BleepingComputer.com: Why are Americans considered so Badly Abroad?

Yes, I'd go with that, Mr Patriot.
America is popular in my house, here in Great Britain Land.
I'd rather be living in a 51st State, than part of the EU.
I'd prefer America as a friend, rather than those other devious European nations.
OK, so you were late in 1917 and 1941, but without you, where would we be.
We've forgiven you for 1776.
Not alone in my view and I don't care a jot, what other nations think.
As long as America supports Israel, my view will not change.

The_patriot09:

1. Which constitutional rights does Obama want to take away, and what evidence - other than traditional conservative vs liberal arguments - do you base this statement? Is it something specific? Did Obama say, "I want to take your right to _____ away."

2. Do you not think our country is getting weaker already? Is the middle class stronger or weaker than before? Is health care stronger or weaker than in the past? The financial market collapsed, not because we are moving toward Communism but because of deregulation - a literal move away from Communism.

I have to say it. I don't mean this to flame or to insight anger. But this is what I think: every time an American espouses fear in a "socialist take over," the executives at the heath insurance companies laugh. They laugh because we are conditioned - like Pavlov's Dog - to accept market solutions no matter the overall cost to society. They laugh at us because they can pillage and rape and steal at a level that would make the Vikings pale in comparison. The difference is that while the victims of Viking raids hated the Vikings, we respond with a standardized "well, thank God we aren't socialists!"

Just as the Republican party "valiantly" fights to prevent health care for millions of Americans, major heath insurance companies raise their rates again. Why? Because they can. Because the American public allows it to continue. Oh yes, they are laughing at us.

The health care issue has been very upsetting and frustrating to me. At this point I am convinced that roughly half the people in our country would rather see their children's teeth rotting out of their heads than accept the idea that a government solution might work. They'd rather live in a "Capitalist Hell" than a "Socialist Suburb." And they'd be perfectly willing to bring the other half of us down with them.

I think this is why Europeans scratch their heads when they look across the Atlantic.

This post has been edited by locally pwned: 18 March 2010 - 08:54 PM

I think locally pwned, the all financial economic system is completely rotten in all the world. Like the Soviet empire collapsed, I think this financial economic system will collapse too, very soon. The Earth is very ill and the cause of its disease is the behavior of Human Race facing the planet which is similar to the behavior of a virus facing to any living being. A virus is a stupid thing, beause it dies with the death of its host if it fails to react, but I think the Earth will not fail to react to this Human behavior. At this moment, the greed of profit rules everything and this is not sustainable for long. The human being is treated like a piece of a machine, there is no respect for nothing unless the all mighty profit and is not the financial system that is at the service of man, but the man who is at its service, which is unacceptable. We live in a very ill Society.

This post has been edited by wfuhdehr: 18 March 2010 - 10:40 PM

"Therein, poor Yorricks is the Problem"

Who said that?

I used Modern day Language for a really old quote.

