The World View of the United States

Fried Piper -

And finally, they are the only people who would create a Why do you hate America thread, and then defend it as though it was uncalled for.

If you will read it through, this is the FIRST reply that I have made. My purpose for the inquiry was not to uphold the US nor to try to justify any of the negative aspects that others may perceive.

I created this thread because I truly wanted to know what most non-US citiizens disliked about America. I am open-minded enough to realize that I live in a country that is not perfect nor perceived as the bastion of universal salvation.

I knew that there would be those who would take this thread as an opportunity to sprew hackneyed rhetoric toward America and those who would use it to express insight that I have found interesting and genuine.

Others may have tried to defend the US, and they have the right to their opinion just as you have the right to yours. However, I find your ad homien attack on my thread unwarranted, while at the same time, I am bolstered that it took seven months for someone to do so.

I suppose that the most interesting thing I have seen is how the hate for the US has now expanded to the hate for other countries. I guess that is a sad commentary not about the state of my country, but the on the state of the individual.

Best,

N

I knew that there would be those who would take this thread as an opportunity to sprew hackneyed rhetoric toward America and those who would use it to express insight that I have found interesting and genuine.

We have every reason to speak of America in the light that we do. I think that you have to take yourself out of America in order to see our viewpoint. Your government has you wrapped-up nicely in cotton-wool - That is no problem, but the way that ye have approached other nations throughout history and, indeed, in the present, is not ideal.

There is so much to admire about America because it has been at the forefront of the majority of mankind's biggest steps forward. However, I just wish that it would have a more tender heart to the rest of the world. Instead, many decades of paranoia towards the rest of the world has resulted in the current state (i.e. - Tensions existing between many nations) and hatred towards the US at an all-time high.

In all honesty, ye bring the majority of ye're problems upon yer'selves and ye have forever been making the same mistakes. I think that electing Hillary Clinton will be the greatest move that America has ever made.

Kevin.

Kevin,

I have spent time outside of the US and I do realize that some Americans and our politicians are the cause of many of the negative things that are thought and said.

I expected to hear derogatory things, what I hoped and what I have read, though, are some original and personal perspectives from those around the world. The negative doesn't bother me, and I guess that I should not be surprised that so much of it is the same regurgitation of America as the world's bully.

I can not, nor would I, defend every action of our government: present, past or future. I am only one citizen with one vote. But if there is anything that I have learned from this is that many people seem to see the American government and the average American as one in the same.

If this thread has given others the chance to get some of their negativity toward Americans off their chests, then I guess it has served more than my original purpose.

BTW - I would love to see Ireland some day; beautiful country I hear, with great beer and outstanding horses. What else could anyone ask for?

Best,

N.

Kevin,

I hope and pray that it's Obama in the whitehouse. I just think Hillary will be more of the same for this country. She has taken more money from special interests and lobbyists than McCain and Obama combined a few times over. The US is in desperate need of massive change and I hope it comes sooner rather than later.

We're the only "first world" country with the death penalty, the largest gap between extreme wealth and extreme poverty, and we're the "democracy" with the least amount of economic, religious, and political freedom.

Land of the free... sure, but only if you can afford it.

What are peoples views on 9/11?
I mean I know I have practically no credibility because im paranoid,
but do alot of people believe in the conspiracy theory?
I know when ever you utter the words conspiracy theory, most people simply switch off, but there have been alot of conspiracies in the past that are only now being admitted to..Is 9/11 going to be one of these things in which 40 years down the track the truth is uncovered?

It wouldnt be the first time they staged an attack to goto war, if pearl harbour rings any bells?

Personally, I find conspiracy theories about 9/11 to be ludicrous (those that involve the U.S. government as co-conspirators with the terrorists who carried out the attacks). When people tell me they truly believe in it, I feel bad for them... it's a sign of rather unhealthy and unrealistic paranoia in my opinion. But my opinion isn't due to an overblown sense of faith in our government system... it's the fact that no government as sprawling and at odds as ours could possibly orchestrate anything so elaborate and subtle. They could never act in concert to accomplish a mass murder at this stage in our history. Beyond that, I truly do not believe in vilifying any one member of the United States government simply because of the checks and balances built into our system of government. There isn't that much you can get away with before someone on the other side of the aisle stomps all over you in a very public way. I don't think any conspiracies have been proven of late. There is still speculation, and there are always reports not verified by an independent third party. Regardless, no one involved in the government during WWII is still breathing much less has any control over the current administration.

In response to some of the other posts in this thread, I have to say that it's easy to hate those who have much. We are spoiled to pieces in the United States and have adopted a viewpoint that free speech is only okay if you don't offend anyone and that we are horrible compared to other countries, but I think that's the biggest load of crap we ever bought. It will come back to bite us in the ass someday, mark my words. We will forever need to improve our country... no one should be complacent... but we have turned into a whipping boy who begs to be mistreated because we feel guilty and/or have no real concept of the struggles Americans faced two generations ago just to stay alive. This self loathing bores me, and to the people who line up to malign the United States I say that hating an entire country is ignorant. Voice your opinions and be specific about what you think we're lacking and then DO something to change the world in your city everyday if you're going to point out others' shortcomings. But don't wag a finger in our communal face and say we are bad, bad, bad. Such a myopic viewpoint is neither accurate nor helpful.

*ahem* Sorry, but this sort of thing gets my dander up. All better now.

nymenche wrote:If this thread has given others the chance to get some of their negativity toward Americans off their chests, then I guess it has served more than my original purpose.

Those are very wise words nymenche and they show that you are a person who understands the 'mechanics' of the human brain. You are correct, of course. You may not have liked reading people criticising the nation you live in, but it has helped us get things off our chests.

nymenche wrote:BTW - I would love to see Ireland some day; beautiful country I hear, with great beer and outstanding horses. What else could anyone ask for?

Indeed, horses that are bred here are transported to ranches all across the world - mainly Australia and USA I think. In fact, I live in the county where these horses are reared: County Kildare (In Irish: 'Contae Cill Dara').

I don't drink alcohol much at all. I probably get about 1 pint into me per year. Drinking causes many problems here... ...so many problems.

seanetal wrote:Kevin,

I hope and pray that it's Obama in the whitehouse.

Don't get me wrong: I think Obama would be great too. I guess you're right too when you say that Hillary would just be 'more of the same'... ... ...Obama's election slogan of bringing 'change' is arguably the most apt slogan I have ever heard of any politician across the world. He represents so many new things and would be a clean break from a Bush-Bush-Clinton-Clinton run of presidents!

Obama is full of energy, is young, and seems to speak with honesty each time he opens his mouth. I do get the feeling of 'falseness' whenever Hillary speaks.


Friedpiper, the conspiracy theories are ridiculous. George Bush Jnr. loves his country and would never be involved in any such event. Terrorists tried to bring down the Trade Center many years prior to 2001 when they detonated a bomb in the underground car-park there. 9/11 was probably in planning for many years after that.

Kevin.

I just dont see how the towers supposedly burnt down...towers dont burn, towers are made of steel and concrete...Theres much to support the notion that the plane was a set up and the tower actually dropped because of c4 planted through out the structural supports.

So, you think they designed those towers to be hit by large commercial aircraft? ...you also obviously don't know what temperature aircraft fuel burns at. I'm not sure of the exact figure but it's more than enough to burn through the steel that is used as the skeleton for skyscrapers.