there be an effort to save rather than destroy? Sounds more like radical Islam than true Christianity.

It is mostly monotheistic religions that start warfare. Pantheism tends to be amiable and not care if one more god is added to the repertoire (but beware if they try to remove all gods but one). That is why the Jews (and later the Christians) had trouble with the Romans. (note this is not ture 100% of the times, but monotheism does need to be harsh at the begining to live on)
Christianity can be prety radical. In favor of Islam, it does make courteous people. No refusing a drink of water (must be the desert) and no rude oggling of women.
JHVH is a destructive god... just look at Sodom and Gomorah, how rich would be those nations now, what might might they have given this world. And he did set back astronomy a few thousand years with the destruction of the Tower of Babel.

Ahh but if you know they are sterotypes, then why listen to them?
For the same reason they exist
Because it is easy to generalize and because it stands to reason that they have some (keyword: SOME) truth to them.

But actually because it is fun and it is easy.

You want to know why America is hated by everyone?

Most politicians in America are pompous as5holes who think they have the power to do anything. People like Bush should be shot for their war crimes and stupidity.

The War in Iraq is an unnecessary waste of life on both sides (especially on the Iraqi's side). This war was originally started because Bush supposedly wanted to "disarm" Saddam Hussein even though he had no "weapons of mass destruction". When he could not find them, Bush created a new reason that he wanted to remove Saddam from power. What kind of bs is that? He is a blatent liar and he is trying to brainwash the crowd to believe that he is performing good deeds when he is not. Did you notice he had almost no supporters in this war in Iraq? Bush is also a friggin moron. He pluralized internet in one of the presidential debates.

America also proclaims that they are the best in everything. They do have the most nukes and just by that they feel that they are the most powerful and they feel that they are always right. Not only that, the citizens actually believe all this bullcrap. It is because of America's pompous attitude that all these terrorist acts are taking place here and no one else.

I have noticed, everyone dumb kid and redneck I know believes that whatever America is doing is justified while all the intelligent people realize all the evil things Bush has done.

America is not what one would consider as a "hard worker" but as an average Joe with a HUGE ego. The only true hard workers in this world are India and China.

America is not what one would consider as a "hard worker" but as an average Joe with a HUGE ego. The only true hard workers in this world are India and China.

Not true! hard workers abound on this earth. No nation is, by itself, entirely hardworking. Harsh enviorments promote hard work but do not guarantee it. Dictatorial regimes promote hard labor, but those are short lived. Being exploited forces one to work hard. That is why many impovrished nations are hard laborers.

On the Irak war. It was not useless and certain parties did become benefited by it. but it certainly was immoral. Can't people see that S-H's goverment was not a religious one but a militaristic one. And going against the UN's explicit wishes!!! *glare*

You want to know why America is hated by everyone?

Most politicians in America are pompous as5holes who think they have the power to do anything. People like Bush should be shot for their war crimes and stupidity.

The War in Iraq is an unnecessary waste of life on both sides (especially on the Iraqi's side). This war was originally started because Bush supposedly wanted to "disarm" Saddam Hussein even though he had no "weapons of mass destruction". When he could not find them, Bush created a new reason that he wanted to remove Saddam from power. What kind of bs is that? He is a blatent liar and he is trying to brainwash the crowd to believe that he is performing good deeds when he is not. Did you notice he had almost no supporters in this war in Iraq? Bush is also a friggin moron. He pluralized internet in one of the presidential debates.

America also proclaims that they are the best in everything. They do have the most nukes and just by that they feel that they are the most powerful and they feel that they are always right. Not only that, the citizens actually believe all this bullcrap. It is because of America's pompous attitude that all these terrorist acts are taking place here and no one else.

I have noticed, everyone dumb kid and redneck I know believes that whatever America is doing is justified while all the intelligent people realize all the evil things Bush has done.

America is not what one would consider as a "hard worker" but as an average Joe with a HUGE ego. The only true hard workers in this world are India and China.

I'm very impressed with your total lack of perspective.

No Frenchman did or say anything against me.

ROFL

French cant speak english (almost impossible to learn for them :D ), of course you dont understand french :p

I'm an American... a 16 year old girl. I don't know tons of stuff about this because it really doesn't impact my every day life that much (my life is pretty simple: memorize stuff for test. Do test. Forget stuff. Repete.)
That said, I do care what other countries (mostly the people in them) think.

I don't know what to think about the war with Iraq. (but I can spell Iraq so I should get some points there) Mostly I don't know what to think because I keep hearing different perspectives that are contradictory to each other, and I think that that is because they are all biased.
Really it just depends who you want to believe.

I support out president because I think he is trying his best and he's only human of course. Honestly I know very little about what is going on, but I know being prisident is a hard job.

What I do know is this. The people my age scare me. When I was 12 I dreaded teens. Somehow it didn't occur to me that I would become one. I don't think teens have any morals. It really scares me because when I grow up the people who are my age are going to be becoming the presidents and leaders of our contry.
I know that not all teens are "bad" but I think the percentage of good teens is very low. Too low, in fact, to be successful.

Well. I have to go do more school now. (I homeschool)

What I do know is this. The people my age scare me. When I was 12 I dreaded teens.
And look at you now! Here you are with other teens speaking politics. And in this particular travesty of a thread!

(jk Nice post -considering it's in this thread...)

I saw some guy higher up hit the nail on the head. The US is currently the Hegemon, and in all of recorded human history the people who aren't the hegemon fear/dislike whoever is the hegemon. Happened with the British during the 19th century, the French in the 17th, the Romans in their day (Greek disparagement of the Romans was VERY similar to European disparagement of the US today), the Persians in theirs. That's just how it is, how it's always been, and probably how it always will be.

People are who they are,especially if they are patriotic,easily influenced or if they have weak personalities ,due to their country´s culture and /or government. I live in a third world country now,after being raised in the USA for eight years. I have come to the conclusion that I don´t like people and they don´t like us. We are Westerners,naturally less spiritualized,anyway.
I don´t like where I live now,either. What do I miss about America? Opportunities.The Public School System, the force economy has even in poorer households,employment,social assistance and the fact we DON`T HAVE TO vote. I´m seriously considering leaving Rockwell because I thought I hade made it clear that voting should be optional.Any invitations? I feel ok here,though.

I am an american...and I do believe I know why we are hated. It's because we believe we are the biggest baddest bad @$$ on the block. We believe we are indestructable...and we capitalize on this. Want proof? Just look at how we act...lol But yeah...thats what I can see from with-in the country. But I don't think we are indestructable...I know we can be defeated. Any country who has a Bush, a Dick, and a Colon running their country...there is something wrong in the system...lol

-Kinstonya-

America is hated because America is the only remaining super-power. Want proof? Great Brittian was dispiced when noone was stronger than it. Spain was once public enemy #1 when it has the most powerful military. America wasn't hated when the Soviets controlled what was then the USSR or united Soviet Socialists Republic. Now, America is feared. America is dispised. Loved by few and hated by most. France is understandable. They always hated the US. A change would be when France didn't hate the US when something bad like 9-11 didn't happen.

Yes, superpowers tend to use their power to screw over less powerful nations. When Britain was a superpower, it used its power to selfishly serve its own interests with little regard for anyone else. Now the US is doing much the same (although *slightly* more subtly) and they are most disliked.

Also a lot of the attitudes put forward by the US as a country contribute to them being disliked.

Yes, superpowers tend to use their power to screw over less powerful nations. When Britain was a superpower, it used its power to selfishly serve its own interests with little regard for anyone else. Now the US is doing much the same (although *slightly* more subtly) and they are most disliked.

Also a lot of the attitudes put forward by the US as a country contribute to them being disliked.

Britian was actually, along with the US, one of the most benign hegemons in history. Yes, there were the opium wars, but there was also the supression of the international slave trade (we can thank the Royal Navy for that), the "long peace" of the 19th century (Britain wouldn't countenance wars on a large scale), the de-colonization of Latin America (again, thank you RN), etc. I know it isn't trendy to say nice things about any English-speaking government, much less one with "empire" in the nam, but disparaging the British Empire gets pretty ahistorical much of the time.

I think that most of the reason that the rest of the world "hates" America is because the US's foreign policy. The rest of the world see the US as arrogant and uncaring about the opinions of anyone outside their borders and willing to attack those that displease them while letting allies do whatever they please. For example, most of the world did not and still does not think that attacking Iraq was a good idea. While getting rid of Saddam Hussein was a good thing, other problems have been created in his place, such as a place for terrorists to run around and greater instability in an already instabile region. As well, the allies of the US in the Iraq War have hardly been rewarded by the US for their loyalty, for example, Poland is mad because they risked their position in the EU for the US, and they simply wanted to have a visa waver for tourism in the US like that many EU nations already enjoy, and the US would not even give them something as trival as that. Most nations see the US as unwilling to return favours because of things like this. They expect their allies, especially NATO, to fall in line behind them regardless how careless and pointness the other nations think the action to be.