http://www.enotes.com/hamlet/q-and-a/alas-...t-feeling-13743

This post has been edited by Drovers Dog: 19 March 2010 - 06:02 AM

Hi,

one of the reasons the US is/was badly viewed, or the main reasons that the US is badly viewed in Europe or at least in France and Germany is because they insisted on making war against countries and not against the people that attacked them.
The war was against Afghanistan not against Al-Qaeda, it was against the Taliban (they don't equal to Al-Qaeda), which had only been able to grab the power because of US funding they had received ealier. Just as well as the war against Iraq had litle to do with Al-Qaeda either. Now I agree that both regimes where dictatorships and that good may have come of destroying the then current regime but mostly what you see is that it destroyed countries and brought them to the verge of civil war.
These wars also showed without a doubt that the US government does not give a sh** about its allies and is not inclined to take into consideration the views and concerns their allies may have. Quite on the contrary when another country confesses to have a different opinion than the current US government it gets threatened to be added to the "axis of evil" and to be invaded in the future, as it happened to Germany in 2003 when campaigning for a peaceful solution in Iraq. They expect others to adhere to the charters of the UN and NATO but feel free to ignore them when they feel like it.
The US is also one of the few countries not to adhere to the international court of justice, so that their soldiers can not be tried for war crimes.
Although the US claims that this isn't the case, many people feel, that kidnapping people all over the world and torturing them outside of the US is a breach of human rights and the Geneva convention, just as much as the treatment of Guantanamo prisoners is in contradiction with both those treaties, even though the US signed and promised to adhere to them.
All of this gave the impression that the US government feels like it is above the law and better than the rest of the countries out there and that rules and treaties are only to be respected by others, not them. This doesn't really make for good relationships.
Finally the fact that they screwed up both the Iraq and Afghanistan and are now trying to force the European countries to deploy troups there, so they can retrieve their own forces, isn't really positive either. They created the mess, now they don't want to clean and are trying to force the people that said "don't make the mess" to take care of it, which isn't really the responsible thing to do either, even when the support in the country has vanished, it is still their mess and they should clean it.
Actions like renaming French Fries into Freedom Fries because the French wouldn't join the war in Iraq didn't really help to make the reputation of Americans any better. Displaying "mission accomplished" on a banner during a speech on Iraq in 2003 was also not a good move, especially since there was a civil war starting in Iraq at that point.

So in addition to seeing themselves above the laws they previously agreed to adhere to, they also looked pretty stupid.
Now this is of course all "the government" and even though it was legally (oh well or illegally ) elected by the people in the US, I totally agree that the people as such shouldn't be judged by their government. (I certainly don't want to be judged by the actions of a Sarkozy or a Westerwelle. )

The thing is that I had equally bad experience when I was in the US in 2003, I got personally attacked by my exchange family and had to justify myself on how I could live in a country like France (I'm not even French, but being German didn't really help, since we opposed the war as well.) that wouldn't support the war against Afghanistan, how I could dare to walk in broad daylight with this "sin" burdening my conscience. I can tell you that my one and only visit to the US left A LOT of negative feelings.
Since I joined BC I have met very many very nice American Citizen's and my view on the US has changed a lot. But the years 2001-2005 were one big advertisement on how to hate the US by the US. Things have since calmed down and not only my view, but the view of the general public here as well has changed. Obama is advocating a lot of things that seems "natural" to me or us, like general health care and resolving guantanamo, which makes him very popular outside the US. I believe his support inside the US is slimming though, no?

There are still some things that seem odd, of course. There always will be. But, well, that's cultural differences for you. It would be boring if we were all the same.

regards myrti

America was based on Freedom of Speech, you just showed it is still alive.

Hi,

it depends where you look in America. I would have no issues voicing my concerns in Canada (even if the concerns I voiced were about Canada, which they aren't), but I surely would be very careful with voicing any of these concerns inside the US. I like my other freedoms just as much as my freedom of speech.

I love you too, Mate.

People that spoke out made America Great.

Boston Tea Party would never have happened without them.

Other Country's try?

America is full of wondefull people, half asleep.

This post has been edited by Drovers Dog: 21 March 2010 - 08:30 AM

I agree with everything that myrti said. There were, in recent History of Mankind several other great nations and all of them disappeared and USA will not be an exception. Like a Nation, it has not yet 300 years, so, among the other nations, can be considered as a very strong child and, since the end of last WW, the behaviour of all Administrations they had, shows they think they are the rulers and the policemen of all world, but this behavior, whether they like it or not, creates them many enemies around the World. Take a look to the list of wars they were involved since the end of WWII:

