NationStates Jolt Archive

Since I joined this forum, I have had the pleasure and sometimes displeasure of conversing with people from all over the world. Some have been fiercely patriotic and some have been extremely apologetic. Not being an internationally traveled person, please briefly enlighten me on the best and worst about your own country. I'll go first.

I'm an American and what I like most about my country is the abundance of opportunity. Opportunities in education, financial and economic success, and the opportunites to pursue all that you desire. The opportunities are there, but that doesn't mean you will be given them. They come from dedication and hard work and sacrifice. In most cases, you have to give in order to get. Give up your personal time in exchange for work and study. In rare cases you just win the lottery. I also like the fact that our representative government is only temporary at best. Sometimes we get great leaders that spur economic growth and international harmony and sometimes we get ego-maniacs with self serving agendas that turn the international community against us. Thankfully, at most these dinosaurs can only last 2 terms(less than 24 months to go).

What I dislike most about this country is the overwhelming practice to be politically correct. America is a litigious nation and we fear hurting eachother's feelings lest we be sued. We have great and diverse cultures which no longer wish to be in the melting pot of the old America. They prefer segregation with everything except the aformentioned opportunity. For example, the politically correct way to identify a Black Man, born and raised in America, is African-American. Is a Black Man, born and raised in England identified as an African-Englishman or just an Englishman?

The fact I'm able to talk about the violent overthrow of the UNited states goverment on the phone with my friend, and then go shoot torso targets with "ATF" written over them.

Gotta love it!

I'm from the US, too.

What I love: Americans' pioneering spirit. Americans are ambitious and hardworking folks who are always trying to improve their station in life. Maybe it's just wild optimism that motivates us to succeed against all odds, but I like it. I also love the US' rich history. Modern democracy and the written constitution are essentially American inventions (inspired by ancient Greece, ancient Rome, and English history and common law, of course).

What I hate: Hot summers. :) No, seriously, I guess I hate the political apathy. Most people are middle of the road, don't show up to vote, and are content when their rights and liberties are infringed upon and even taken away. I think we're just such a wealthy and comfortable society with a relatively stable government, we tend to take things for granted because we haven't had many major national crises, at least not compared to the rest of the world.

What do I like of my country?

The weather, the meal, the chicks...

What do I hate?

The cheap false patrioterism that leads some people to commit racist attacks; the high number of PP voters.
(Sometimes both are the same)

I like my country...just hate the fact Tony Blair is Prime Minister

Love:
Weather
People
Nature
Basic education

Hate:
Weather
People
Distances
Living costs

I like my country...just hate the fact Tony Blair is Prime Minister
Pretty much. Also the youth of today (chavs), and the connected culture.

I like the weather, the history, the culture, the landscape, the food, etc...

So it's pretty much just the people I have a problem with.

Canadian (and insomniac)

Love:
The nature. Oh. My. God. What beautiful country I live in. In the summer its like the land of milk and honey. Spent July helping my parents build their retirement cottage...and many days I working not 10 feet away from a family of deer who just accepted my presence, and the presence of the house, as they would say, a tree, just something to be gone around in the ever so slightest detour....wide open blue sky with not a particle of smog, cumulonimbus clouds miles high off on the horizon, pristine, unpolluted river a 30 second walk away...and that's just one tiny corner of this incredibly vast place.

I also love: the freedom, the social conscious aspect of our politics and govt, and the people (well, in parts of the country anyway) and the opportunities.

Hate? Um....My spineless govt that lets other nations buy out our precious resources for pennies on the dollar. Also hate part of the winter..its about a month and a half too long.

There's a lot more of course that I like and dislike, but those are my loves and hates.

So it's pretty much just the people I have a problem with.

Essex people...or just generally?

Well, I barely ever leave Essex, so I suppose Essex people. Essex young people. It would be unfair to generalise about other counties, but chavism does seem fairly widespread and evenly distributed.

So basically I hate not being able to go to the park without being accosted by weirdos and fearing assault by gangs of tracksuited morons.

I'm from the US, too.
I also love the US' rich history.

lol, a few hundred years of shame and striving...wow, europe is where history comes from.

Not to be outdone though, Australia, best land in the world and those that agree will know why but for those that dont then you haven't found out yet and we dont want to spoil the surprise, our history is so shallow that we havent wiped out the indegienous population like so many other countries did.

lol, a few hundred years of shame and striving...wow, europe is where history comes from.

Not to be outdone though, Australia, best land in the world and those that agree will know why but for those that dont then you haven't found out yet and we dont want to spoil the surprise, our history is so shallow that we havent wiped out the indegienous population like so many other countries did.


Not for lack of trying.

What do I like of my country?

The weather, the meal, the chicks...

What do I hate?

The cheap false patrioterism that leads some people to commit racist attacks; the high number of PP voters.
(Sometimes both are the same)

What's wrong with the Partido Popular?

What's wrong with the Partido Popular?

They're extreme extreme right.

If they won in 1996 and 2000 it was because there wasn't opposition.

And they are the heirs of Franco :rolleyes: ...

lol, a few hundred years of shame and striving...wow, europe is where history comes from.

Not to be outdone though, Australia, best land in the world and those that agree will know why but for those that dont then you haven't found out yet and we dont want to spoil the surprise, our history is so shallow that we havent wiped out the indegienous population like so many other countries did.

Not for lack of trying.

Indeed...

Remember White Australia, remember the stolen generation...and so on.

I'm not proud of my nations history.

I have to admit, Australia's history is dead boring. America's a little more interesting, but Europe has the best. Australia is a great country but Europe has the history...the buildings...the people...all of that.

I love Britains heritage, I hate Britians current left-leaning government. Oh and the dodgy chavs.

They're extreme extreme right.

If they won in 1996 and 2000 it was because there wasn't opposition.

And they are the heirs of Franco :rolleyes: ...

They aren't that extreme... if they were extreme they would have stopped the huge amounts of immigration into Spain and abolished your regional parliaments. Just because you support PSOE doesn't mean PP are extremists.