That being said I don't think that Europeans hate Americans, it is the government that they hate. I don't know many people that would harass someone just because they were American, yes, they are some but they are people that way in any country you go to. Most Europeans just don't appreciate how the American government seems to like to try to dominate them and ask for help without anything in return. They really dislike it when the US sticks its nose into internal EU affairs like giving speeches of how we should let Turkey in the EU or telling us that we need to accept their GM crops when we clearly don't want that stuff in our food chain.

Here in France, I know that there are other reasons as well. It seems that America goes out of its way to French bash. For example, before the Iraq War, not even once did President Chirac, the Foreign Minister de Villepin or any French officials attack Americans as a whole. But the US Congress decided that France sticking up for her opinions was wrong and had to offically change the name of "French fries" and "French toast" to Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast. As well the US blamed France for not have the UN backing even though that Russia annonced that it would veto long before France did, and even if Russia and France abstained from a vote, the US would not have even had enough votes to pass the resolution, even Mexico was against it. While this did not really hurt most people's feelings because the whole thing just seemed so childish to take to heart (French fries, frites are belgian by the way), it did show how arrogant the US and that America don't like us, it is rather hard to like a nation that clearly exhibites hostile behaviours towards your country.

As well, the influence of religion in politics makes us very nervous. That is something that does not happen here, and when it was in our past, it was hardly a good influence, in fact leading to some pretty terrible things. The French don't understand how that issues like teaching evolution or wanting the 10 commandments on the lawn of a government building can exist in today's society because no legitmate political force would do such things in our country.

This is supposed to be satirical, right? :rolleyes:

I hope so, does he know of the protest against the iraq war in europe and australia?

Australia:
The new kid on the block.

i sound more like germany to be frank, but Australia isn't that new we just don't get noticed that much

It seems that America goes out of its way to French bash [...] As well the US blamed France for not have the UN backing even though that Russia annonced that it would veto long before France did ...

As well, the influence of religion in politics makes us very nervous. That is something that does not happen here, and when it was in our past, it was hardly a good influence, in fact leading to some pretty terrible things. The French don't understand how that issues like teaching evolution or wanting the 10 commandments on the lawn of a government building can exist in today's society because no legitmate political force would do such things in our country.

America does not got out of her way to bash France; every minute invested is completely worthwhile. :p

The reason we blamed France most is because you guys were supposed to be our friends. We can understand Russia and China going against us because they're a bunch of corrupt commie bastards (I know, I know, Russia isn't technically communist, but they're going back that way), whereas you guys are supposed to be our trusted allies and oldest friends (remember that Lafayette guy?) But you stabbed us in the back by threatening to use your UN veto. Your disagreement wasn't a matter of "Sorry, George, but we just can't support you in this fight. We don't think you're doing the right thing here, and we hope you'll change your mind. Give the inspectors more time."

Polite disagreements between friends happen all the time. If you'd sat this one out, there wouldn't have been any hard feelings. But that wasn't good enough for you. You had to actively work against what we were trying to do (and for what? your oil contracts, you greedy bastards!), undermining the United States at every turn. By your actions, you showed that you and your German lackeys are not to be counted as true friends of the United States. And the blatant ingratitude for your liberation in 1944 isn't helping your case, either.

In French history, it wasn't the times when you had religion in politics that make me nervous; it's when you decided to do away with religion. During the Revolution, you wantonly vandalized churches, killing the priests, and officially decreed the buildings to be "Temples of Reason." You invented the metric system, along with a (thankfully defunct) new calendar and new time system. The Terror was led by men who were avowedly atheistic and devoted to the god of Rationality. Now that I think of it, all your Republics have sucked balls. The First was the one that made the guillotine famous. The Second was started and then overthrown by Napoleon's nephew, having lasted all of four years. The Third had its birth in the French defeat at the hands of the Germans in 1871, going on to nearly lose WWI and then get its pants pulled down by a certain Austrian in 1940. The Fourth was so unstable that after about 10 years they had to change the Constitution. It was also then that they lost in Vietnam and Algeria. The Fifth has seen France's continuing irrelevance in the modern world, and the flourishing for open contempt of France all over.

You know why the United States hasn't had a controversy like your ban on head scarves and other religious symbols? It's because, by and large, we're OK with religion. Religious belief doesn't frighten us, and so we don't take intemperate measures in response.

What happened to you guys? You used to be a world leader in the arts, architecture, military power, etc. Until recently (on a relative scale), the international language of diplomacy was French. Now, your national greatness is just the ghost of a fond memory. Here's a thought: maybe you should be taking pointers from us

France wanted to stop the Iraq war for the exact reason of "Sorry, George, but we just can't support you in this fight. We don't think you're doing the right thing here, and we hope you'll change your mind. Give the inspectors more time." It used its position in the UN to try and influence world politics, and that's exactly what the UN is for. Of course America doesn't give a damn about what the rest of the world says.

The WWII reference doesn't show anything by the way. The fact that you finally intervened in the war when you were attacked yourselves does not mean that whenever America wants something, they get it because they supposedly liberated Europe. I'd like to point out that the Apparent American view that you fought and won the war by yourselves is a large source of anti-American feeling in Europe.

Woah hold on. Surely there's more religeous controversy in America than anywhere else! Where else could you hear of bans on the book Harry Potter, or the view that evolution shouldn't be taught in schools, in the same country as there are arguments that all references to God should be taken out of the national anthem etc.? Having a go at France for their apparent anti-religeous views and issues like head scarves is a weak argument, especially coming from America.

I'd also like to add that the metric system kicks ass, and if your country wasn't so stubborn, you'd realise that and have changed a long time ago.

France wanted to stop the Iraq war for the exact reason of "Sorry, George, but we just can't support you in this fight. We don't think you're doing the right thing here, and we hope you'll change your mind. Give the inspectors more time." It used its position in the UN to try and influence world politics, and that's exactly what the UN is for. Of course America doesn't give a damn about what the rest of the world says.

Threatening the US with a veto no matter what resolution it tried to pass is hardly "influencing world politics." That's called "being an obstructionist." I further question your view that the United States ought to have listened to the UN at all. Just because France and Russia had sweet oil deals with Iraq that they didn't want to lose, why should we have subjected ourselves to your vetos? Or, to put it another way: why should we let your interests override ours?

The WWII reference doesn't show anything by the way. The fact that you finally intervened in the war when you were attacked yourselves does not mean that whenever America wants something, they get it because they supposedly liberated Europe. I'd like to point out that the Apparent American view that you fought and won the war by yourselves is a large source of anti-American feeling in Europe.

The United States was attacked by Japan, yet we concentrated on "Europe First." And no, I don't believe that the USA miraculously won WWII all on its own. Without the USSR absorbing the vast bulk of the German armed forces, the Anglo-American invasion of France would have been a total disaster. Indeed, the English-speakers didn't even liberate the majority of Europe; that was done by the Russians (I'm using "liberate" in its loosest sense there). We did, however, liberate France, a fact which you guys seem to want to forget.

When I toured Germany and France, my dad took me to the cemetary where his uncle was buried, and to the beach where he had died. On that beach, the French government had built a memorial saying, "On June 6, 1944, this is where Charles de Gaulle liberated France," or something along those lines (it's been a lot of years and I can't remember exactly). How's that for a country twisting the historical record. If you want to talk about distortions, the belief that the US won the war by itself is a lot closer to the truth than that outrageous propaganda.

Note: I am not saying that I believe the US won the war single-handed, I'm just saying that particular falsehood contains more of the truth than the inscription on that French memorial ever will.

Woah hold on. Surely there's more religeous controversy in America than anywhere else! Where else could you hear of bans on the book Harry Potter, or the view that evolution shouldn't be taught in schools, in the same country as there are arguments that all references to God should be taken out of the national anthem etc.? Having a go at France for their apparent anti-religeous views and issues like head scarves is a weak argument, especially coming from America.

I'd also like to add that the metric system kicks ass, and if your country wasn't so stubborn, you'd realise that and have changed a long time ago.

That's a good list of religious controversies, Aldisia. How do you keep up with American news?

As I see it, the difference between our two countries is that in France, the strictly secular republic is trying to clamp down on religious display and the controversy comes from religious people's objections, whereas in America, the controversies happen because religion starts to permeate secular areas (eg, a Harry Potter book ban. seriously, wtf?), and the controversy comes from the secular people pushing back. It may seem like a small difference, but in the US, religion is on the offensive, whereas your controversies seem to be religion defending itself.