20th Century

* Greek Civil War, 1947 - 1949 (time span of U.S. involvement)
* Korean War, 1950 - 1953
o South Korean Campaign, 1950 - 1953
o North Korean Campaign, 1950 - 1953
* 1958 Lebanon crisis, 1958 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o Operation Blue Bat, 1958
* Cuban Missile Crisis, 1961 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o Bay of Pigs Invasion, 1961
* Vietnam War, 1962 - 1975 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o Laotian Civil War, 1962 - 1973
o Cambodian Civil War, 1969 - 1970
* Second Dominican Republic Conflict, 1965 - 1966
o Operation Powerpack, 1965 - 1966
* Second Korean War, 1966 - 1976
* Contra War, El Salvador, 1981 - 1990
* Libya Conflict, 1981 - 1989 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o First Action in the Gulf of Sidra, 1981
o Second Action in the Gulf of Sidra, 1986
o 1986 bombing of Libya, 1986
o Third Action in the Gulf of Sidra, 1989
* Grenada Conflict, 1983 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o Operation Urgent Fury, 1983
* Iran–Iraq War, 1987 - 1989 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o Operation Earnest Will, 1987 - 1988
o Operation Prime Chance, 1987 - 1989
o Operation Eager Glacier, 1987
o Operation Nimble Archer, 1987
o Operation Praying Mantis, 1988
* Second Panama Conflict, 1989 - 1990 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o Operation Just Cause, 1989 - 1990
* Persian Gulf War, Iraq, 1991 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o Operation Desert Shield, 1991
o Operation Desert Storm, 1991
* Iraq Conflict, 1991 - 2003 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o Operation Provide Comfort, 1991 - 1996
o Operation Northern Watch, 1997 - 2003
o Operation Southern Watch, 1992 - 2003
o Operation Desert Fox, 1998
o Operation Southern Focus, 2002 - 2003
* Somali Civil War, 1992 - 1994 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o Operation Provide Relief, 1992
o Operation Restore Hope, 1992 - 1994
o United Nations Operation in Somalia I, 1992
o United Nations Operation in Somalia II, 1993 - 1995
* First Haitian Rebellion, 1994 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o Operation Uphold Democracy, 1994 - 1995
* Yugoslav wars, 1994 - 1999 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o Bosnian Conflict, 1994 - 1995
o Kosovo Conflict, 1997 - 1999

21st Century

* War on Terrorism, 2001 - present
o Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan 2001 - present
o Operation Enduring Freedom - Philippines 2002 - present
o Operation Enduring Freedom - Horn of Africa 2002 - present
o Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003 - present
o War in North-West Pakistan, 2004 - present
o Operation Enduring Freedom - Trans Sahara 2007 - present
* Second Haitian Rebellion, 2004 (time span of U.S. involvement)
o United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti, 2004 - present

quote - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_wars_...e_United_States

I think this list speaks for itself and explains a lot of things, like "Why are Americans considered so badly abroad".
If you want a more detailed list, go here: - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_U...tary_operations

This post has been edited by wfuhdehr: 21 March 2010 - 11:49 PM

Not just americans that are disliked abroad, the english arent liked that much either,me being from liverpool,england are disliked by the rest of our own country,just google scouser jokes.

Eveyone no matter how nice gets tarred by the same brush,i have a lot of family from the u.s and while they talk weird they are really nice people,but as always the bad always spoil the good

I agree with you, back in 1990 I was at Manila Airport, in the Philippines and cautioned a fellow Aussie about making derogatory comments about the Staff being able to understand English, it is taught in all their Schools, manditary and is acuatually the most common Language of the Country.

Enough said that the particular person got one heck of a Shock when the total Staff that arranged around the table, told me, "You are Welcomed, Sir" All I kept saying is "Thank you", during it all.

First thing I did was to ask one of the Staff, that knew I was looking at the clock, "What time is it, Please?" He looked at the same clock and told me the time. I said, "Thank you", he said, You are Welcome, Sir."

Ray.

This post has been edited by Drovers Dog: 03 April 2010 - 08:06 AM

OK 'scuse me while I crawl in a hole now. Why was I born here in America? Oh Woe is me. Why couldn't I have been born in Europe, or Antarctica, or Japan or China. I hear wonderful things about China these days. WOW even Australia. Greenland, anywhere but here in America. It's so perfect everywhere but here in America it is just so AWFUL. I am sure I will be carted away now by any number of 3 letter agencies for saying that. Maybe I will be deported and then I can have a wonderful life and live happily ever after somewhere else besides here in awful America.