I'm from Ireland and I'm a reel Homebird so excuse me if my list is a bit disproportionate(hope I spelt that right)

I love
the green : (dosen't really include if you live in Dublin). Everybody complain's about how it rain's so much but look what comes out of it a beutiful green countryside the best in the world.
The People: Course there is going to be a few arsholes in everyplace but we are blessed with less than the average and espesially in the west people are glad to help if you are lose or whatever.
The Family life: Except for in Dublin the family is the best in the world. no other country compare's to it(cept for maybe Italy).
The Education: Education is very important in Ireland and it show's. Despite being one of the worstly funded education system's in Europe(and highest class sizes ect) we have the best educated people.Imagine how good it could be if the government funded it properly.

Ok now onto the I hate's

The IRA, UVA ,UVF ect: Not much explanation needed here. The 800 years of oppression excuse is getting a little old(Although I still use it myself when talking to anyone English. they mostly don't have a clue what I'm talking about. Stupid English)
Michael McDowell and his government cronnie's: Even though I didn't vote for Fianna Fael it depresses me to think the rest of the country did.
The growing social inequality in namly Dublin:I think I will blame this on Goverment policy aswell.

Emm That's around it if I think of any more I'll let yis know

I'm British and I love it. I love the feeling I get when I walk through London and feel wealth and power oozing out of every victorian-gothic edifice. When I go walking in the welsh mountains age and time creeps up my spine and fills my soul with peace, the sighing breeze in the trees and the bleating of sheep on the high pastures. Every town is a part of a legend, every village has a myth. Our country has been the Island of the Mighty before stories were written and when poets were still kings. On christmas eve, I can walk into a pub and see people of almost any race, upbringing or cultural subgroup buying each other drinks and wishing each other good will. Something ties us all together, some vine of history and shared desire that turns our disparate peoples into something far more than some other crappy little democratic western nation.

I HATE our education system. Years of governmental abuse have turned it into little more than a propaganda service for the government, something that REALLY doesn't work in a democratic state. Its horrific message of selfish individualism has produced successively more degenerate and disunified generations, where it hasn't simply failed people completely. Hence the Chav, the townie, the rude-boys and the dribblingly moronic liberals and republicans ;) .

I love Britains heritage, I hate Britians current left-leaning government.

Well said! I love Britian's heritage, history and traditions, but hate the way it's being underminded by moralistic left-wing fools, and the clueless Celtic nationalists.

I'm British and I love it. I love the feeling I get when I walk through London and feel wealth and power oozing out of every victorian-gothic edifice. When I go walking in the welsh mountains age and time creeps up my spine and fills my soul with peace, the sighing breeze in the trees and the bleating of sheep on the high pastures. Every town is a part of a legend, every village has a myth. Our country has been the Island of the Mighty before stories were written and when poets were still kings. On christmas eve, I can walk into a pub and see people of almost any race, upbringing or cultural subgroup buying each other drinks and wishing each other good will. Something ties us all together, some vine of history and shared desire that turns our disparate peoples into something far more than some other crappy little democratic western nation.

I HATE our education system. Years of governmental abuse have turned it into little more than a propaganda service for the government, something that REALLY doesn't work in a democratic state. Its horrific message of selfish individualism has produced successively more degenerate and disunified generations, where it hasn't simply failed people completely. Hence the Chav, the townie, the rude-boys and the dribblingly moronic liberals and republicans ;) .

You me and Blu-Tac should start a club :)

Well said! I love Britian's heritage, history and traditions, but hate the way it's being underminded by moralistic left-wing fools, and the clueless Celtic nationalists.

Not trying to Isult you here but how can you like British History all it includes is the beating the crap out of other counties like Ireland. Maybe I'm a bit biast
but you have to hate the history of the country where Oliver Cromwell came from especially if your dad is from Drogheda. He slaughtered the whole city Men, Women and children. I suppose it must be the other parts of history you love.

Brit-Addicts Anonymous? :D

The simply truth is, patriotism should be blind. It isn't a considered response - it's something you feel with your heart, hindbrain and lower spinal cord. Real patriots feel the connection to the land and the people at such a basic and connected level that the love of the country becomes automatic and instinctive. Its something older and more meaningful than any governmental idealism or some sort of 'dream'.

Although having said that, I do dream of a constitutional monarchy where the power of the throne is brought once more into parity with the Commons.

They aren't that extreme... if they were extreme they would have stopped the huge amounts of immigration into Spain and abolished your regional parliaments. Just because you support PSOE doesn't mean PP are extremists.

Look, when you hear their Pope Fraga (candidate for the elections in Galicia) saying to a journalist "If you were not a woman I had punched you twice" --BTW Fraga was a former Franco minister--, you think they're radicals. And they tried to stop inmigration with their law -but they were so pointless that failed-, and they tried to improve the present of catholicism <even more than their fiscal benefits!> in an officially laicist nation -but failed, again-. And they lied us about the Iraqi MDW's; and they went to Iraq when millions of people told them not to go.

They've got a foundation called FAES; whose ideals are shared by Jimenez-Losantos, a well-known racist writer, inspiration of some neo-nazi groups.(and former Maoist!!!)

And I don't call them radicals for voting PSOE. I voted PSOE because PP are radicals. And, next time I won't vote PSOE. I disagree with their official policy.

Well said! I love Britian's heritage, history and traditions, but hate the way it's being underminded by moralistic left-wing fools, and the clueless Celtic nationalists.

I agree 100% well said!!!!