That's what I refer to when I say that Americans are more comfortable with religious belief.

And yes, the metric system is clearly superior. I wish the US would go ahead and adopt it, but people don't like to turn their lives upside down just on the government's say-so over here. OTOH, there is something to be said for ancient custom, and if even Britain's going metric -- well, someone's got to be the keeper of the torch. It's not a rational reason, but I have a deep devotion to tradition.

I am someone who agrees whole heartedly in non-interventionalism. I dislike my government's behavior, and see both parties as hurting our people.

That said, I am glad we have the second ammendment and are able to be armed to the teeth and have guns saturated in our country (though not well enough). I do believe a future war could potentially be enacted on our people due to the growing anti-Americanism that will likely spiral out of control. Its funny because EVERYBODY was doing it when they were top dog and now we are getting flak for acting like they were. We should stop this crap about gun control and start cultivating the concept of arming as many of our citizens as we can whom will be responsible and have them trained properly in firearms.

If a war rises on the horizion, guns and a large number of nukes are going make people think twice about invasion and waring against us. This love and peace crap only makes it easy for foriegn enemies to attack us.

To Christ it does. Sorry, but i'd rather please Christ than you. I'm pretty sure Christ would be on the side of the US in terms of IRaq... i don't imagine he'd feel much empathy for a ruthless dictator who favors only 20% of his population.
And as for impotent... lmao. I know you don't think we're impotent.

I agree with you that Jesus probably didn't approve of what Saddam did, although of course we can't be sure. But I also have the feeling that He doesn't like the war and mayhem that the U.S. invasion and continuing occupation (not intended to be loaded words, but they are the most direct) caused either. And inasmuch as a national mindset subsidizes or replaces Christ, so much is it satanized. Nobody but nobody can claim the moral high ground regarding Iraq (although I certainly don't think it was a crusade!).

Generally speaking, I have to go with number C here. (Yes, I did that on purpose.) History's primary truth is that Government is something that requires direct and significant control by the governed or else corruption and repression are inevitable. And the US is not beyond this at all.

The world hates America (the nation) because America (the politics) hates the world... Or something like that. Or maybe it's my xenophobia, paranoia and poor view of the world that makes me say that.

I am Americain, and i hate my comrades unrestrained ignorance.

America does not got out of her way to bash France; every minute invested is completely worthwhile. :p

Polite disagreements between friends happen all the time. If you'd sat this one out, there wouldn't have been any hard feelings. But that wasn't good enough for you. You had to actively work against what we were trying to do (and for what? your oil contracts, you greedy bastards!), undermining the United States at every turn. By your actions, you showed that you and your German lackeys are not to be counted as true friends of the United States. And the blatant ingratitude for your liberation in 1944 isn't helping your case, either.

-Now that I think of it, all your Republics have sucked balls.
-going on to nearly lose WWI
-flourishing for open contempt of France all over.

Here's a thought: maybe you should be taking pointers from us

Seldomly have I seen such a relevant, balanced argument.
1. Germany is not the lackey of France. We are equal partners (having started the EU together), France having a seat on the security council, Germany having a larger Economy and more people. We work together because it helps both.
2. Oil contracts? Where'd you get that? Fox News?
3. Blatant ingratidtude? I get so tired of this, but I think it was France that created your nation in the first place.
4. "...sucked balls?" Now there is an interesting formulation. One democracy, fighting for freedom and equality against the evil French, coup d'etat against a benevolent Monarch to promote evil atheists who proceeded to be mean to their people...
5. The French fought the hardest of all our enemies. The British did their bit, but it was nowhere near as much as the French did. America wasn't even involved, then proceeding to do about 0% of the fighting at the war's end. But hey, I'm sure you've got all the knowledge there is about WW1.
6. I'm so sick of this one as well. America is not "all over". America not equal to World! And when local politics go to the level where a presidential candidate is being said to "look French", then I believe the actual world really doesn't have to give ashit about what the bully on the corner is throwing tantrums about.
-----
"On June 6, 1944, this is where Charles de Gaulle liberated France,"
Buddy, he was the one who fought us for the entire war. Even his Government had to throw in the towel, but he didn't. He was involved in every operation in Africa, Italy and France and further still. He was a great General, who obviously did not want France to suffer in the long term from this temporary down.
The French do know that without American help nothing would have happened. They also know the US didn't do it out of benevolence.
And most of all, they don't believe that to be a blank cheque for you to do whatever you want and they follow.

How dare them!

Incidently, has anyone else heard Morrisseys America is Not the World?

America your head's too big, Because America, Your belly's too big
And I love you, I just wish you'd stay where you is

In America, The land of the free, they said, And of opportunity, In a just and a truthful way
But where the president, Is never black, female or gay, And until that day
You've got nothing to say to me, To help me believe

In America, It brought you the hamburger, Well America you know where, You can shove your hamburger
And don't you wonder, Why in Estonia they say, Hey you, Big fat pig
You fat pig, You fat pig

Steely Blue eyes with no love in them, Scan The World,
And a humourless smile, With no warmth within, Greets the world
And I, I have got nothing, To offer you
No-no-no-no-no
Just this heart deep and true, Which you say you don't need

See with your eyes, Touch with your hands, please, Hear through your ears, Know in your soul, please
For haven't you me with you now?
And I love you, I love you, I love you, And I love you, I love you, I love you

Most people go against America because of it's overwhelming Culture, It's persistance to fight at least twice every decade and the fact that it knows it's the only Super-power left and keeps reminding us. People also take offence at the American "World Police" idea. Anyway, that was my couple of ideas

I am Americain, and i hate my comrades unrestrained ignorance.

Fair enough. As an American, I hate your poor spelling and unrestrained grammar. (Comrades? :p )

Incidently, has anyone else heard Morrisseys America is Not the World?

America your head's too big, Because America, Your belly's too big
And I love you, I just wish you'd stay where you is

In America, The land of the free, they said, And of opportunity, In a just and a truthful way
But where the president, Is never black, female or gay, And until that day
You've got nothing to say to me, To help me believe

In America, It brought you the hamburger, Well America you know where, You can shove your hamburger
And don't you wonder, Why in Estonia they say, Hey you, Big fat pig
You fat pig, You fat pig

Steely Blue eyes with no love in them, Scan The World,
And a humourless smile, With no warmth within, Greets the world
And I, I have got nothing, To offer you
No-no-no-no-no
Just this heart deep and true, Which you say you don't need

See with your eyes, Touch with your hands, please, Hear through your ears, Know in your soul, please
For haven't you me with you now?
And I love you, I love you, I love you, And I love you, I love you, I love you

Most people go against America because of it's overwhelming Culture, It's persistance to fight at least twice every decade and the fact that it knows it's the only Super-power left and keeps reminding us. People also take offence at the American "World Police" idea. Anyway, that was my couple of ideas


Morrissey is pathetic at best.

Seldomly have I seen such a relevant, balanced argument.
1. Germany is not the lackey of France. We are equal partners (having started the EU together), France having a seat on the security council, Germany having a larger Economy and more people. We work together because it helps both.! --Ah but if I remember France also currently has an unemployment rate of 10.8% and the unacceptance of the EU constitution caused a collapse of the current administration--France is not unstable per se but not the power house it once was due to government stiffling business growth through socialist policies.

3. Blatant ingratidtude? I get so tired of this, but I think it was France that created your nation in the first place.!--Oh yes France helped us quite abit, until their ministers said we had to pay to meet on an equal footing with their politicians. Its called the affair of Messers. X, Y, Z and our return statement was and has always been.."Millions for defence but not one cent for tribute!"


5. The French fought the hardest of all our enemies. The British did their bit, but it was nowhere near as much as the French did. America wasn't even involved, then proceeding to do about 0% of the fighting at the war's end. But hey, I'm sure you've got all the knowledge there is about WW1.!
--Which war are we talking about WW1 or WW2? WW1 would have remained a regional affair if Kaiser Wilhelm could have kept it together for 5 mins and thought his action through. Even then it still might have remained a regional affair, the Brits and French both hoped so. Even France's involment, might not have pulled the Brits in until they were begged to intervene. AMerican intervention was brought about by unrestricted warfare. If you kill our civilians you get what you get. WW2--again we were BEGGED to get involved and it was the attack at Pearl that merely sealed the deal.Now as to your statement about American lack of involvement at the very end of the war I am going to assume you mena at the end of WW2, and how we let the Russians go in first, that had to do with politics and Keeping the commies happy, if Patton would have had his way we would have kept on going all the way to Moscow, and we never would have had to deal with a cold war.

