Why does the rest of the world hate America

[MCNKJKILLA]

I, as an American, is starting to hate how American politics are ruining this country. There are also some stupid people out there that mess this country up.

[terrafirma]

dont vote for reps or dems vote independent or libretarian

[P Gizzle]

do foreigners hate the Americans or their Government? just wondering.

I travel internationally extensively for my job. The first thing people ask when we are having the after work beer is either "What do you think of Mr. Bush" or "Where were you on 9/11" (since I live in NY). I can say that 100% of the folks I have meet abroad have hated bush. One or two have hated Americans in general.

Later after they get to know me, they usually say something like "You are not like most Americans". This is not because I am different, but because they just dont know any Americans and generalize...exactly like we do about Mexicans, Muslims and anyone else different than us. Less than 20% of Americans own a passport, even less have ever left US Soil. The world only knows us from TV & Movies, and the same goes for us.

The best thing Americans could do is get a passport, and take that next family vacation to a different country. Go see Paris or London or Tokyo. If you go to Mexico, go to a REAL Mexican city instead of cities that were invented like Cancun & Cabo. Be respectful and meet the people. THATS how we change our image abroad, and you might just make a lifelong friend. I have.

If there is one thing I have learned after setting foot in over 15 countries on four continents...it's this: People are the same everywhere. We all have the same goals. There are good people & a**holes in every country...just like here.

see i think that the world is a beautiful place and im not about to let a bunch of radicals ruin the world for everyone else! i totally agree with u. Americans have it sooo good, and you go to places like Tijuana or others like that and you learn a.)to respect other cultures b.)we have it great in US, Canda, Britain and c.)remember that the US is built on the fact that we were all created equal, even if it's by God, Allah, the Great Spirit, Science, whatever.


I totally agree with u!

[terrafirma]

based on the last few posts by the main posters i would say this post is all but dead now we are just waiting for the crazies to disagree and bring up some stupid factoid no one cares about so thanks for posting everyone it was fun while it lasted i hope another post i make generates this many posts

[James14]

I, as an American, is starting to hate how American politics are ruining this country. There are also some stupid people out there that mess this country up.

United we stand, divided we fall.

[strike wolf]

I, as an American, is starting to hate how American politics are ruining this country. There are also some stupid people out there that mess this country up.

Well said, what America needs is a leader who can find common ground between the two-parties, because right now the only presidents we are getting for both sides are making the rift bigger.

[Econ2000]

I, as an American, is starting to hate how American politics are ruining this country. There are also some stupid people out there that mess this country up.

Well said, what America needs is a leader who can find common ground between the two-parties, because right now the only presidents we are getting for both sides are making the rift bigger.

I agree

[vtmarik]

dont vote for reps or dems vote independent or libretarian

Or just go one step further. Don't vote at all.

You know that old quote "What if there was a war and nobody came?"

What if there was an election and not one single vote was cast? What would happen?

It would be interesting to watch...

[Stopper]

I, as an American, is starting to hate how American politics are ruining this country. There are also some stupid people out there that mess this country up.

Well said, what America needs is a leader who can find common ground between the two-parties, because right now the only presidents we are getting for both sides are making the rift bigger.

I agree

I find this a little difficult to understand, myself. I'm not American, but I've heard this sort of thing before, where Americans wish for "bipartisanship", or in Britain it's called "consensus". I don't understand why anyone would want this - in no country will you find 100%, or even 75%, agreeing on any one thing. So in an average democracy, you should expect to find an awful lot of disagreement - but remember you only get the politicians you deserve.

Let the political parties rip away at each other, and be VERY suspicious when your political class agree on one thing (such as what level of pay elected politicians should get.)

[Joe McCarthy]

Holy cow, I agree with stopper I think. I hate talk of finding "common ground". That just trivializes issues. The electorate isnt kids squabbling over candy. There isnt common ground between right and wrong or good and evil, going to war or not, raising taxes or not, none of the important things. What we do works fine. We have a big national debate about what to do, then we make a decision in the voting booth. Works fine.

[ieatplasmarifles]

well, the koreans are just stupid...they hate every living thing on earth
Russians hate us cause we have more nukes
middle east hates us for no reason
gary miller loves you all though (PS im not gary miller)

[strike wolf]

I, as an American, is starting to hate how American politics are ruining this country. There are also some stupid people out there that mess this country up.

