Americans

[DrFaroohk]

Actually, I don't hate Americans. I am one! But lately it seems like America is the most hated country in the world, and I've ever heard of places (other than North Korea that is...) where Americans are downright despised.

I could totally understand if someone hated this country in general, but is there any places that really just totally despise anyone from the USA?

[Greenday]

I think a lot of people are just becoming bandwagon-America haters at this point. Most people don't have a REALLY valid reason for hating America. It's just the cool thing to do these days.

Another place that people hate? Yea. FRANCE. Damn those French bastards! Freedom Fries and Freedom Toast ftw!

[powerboy]

I think a lot of people are just becoming bandwagon-America haters at this point. Most people don't have a REALLY valid reason for hating America. It's just the cool thing to do these days.

I agree with this. That is all this is about. The next cool thing would be to hate Canada and then everyone will jump on that. No offence to any Canadians, just making an example

[BroomJockey]

Actually, people extrapolate the actions of the US Government to be the will of the people, being elected and all, so the consistent meddling that the US Government has done around the world (installing regimes, destabilizing regions, etc) engenders hate amongst people who want to either solve their problems their way, or don't want the "American Way," or any of the hundreds of other reasons people wouldn't want an outside force intruding on their nation.

Also, keep in mind your loudest talking-heads tend to be just a wee bit intolerant. Rush Limbaugh, Jerry Falwell, et al. Again, since their the face of the US to the world, people again extrapolate from the specific to the general. They see the US Government meddling, they see the spewing talking heads, and they figure that this must be what people in the US support.

It's the same reaction you get from people in the US who don't bother to learn anything about events and spout stupid shit like "Sand Nigger" when talking about people from the Middle East. The majority of your population isn't like that, and doesn't think like that, and neither do the populations of the other places. They're just the vocal ones.

[AdminAssistant]

Actually, I thought that the reputation of the US abroad had improved quite a bit since early November of 2008. Seems that way to me.

Man, don't pick on the French. Paris may be the most occupiable city in the world, but culturally, they kick everybody's ass. I would wager that 85-90% of the great artistic movements of the world were born in Parisian cafes over coffee, wine, or absinthe.

[the_std]

I dunno about the reputation getting better. There is still a lot of negativity for the world to focus on. But it's true that Obama was a lot better received by the rest of the world than Bush had been. It's just too early for him to have undone all the shit that got done in the first place, and it's even slower-going when seen from the outside.

But the state of the economy, the gay marriage debate, the continuing war in Iraq, all of these things are still showing up as big negatives on the face of America.

[Flyndaran]

I hate what we have allowed the U.S. to become. We have the chance to be a great nation, but instead we still have gross homophobia, refuse to prosecute our torture monsters, still aren't out of Iraq a war of aggression, etc.

[BroomJockey]

I hate what we have allowed the U.S. to become.

Man, you think YOU have it bad?

Canada could have had British culture, French cooking, and American technology.

Instead we got American culture, British cooking, and French technology.

[Nyoibo]

One of the main reasons the US is hated is because of its percieved arrogance, you self proclaim that you're the worlds police force or keepers of the peace, you've had a history of meddling and manipulating other sovreign nations, installing dictators you wanted in place of rightfully elected officials, funded terrorism, hell even the fact that the US military were the ones to adopt the terms Friendly Fire and Collateral Damage. The US has done a lot of damage through the years and unfortunately, thanks to Bush, continue to do so now.

The US is also seen as ignorant of the world around it, that they are the only country that matters, which personally I don't blame on Americans, but on the schools and what gets taught, which seems mostly Amerocentric.

Canada could have had British culture, French cooking, and American technology.

Instead we got American culture, British cooking, and French technology.

Ouch, my deepest condolences.

[Boozy]

The US will continue to be utterly despised in the Middle East for years to come, and it doesn't matter who is President. But then, Britain will also be despised in that area of the world. You're not alone there.

As far as Canada goes, I don't feel like the US is hated. The reaction around here to various news stories coming the from the US is a mixture of pity, laughter, and revulsion. CNN could be a sitcom about our wacky neighbours if it weren't real life and therefore so damned sad. It's hard to watch people shoot themselves in the foot repeatedly without wanting to either laugh or cry.

I often feel the same about Canadian news, too.

Canadians are just confused about Americans. We don't understand the popularity of Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter, or why someone would choose to be a Baptist, or why when we finally rid ourselves of Nickelback they somehow became even more popular in the US. Almost every time I meet an American, I like them. I can't seem to reconcile the friendly and generous people I know personally with this country that tortures prisoners and treats homosexuals like garbage.

[AdminAssistant]

why when we finally rid ourselves of Nickelback they somehow became even more popular in the US.

*gasp* So you're to blame!!!

[protege]

We don't understand the popularity of Rush Limbaugh or Ann Coulter, or why someone would choose to be a Baptist, or why when we finally rid ourselves of Nickelback they somehow became even more popular in the US.

Damn...just when we were finally getting rid of Celine Dion, Canadian import, you foist Nickelback on us! Granted, it's evened out...we foisted that idiot Paris Hilton on the planet...

Eh, the French aren't all that great. Renault Le Car, anyone?

[Slytovhand]

One of the main reasons the US is hated is because of its percieved arrogance, you self proclaim that you're the worlds police force or keepers of the peace, you've had a history of meddling and manipulating other sovreign nations, installing dictators you wanted in place of rightfully elected officials, funded terrorism, hell even the fact that the US military were the ones to adopt the terms Friendly Fire and Collateral Damage. The US has done a lot of damage through the years and unfortunately, thanks to Bush, continue to do so now.

The US is also seen as ignorant of the world around it, that they are the only country that matters, which personally I don't blame on Americans, but on the schools and what gets taught, which seems mostly Amerocentric.

Coupled with a "We are the best" mentality, is the unwillingness (at least at a governmental level) to actually accept that maybe other nations can have things better. How often do you hear of America (as a gross generalisation) adopting the ways and policies, etc, of another country. eg, nationalised health care - works wonders in so many other countries around the world... but no, can't do that in America.

Patriotism seems to be rammed down the throat of every American kid as they're growing up... and they're rarely given maps to know where the Iraqs and the South Africas are!


AA - just do what we do with NZ - claim them as your own ... til they're either crap, or gotten a bad reputation (Russell Crowe)... then throw them back

[protege]

How often do you hear of America (as a gross generalisation) adopting the ways and policies, etc, of another country. eg, nationalised health care - works wonders in so many other countries around the world... but no, can't do that in America.

Quite a few people do not want nationalized health care. It's a simple fact that you get our government involved in *anything* and they'll fuck it up. Don't believe me? Drive around Pennsylvania on one of the many interstate highways...

and they're rarely given maps to know where the Iraqs and the South Africas are!

Much of that can be blamed on our educational system. Quite a bit of the outside world tends to get glossed over a bit. Even the ancient stuff, which is *still* influencing today's events, is usually ignored

[Greenday]

Quite a few people do not want nationalized health care. It's a simple fact that you get our government involved in *anything* and they'll fuck it up. Don't believe me? Drive around Pennsylvania on one of the many interstate potholes...

Fixed that for you

Much of that can be blamed on our educational system. Quite a bit of the outside world tends to get glossed over a bit. Even the ancient stuff, which is *still* influencing today's events, is usually ignored

It amazes me to still hear stuff like this. I guess I was just lucky enough to go to public schools that forced us to memorize where every country in the world was located. Where we learned world history and not just US history.