6. I'm so sick of this one as well. America is not "all over". America not equal to World! And when local politics go to the level where a presidential candidate is being said to "look French", then I believe the actual world really doesn't have to give ashit about what the bully on the corner is throwing tantrums about.!--You know what? You're right we are just really big bullies who push everyone around. I totally agree we should pull ALL military support out of every country that doesn't wish us there. That includes every building we have ever built, all infrastructure and all business. Oh yeah, and everyone who doesn't want us should pay back every dime we have ever given them, as we are such big bullies and all we would hate for you to be forced to feel any gratitude whatsoever. Oh yeah and the next time you are involved in a trade deficit with China, don't call us we'll call you.

Well, here's an oppurtunity for Europeans/Whatever to post some reasons. I don't want a sprawling xenophobic ramble. Lets keep it concise, logical and backed up by evidence if possible.[/QUOTE]

OK, personally its the fear of what crazy thing your going to do next.
Im anti-american, if i flew a plane into one of your buildings i would understand your anger. Would you invade my country? Even tho me the terrorist had allready died in the crash,or was that why? The need for vengance. Would you bomb my homeland and circle my capital with tanks? Setup roadblocks, and shoot civilians who dont understand you yelling STOP in english? You seem to think that everyone wants to be americans, but if we were ALL warmongers who would you invade next year?

OK, personally its the fear of what crazy thing your going to do next.
Im anti-american, if i flew a plane into one of your buildings i would understand your anger? --At least your honest that you hate us, most say they don't hate us, just everything we do say and sell.


Would you invade my country? Even tho me the terrorist had allready died in the crash,or was that why? --We invaded Afghanistan as that was where the terrorists were from and that was where they were receiving help from, you'll note that we didn't automatically nuke them, or even attack as soon as we found out. We cautiously found out where they were and then we dismantled the entire Taliban regime.


The need for vengance. Would you bomb my homeland and circle my capital with tanks? Setup roadblocks, and shoot civilians who dont understand you yelling STOP in english? You seem to think that everyone wants to be americans, but if we were ALL warmongers who would you invade next year The need for vengence, possibly, but more it had to deal with if you let a terrorist group dictate to you, what your country will and won't do then you have already weakend your country and might as well hang up your jock right now. Our soldiers are actually trained in simple foreign phrases for whatever country they are in, Most know simple Arbic and Farsi so they can issue commands like stop. Nope we don't theink everyone wants to be Americans and most of us couldn't care less about the rest of the world. If it were up to me I'd cut the world off and never give them another dime of foreign aid. The older I get the more convinced I am that we can't solve the worlds problems, because most people would rather bitch about how unfair it is that America is well off and they (other countries) are poor rather than fixing their own problems...without our investments, or aid, or business.

question
Why is France on the Security Council?

question
Why is France on the Security Council?
France is on the security council as a sop for the ass beating they took during WW2. Americans are often accused of being overly involved in the middle east, but so is France, often because thats where alot of their empire used to be. I don't think France ever really forgave AMerica for dismantling their colonies. It didn't stop them from asking for our help during Vietnam, to provide a bulwark against ccommunism of course....lol

The impotent fat kid..hell, even a fool will tell you that its france and germany.

Germany and impotent fat kid?? i'd like to see you in Germany. We have produced the most intelligent people in history not only scientists but musicians and philosophers, when we lost WWII how many years did it took to rebuild the whole country huh?

We have proved our valor as a nation, our monuments are still mentioned, what do you have the liberty statue? that was made by a french btw. Oh sorry you have the biggest frying pan don't you?

In French history, it wasn't the times when you had religion in politics that make me nervous; it's when you decided to do away with religion. During the Revolution, you wantonly vandalized churches, killing the priests, and officially decreed the buildings to be "Temples of Reason." You invented the metric system, along with a (thankfully defunct) new calendar and new time system. The Terror was led by men who were avowedly atheistic and devoted to the god of Rationality.


Actually Robespierre was quite a devout Christian who opposed the attacks on the Church. Alas by that time the sans cullotes were out of control and so he could do very little to stop.

question
Why is France on the Security Council?

It was also to have another "Euro" power on the council. Stalin was a more than a little paranoid of the Anglo-American "special friendship", and France was always friendlier to Russia than England was after the revolution.

My father's 1967 Czechoslovak passport is in Czech, Russian & French... and my American ones have always been in English & French... basically, it was "another way". :)

Everybody hates the world superpower and at the moment its America.

I would vote that I dislike only the government and the culture, but then I remembered that the culture would not exist without the people, and (apparently) over half of its voting citizens are responsible for the current mess.

To answer the thread title: The "world" hates America because, depending on what part of the world you mean, America is

a.) screwing it over royally
b.) running roughshod over it in pursuit of their own interest
c.) treating it like a second-class appendage to itself
d.) all of the above.

American health care is sick!

Survival of the fittest. disparities between the rich and poor are markedly more pronounced in the U.S. than in England or France. This, in large part, is due to the fact that one in nine Americans has no health insurance. America does not help those who are vulnerable in their society.

American health care is sick!

Survival of the fittest. disparities between the rich and poor are markedly more pronounced in the U.S. than in England or France. This, in large part, is due to the fact that one in nine Americans has no health insurance. America does not help those who are vulnerable in their society.

Ahem. If you look at that 1 in 9 figure, that includes people whom don't want to pay for health insurance. I know several people in their 20s and 30s that PREFER to pay cash for that once-a-year doctor visit and twice-a-year dental visits than pay for health insurance they never use.

One big population are artists and musicians. Another is some of the self-employed, such as landscapers.

The war in Iraq? Afghanistan? Poorly disguised religious crusades.

As an American against the Iraqi war, I really really really anti-Iraqi war. But, the U.S. going into Afghanistan was alright in my eyes, because the taliban was clearly linked to al-queda and al-queda and bin laden were responsible for 9-11. I don't see how thats religous at all. That has nothing to do with religon. In Iraq its not about religon! I hate the war, but its not! Bush isn't a Christian...In 2000 he ran a slanderous campaign against John McCain saying he has a black kid when he campaigned in the South (it was an adpoted Indian kid, but to have that happen in the south is unacceptable). BUsh also attacked McCain as a soilder and his bravery as a POW. The list goes on and on of unChristian things he did...Iraq was about oil and about trying to intmidate the Middle East. It was a Bush wanting war, but it wasn't religous. This country isn't a christian country, only right that claims to be Christian say so. I say claim, because you see how everyone acts here.

I'm athiest to. America is a secular country w/ the right trying to make it a Christian Country. Well, it might have been possible since the far right was in control, but don't you think its unfair to generalize the American country as a whole, because what the few in power did to screw over the rest?

Is that thread still around? Oh jeez...
You know what? This whole thing is just paranoid, "the world" hating "America"
Like there was such a thing as one focus of hatred on which the whole world could agree. Let alone one reason to do so...
And you know what else? I read the threads about France and Canada and it seems to me that if you're not treated like royalty whereever you go, you place the blame instantly on being American and the bad bad world hating you for no reason. "The world" doesn't hate you. "The world" has just about every possible opinion about you : Some admire you, some imitate you, some love you, some feel threatened by you and some hate you. Get used to it. The world isn't going to change for you and love you for every single thing you do.
You won WWII (though I seriously doubt that one of you who are always so happy to claim that actually fought in that war) and "the world" respects you for that. Don't expect gratitude from the great-grandchildren of those who were liberated, least of all to you, the great-grandchildren of the liberators.
You elected Bush, and the world made fun of you. Well, that happens, when you make choices like that.
You decided to invade Iraq, and not the whole world agrees on your motives. Tough, you knew about that and still invaded, now live with the blame.
Some people in the Middle East see your hegemonial cultural and economic influence on the region as evil. Either withdraw your businesses from the region or live with he hatred, you chose the first one, live with the consequences.

But stop questioning the world!!!

Is that thread still around? Oh jeez...
You know what? This whole thing is just paranoid, "the world" hating "America"
Like there was such a thing as one focus of hatred on which the whole world could agree. Let alone one reason to do so...
And you know what else? I read the threads about France and Canada and it seems to me that if you're not treated like royalty whereever you go, you place the blame instantly on being American and the bad bad world hating you for no reason. "The world" doesn't hate you. "The world" has just about every possible opinion about you : Some admire you, some imitate you, some love you, some feel threatened by you and some hate you. Get used to it. The world isn't going to change for you and love you for every single thing you do.
You won WWII (though I seriously doubt that one of you who are always so happy to claim that actually fought in that war) and "the world" respects you for that. Don't expect gratitude from the great-grandchildren of those who were liberated, least of all to you, the great-grandchildren of the liberators.
You elected Bush, and the world made fun of you. Well, that happens, when you make choices like that.
You decided to invade Iraq, and not the whole world agrees on your motives. Tough, you knew about that and still invaded, now live with the blame.
Some people in the Middle East see your hegemonial cultural and economic influence on the region as evil. Either withdraw your businesses from the region or live with he hatred, you chose the first one, live with the consequences.