I love the queen, ALL the history including the empire, the heritage (i live 2 miles from warwick castle and stratford-upon-avon!) the language,

I also love the way the british passport gets us into almost any country without a visa, only a few countrys like china or russia(soon to change) do we need a visa, everywhere else, we just turn up :D

And the fact we allways beat the french (2012 olympics, napoleonic wars, rebate issue, blenheim, agincourt, trafalger)

I hate, chavs, the lack of respect in our society, the moronic goverment at present, and the endless , needless political correctness

And the education system. I have dyslexia , i coudent do a-levels, why? because i dont have maths or english gcse's (i also have dyscalcula as well, same as dyslexia, wbut with numbers)

And to do a levels, you need either maths or english, and they woudent let me study politics and history, despite the fact, i am a member of a historicle society and a member of a politicle party (tories :p )

Despite the fact my IQ is 154, they said it would be unfair to those who did get those gcse's, right, for fear of upsetting people, your going to put my education on hold?!?!?!?! they let me in the end though :D

Hate? Um....My spineless govt that lets other nations buy out our precious resources for pennies on the dollar.
I also hate the fact that sponsership scandels are the new "it" thing for our politicians.
Also hate part of the winter..its about a month and a half too long.

You must live in the wrong part of Canada. In Vancouver winter lasts two days.

I like how we have legalized same sex marriages and are bilingual.

I dislike how poor of a job the govt has done making ppl bilingual.

PS-What's chavism?

Brit-Addicts Anonymous? :D

The simply truth is, patriotism should be blind. It isn't a considered response - it's something you feel with your heart, hindbrain and lower spinal cord. Real patriots feel the connection to the land and the people at such a basic and connected level that the love of the country becomes automatic and instinctive. Its something older and more meaningful than any governmental idealism or some sort of 'dream'.

Although having said that, I do dream of a constitutional monarchy where the power of the throne is brought once more into parity with the Commons.

You read my mind :D

I live in America.

What I hate :headbang:
really conservitive conservitives
Bush
CLintion
Too much power for the rich
Not enough intellegent poor people
The fact that we are one of the dumbest countries in the world, and nobody really cares that we are.

What I love :D
We gave the world modern democracy
We saved Europe for Germany in WWI
We saved the world form Germany and Japan (and Itally but nobody rembers them) in WWII
We saved the world from the Soveits.

Rember us for the good things, ok?

We saved the world from the Soveits.


How?

I'm Scottish and I have to say I love almost everything about it. Our kilts have fantastic effects on females, we have beautiful countryside (I live in the North East) on the doorsteps of all our towns, our New Year celebrations with our traditional dances, haggis, the feeling of pride whenever we beat the English rugby squad (hey, it doesn't happen often!), highland games, The Proclaimers and last but by no means least, Whisky.

Onto the hates; our stereotyped image - this is to all those Americans out there who believe we all live in caves or castles, walk about in our kilts all day and saying things like "Och aye the noo!" when we go out on our annual haggis hunt, it doesn't happen. Scotland has a terrible heroin problem, many great rock acts seem to avoid us on their tours, Tennants Lager (give me a Stella any day of the week instead) and finally our lack of really great cheeses - the English get Stilton, the French have their equivlant Rockforte and their Brie, the Italians get Parmesan and even Canada have their Montary Jack. It just ain't fair.

the women.

PS-What's chavism?
www.chavscum.co.uk

I love my Country and my Countrymen (and women)

I Fear and HATE my Government and my Justice System.

What I love :D
We gave the world modern democracy
We saved Europe for Germany in WWI
We saved the world form Germany and Japan (and Itally but nobody rembers them) in WWII
We saved the world from the Soveits.

Rember us for the good things, ok?

Wait a second buddy...

Modern Democracy, White America was created by Europeans who moved over to colonise taking their democracy with them.

As for WW2, (you've really got me started here) there's no denying you guys helped us out but you did only come into the war at the end, here's a list of all of the countries involved in the war;

Albania
Japan
Algeria
Korea
Australia
Malaya
Austria
Malta
Belgium
Marshall Islands
Britain
Morocco
Borneo
Netherlands
Bulgaria
New Guinea
Burma
New Zealand
Canada
Nicaragua
Ceylon
Norway
Chile
Pakistan
China
Palestine
Congo
Philippines
Cuba
Poland
Czechoslovakia
Portugal
Denmark
Romania
Egypt
Sicily
Eritrea
Singapore
Ethiopia
Soloman Islands
Finland
Somalia
France
South Africa
Germany
Soviet Union
Gibraltar
Spain
Greece
Sweden
Grenada
Switzerland
Gilbert
Islands Syria
Thailand
Hungary Tunisia
India
Turkey
Iraq
United States
Israel
Vietnam

Your reasons for entering the war weren't to save us, but for fear of invasion from the Axis powers. If your plan was to save us why did Roosevelt outright refuse to send over the 40 destroyers that Churchill had asked for when he most needed help, why no troops? Britain captured the enigma machine and with the help of the Polish Biuro Szyfrów decoded it. It was Russia that fought and won the Battle For Berlin in 1945. I also suggest you look up some SAS operations from WW2 along with Irish soldier Paddy Mayne.


And Saved the world from Soviets?!?!? Get tae F*CK!!! Fair enough Russia becoming a nuclear power was an unsettling idea but I've only got to mention Veitnam to remind you of one country you couldn't 'cleanse' of Communism.

I like my country...just hate the fact Tony Blair is Prime Minister


Yeah, too right. All he does is make things worse here. :headbang:

I live in America and I'm going to have to say that the amount of times we saved the world from the Soviets is zero. I really can't think of a time when Soviet Russia actually threatened the earth anyway.

To feel proper about posting in this thread, I'll have to respond to the topic. Things I love about America...? Well, I don't hate the place but I can't think of anything I could say I truly love. I think apathy prevents me from truly loving anything. That's a joke, I just don't know what else to say I love. It's not a bad place here, really. I could say what I love about the state I'm in, but that's for another topic.

As for things I hate, well...everyone being so god damned fucking politically correct and uptight all the time. I want to walk down the street and talk about heroine being funny, eating someone's children, and telling rape victims it was their fault. You had a relative die from cancer? Fuck you, so did I. I don't give a shit about you and I'm going to make cancer jokes too. Oh Jesus you don't support abortion? That's great, I'm going to talk about back alley clinics getting the job done with a vaccume and a coat hanger anyway. I hate the fact that I can't do that without fifty thousand people calling me "insensitive" and complaining about how they're "offended." If you think I'm insensitive, why would you think I'm going to give a crap when you tell me you're offended? Fuck off. (Upon further reflection, I suppose you couldn't give something "shock value" if no one is "shocked" by it, right?)

