Perception and thoughts about USA

[Jokerman5656]

lets all get together and make our own cubing country Cube-gea (pangea reference)

 

[hillary]

Here in Germany I would say that people don't really hate the USA, it has rather become an object of ridicule. There are so many things that seem stupid compared to European conditions. for example do the USA have one of the unfairest health care systems in the world, USA started war in the Middle East, they did not sign the Kyoto treaty, there was a lot of commotion about the legitimacy of Bush's election (had this happened in a third world country the president would have been accused of fraud), people are getting fatter and fatter, university education is way too expensive, the list goes on forever. In Europe people like to point their fingers and give a :fp at stupid Americans. Americans didn't do us any harm but it just makes us feel better to blame the USA for everything that is going wrong in the world.

This may be a little bit off topic but I've taken module on Esperanto last year at university and it included a lecture about the language situation in the world right now. A lot of people complain that English is the dominant language in the world and that native speakers of English have a huge advantage over non native speakers. They can access information more easily over the internet, can lead business negotiation more confidently, make themselves heard, etc
I really think it is good to have one language that a lot of people speak, so that people from all over world can communicate, but, honestly, why does it have to be English?

 

[mark3]

Here in Germany I would say that people don't really hate the USA, it has rather become an object of ridicule. There are so many things that seem stupid compared to European conditions. for example do the USA have one of the unfairest health care systems in the world, USA started war in the Middle East, they did not sign the Kyoto treaty, there was a lot of commotion about the legitimacy of Bush's election (had this happened in a third world country the president would have been accused of fraud), people are getting fatter and fatter, university education is way too expensive, the list goes on forever. In Europe people like to point their fingers and give a :fp at stupid Americans. Americans didn't do us any harm but it just makes us feel better to blame the USA for everything that is going wrong in the world.

This may be a little bit off topic but I've taken module on Esperanto last year at university and it included a lecture about the language situation in the world right now. A lot of people complain that English is the dominant language in the world and that native speakers of English have a huge advantage over non native speakers. They can access information more easily over the internet, can lead business negotiation more confidently, make themselves heard, etc
I really think it is good to have one language that a lot of people speak, so that people from all over world can communicate, but, honestly, why does it have to be English?

I think that English being a primary world language was something that just happened. English speaking counties have pretty much been the most powerful world leaders over the last 500 years or more. If the French would have came to America and colonized it like the English did and the same situations occured, we might all be speaking French now.

I differ from ost Americans in that I see it as unfair that we expect other countries to understand and learn English. Thats why I have been learning Spanish throughout high school and why I am going to minor in linguistic. I have been starting on some French in my own time, and once I get Spanish and French down, Italian should come easier. Then I'll do some German that will help me learn some Dutch later on (at least I think they are kind of similar).

I tend to believe that the US government needs a facelift. All politicians are run by companies. We can see that now while Barack Obama is practically giving up on the public option. I was a huge supporter of him, but it makes me mad to see that he can't do one thing that he promised during his campaign. But then again, I'm also stuck in a world where I am a liberal in a relaivley conservative country.

 

[Shmekekey]

there was a lot of commotion about the legitimacy of Bush's election (had this happened in a third world country the president would have been accused of fraud)

A lot of people questioned him in America too...

I tend to believe that the US government needs a facelift. All politicians are run by companies. We can see that now while Barack Obama is practically giving up on the public option. I was a huge supporter of him, but it makes me mad to see that he can't do one thing that he promised during his campaign. But then again, I'm also stuck in a world where I am a liberal in a relaivley conservative country.

Dude, it hasn't even been a year yet. How can you expect him to fix any of the ******** Bush left behind in 9 months?

 

[Jason]

There are great things that came out from the USA; the first labor movements, the abolishment of slavery... The USA is actually the country with the greatest freedom of speech, but there are a lot of darker things. The USA is a jingoist/imperialist country where disires of world domination have been clearly expressed by such people as Rumsfeld in military documents. The USA has a history of overthrowing governments, starting with the banana republic.
Also, apart from South Africa, The USA is the only country in the Western world without a proper social security program.
US media is intellectually conformist and from the outside, it seems that many americans are endoctrinated with the belief that no-holds-barred short-termist unsustainable capitalism is the only viable solution.
I equally see that power is concentrated and is very close to the coorporate world, manipulating the people through sophisticated human relationship campains (but that's everywhere else as well, but to a lesser degree).
Of course, today, the majority of americans favor a more reasonable society, but there is a lack of organising and social movements.
But the american people themselves are no deifferent from the rest of us, they bleed when they're cut, they cry when their children die...