But stop questioning the world!!!


Wow I did all that?

Wow I did all that?

Well, whenever an American on this forum starts a sentence with "we", you can be sure one of those topics will follow... I don't really know, see, I'm just a stupid uniformed European as yet unblessed with the wisdom of the Fox News chanel, so I assumed what they said was right... ;)

Anyone know what a Trident Submarine is? If you do well....

America. Its great. I don't think u can put it any easier than that. Ya know what's the best thing about America? BBQs. That's right. BBQs and the great food we eat at BBQs. Sure our military is outstanding. Sure we plant democracy all around the world and let it grow. But until you've sit down, enjoyed, and appreciated a few dozen good ol' American BBQs, you don't know squat about US culture.

Now I know how we're the great melting pot and how what we've become is the result of what we have received, and to be honest, I'm very grateful for all the hard-working, dignified, conditioned immigrants that came here from all over the world just to make it big. But even they were grateful for the opportunity that they were provided with that no other country could match in the world. America's not perfect, but its the best we've got on the whole planet.

Some people say America is a very oppressive nation that doesn't care for foreigners. There was even an article in the Wall Street Journal explaining how annoying it is to hear that we are treating terrorists in Guantanamo Bay poorly because some morons decided to burn some copies of the quran and some captives had a chance to explain their feelings to the rest of the world. Somebody please explain the logic of how you can believe and revere what a terrorist who supported and effort to harm the American public said, while believing that the innocence of those of the most liberating country is flawed. Excuse me but I do not think any 5 yr. old kid playing baseball with his dad cheering him on is exactly being brainwashed by American Ideals. Sure we stand for freedom and independence and liberty, but even if you're nuts enough to stand against that, wouldn't you think just for a second that people like to enjoy their free-time and each other's company. How would you feel if someone was always coughing down orders on the back of your neck and if you didn't have any friends in the world?

Now don't get smart about that's exactly what the American armed forces are all about. Excuse me again por favor, but not one of those soldiers that are stationed around the world was enlisted or drafted into service. ALL of them were volunteers one way or another. Some felt that they should stand up for their country because they felt it stands for that which they believe in. Others joined because of educational and medical benefits (which in our great country can be easily acquired through many other means; even the poorest and most decrepit citizens can get a college education and supportive housing through U.S. and state grants). Others wanted to serve side by side with their brothers-in-arms and friends 'n' family. And yes. Sure. Someone joined because he wanted to hold a gun in his hand and get the chance to blow some "towel-head's" block off. But all of those enlisted stand for the common causes of freedom and independence and liberty.

Finally, there are those that think America is oppressing its own for the sake of counter-terrorism. To be blunt, tell me if you have read the entire Patriot Act because #1; that is the hardest document against civil liberties and #2; it DOESN'T INTERFERE with your civil liberties. Like nearly every other U.S. piece of legislation, there are exceptions to every rule, and every action the government is able to perform is something perfectly valid anyway since it applies ONLY TO SYSTEMS ALREADY PUBLICLY MONITORED.

For example, did you know that the government can watch everything you do on your computer? Guess what? It's been able to do that ever since the creation of the internet. Wanna know why? Because the government has network connections through all major communications providers. It's the same reason why police can use wiretaps for suspected criminals. And oh yah. The CIA, NSA, FBI, and INS as well as Federal Marshals and plenty other organizations use wiretaps without warrants legally as long as they show them to the proper analytical authorities which determine if valid evidence has been acquired for the recordings not to be destroyed.

Another example is how the government can check your library records. Guess what? The government's been able to do that since the creation of public libraries too. Guess why again? Because they belong to the government. Excuse me yet again but I would like to be able to look at my record-books that keep tally over what I own and have lent out and I'd bet you would too for your property.

In case your still interested here's a link for the Patriot Act.
http://www.epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.pdf

Anyway, back to BBQs. BBQs give people the chance to get to know each other. That's why neighborhoods hold them whenever a new family moves in or whenever one is moving out or whenever anything important happens. And guess what else? Most people don't ignore each other at BBQs. They don't care if you're yellow, red, black, brown, or white. They don't care if you wear a cross or not as a necklace. They don't even care if they see you kissing someone of the same sex or not (well maybe if you're making out with someone in the middle of the front lawn but that's different). People like to get along and that's the keystone of America. I like BBQs. Almost everyone I know holds BBQs. Even restaurants try to feel like BBQs since they want to be seen as family places rather than bars (TGI Fridays, Applebee's, Ruby Tuesday's; you know the places).

So if you don't like America, go to a BBQ. Go to a few. Go to a few dozen. You'll like 'em. Even if you're not invited, just walk in, introduce yourself, and enjoy the good time you're about to have. Find out what's so great about grandpa. Ask people what their plans for the future are. Ask people what their WORRIES for the future are. Find out who everyone thinks is going to win the World Series (unless you're a New Yorker going to Boston or vice versa).

BBQs. They're what makes today's America special, and nothing short of 'em.

American health care is sick!

Survival of the fittest. disparities between the rich and poor are markedly more pronounced in the U.S. than in England or France. This, in large part, is due to the fact that one in nine Americans has no health insurance. America does not help those who are vulnerable in their society.

How is it out of one side of their mouths people always talk about Darwin and evolution and it being "obviously" true, then turn around and say that survival of the fittest is bad? Would you prolong the life of EVERY organism on the planet? Some must die so that others live, that is nature.I might hasetn to add that our poor get better treatment in our country (where you are more likely to see an actual Dr.) than you will in a country with socialized medicine. That is a fact, as I have seen medical care in England, Canada and France.

The reason we blamed France most is because you guys were supposed to be our friends. We can understand Russia and China going against us because they're a bunch of corrupt commie bastards (I know, I know, Russia isn't technically communist, but they're going back that way), whereas you guys are supposed to be our trusted allies and oldest friends (remember that Lafayette guy?) But you stabbed us in the back by threatening to use your UN veto. Your disagreement wasn't a matter of "Sorry, George, but we just can't support you in this fight. We don't think you're doing the right thing here, and we hope you'll change your mind. Give the inspectors more time."

Polite disagreements between friends happen all the time. If you'd sat this one out, there wouldn't have been any hard feelings. But that wasn't good enough for you. You had to actively work against what we were trying to do (and for what? your oil contracts, you greedy bastards!), undermining the United States at every turn. By your actions, you showed that you and your German lackeys are not to be counted as true friends of the United States. And the blatant ingratitude for your liberation in 1944 isn't helping your case, either.

In French history, it wasn't the times when you had religion in politics that make me nervous; it's when you decided to do away with religion. During the Revolution, you wantonly vandalized churches, killing the priests, and officially decreed the buildings to be "Temples of Reason." You invented the metric system, along with a (thankfully defunct) new calendar and new time system. The Terror was led by men who were avowedly atheistic and devoted to the god of Rationality. Now that I think of it, all your Republics have sucked balls. The First was the one that made the guillotine famous. The Second was started and then overthrown by Napoleon's nephew, having lasted all of four years. The Third had its birth in the French defeat at the hands of the Germans in 1871, going on to nearly lose WWI and then get its pants pulled down by a certain Austrian in 1940. The Fourth was so unstable that after about 10 years they had to change the Constitution. It was also then that they lost in Vietnam and Algeria. The Fifth has seen France's continuing irrelevance in the modern world, and the flourishing for open contempt of France all over.

You know why the United States hasn't had a controversy like your ban on head scarves and other religious symbols? It's because, by and large, we're OK with religion. Religious belief doesn't frighten us, and so we don't take intemperate measures in response.