I've never left the country, so I imagine that problem exists all over the world. So it might not be something to dislike about america but the world moreover. Regardless, that's my "hate" for this topic.

Going to leave the rest alone, but I wanted to say one thing...

The US bankrupted the Soviets with the arms race during the Cold War. We used our economic power to its greatest effect.

The US ABSOLUTELY saved the world from the Soviets, but not from Communism. China's still going strong.

[QUOTE=Marlboro Smokers]
Albania
Japan
Algeria
Korea
Australia
Malaya
Austria
Malta
Belgium
Marshall Islands
Britain
Morocco
Borneo
Netherlands
Bulgaria
New Guinea
Burma
New Zealand
Canada
Nicaragua
Ceylon
Norway
Chile
Pakistan
China
Palestine
Congo
Philippines
Cuba
Poland
Czechoslovakia
Portugal
Denmark
Romania
Egypt
Sicily
Eritrea
Singapore
Ethiopia
Soloman Islands
Finland
Somalia
France
South Africa
Germany
Soviet Union
Gibraltar
Spain
Greece
Sweden
Grenada
Switzerland
Gilbert
Islands Syria
Thailand
Hungary Tunisia
India
Turkey
Iraq
United States
Israel
Vietnam

QUOTE]

You forgot slovakia and yugoslavia , and gibralter isnt a nation, its a colont.

Haha, i agree with you though, and im sorry to pick that out, i coudent help myself. Seriously though, yugoslavia held up 20 german divisions during 1944, 20 divisions on the western or eastern front could of changed the war.

You forgot slovakia and yugoslavia , and gibralter isnt a nation, its a colont.

Haha, i agree with you though, and im sorry to pick that out, i coudent help myself. Seriously though, yugoslavia held up 20 german divisions during 1944, 20 divisions on the western or eastern front could of changed the war.
Czechoslovakia, Slovakia wasn't an independent country at the time

Czechoslovakia, Slovakia wasn't an independent country at the time

Yes it was. but after the soviets made it czech again. The germans gave it independence when they occupied it.

The US bankrupted the Soviets with the arms race during the Cold War. We used our economic power to its greatest effect.

The US ABSOLUTELY saved the world from the Soviets, but not from Communism. China's still going strong.
Quoting Coolesville: "I really can't think of a time when Soviet Russia actually threatened the earth anyway."

Yes it was. but after the soviets made it czech again
It was a protectorate (?) state of nazi Germany for a while, not really an independent country.

It was a protectorate (?) state of nazi Germany for a while, not really a independent country.

Ure right but, officially, it was an allie of germany, but, like you said, it didnt really have full control of itself.

Ure right but, officially, it was an allie of germany, but, like you said, it didnt really have full control of itself.
Ok, I know next to nothing about Slovakia's history.

Love: Food, culture, friendly people & friends, business opportunities, nice place.

Hate: Hot weather, The stupid people (they appear everywhere though), countries political policies of giving vast advantages to the majority race (the Malays), Muslim Fundementalism.

Im Canadian, and I enjoy everything about my country. Because I know I am lucky enough to live in country where I don't have to fear war or hunger and many other things. Although I do believe there is some down sides to Canada but, nothing so major I would change it.

I love: some landscapes, some people, some cities and the literature (and philosophy). And being an Outcast, living not really inside the society, but somewhere on the edge... the best people here are the ones who don't lead a normal life, but... something else (I'm not tlaking about criminals).

I hate: some landscapes, some people, some cities and the current system of 'western culture', capitalism and politics (at least with education, social welfare and economy... this country's on its way down). I also dislike history and how it's dealt with (not only WWII, but also east/west... people tend to tell us we've been liberated from the soviets, but they haven't meant any harm... the system had its mistakes, and some really really big mistakes, but it's much worse what we have now).

I also hate US people who are proud of their history. I'd be as ashamed of the US history as I am of mine if I would live there. It's really not meant personally, but if I hear people saying 'we brought you democracy' - sorry, the Greeks had it thousands of years before you, France did it too and you can't call what your politicians are doing now 'bring democracy'. Also I have to say that the US doesn't have much of history, a few hundred years of colonisation, bloody wars, slavery, homicide and so on...
Oh, and you didn't save the world from us because you were so nice, but because you are spending so much money on weapons that you have to use them from time to time to stay as rich as you are. The US would never have become that powerful if it hadn't been for war. And it had been the English and the soviets, too, who had saved the world from nazigermany.

I think I'm not being as nice as I wanted to be, please, don't take this as a personal insult.
And excuse my bad english.

Your English is far superior to many of us who grew up with English as a first language. I'd like to commend everyone right now who's bilingual, because I'm sure as hell not. You're wonderful people.

The United States of America

Likes: The massive diversity wherever you go. Only here will you see a skinny white male married to a large black woman driving a japanese car and living in a house built by mexicans. Each state is like a new country, new traditions, new ways of life, new food, and a new culture all together. Hamburgers kick ass too :D

Dislikes: "The Bible Belt", closed minded people, ignorance, racism, The Bush Administration, The fact that idiots breed like rabbits here.

USA

Likes: The ability to argue nonstop with anyone about anything. I can always find an idiot out there to argue with. Only here can brainless idiots work their way up the corporate ladder.


Dislikes: Only here can a lower class white male work hard and struggle through college to be hired on by independent physics research (me) while others have free rides through college with a criminal justice degree because they play basketball, then they steal clothes from Macy's because they think 'they're above the law' and get busted, ending up selling clothes at Macy's. (Check University of Cincinnati basketball players' records)


Likes: HARD WORK PREVAILS AGAIN!!!! What America was founded on!!!