 

[lala47]

Searching BBC news site....searching Brazilian news site......searching Canadian news site......searching Australian new site.....searching German news site....searching Argentinian news site. Oh, everyone* calls us "American".

*- Not literally everyone, but it's not just us.

The fact that it is extended, doesn't make it right.

Another example is from the Video Game market, here in England a new release will cost around $80.00. In America you will be paying much closer to $60. I have seen people constantly complain about the $60 price tag claiming that they will have to wait until it gets down to $20. Generally, in the Video Game market, dollars equal pounds: A PSP Go! will cost either $250 in the USA or £250 in the UK, that's right, we pay $405! And please don't tell me "It's the taxes" or "You're richer", that is a ridiculous comment that spans very little of the population.

You might also like to know that quite a few Brits fly all the way to New York just to do a bit of Christmas shopping, that's how cheap stuff is!

Same thing here, usually 1USD turns into 1,000CLP for example when the ps3 was just released, it cost about 500USD right? here in Chile it was like 599,990CLP, if you are wandering, the actual conversion rate is about 1USD=~550CLP. But that's something that may cause jealousy to someone, but not actually hatred,

 

[V-te]

there was a lot of commotion about the legitimacy of Bush's election (had this happened in a third world country the president would have been accused of fraud)

A lot of people questioned him in America too...

I tend to believe that the US government needs a facelift. All politicians are run by companies. We can see that now while Barack Obama is practically giving up on the public option. I was a huge supporter of him, but it makes me mad to see that he can't do one thing that he promised during his campaign. But then again, I'm also stuck in a world where I am a liberal in a relaivley conservative country.

Dude, it hasn't even been a year yet. How can you expect him to fix any of the ******** Bush left behind in 9 months?

Thank you! Finally somebody who understands that the presidency is 4 YEARS LONG.

 

[krazedkat]

first post

I'm Candian. I don't hate America I hate American's though... (Kidding). The thing I hate is that you guys are so strict about imagrents. Seriously! And your government system is awful, it takes almost a year for an election to ride out. I also don't like the fact that many Americans think that America is the last remaining super power in the world. I wouldn't say that: Look at Canada, China, Russia, Germany and many other countries! I also don't like the fact that you guys have a **** load of nukes and CONSTANTLY ask other countries to dispose of theirs to make a "Nuke free world". BULL! I doubt America would dispose of their nukes. I don't give a **** if the other countries are more "dangerous". Hell, I'm Jewish and part Israeli, I don't like the fact that we are considered "dangerous" with nukes, its complete ****. Look at it this way: The USA isn't bad, just some of their ideas are. And its POP not SODA! :|
You can quote me on that.


Edit: I also dislike your gun laws and your school system . Thanks for ready ...

 

[anythingtwisty]

The USA has a history of overthrowing governments, starting with the banana republic.

Finally, someone mentions this! This is one thing the government has DEFINITELY tried to keep quiet.

 

[Ethan Rosen]

And your government system is awful, it takes almost a year for an election to ride out.

Timeline of the 2008 Presidential Election
11/4/08 12:00AM EST: The First Polls Open in some small towns on the East Coast
11/4/08 11:00PM EST: Polls on the West Coast Close, Barack Obama surpasses the needed 270 electoral votes to win. John McCain concedes defeat.

 

[DavidWoner]

I'm Candian.

You're what?

The thing I hate is that you guys are so strict about imagrents.

About what?

I also don't like the fact that many Americans think that America is the last remaining super power in the world. I wouldn't say that

Neither would anyone I have ever talked to EVER.

I also don't like the fact that you guys have a **** load of nukes and CONSTANTLY ask other countries to dispose of theirs to make a "Nuke free world".

Really? I thought we asked countries to dispose of their nukes because they had shown clear intent or outright stated a desire to use them against other countries. But maybe I'm wrong. Oh wait, I'm not.

And its POP not SODA!

Actually it isn't. Read a book sometime.