What happened to you guys? You used to be a world leader in the arts, architecture, military power, etc. Until recently (on a relative scale), the international language of diplomacy was French. Now, your national greatness is just the ghost of a fond memory. Here's a thought: maybe you should be taking pointers from us

So friends are not supposed to tell friends when they think that they think that they are making a big mistake and try to prevent them from doing that? Our argument was that the inspections were getting results and therefore they should be allowed to continue, both M. de Villepin and President Chirac said this repeatedly. As for the oil for food thing that were supposed to be linked the French government, if Saddam Hussein was trying to influence Chirac, Charles Pasqua was about the stupidest person to pick to have influence. To Chirac, Charles Pasqua is a massive political traitor because he backed another candidate in the 1995 elections against Chirac, and they are known to not get along, the one of the reasons that Pasqua left Chirac's party to make his own. Hussein might as well given oil contracts to the Communist Party, would have had about the same influence. I don't know how that opposing the Iraq war is supposed to be ingratitude for WWII. Most people have shown their thanks for the Americans and all the cermonies of the 60th anniversies of WWII milestones have shown that. Are we supposed to submit for the rest of time to the American government's whims regardless what we think about them because of WWII?

It should have been the time that religion in the State relationship in France that should make you nervous, most of the biggest problems in modern French history were caused by religion, not neutrality. The Revolution was not atheistic, it was the 'Cult of Supreme Being' that was trying to replace the Catholic Church with its own religious beliefs. The Terror was not led by atheists; most of them believed in a form of Deism, and the Cult of Supreme Being was Robespierre's idea after all. In the Third Republic, it was the Catholic press that was the most anti-Druyfusard and was supportive of groups that wanted to overthrow the Republic in favour of monarchy. Vichy regime was the most religious 'government' after the Revolution actively using the Catholic Church. Religion does not frighten us but the lack of religious neutrality in public institutions does. I don't think that the ban on religious symbols was really a controversy here as the rest of the world saw it, most people supported it, it was adopted by a large majority in the National Assembly and the Senat only the Far Left, the Greens, neo-liberals against it in the end, not many people defied the ban. Where is the controversy in something like that?

As for greatness in the world, who does the rest of the world see as the one of the biggest dangers to world peace? The US. Who does the rest of world look most favourably on? France. There is not contempt in most of the world for France, it is only the UK, US and Israel that have contempt for France. It is not brute force that wins over friends in the world. It is important to be able to protect oneself, which we are capable of doing, but there is such a thing as asserting oneself too much. Not only that military overstreach as been the fall of most great powers in world history both us and the Brits have see that as well as countless before us.

I know alot of Europeans, and I've been talking to them for years. They hated us long before we invaded Iraq. In fact, few of them have actually changed their opinion since the invasion. It's kinda like when we hear the latest exploits of Barry Bonds; If you already hate him, it's more amunition, and if you like him, you sweep it under the rug.

This isn't meant to be an America-Bashing poll, I've just noticed that Americans don't seem to understand why it is that there country is so disliked.

You know whats funny about that; us Americans aren't really that nieve, infact some Americans don't like living here. I mean with the government and all the lies and deception, who would? Well if the state i lived in could just break off and be its own country, i'd be okay and i wouldn't have to deal with a lot of people and their ignorance.

America has problems true but i think one of the reasons the rest of the world dosnt like US :) is because we dont conform to the rest off the world, and why should we compramise we are the only world power and if the rest of the world wants to be led by the UN like mindless drones let them.

it's b/c of our arrogance

Ohh, don't forget some of the ignorant people here

Lack of knowledge and the world media.

On both the world and the us

But this is nothing new. The US has always walked its own path and has still been successful.

Europe and the Middle East are the primary reasons for this. Most in the US do not want to follow the socialist path that europe walks and the Middel East is a current hot bed for the US.

So, since the US refuses to conform we are villified as arrogant. But one must ask why in our own country we do not seem to face these issues. We are a great melting pot of races, religions, sexual beliefs, etc. We have some clashes but they are minor and normaly over blown by the media.

The average American really does not know about the average foreiner and vice versa beyond what they here in the local news. The world takes our international policys and assigns them to the average American. Obviously for those on the forum that are americans we know this is an incorrect view of us. The same way as by watching the local news you would think that everyone in the middle east is a terrorist.

I have had the privilage of traveling to several counties in Europe and have found the people there to be warm and freindly. I made several freinds that I still communicate with. That is not to say that I agree with them on what their government does but that is not them.

I believe the problem with Americanizm is the fact that many of the citizens are inward looking. They think about what is happening in their country, but not the world. And the problem is many Americans don't realize this. A great example are a couple of American friends, 2 couples that came in two different years, that came to Canada. After a year in Canada, they realized how inward looking they were, and both said they couldn't believe how inward looking they were. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, but many people just don't like it when people think about themselves first.

As for greatness in the world, who does the rest of the world see as the one of the biggest dangers to world peace? The US.

I wish I could respond to all of your points, as you deserve, but it's late and I'm tired. Some other time, perhaps?

However, I would like to single out your last statement. "The rest of the world" is brain-dead. I'm aware that there have been polls saying the biggest threats to world peace are #1: Israel, and #2: the US.

I can't see the US starting World War III anytime soon, and the idea that Israel is some huge threat to world peace, that people lie awake at night hoping the Israelis don't bomb their house, is frankly ludicrous. Poll data like that show that most people are cretins barely capable of leaving the safety of their own homes without someone more intelligent along to make sure they don't get run over by a bus [/blatant hyperbole] ;) :D

But seriously, it's polls like that which confirm my pessimistic assessment of humans and human nature. Just because people think badly of the US, or of Israel, or of whomever, doesn't mean it's so.

What the hell is wrong with our culture?

What the hell is wrong with our culture?
Let's see here. There's that whole, "You know what's pretty? Anorexic/bulimic women!" thing, the first issue that came to mind.

What the hell is wrong with our culture?
It's invasive? It's anti-human? It's cheap? It's loud, ugly, full of bright colors? It makes people fat and dumb? It is propaganda?

Ein Deutscher']It's invasive? It's anti-human? It's cheap? It's loud, ugly, full of bright colors? It makes people fat and dumb? It is propaganda?

Whatever you say, Jack, you're the master race. :rolleyes:

Let's see here. There's that whole, "You know what's pretty? Anorexic/bulimic women!" thing, the first issue that came to mind.

Point of order: that began in ROMAN times, regained vogue status in late Boubon France, and then came back in the 50s.

I wish I could respond to all of your points, as you deserve, but it's late and I'm tired. Some other time, perhaps?

However, I would like to single out your last statement. "The rest of the world" is brain-dead. I'm aware that there have been polls saying the biggest threats to world peace are #1: Israel, and #2: the US.

I can't see the US starting World War III anytime soon, and the idea that Israel is some huge threat to world peace, that people lie awake at night hoping the Israelis don't bomb their house, is frankly ludicrous. Poll data like that show that most people are cretins barely capable of leaving the safety of their own homes without someone more intelligent along to make sure they don't get run over by a bus [/blatant hyperbole] ;) :D

But seriously, it's polls like that which confirm my pessimistic assessment of humans and human nature. Just because people think badly of the US, or of Israel, or of whomever, doesn't mean it's so.

I said one of the biggest threats that does not mean it polled as the biggest threat as far I understand English. Maybe not, as I don't speak to many native speakers on daily basis so I know that my grammar is not perfect. I don't think personally think that it is likely that the US would start World War III; however, as you said that it reflects on the attitudes of the rest of the world about the US. There must be a reason that the people picked the US as one of the biggest threats to world peace even if they most people don't lie awake at night thinking the Americans and Israel are going to bomb out their home tomorrow.

who would jesus bomb? :gundge:

Whatever you say, Jack, you're the master race. :rolleyes:


Well arent' you just Fucking funny :D

This guy is german and thereofre must be a Nazi :D

This just emphasises his point..

Ein Deutscher']It's invasive? It's anti-human? It's cheap? It's loud, ugly, full of bright colors? It makes people fat and dumb? It is propaganda?

Anti-human?

Well arent' you just Fucking funny :D

This guy is german and thereofre must be a Nazi :D

This just emphasises his point..

Baldrick, go rent the collector's edition of Highlander and watch for the WW2 scene that was deleted in the theatrical release. ;)

Ein Deutscher']It's invasive? It's anti-human? It's cheap? It's loud, ugly, full of bright colors? It makes people fat and dumb? It is propaganda?

Hey, no one told you to go down and eat at McDonalds.

That never ceased to amaze me. Plenty of Germans complaining about the invasion of American culture, and yet there were always plenty of people cramming into the McDonalds in Stuttgart who were native Germans.

In the two years I was in Germany, I NEVER ATE ANY MCDONALD'S.
I still don't eat at McDonald's.

Guess I have better sense than a lot of the Germans I saw.

...

In the two years I was in Germany, I NEVER ATE ANY MCDONALD'S.
I still don't eat at McDonald's.

Guess I have better sense than a lot of the Germans I saw.
I have never been at McDonald's... :rolleyes:

Also I don't think that the World hates America. I'd say, for example, that the Russians' attitude to the USA could be called 'mild dislike'. There are, of course, real nutters who either praise 9-11 or proclaim it a Bush plot, but they form a small minority.