Not trying to Isult you here but how can you like British History all it includes is the beating the crap out of other counties like Ireland. Maybe I'm a bit biast
but you have to hate the history of the country where Oliver Cromwell came from especially if your dad is from Drogheda. He slaughtered the whole city Men, Women and children. I suppose it must be the other parts of history you love.

Just because it was a particularly nasty part of our history doesn't mean we can't like it - it's interesting, and the nice stuff can sometimes be a little tiresome.
I love my country's history - all of it - because it is such a mixture of the bad and the good, not all just pleasant summers in St. James' Park.

Oh, and I love most about my country - the history, the heritage, the monarchy, the landscapes, London etc,

but HATE beyond ALL else:
Chavs
New Labour
Tony Blair and
the fact that a university education is so expensive.

I don't hate the next few things, but they irritate me for reasons that I won't go into here:
Cherie Blair
Scottish and Welsh Separatists
British summers
and probably loads of other things that I can't think of right now.

For the US -

Love - It's such a beautiful place with so many things to see and do, and to a pretty impressive extent you can do almost anything you want.

Hate - Ignorance is encouraged, arrogance is the official national attitude, the government goes out of it's way to blast up countries over threats it only pretends exist yet does little if anything to solve real issues and for the whole "don't mess with us" attitude they pretend to take on international affairs they sure are quick to let illegal immigrants come on in and have their way.
As far as society goes, absolutely freaking everything is a matter of convenience or inconvenience, even to the point to where department stores are open on holidays o_O As if it weren't bad enough, people actually reward the practice of companies denying employees the chance to be with their families for the sake of a quick extra bucks. Absolutely nothing is sacred except money.
And I don't know where to start with the lawsuits and the whole thing with wanting everything politically correct.

I also have a few states in particulare I like more than others, such as New Hampshire for being such a fun, friendly, and beautiful places, and others I despise such as Texas and Michigan for being such hate-filled egotistical states that think their own shit doesn't stink. Of course both lists go farther than those states, those are just the initial ones that come to mind.

The state I currently live in, Ohio, is one I like. There's so much more opportunity to make a life for yourself here than there was in the state I grew up in - California, it's also a good deal friendlier of a place too. I just wish there was a little more in the way of things to do.

I also think some states are 50/50, such as California. Cali is easily the most beautiful state in the country, and the most fun as well, but it feels as if it punishes you for being a US citizen rather than Mexican, and it takes great joy in making sure there's no way you can move out of your parents house and have your own life without leaving the state.

I have a whole bunch of opinions on different states... I'll just shut up before I ramble on about them all XD

England

I love much of the country but I find the people awkward...I heard someone call it the English Dis-ease with being around other people...totally unrelaxed...not wanting to cause offence and being totally unforgiving if someone does. Basically an unwillingness to accept people for how they are with all their little faults. It can take up to 2 years to become a real friend with someone...which I think is just totally wrong.

Yeah, you forgot New Jersey. We fucking rule. Hard.

Yeah, you forgot New Jersey. We fucking rule. Hard.

I don't know much about Jersey outside of Newark, but the little bit I have seen was quite nice. The thing with Jersey I find most interesting is that I realized a little while ago I've spent more time in Jersey than half the states I've actually lived in combined xp

i looves me tayto crisps. i hate the price.

I love new jersey and I have no intentions of ever leaving. I'm originally from Philly myself, but I love it here. Jersey crowd rocks. One stereotype I've heard of Jersey folk, wich i've found to be entirely true, is that they hate people from out of state. I live here now, and my friends still give me shit for it. In the car with them behind out of state drivers? Fuck this and fuck that and go back to your own fucking state. It's actually kind of funny. Also, two thousand more nuclear waste dumps than all the other states combined. Hard to believe for such a tiny place isn't it? I'm convinced this just gives us a better chance of becoming super heroes. Sorry, I got way off topic for this thread but it's gettin' posted anyway!

Holland:

Great drug/drinking laws
Bad ....errr........Too much political ass kissing

I also have a few states in particulare I like more than others, such as New Hampshire for being such a fun, friendly, and beautiful places, and others I despise such as Texas and Michigan for being such hate-filled egotistical states that think their own shit doesn't stink. Of course both lists go farther than those states, those are just the initial ones that come to mind.

The state I currently live in, Ohio, is one I like. There's so much more opportunity to make a life for yourself here than there was in the state I grew up in - California, it's also a good deal friendlier of a place too. I just wish there was a little more in the way of things to do.


What? Michigan is filled with hateful, egotistical people? What bizarro Michigan did you visit that had such people in it?

I also hate US people who are proud of their history. I'd be as ashamed of the US history as I am of mine....

This is a liberal-socialist point of view which the vast majority of Americans are not. We have nothing to be ashamed about. Why should we feel guilt, or any nation feel guilt, over the legacies of our ancestors? Do we feel shame over our current administration? Many do! The majority of us are displeased witht he handling of international affairs, but we do not have a fragile government. Protesting in the streets will not tumble the presidency. A Coup d'état is laughable at best, no person or group of people will ever have the power to do that. Our only hope is in the free and open elections that will take place in 26 months.

I love almost everything about my country.except the weather,bit miserable sometimes,and not enough snow.other than that any problems i hvae are little things

Oh, and I love most about my country - the history, the heritage, the monarchy, the landscapes, London etc,

but HATE beyond ALL else:
Chavs
New Labour
Tony Blair and
the fact that a university education is so expensive.

I don't hate the next few things, but they irritate me for reasons that I won't go into here:
Cherie Blair
Scottish and Welsh Separatists
British summers
and probably loads of other things that I can't think of right now.
Ohhhhh, you think you have seperatist problems now do you???