Oh but.. wait. It has just dawned on me.. I was born here yes, in terrible America. But, my ancestors were from Ireland, Britain, Denmark, Canada. Well now I am just confused because if things were so damned wonderful in those places why did my ancestors want to leave there! Why were they willing to start off all over again in a new place? I am really very confused here.

Don't call me a rude American then say but I am sure you are a lovely person. That makes no sense to me. I am a born and bred American, love me or hate me I don't really care. You live your life the way you see fit. I live mine the way I see fit. I do not judge anyone by their culture or the way they live, why am I as an American judged badly? Why am I made to feel lacking here in this topic because I am an American, as I sit here in my own home at my computer? Each person in this country is an individual, but we see ourselves as part of a whole the same way other people in other countries do. All very nice to sit and cast opinions about. I was not raised to judge, I was raised to be tolerant. This very country is made up of people from other places who left there for somewhere better.

I resent this topic and I resent some of the things said in it.

I also resent this Topic,Pandy, and also the Thread on Religion.

Life is short,and we should Tolerate each other,and live in Harmony.
One bad experience,with a bad mannered American,doesn't make the whole population, bad.

There is good, and bad, in every Country.


 

This post has been edited by DSTM: 05 April 2010 - 06:03 AM

This is not what I said... I said that the experiences I made from 2001-2005 were entirely bad, that I met a lot of people which attacked me for my opinions and even for opinions they thought I would have.
I then went on to say that starting 2008 I met a lot of nice people here and that this changed my opinion.

I found this topic an interesting read, but it also really ticked me off.

The reason why America is so disliked abroad is that we have the guts to do what we want to do, and not give a damn what others think. Unlike Europe where they talk everything out and try to reach a general agreement, we've realised that you can not make everyone happy, so lets look out for what best for ourselves.

Now I'm not saying I agree 100% with the way the United States does things, but I admire the fact that we are willing to put our sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brother, sisters, etc on the line to defend what we believe is right. If you have such a big problem with our people then don't come to the US, or talk to American's that are visiting your country.

Without the US helping bail Europe out of two world wars I'm sure the entire recent history of humankind would be completely different from what we understand it today. Call me close minded but we have a certain core of values/beliefs that can not be changed.

Might I quote the opening statements of the 2nd Continental Congress of the United States of American, signed on 4 July 1776:
"WE hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness -- That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these Ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its Foundation on such Principles, and organizing its Powers in such Form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

So I will justify my support for the war in Afghanistan/Iraq/Pakistan/Korea/Vietnam/etc... by saying that the people have a right to chose their government because without the people the government has no real power, it might have brute force, but it'll never have the respect or support that that of the United States gets.

Also, will the world just admit that they need the US to maintain the current world that they live in? Without US money, military, supplies, support, etc around the world to our allies in the middle east, Europe, Asia this world would be completely different. There would probably be only one Korea under Kim-Il Jung, and the likes. Sure you may not agree with how we do things, what we do, or what we believe in, but without US it would be completely different.

But anyways to get back on the subject, we're hated because we do things our way and it's always going to be that way, whether you like it or not. That's how we are in America, and that's what makes us such a unique and great country.

As for tolerance, I am very open to your political/religious/personal beliefs, but I'll be damned if you try to change laws/regulations that force me to acknowledge/recognise them officially.

And for Communism, I'm sorry to burst everyones bubble but the US is not moving toward a communistic government, but that of a socialist state, such as the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (aka USSR/Soviet Union), DPRK (North Korea), DPRC (China), Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Cuba, and I'm sure I'm missing a few.

For who commented that there are some of us that resist to believe that a government programme will actually work. Well I am one of those. After seeing how their 'safe guards' failed in the economic sector, which includes many programmes in it's self, the Government doesn't need any more control over our lives. They can barely run what they have right, so they don't need anymore.

-Steve

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