Well said, what America needs is a leader who can find common ground between the two-parties, because right now the only presidents we are getting for both sides are making the rift bigger.

I agree

I find this a little difficult to understand, myself. I'm not American, but I've heard this sort of thing before, where Americans wish for "bipartisanship", or in Britain it's called "consensus". I don't understand why anyone would want this - in no country will you find 100%, or even 75%, agreeing on any one thing. So in an average democracy, you should expect to find an awful lot of disagreement - but remember you only get the politicians you deserve.

Let the political parties rip away at each other, and be VERY suspicious when your political class agree on one thing (such as what level of pay elected politicians should get.)

Well of course there's always going to be disagreement among the parties. The problem is that the differences between them are getting too big and now we are dealing two parties that are just as or more concerned with destroying each other than running the government properly. We are never going to have every politician agree to the very last issue but we do need a president who can find common ground between the two parties enough so that it isn't just constant bickering.

[Joe McCarthy]

You know you are in a democracy when there is constant bickering. Why are you guys so worried about people arguing? Its a good thing, means people are getting informed and know what they are talking about and have a vision for the country. All thats left is to decide whose vision we are going with, and a good way to settle that is with elections. Our political system is running like a top, no worries.

[Econ2000]

i think it would be better if there was a 100%.... everybody would want that but ustill have to agree with his qoute even though it doesnt exist

[DING]

I, as an American, is starting to hate how American politics are ruining this country.

There are also some stupid people out there that mess this country up.

Point taken.

[Stopper]

i think it would be better if there was a 100%.... everybody would want that but ustill have to agree with his qoute even though it doesnt exist

If you're talking about 100% consensus, it simply doesn't exist. However I can think of at least one place where there APPEARS to be consensus, and nobody has vicious arguments about what the government should do. That would be North Korea...

[subdork]

When it come to bipartisanship, I think those arguing against it are missing the point.
A Partisan is someone who is "an adherent or supporter of a person, group, party, or cause, esp. a person who shows a biased, emotional allegiance."

The minority in congress tends to use delay tactics just so that nothing can be done so that the majority party seems like they're not getting anything done. How is this good for America? Meanwhile the majority party writes bills with certain provisions in them that are sure to get them voted down just so that they can say that "Senators X and Y voted against eliminating the marriage penalty" when really they were voting against the bill because it was also going to privatize social security.



Anyway, I guess as a bit about the original topic....

"And the journalism advocacy group "Reporters Without Borders" has issued its Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index. The U.S. came in tied for 53rd — with the group saying federal courts threaten journalists and refuse to recognize the media's right not to reveal its sources.

Denmark, which is listed in the 19th spot, brought charges against two reporters accused of publishing state secrets in a series of stories about pre-war intelligence.

And in Lithuania, which was 27th, the government shut down a newspaper's Web site, confiscated all 15,000 print copies of the paper, and arrested the editor — for running a story alleging political corruption."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227165,00.html

[Stopper]

Anyway, I guess as a bit about the original topic....

"And the journalism advocacy group "Reporters Without Borders" has issued its Annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index. The U.S. came in tied for 53rd — with the group saying federal courts threaten journalists and refuse to recognize the media's right not to reveal its sources.

Denmark, which is listed in the 19th spot, brought charges against two reporters accused of publishing state secrets in a series of stories about pre-war intelligence.

And in Lithuania, which was 27th, the government shut down a newspaper's Web site, confiscated all 15,000 print copies of the paper, and arrested the editor — for running a story alleging political corruption."

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,227165,00.html

I'm not sure how this relates to the original subject, but I'll tell you something, you can't take seriously a news report that

a) appears on a website which has "FOX NEWS" at the top,

b) is seven lines long, and goes into no detail whatsoever,

c) appears to be more about pushing a (right-wing) opinion than actual news, and

d) appears on a website which has "FOX NEWS" at the top.

[vtmarik]

I'm not sure how this relates to the original subject, but I'll tell you something, you can't take seriously a news report that

a) appears on a website which has "FOX NEWS" at the top,

b) is seven lines long, and goes into no detail whatsoever,

c) appears to be more about pushing a (right-wing) opinion than actual news, and

d) appears on a website which has "FOX NEWS" at the top.