I come from the United Kingdom! (yes I do prefer to refer to myself as a Brit)

Good point's

everything is great! even the name Great Britain but most of all I love the T.V, films and the comedy (28 days later, Al Murrey and one foot in the grave to name a few)

Bad point's

.....um does being near France count? seriously I can't think of anything I hate even the Chav's can be a good laugh

Pretty much anyone who´s seen me post outside II knows that I´m from Sweden (otherwise you can always look over there <----), and patriotic.
I love most things about Sweden, but what I can´t stand is that patriotism is generally seen as racism. I want to be able to say "I love Sweden" without having people stare at me and mumble under their voices. I´m proud to be a swede and I want to be able to feel so without people considering me a nazi or something like that, because racists and nazis are two things I (like most swedes) can´t stand.
Other than that, I´ve got prejudices against people from Wusstown, or Stockholm for those who don´t understand that. My prejudices aren´t helped by my sisters wuss of a boyfriend, who complains when it´s more than 5 cm of snow because it´s too much. It´s too little damm it!
Ah, nice to get that off my chest.

im from Egypt

Egypt:
love-
-The fact that it is the first civilization ever in history
-The Weather
-the people are amasing and always make jokes on there problems
-the culture
-the fact that my country along with 22 others are eager to unite
-the beautifull beaches on the red sea
-the fact that i can go to all neighboring countries with an ID.

Hate-
-the political freedom (almost non)
-the poverty
-uneducated people
-we are not sticking to our culture like we should be(getting Americanized)
-very corrupt government. (mafia like gov.)
i also hate the fact that the arab league is not united.

im from Egypt

Egypt:
love-
-The fact that it is the first civilization ever in history
-The Weather
-the people are amasing and always make jokes on there problems
-the culture
-the fact that my country along with 22 others are eager to unite
-the beautifull beaches on the red sea
-the fact that i can go to all neighboring countries with an ID.

Hate-
-the political freedom (almost non)
-the poverty
-uneducated people
-we are not sticking to our culture like we should be(getting Americanized)
-very corrupt government. (mafia like gov.)
i also hate the fact that the arab league is not united.

Umm... Egypt was not the first civilization. Sumeria was. At least according to orthodox historians.

UK is very 50/50.

I do love many elements of Britain, I cant really put a point on it, just everythign here seems generally better than everywhere else (not trying to sound big headed or anything) The history is amazing, much of the culture is fantastic. Just one problem is the part of the nation that has been taken over by the annoyance that is Chavism. The violence that they bring, I hate. The stupidity of most of them, I hate. They kinda bring down what would be a really great nation.

I come from the United Kingdom! (yes I do prefer to refer to myself as a Brit)

Good point's

everything is great! even the name Great Britain but most of all I love the T.V, films and the comedy (28 days later, Al Murrey and one foot in the grave to name a few)

Bad point's

.....um does being near France count? seriously I can't think of anything I hate even the Chav's can be a good laugh

Heres a bad point you can borrow, the tax on fuel, which is around 80% of the cost of fuel, stupid tony blair :rolleyes: and where does this money go? so chavs can live off there child/housing benifit and job seekers allowance.

British...

Love

The way we can take the piss out of everyone & everything, including ourselfs.
Biased but i would say we have the best sense of humour.
Our History
Our fcuk it attitude "fcuk it, lets have a brew"
Our sports, Football, Rugby, Cricket...
Our Comedians...
Our TV, Peter kays Phoenixs Nights, Little Britain, Faulty Towers, Only Fools &..., Open all hours, Porridge, I could go on for pages...

Hate...

Chavs.
Our PC attitude.
Dodgy Asylum seekers.
Anti West Preachers who are ALLOWED to live in this country AND claim benefits. :headbang: :headbang: :headbang: :headbang:

As an American I can say that I love the freedom, wealth and opportunities that come with living here. I hate the arrogance that comes with it that some people inevitably end up feeling.

To The Abomination: I'm pretty sure that "cœur" is spelt like so and that "monde" is masculine, meaning that the sentence should read "Le cœur du monde." Great. Finally I've put five years of French lessons to use. Also, is there a PM system on this forum?


Anyway, I like the fact that if we were all on the same degree of longditude, I'd probably be north of just about all of you. And if I wasn't, I could travel to the northernmost part of the kingdom and almost certainly be north of you. Also, I like that as long as we stay out of the EU, Euro coins will have penises engraved on them.

I don't like the current antinationalism. I mean, it's okay not to be all in flames about your country, but to go in the completely opposite direction and claim that everything about Norway is crap is just as stupid. There's good and there's bad, and there's no use overdoing either.

In America, I love how opinions are so freely held, buy I hate how seriously people take opinions.

America...

People
Likes: Their hospitality and overall kindness
Dislikes: The rich, the arrogant, and the ignorant

Culture
Likes: The food and the diversity
Dislikes: How American culture itself is nonexistant

Government
Likes: How the people get to choose their leaders
Dislikes: The majority of its members,it's bureaucracy, its corruption, and the inefficiency of our Judicial system, how the government can't provide adeuqate living conditions for its citizens

Economy
Likes: Its stability and strength
Dislikes: CAPITALISM ARRRRRRRGGGGG

America...

People
Likes: Their hospitality and overall kindness
Dislikes: The rich, the arrogant, and the ignorant

Culture
Likes: The food and the diversity
Dislikes: How American culture itself is nonexistant

Government
Likes: How the people get to choose their leaders
Dislikes: The majority of its members,it's bureaucracy, its corruption, and the inefficiency of our Judicial system, how the government can't provide adeuqate living conditions for its citizens

Economy
Likes: Its stability and strength
Dislikes: CAPITALISM ARRRRRRRGGGGG

Let's try not to contradict ourselves to often! :)

Canadian (and insomniac)

Love:
The nature. Oh. My. God. What beautiful country I live in. In the summer its like the land of milk and honey. Spent July helping my parents build their retirement cottage...and many days I working not 10 feet away from a family of deer who just accepted my presence, and the presence of the house, as they would say, a tree, just something to be gone around in the ever so slightest detour....wide open blue sky with not a particle of smog, cumulonimbus clouds miles high off on the horizon, pristine, unpolluted river a 30 second walk away...and that's just one tiny corner of this incredibly vast place.