I also dislike ... your school system . Thanks for ready ...

This speaks for itself.

 

[Kian]

first post

I'm Candian. I don't hate America I hate American's though... (Kidding). The thing I hate is that you guys are so strict about imagrents. Seriously! And your government system is awful, it takes almost a year for an election to ride out. I also don't like the fact that many Americans think that America is the last remaining super power in the world. I wouldn't say that: Look at Canada, China, Russia, Germany and many other countries! I also don't like the fact that you guys have a **** load of nukes and CONSTANTLY ask other countries to dispose of theirs to make a "Nuke free world". BULL! I doubt America would dispose of their nukes. I don't give a **** if the other countries are more "dangerous". Hell, I'm Jewish and part Israeli, I don't like the fact that we are considered "dangerous" with nukes, its complete ****. Look at it this way: The USA isn't bad, just some of their ideas are. And its POP not SODA! :|
You can quote me on that.


Edit: I also dislike your gun laws and your school system . Thanks for ready ...

So many, many things are wrong here.

1) You're silly if you think any superpower comes close to the United States right now, and the fact that you put Canada on the list of other potential superpowers is indicative of your lack of education on the matter. The US has a GDP that is more than 1/5 of the GDP of the world. And the US has, far and away, the most powerful military on the planet. Our language is the language of business, our corporations are spread worldwide. There is no doubt that the US if the only superpower in the world at present. China is rising Russia is falling hard, and Canada is a silly suggestion. Not even remotely close. Germany is an important nation, for sure, but they don't exercise nearly the global hand in economics or military prowess the US does.

2) We try to keep nukes out of the hands of people like Kim-Jong-Il and others because it behooves us and the rest of the world. We are so often the fall guy b/c we have to be the force that leads things. And it's within those countries interests to obtain nukes. That's how the world works, you do whats best for yourself, because nobody else will.

3) Education? Our universities are the envy of the world. We have many of the top facilities and minds in the world. Great thinkers from all over the world come to the US to study and teach more so than anywhere else.

4) Your Israel comment, like much of your rambling, was completely unintelligible.

5) Immigration? We have nearly 21% of the immigrants in the world, making up approximately 13% of our entire population. That's about 1 in 8 people. We welcome many people to the most diverse country in the world. If you're referring to our problem with ILLEGAL immigration, well that's just silly. Obviously we want to apply some sort of procedure for entering the country. For many reason it makes very little sense not to know who is here.

6) Our second amendment reads "the right of the people to keep and bear arms should not be infringed." We believe in the right to defend ourselves and rebel against a tyrannical government when necessary. Thank God we weren't disarmed by the British in the 1700s like the citizens of more modern tyrannies are. People shouldn't be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of their people.

7) It is obviously soda. You and the entire Midwestern portion of the United States are wrong.

8) This is actually worst than your BS thread about having no method to solve the 2x2, you just see the whole thing and can solve it in 3 seconds. Don't think we've forgotten.

To all:
I'm happy to live in the most prosperous country in the history of the world, in a place where I feel safe, and a country where I enjoy more freedoms than anywhere else in the world. The US was born by a distrust in government and a passion for individual liberty, and we are not apologetic about our belief in that.

This thread is just about the most unbelievable display of global ignorance I've ever seen. You make rash comments about a world many of you know very little about. Stop making the US out to be your biggest problem. It's like hating the Yankees because they're good.

 

[gpt_kibutz]

I'm Candian.

You're what?

The thing I hate is that you guys are so strict about imagrents.

About what?

I also don't like the fact that many Americans think that America is the last remaining super power in the world. I wouldn't say that

Neither would anyone I have ever talked to EVER.

I also don't like the fact that you guys have a **** load of nukes and CONSTANTLY ask other countries to dispose of theirs to make a "Nuke free world".

Really? I thought we asked countries to dispose of their nukes because they had shown clear intent or outright stated a desire to use them against other countries. But maybe I'm wrong. Oh wait, I'm not.

And its POP not SODA!

Actually it isn't. Read a book sometime.

I also dislike ... your school system . Thanks for ready ...

This speaks for itself.

Those kind of attitudes make me dislike americans...

 

[DavidWoner]

Those kind of attitudes make me dislike americans...

What kind of attitude? Sarcasm in the face of someone who has absolutely no idea what they are talking about?

