Bush gets shoe thrown at him in Iraq

[Slytovhand]

Before 9/11, America was looked at like a big overgrown puppy that had *no* clue how big it was...Did lots of damage to the valuables, but was cute and meant well.... Since 9/11, and our reaction to it...We're now seen as bullies, and dangerous ones at that *shrugs* I really hope we regain the respect we used to have...but we'll never get back the 'innocence' we once had.

Just curious, Evandril, where do you get that impression from?

I ask, because there has been anti-American sentiment in various parts of the world for a couple of decades now. Granted, that's what gets portrayed on the media, so may well represent merely a very small, yet vocal, minority.


Raps, I'm confused - what were you referring to?

[Rapscallion]

Raps, I'm confused - what were you referring to?

I was referring to Evandril's comments about how America is seen as a bully. I reckon the US took the right course in going for a definite enemy, but I'm pretty certain they didn't go for the right enemy.

Rapscallion

[Slytovhand]

Oh, okies.

I thought you meant further back in history, rather than just in the last few years (ie 7 or so).

[Evandril]

Just curious, Evandril, where do you get that impression from?

I ask, because there has been anti-American sentiment in various parts of the world for a couple of decades now. Granted, that's what gets portrayed on the media, so may well represent merely a very small, yet vocal, minority.


Raps, I'm confused - what were you referring to?

The big one I experienced personally was Japan. I first was stationed there in the early 90's, and Americans were highly popular at the time...To the point where going to the bar crawls meant you weren't spending the night alone unless you wanted to. The next time I visited, around 2005, our pilots were claiming to be Canadian to get women to talk to them. Since that time, I've traveled around Asia a good deal, and a bit in the desert...and the impression I've gotten from everyone outside of America is our 'war on oil' was a dishonorable one, and that we did not command the respect we once did. Of course, being military, the reactions towards us were more extreme than a 'normal' American would have faced.

[Flyndaran]

... Since that time, I've traveled around Asia a good deal, and a bit in the desert...and the impression I've gotten from everyone outside of America is our 'war on oil' was a dishonorable one, and that we did not command the respect we once did. Of course, being military, the reactions towards us were more extreme than a 'normal' American would have faced.

I've always wanted to travel europe but with a t-shirt boldly stating that I'm american and ashamed. I saw all this coming back in the 2000 election, but everyone called me a pessimist and even sometimes out of my mind. Of course nobody remembers saying that to me. American politics, the epitomy of short attention spans and even shorter memories.

[Evandril]

I've always wanted to travel europe but with a t-shirt boldly stating that I'm american and ashamed. I saw all this coming back in the 2000 election, but everyone called me a pessimist and even sometimes out of my mind. Of course nobody remembers saying that to me. American politics, the epitomy of short attention spans and even shorter memories.

Is it scary that things went *better* than I was expecting, overall? I'd been fully expecting to be kicked out of the military for my religious beliefs, since bush was one of the backers of that idea the first time it was shot down. As poor as I feel the overall performance was...It could have been worse I'd have picked a shirt that said more 'I'm an American, and we're sorry' or the like, m'self, because I am still proud of us as a whole...but that's me

[kamn]

From my own country, I can say that before 9/11 America was seen as a bit ignorant. Not to what it does, but to the aftermath. At the time of 9/11 America as a whole was seen as a nation in shock and in terrible need. Not long after that it was seen as a nation in shock making a big mistake. And a year ago, it was seen as a bully. A big, teacher-terrorising, principal-beating bully that wont listen to (almost) anyone. Right now we are all hoping that that image will change, both for the prospects of the new image, and becouse (some of us) are ashamed for picturing the majority of America as something only a handfull were.



P.S.: And if I ever see anyone with a shirt like that, I will both smack'em on the head and treat them to a drink.