Baldrick, go rent the collector's edition of Highlander and watch for the WW2 scene that was deleted in the theatrical release. ;)


rent?...i dont rent anything..if i wanted somethiong i would buy it i would rent something.....no one knows who might of had it.... >.> <.<

I have never been at McDonald's... :rolleyes:

Also I don't think that the World hates America. I'd say, for example, that the Russians' attitude to the USA could be called 'mild dislike'. There are, of course, real nutters who either praise 9-11 or proclaim it a Bush plot, but they form a small minority.

The question I always ask is, "does it matter to the average person?" And the answer is usually no.

So, Bush might have done this, he might have done that (war in Iraq). Does it matter to the average American? Does it affect their lives in any way? The answer usually is "No."

I could think of Putin in the same way. So, he might have done this, he might have done that (interfering in Ukraine). Does it matter to the average Russian? Does it affect their lives in any way? The answer usually is "No."

Even if all the allegations were true, could any one of us actually change it?

No.

I don't think that the majority of people hate America- in general I would think it is national policy and minority opinion that is stacked against America or because the parents instill ideas of hatred in their young.

When I lived in Austria, the people there told me that during WWII, they prayed that America would capture their towns before the USSR. Those towns occupied by USSR are disappointed, but they still enjoy coming here, buying our products, and listening to our news, regardless of what they say overtly.

I was never criticized or caused physical harm while there simply for being American although I lived there during the UN action in former Yugoslavia and American flags were burned daily on St. Josef's Plaza in Vienna. Most of the perpetrators where from Yugoslavia and were understandably angry at what they believed to be wanton destruction of their homes.

Such is not the case, nor ever has been.

A good friend of mine had a coworker from Turkey for a breif time who told my friend this: "The reason why I like America is that you never fight a war in order to get more territory or resources." Although we have tried that in the past, it has never been our major goal, nor will be so long as I have breath...

rent?...i dont rent anything..if i wanted somethiong i would buy it i would rent something.....no one knows who might of had it.... >.> <.<

This has something to do with why the English have 3000 individual ketchup/mustard packets instead of having bottles on the table, right? :D

In the words of Bejamin Franklin;

"... We've spawned a new race here; rougher, simpler, more violant, more enterprising, less refined."

We are a different culture here, and we don't conform to what Europe looks to a 'civilized' nation to become. We're much more conservitive, much more attached to religion and spirituality, and we like doing things our own way.

In the words of Bejamin Franklin;

"... We've spawned a new race here; rougher, simpler, more violant, more enterprising, less refined."

We are a different culture here, and we don't conform to what Europe looks to a 'civilized' nation to become. We're much more conservitive, much more attached to religion and spirituality, and we like doing things our own way.
Nobody has an objection on doing things your way :D
It's just you also like all the others do it your way :(
That's where the misery arises from, me thinks...

The culture is great, at least aspects of the culture are great. What is bad is the peoples lack of understanding that other cultures are also great.

1. Well, I seem to remember from Gallup 44% of you are Biblical Literalists, 87% practising christians...so I would say, yes. And actually, no president has been a non-christian and no Senator at the moment is.
2. Nope, but the point is you're behaving like we did 100s of years ago NOW.
3. It was American History, there was no other history orientated class. He sat down, learned about American History but I and he would rather a broad education.
4. THe government does nothing to stop it. We call that hypocrisy.


No president has been a non-christian? Oh, really? Heh, then you must not have heard about our dear President Thomas Jefferson, way back in the founding of our country. He happened to be a Diest, which is similar to Atheist. The Christians predicted hell-fire and brimstone, that our children would eat their parents, etc, but he still got elected. Still think we are a theocracy? Of course, with Bush in charge, I have little to say, but don't go saying we've always had a zealot for a prez.

Damn is this still going?

Well I just returned from France and can say I wasn't "hated"

I was even treated nice in Paris :eek:

People tend to worry about their own lives rather then spend a great deal of time thinking about other countries.

Ahh well.

No president has been a non-christian? Oh, really? Heh, then you must not have heard about our dear President Thomas Jefferson, way back in the founding of our country. He happened to be a Diest, which is similar to Atheist. The Christians predicted hell-fire and brimstone, that our children would eat their parents, etc, but he still got elected. Still think we are a theocracy? Of course, with Bush in charge, I have little to say, but don't go saying we've always had a zealot for a prez.

My understanding of Dieism is that followers do actually beleive in God (so not atheist) they just think he was responsible for creating the physical laws of the universe and letting things go from there rather than taking the personal interest in the creation of man that Christianity tells of. I personally like that theory because it let's me believe in God and study science without having to smoke the crack of "Intelligent Design".

My understanding of Dieism is that followers do actually beleive in God (so not atheist) they just think he was responsible for creating the physical laws of the universe and letting things go from there rather than taking the personal interest in the creation of man that Christianity tells of. I personally like that theory because it let's me believe in God and study science without having to smoke the crack of "Intelligent Design".


Heh, yes ^_^ Diesm is closely related to agnostic views, but would you expect early 19th century zealots to make such distinctions? All they cared was that he wasn't a zealot like them. *shrugs* In any case, he wasn't a Christian.

Damn is this still going?

Well I just returned from France and can say I wasn't "hated"

I was even treated nice in Paris :eek:

People tend to worry about their own lives rather then spend a great deal of time thinking about other countries.

Ahh well.That's because you were in their country as a tourist spending money. If you weren't giving them money they wouldn't have been nice to you.

I think that maybe instead of all this "Why everyone hates America" crap that is being spewed on this and thousands of other messae boards, someone ought to start wondering at the effects it is having on the US populace. I am 29 years old, a father, and currently on the ground in Iraq. My entire adult life, still so young I know, I have never been to an open forum where Europeans did not talk about what is wrong with the US. In fact, everytime I get a warm welcome for being a US citizen, it's from a European over 70. Having never spent any great deal of time in Europe, what I learn about it comes from books, interviews etc... and what I have learned about the people is that there is no subject more favored then "Whats wrong with the US"
Fine. Just be very wary of the effect you are having on the youth of America, who are growing up online, where all they see is US bashing from Europe. If you think our policies are screwed up now, can't wait to see what you think of a generation that is convinced that you hate us in the first place. I hope that the world never NEEDS us again, because we just might say no.
and if someone out there feels threatened by this and just has to respond, im me, I have work to do and can't sit here all day.

Without American support in Kosovo and the former Yugoslavia, no Nato action could have been possible. I do not remember the UK landing any troops before Clinton was on board.

Second, that bit about England, France and Greece is bogus.

Greece's democracy was a far cry from the modern form, and didn't last. The US is the first modern democracy.

The US ISN'T a democracy, never has and never will be, there is a reason for it. The forefathers of the US didn't trust Joe Hickseed to vote for someone who isn't as thick as two short planks, hence the reason there is the electorial college which stands as a safe guard between the voter and the candidate.

The electorial college HAS in the past, voted in a person who was not the most popular candidate; its the equivilant of having the parliament vote in the president (Germany does it, but Germany's president doesn't exactly have any executive powers IIRC; he is just a figure head).

France's revolution was in many ways an out growth of our own, and it didn't last, and brought around horrible consequences. The country that 'invented liberty' went from kissing Louis the 16th's butt, to the rain of Terror, to Napolean in less than 3 decades. During this time, America was already enjoying the 'liberty' that France supposedly invented.

But unlike the US, they've learned valuable lessons. America hasn't learned a damn thing; Christians are now top dog, and thinking its now their turn to punish and descriminate against others.

Hell, we've got people here who the 'everyone is against us metality' - here is a hint US and citizens, we don't care; we get on with life; we don't see everything as one big f*cking crusade against or for something; we don't promote religious nut case generals who believe that "god put the president there"; out parliaments are made up of people who are educated and have smarts - not those who can scream, "praise the lord!" the loudest.

Considering rule of law.... damn. All Citizens of the UK are still subjects to the Crown (and will soon be ruled by King Charles the Third). The US invented the concept of government by and for the people... somehow I see that as more important than having contracts with a King.

I don't mind myself being a subject of Queen Elizabeth, and being protected in the Realm of New Zealand and when going overseas.

It sure as hell better than being serf to GWB, the corrupt and enept two party system, and the inherent corruption that goes with it.

Atleast I can say, "thank god we don't have a elected moron as head of state"

Line it up; one side you have a well spoken, educated, lady; the other hand, you have a slack jawed hick from Texas with a walking difficulty only caused his inflated ego thinking he has bigger balls than he really hanging between his legs.