I also love: the freedom, the social conscious aspect of our politics and govt, and the people (well, in parts of the country anyway) and the opportunities.

Hate? Um....My spineless govt that lets other nations buy out our precious resources for pennies on the dollar. Also hate part of the winter..its about a month and a half too long.

There's a lot more of course that I like and dislike, but those are my loves and hates.

Being also Canadian, I too have similar views.
However, to add to your "hate" list...
WE HAVE NO MILITARY!
Honestly.... The Avro Arrow could have made Canada the military superpower of the world. I can see the usa taking over us for our water and coloured bacon!!!!! (I'm going to continue this topic in another thread)

Don't be critical of an American who's reply is full of contradictions, that's the essence of America :D Anyway, this is best thread ever. It really gives insight into how people view their own governments and cultures.

As an American of both European and native ancestry, my family has experienced the best and worst that this countyry has to offer.

-I love our frredom of speech. In the short term, it's the loudest voices that are heard, but in the long term, it's the wisest that prevail.
-I love our inclusiveness. American culture is a stew pot that has a sauce that blends various cultures together, but you can find the chunks of individual cultures everywhere.
-I love our natural beauty. True, there are many places with natural beauty, but the modern environmental movement began where in the Hudson Valley, where I was born and raised. This combined with the teachings of my native ancestors has given me a love of the nature that is around me.
-I love the generosity of the American people. Corporations in America can be insanely avaricious, but the individual American knows what its like to be on the down-an-outs and is always willing to help others less fortunate.
-Finally, I love our music. As the mix of cultures in America changes, so does our our music. There is always a new sound ready to take the world by storm.

-I hate our materialsm and commercialism. The love of money is the root of all evil, but in the U.S. it is made out to be a virtue.
-I hate our provincialism. The world is getting smaller, but many Americans won't see the world beyond their backyard. This, more than anything, I think is responsible for the divide between red and blue states.
- I hate our arrogance. There are alot of good things in this country, but we shouldn't cram it down the rest of the world's throats. Especially since we don't always practice what we preach.

Love
Football, Cricket, Rugby.
Pubs, Ladies, Beer.

Dislike (Hate is such a negative word)
New Labour, T Blair, BNP,

What I love most about my country is the amount of freedom I have to go where I want and do what I want. I am not being physically forced to live life according to someone else's doctrines. There's also a lot of social mobility in this country and people are judged by what they can produce not what they are entitled to, so if you work hard enough you can rise to positions of prominence and authority. It's good for the citizens and good for the nation.

One of the things I really don't like is bigotry. I see a lot of racism around me, and can't stand it when someone is rude or demeaning to me just because of what race I am. Also I don't like the crime and corruption that's spread across a lot of urban areas. It sucks to have to be watching your back whenever you're out at night.

Oh and word to wise for foreigners in the US: Stay away from the Waffle Houses! You'll get fucked up there.

U.S.

Likes: The Constitution and its Amendments, particularly the First.

Dislikes: The tendency of many to piss on the above.
The ignorance of our history.
The rampant anti-intellectualism.
The arrogance.
The inability to distinguish between right-wing and conservative, and between left-wing and liberal.
The inability to recognize that the spectrum is shifted greatly to the conservative and right-wing side.
The hypocrisy.
The ~95% incumbency rate for members of Congress.
The lack of concern for the future.

That said, the likes outweigh the dislikes, in my mind.

Also, I like that as long as we stay out of the EU, Euro coins will have penises engraved on them.
I thought that the Swedish territory, not Norwegian, is reasonably phallic-looking on the eurocoin map.

Also, the Italian coin with that Leonardo da Vinci's painting does actually feature a penis.

But back to the topic.

Good:
1. Unparallelled individualism. Every other nation and people is excessively society-, family-, clan-, or peergroup-oriented. While societal interaction obviously exist, we have a history of private ownership of property and respect for the other's privacy. Forcing societal interaction is not very much liked, but in the rest of the world, it's the norm that's it's liked. (Incidentally, many of the founders of the United States were Finns.)

2. We want to do things ourselves. People get uncomfortable with the thought that a worker would clean their house or some such. The Finnish dream is *owning* a house, a summer cottage and a car. Preferably bigger than the neighbor's, of course. Elsewhere, you have your clan or family, and like it or not, that's all you have.

3. Weather, and its effects. The reason people inhabit the north is that competition or problems for human settlement can be removed. No cockroaches, no tropical diseases, no hurricanes, no short-tempered southern people.

4. Security. Little gun problems despite a high gunownership rate, due to strict gun control. Little crime on the street.

5. No bullshit. You don't have to continuously think about if the other's cheating you or "just kidding". Thus, asking "are you kidding" is basically an insult on the other's integrity and honesty.

6. No corruption. Rated #1 best by Transparency International. The rule of law is there.

7. Language. Agglutinativity is really great, as is expressive construction. "Kyrvähdimpähän siihen narskahteluun."

Bad:
1. Socialists (the economic kind). They're always making up new layers of bureaucracy, and smothering all innovation that is not government-sanctioned.

2. Problems with maintaining societal interaction. People tend to complain in the public discussion rather than do something constructive.

3. YLE, just like BBC, forces you to pay for providing a private TV service.

4. Taxes and obligations that hamper the economy and prevent corporations from employing people.

5. High unemployment, so you'll have to "know someone" instead of "know something" to get a job. The corporations are unwilling to hire people they don't know.

I am from america and there's many things I love about amercia and many things I hate about it.

Love:

Freedom of Speech, Media, Religion: those things are essential for a free society and the infringement on any of them only erodes from our democracy.

Free Elections: I love the act of voting

I love the fact that america is an evolving nation that is far from perfect but has greatly improved itself and it's government since it's conception over two centries ago.