 

[qqwref]

Don't think I have any problem with people who criticize my country. There are just a few things I felt should be said:
- English is a pretty good candidate for a global language in my opinion. Sure, it's got some pretty weird spelling, but look what it has that most other candidates don't have: it's relatively easy to type and to read and write (compare to Chinese and many Indian languages), it's already well-used (compare to Esperanto), and it's really really popular already (compare to everything but Mandarin, Hindi/Urdu, and arguably Spanish). The spelling problems will even themselves out soon enough. Besides, it's not even our fault - blame the British for taking over half of the world

- I can understand being somewhat annoyed at silly things like stuff costing less in the USA, us calling a dumb sport football, us calling ourselves American when there is no better and similarly short word, etc., but HATING the country for it?

- Have a problem with the American government? Yeah, we (USA citizens) do too. For the most part it isn't our fault (the US has a big right-wing heavily Christian demographic that can cause the gov't to lean towards stuff like being anti-gay, anti-abortion, anti-alcohol/drugs, etc. even if most urban or highly-educated people don't support that). President Bush has had one of the lowest approval ratings ever, with (in one poll) only 25% of people saying they liked what he was doing, and 71% saying they didn't like it (4% were undecided). Just remember that in this case hating the government shouldn't translate to hating the citizens.

- re krazedkat's "And its POP not SODA!": you're kidding, right? It's a regional variant. Some areas in the US call it pop, some call it soda, some call it coke fp). Other areas have their own terms. (See .) Having a problem with the entire USA because certain areas of the country call soft drinks soda is as ridiculous as having a problem with everyone who has dark skin just because there are a few dark-skinned people that you don't like.

 

[gpt_kibutz]

Those kind of attitudes make me dislike americans...

What kind of attitude? Sarcasm in the face of someone who has absolutely no idea what they are talking about?

No, I'm refering to the belief that many americans think they live in a superior country; and therefore they are superior men that can humiliate others in any way.

 

[qqwref]

Those kind of attitudes make me dislike americans...

What kind of attitude? Sarcasm in the face of someone who has absolutely no idea what they are talking about?

No, I'm refering to the belief that many americans think they live in a superior country; and therefore they are superior men that can humiliate others in any way.

That's just arrogance. It is a personality trait, not an attribute of everyone from a country of 300 million.
AND I DON'T LIKE HOW PEOPLE FROM YOUR COUNTRY ALWAYS GENERALIZE
There are plenty of people who aren't from America who are arrogant and nationalistic, too.

 

[gpt_kibutz]

No, I'm refering to the belief that many americans think they live in a superior country; and therefore they are superior men that can humiliate others in any way.

That's just arrogance. It is a personality trait, not an attribute of everyone from a country of 300 million.
AND I DON'T LIKE HOW PEOPLE FROM YOUR COUNTRY ALWAYS GENERALIZE
There are plenty of people who aren't from America who are arrogant and nationalistic, too.

Did I say everyone?

 

[edd5190]

Those kind of attitudes make me dislike americans...

What kind of attitude? Sarcasm in the face of someone who has absolutely no idea what they are talking about?

No, I'm refering to the belief that many americans think they live in a superior country; and therefore they are superior men that can humiliate others in any way.

*searches David's post for anything similar to "I live in a superior contry; and therefore I am a superior superior man that can humiliate others in any way."*

Nothing. David would've said the same thing if he lived in any other country. David not being in the US wouldn't have made krazedkat any more correct.

 

[DavidWoner]

Those kind of attitudes make me dislike americans...

What kind of attitude? Sarcasm in the face of someone who has absolutely no idea what they are talking about?

No, I'm refering to the belief that many americans think they live in a superior country; and therefore they are superior men that can humiliate others in any way.

What makes you think you know my beliefs based on a few sentences on a forum? I don't believe anything of the sort, and I find it extremely presumptuous of you to say so. It doesn't matter what country I or somebody else is from, if they are going to be blatantly incorrect and still act like they know what they are talking about, then I am going to say something about it.

I am extremely bothered by people who outright assume Americans think they are better than everyone else. If you have a legitimate issue with America or Americans than feel free to bring it up. However, if you are going to continue making offensive remarks based on stereotypes then this conversation is over.