I think that maybe instead of all this "Why everyone hates America" crap that is being spewed on this and thousands of other messae boards, someone ought to start wondering at the effects it is having on the US populace. I am 29 years old, a father, and currently on the ground in Iraq. My entire adult life, still so young I know, I have never been to an open forum where Europeans did not talk about what is wrong with the US. In fact, everytime I get a warm welcome for being a US citizen, it's from a European over 70. Having never spent any great deal of time in Europe, what I learn about it comes from books, interviews etc... and what I have learned about the people is that there is no subject more favored then "Whats wrong with the US"
Fine. Just be very wary of the effect you are having on the youth of America, who are growing up online, where all they see is US bashing from Europe. If you think our policies are screwed up now, can't wait to see what you think of a generation that is convinced that you hate us in the first place. I hope that the world never NEEDS us again, because we just might say no.
and if someone out there feels threatened by this and just has to respond, im me, I have work to do and can't sit here all day.

The US will continue down the same path until such time that Americans are finally educated about things that occur outside their boarder, even outside their own state would be an achievement. Heck, some don't even know the location of a state relative to their own state!

Hell, America spends more time navel glasesing than any othe country I know; constant back patting and praising of achivements that are pretty unimportant in the grand scheme of things; it reminds me of NZ 'historians' who try to pump New Zealand history into something more important than it really is; the fact of the matter, NZ history can be crunched down into 3 major events, Treaty of Waitangi, Economic reforms of the 1980s and an independent foreign policy from 1986 onwards.

America is the same thing; when you boil down to it, it could be covered in 1/2 a year, and the rest of the year could be dedicated learning about OTHER COUNTRIES! amazing, countries and entities BEYOND the boarders of the US! yes, they DO exist, and NO they aren't tyrannical regemes as the US administration would like to paint every country outside North America.

Christians are now top dog, and thinking its now their turn to punish and descriminate against others.

Hell, we've got people here who the 'everyone is against us metality' - here is a hint US and citizens, we don't care; we get on with life; we don't see everything as one big f*cking crusade against or for something; we don't promote religious nut case generals who believe that "god put the president there"; out parliaments are made up of people who are educated and have smarts - not those who can scream, "praise the lord!" the loudest.

It sure as hell better than being serf to GWB, the corrupt and enept two party system, and the inherent corruption that goes with it.

Atleast I can say, "thank god we don't have a elected moron as head of state"

you have a slack jawed hick from Texas with a walking difficulty only caused his inflated ego thinking he has bigger balls than he really hanging between his legs.

I edited your quote a little bit, just to the parts I liked the most.

Christian fundamentalists have gone way too far, imo.

The two party system is more than f*cked up.

I can say I didn't elect a moron as president, because I can't vote until this year, so, my first vote will be when I'm 22. I wouldn't have voted fot Bush anyway.

I especially like the description of the President. A little extreme but fairly accurate.

I think that maybe instead of all this "Why everyone hates America" crap that is being spewed on this and thousands of other messae boards, someone ought to start wondering at the effects it is having on the US populace. I am 29 years old, a father, and currently on the ground in Iraq. My entire adult life, still so young I know, I have never been to an open forum where Europeans did not talk about what is wrong with the US. In fact, everytime I get a warm welcome for being a US citizen, it's from a European over 70. Having never spent any great deal of time in Europe, what I learn about it comes from books, interviews etc... and what I have learned about the people is that there is no subject more favored then "Whats wrong with the US"
Fine. Just be very wary of the effect you are having on the youth of America, who are growing up online, where all they see is US bashing from Europe. If you think our policies are screwed up now, can't wait to see what you think of a generation that is convinced that you hate us in the first place. I hope that the world never NEEDS us again, because we just might say no.
and if someone out there feels threatened by this and just has to respond, im me, I have work to do and can't sit here all day.
OK that seems a little bit weird to me. About 10 years ago anybody in school would be glad to go the US. It's the land of freedom, and where the dreams come true, you know. But by now this got lost somehow. Can't really figure out how it came but it's lost. Still I can't see anybody here hating the US. Perhaps there are some people who hate G. W. Bush, but thats about it.
Some people are wondering how it came you voted for him again, after he apparently lied to you. But thats just a natural thing that happens with politicans all over the world I guess, so its just normal to wonder a little about it.
Most are still watching movies from hollywood and most of those teenie stars stem from there i think. :D
To me it just seems most of people discussing on this topic expect everybody to say AH, great fine, must be right if the US say so. They then tend to get a little disappointed if there are some more opinions out there.

|I don't dislike america.

I edited your quote a little bit, just to the parts I liked the most.

Christian fundamentalists have gone way too far, imo.

The two party system is more than f*cked up.

I can say I didn't elect a moron as president, because I can't vote until this year, so, my first vote will be when I'm 22. I wouldn't have voted fot Bush anyway.

I especially like the description of the President. A little extreme but fairly accurate.

Why does the average American allow these fundamentalists to get their way? I mean, is the US actually just a theocracy waiting to happen? the US *IS* actually filled with religious nuts?

Hey I'm Australian, not European and I hate America. And all of it because I don't like the rude pushy attitude EVERYONE had when I went there. The only nice people were either being paid to be nice or wanted something off you. And of course I hate the government because a government is a reflection of those rude and pushy people.

1) I am 29 years old, a father, and currently on the ground in Iraq.
2)Just be very wary of the effect you are having on the youth of America, who are growing up online, where all they see is US bashing from Europe. If you think our policies are screwed up now, can't wait to see what you think of a generation that is convinced that you hate us in the first place.
3)I hope that the world never NEEDS us again, because we just might say no.
4)and if someone out there feels threatened by this and just has to respond, im me, I have work to do and can't sit here all day.

1. Without wanting to sound disrespectful, but does that qualify you any more to say something? Does it have any bearing whatsoever?

2. As far as I can see, some people on this forum can be radical US Nationalists all by themselves. What we (from Europe) say or don't say seems to be of little importance to them.

3. Excellent. It is exactly that kind of arrogance that is the cause for Anti-US Feelings in many people. Either you're the "good guys", then you shouldn't be expecting things in return, or America is just another empire in a long line of empires, then you shouldn't be surprised when people dislike your policies.

4. I trust you'll make it back eventually, hopefully (and this is way out of line and below the belt and I appologise in advance ;) ) in one piece, and I hope you'll engage in a meaningful discussion with me.

I'm English and no, I don't hate the American people or culture. Frankly their culture is pretty similar to ours, and as far as the people go any group of 280 million people is going to have a lot of good and a lot of bad people, each of whom should be judged on an individual basis.

the country of the USA is pretty good...some really nice architecture and scenery. Unfortunately (and this is just my view)...a lot of the people let it down. Firstly, you voted in Bush, not once, but twice (though i'm still not sure the first time was legitimate). Secondly, a lot of you seem to be very overweight (I know all of you arent, but i think obesity is a big problem over there in both men and women).

Thirdly, you can be really arrogant sods some of the time...for example, you refer to you're country as 'America', yet, strictly speaking, this includes Canada, Central America and South America.

Finally, I dont like the attitude of the American armed forces: 'we are the hardest army in the world (debatable) so we will always get what we want regardless of the consequences'. There is a sign that kinda sums up this point at the RAF airbase where my uncle works. It reads: 'Do you know the difference between an Iraqi and British soldier? No?...Welcome to the US Army!'

just a few points really...great country; the ppl could be better

Well, I have never met a Christian who didn't have mixed and skewed and incorrect priorities. That's because no such Christian exists.

I'm simply commenting to prove you wrong.

I dont hate America. Im and Aussie the only thing that pisses me off about america is that our Prime Minister can stop licking there arses.

I live in the World, and I think America is great... In fact, most people I know like America too... :confused: I guess I just don't understand the original post.. pity.

what i dont like is the lies.People like George Bush goin around wavin flags sayin they fight for freedom and all that.Did you know America has gone to war to destroy democracy before?in the Dominican Republic for example.Castro,for all his faults,was fighting a corrupt dictator in Cuba.And the reason sanctions were imposed on him was far from just or noble.it was because he was trying to save Cuba from becoming a colony of American companies,and when he expelled them the US didnt like it.at the end of the day,nations act mainly in their own interests,and rarely for a moral cause.now im not saying its just the americans,lots of countries do it,but it just makes me sick when i see Bush making himself out to be this great champion of liberty and so on.all that said,i think its stupid the way some people judge a people for their country's history.im Irish,and a lot of bad shite happened to my country because of the British Empire,but that dosnt mean i hate the English.the world might not be too happy with the American government but thats no reason to complain about the American people