Hate:

arrogance, many Americans believe we are the greatest nation the earth ever had the privilage to produce and I feel that is extremely misplaced. I love America, but I don't neccessary believe that it is better then France, England, South Africa, Brazil, Japan, or any other nation.

Militarism, I hate that the US has historically dealt with it's problems internationally through military force instead of diplomatic means. If you don't believe that we do that look at the War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Spanish-American War, Filipino-American War, and Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Christain Fundalmentalism, As a christian I find this group to be hypocrictial and distrubing. They actively encourage infringement of the seperation of church and state by trying to place christianty in the public square(i.e. state sponsered events and state property) and will claim perscution of they are denied it. While at the same time they refuse to allow any other faith to enter the public square.

Greed, I hate money, even more so I hate the fact that I need money to live. I'm not a communist and I like the idea of capitalism, as long as it is regulated in order to protect the consumer and environment. But I hate the drive to make money for the sake of money. I don't get it and I hate it.

What do I like most about Canada...hmmm...well, aside from universal health care and an extremely high standard of living (these are not exclusive to Canada), I would say off the top of my head our quiet patriotism. I think I know three people who would choose to move away from Canada, and always for work-related reasons. Virtually everyone else that I know would never give up Canadian citizenship. I love feeling safe walking down any street at any hour of the day or night. I love my fresh air and seeing green growing leafy goodness all around me, and I love that we have enough natural resources to last us forever if we are smart about how we use them (a big if, I know). I love that a huge segment of Canada speaks French, and that on Christmas Eve we eat tourtiere. I love that a huge segment of my city speaks Cantonese, so I can learn that language too and have my horizons broadened further. I love being welcomed with open arms all over the globe when my maple leaf patch is spotted. I love that people from all over the world can live and work in Canada while retaining their cultural identity, so I can learn about other cultures just by driving for fifteen minutes. I love that we have a monarchy, and I love that we retain close ties with our heritage and family in the UK and Europe and Asia. I love our "live and let live" policies towards minorities and I love our nation's stance on marijuana use, even though I don't use. I love that my taxes are high so that everyone is taken care of to at least some degree. I love that we can love Canada passionately and still love, respect and learn from other cultures around the world (such as the way Asian families take care of their families, or the way the Mediterranean cultures enjoy living life, drinking and eating and laughing, rather than sitting in a rocking chair with a frown). I love that people treat each other with politeness and respect, most of the time. Wow, this part could go on forever, I will stop here.

Everyday I walk to work and marvel that I actually get to live here: http://www.seethewestend.com/ebay/page5ebay.htm

What do I hate most about Canada? I hate that our own culture gets drowned out to the extent that some of us don't even know what Canadian culture would mean. That's just a function of market forces I suppose, but I still hate it. I hate regional clawing and scratching at each other, and separatist threats. I hate that so many people define themselves by what Canadians are not, rather than what they are. I hate Canadians sometimes getting drawn into feeling like they have to prove anything to anyone. And economically, I hate that Canada sells off its raw resources and buys back processed goods, when we should be investing in our own processing and manufacturing and keeping that money in our own country. I hate that we sell white spruce to Japan, who then encases it in steel tubes and sinks it to the bottom of the ocean to stockpile for later when our trees are gone. I hate shortsightedness in planning and resource management. I wish we would sometimes say "fuck the almighty dollar, let's do what's right in the long run for once?" And I hate the ugly chapters in our history (specifically the ones relating to how we treated our native populations for the first few hundred years, and the Chinese who built the railroad, and our internment of the Japanese during WW2). Nothing we can do about our past but learn from it and not repeat it, but I still wish it weren't so. But then perhaps we wouldn't have learned our lesson.

But now that I see the things that I hate about Canada, I love that most of them are well within our ability to fix.

Thanks for starting this thread, by the way, it was a great exercise. It's nice to step out of the day to day concerns every now and then and set down in black and white not only what you really love about your country, but what needs improvement. I will notice the things I love when I see them again.

Edit: I just ordered a snack and realised I had left poutine off my list of loves, omgz0rz.

Heres a bad point you can borrow, the tax on fuel, which is around 80% of the cost of fuel, stupid tony blair :rolleyes: and where does this money go? so chavs can live off there child/housing benifit and job seekers allowance.

um...the tax on fuel pays to save the environment (which most of the world pays) and also I think it's good that we look after the unfortunate in our society

Blair’s done a good job :D

a) Northern coastal people.

b) Most of the rest

This is a liberal-socialist point of view which the vast majority of Americans are not. We have nothing to be ashamed about. Why should we feel guilt, or any nation feel guilt, over the legacies of our ancestors? Do we feel shame over our current administration? Many do! The majority of us are displeased witht he handling of international affairs, but we do not have a fragile government. Protesting in the streets will not tumble the presidency. A Coup d'état is laughable at best, no person or group of people will ever have the power to do that. Our only hope is in the free and open elections that will take place in 26 months.

While it is true that no person has any reason to feel guilty about what their ancestors did, it is also true that the actions of said ancestors can't be a source of pride either.
Yet, American seem to bask in the acheivements attributed to their ancestors, while denying all criticism of their past with the arguement that they cannot be held accountable for the actions of their grandparents. Schizophrenic, somehow.

To answer the original question, I don't really have a country. I'm originally from Germany, but I left years ago. I would be hard put to find anything positive about that country anyway.

So I'll just take my new home, Ireland.
I like almost everything about the place : the people, the country, the way everything is less important and less center of attention than it was in Germany.
Things are a lot easier, a lot more relaxed, a lot less regulated.
I also like the smoking ban; you don't smell like an old ashtray after coming out of the pub, your eyes don't water any more, and most pubs have put tables and chairs outside now, so you can sit outside and enjoy the sun (if there is any)
I also like the way the Irish are proud on the immigration that is currently taking place, and how welcoming and generally curious they are.

What I don't like is that the country has yet to become a little more international (although you can really watch that happening at the moment)
I don't like the British influence on culture, music and fashion much. It's hard to relate to in many ways, and the clothes are just an eyesore....