Actually, if you go to the Reporters without borders website you can read this same stat. Sure it's on Faux News, but it is the actual stat.

Basically, what the ranking means is that we're worse than a country that shut down and confiscated a newspaper's complete printing for a story about corruption in politics.

[spring1]

Out of curiousity, vtmarik, do you agree with that analysis/ranking?

[AndrewLC]

how is isreal none of our business? we are the most powerful ally they have. the only war we have started since we have existed is the america revolution and the Iraq war. Even if we dont find WMD's isnt it better to not have saddam in power anymore?saying no to that question is like saying if hitler hadnt invaded so many countries he wouldnt have been such a bad guy. we are the rishest country because of American work. 200 years ago we were nothing now we are a superpower and widly rich compared to other nations. that is because of work americans put in not anyone else. what are youeven talking about with pakistan?

While I'm usually a proud American and will gravitate towards these sort of threads to attempt a civil defense against blind hatred... I have to point something out.

The American Revolution is out by default, Iraq included. But let's take a step back into history and take a look at wars the United States of America has started.

1.) Mexican-American War. President Polk used power politics and bullied the Mexican's into war. The American government of the time wanted the Mexican's northern territories because of the growing popularity of expansionism. Look up manifest destiny if you'd like to learn more about American expansion.

2.) Spanish-American War. You might read in high school history books that the American government of the time was well-prepared and just in their decision to declare war against Spain because of the sinking of the USS Maine. However, a little research into the spark of this war will tell you otherwise.

3.) Phillipine-American War. Just after the Spanish-American War, the United States purchases the Phillipines. A filipino movement of independence occurs just after news reaches them that the U.S. government planned on making their country a U.S. possession. American troops are sent in to stabilize the country, war ensues for three years.

4.) War of 1812. More American expansionism. Read up on that.

There are plenty of other wars that the United States has started in the name of one thing or another. If you're going to defend this country, at least do it with the information to back yourself up.

ok i will give ou thoughs but most modern wars werent started by us. other powers have started way more wars before america even existed so my poin still stands i think

"Do you as an American give a damn that the rest of the world hates you?"

no i do not give a flying f*ck what anyone in the world thinks. if you hate us do somehting about it. that way we can trump up a reason to invade the shit out of you

Vietnam.

[cattrain]

its got to be sonic, america's drive through...

[Stopper]

I'm not sure how this relates to the original subject, but I'll tell you something, you can't take seriously a news report that

a) appears on a website which has "FOX NEWS" at the top,

b) is seven lines long, and goes into no detail whatsoever,

c) appears to be more about pushing a (right-wing) opinion than actual news, and

d) appears on a website which has "FOX NEWS" at the top.

Actually, if you go to the Reporters without borders website you can read this same stat. Sure it's on Faux News, but it is the actual stat.

Basically, what the ranking means is that we're worse than a country that shut down and confiscated a newspaper's complete printing for a story about corruption in politics.

It may be the same stat, but the Faux story as it is written is VERY heavily biased. For a start, there is no reason to suppose the US media is the freest in the world - there are nearly 200 other countries you know! You could always ask Judith Miller what she thinks.

And as for the Lithuania story, that's a lot more complicated than Faux makes out - they're referring to the KavKaz Center website - there is more detail below (I can't find any reference to print copies being confiscated).

But I still fail to see why Denmark and Lithuania should be assumed to have less overall press freedom than the US, and certainly not because of two isolated incidents.

http://www.freemedia.at/cms/ipi/freedom ... 03/KW0069/

[vtmarik]

Out of curiousity, vtmarik, do you agree with that analysis/ranking?

Personally, I really don't know. I've never run across specific incidents of this happening in this country. For journalists it might be a different story.

I cannot say whether or not I agree or disagree without more data.

[vtmarik]

It may be the same stat, but the Faux story as it is written is VERY heavily biased. For a start, there is no reason to suppose the US media is the freest in the world - there are nearly 200 other countries you know! You could always ask Judith Miller what she thinks.

And as for the Lithuania story, that's a lot more complicated than Faux makes out - they're referring to the KavKaz Center website - there is more detail below (I can't find any reference to print copies being confiscated).

But I still fail to see why Denmark and Lithuania should be assumed to have less overall press freedom than the US, and certainly not because of two isolated incidents.

*actually sits down and reads the article* Ah, well, that's Fox for ya!