Non-US Citizens: What Do You Really Think of America?

[tspikes51]

Many people in America seem to think that we are hated worldwide. Others think that everybody loves us. I was just curious to think what actual foriegners think. Please post whatever you think is appropriate.

[Church]

I like most American people, but since I am a passivist, I will refrain from describing how I feel about America and its leadership.

[feelgood]

American to me...is like a cousin that I hate and love.

I just can't explain it. There are attributes about her that I like and others that I dislike.

[tspikes51]

Originally Posted by Church

I like most American people, but since I am a passivist, I will refrain from describing how I feel about America and its leadership.

Thank you, you've said enough.

[Janie]

I like Americans as individuals. There are quite a lot of nice ones, just like in any other place. However, I wouldn't say the same for America's global/international policy and its inability to follow the recommendations of organizations like the WTO. They're supposed to be part of such things, yet they follow their rulings when it suits them (notably the softwood lumber dispute, which all BCers hate). I wouldn't say I want it gone though, as it is the biggest trading partner of many countries worldwide, and without it, I think the global market would stagnate. Love-hate relationship? I think so.

[ophelia783]

Honestly, I like America....I like a lot of Americans.
However, as a Canadian who is pursuing possible immigration, I'm scared to death of living there.

[Suave]

I fear your country, but I like a portion of Americans that I've met. However, some of them certainly lived up to stereotypes (loud, brash Texans for example).

[jwoody]

*Everyone believes that George Bush is a mouthpiece for a secret society of oil barrons.

As for the American people; some are extremely good, some are extremely bad and the rest fit somewhere in between.


*When I say 'everyone', I mean the entire population.

[Charlatan]

The problem with America is that many people outside of the US learn about the US through three major sources:

1) The current Administration (whoever that may be) as they appear on the nightly news.
2) American entertainment and cultural exports in all its forms (Film, Literature, Music, Television, Comicbooks, etc.)
3) The military either stationed nearby, visiting at port or currently in action.

Sadly, this provides a very skewed view of a very complex nation.

Most individual Americans I have met are just like anyone else I've met from around the world.

[aberkok]

I've never plumbed the depths of my thoughts towards Americans, but I do know that whenever I meet one, I raise an eyebrow. I worry about their ideology: are they a flag waving redneck? I don't get along with people like that, to put it lightly. Luckily most Americans I meet aren't like that but there's always that period of intial suspicion.

[hulk]

As what most people has said, more or less. As individuals, there's nothing wrong with most of them (my boss and good pal from work is from Idaho). There is quite often an air of arrogance about them, which I don't blame them for as it's bombarded into their minds from a very tender age.

As a country, though, ignoring the UN et al when they're supposed to be the flagship for democracy, well, doesn't sit right.

[Daniel_]

I am an avid consumer of news - I generally read (UK) newspapers, the BBC, Sky and CNN websites and satellite news services every day.

I have been to the US and Canada a few times and worked with US ex-pats at college and in jobs.

In general almost all of the Americans I have met have been decent people - but some astonish me with their insularity.

American people tat I have met seem totally oblivious to world events and seem to genuinely believe that global policy is about "Good vs Evil" in some way.

I think that Europeans, Africans, and Asians seem to have a much more pragmatic understanding of global realpolitik - maybe it's because we come from smaller countries, or have a direct recollection of wars. I don't know for certain.

Too me, one analogy tat seems nearly correct is tat the US is like a huge nursery or junior high. You are safe there, but you look out the windows and don't want to know about it.

What's really odd is that the US is populated by the decedents of the most adventurous people that Europe could supply (as well as the involuntary settlers descended from slaves etc).

The American SYSTEM seems totally incomprehensible to us - you worry about civil liberties and gun control as a purely academic issue, but seem to ignore the fact that if some of the big cities in your nation are so dangerous that the police won't go there at night time, it might be because you can get handguns in Wal*Mart

I have always thought of the US as the smallest and most insular country I have been to - but spread out to enormous volume with loads of empty countryside.

The USA is like a Polynesian island chain - you have to travel for days to get from one part to another, but for some odd reason people try to present it as a unified whole.

The on ting it seems safe to say about the US is that in almost all respects it is far from united.

And nobody likes that Bush bloke - they think he's a bit stupid and very dangerous (sorry).

Nobody expects a Greek to have the same way of viewing the world as a Scot or a Norwegian, but everyone talks about "Americans" as if they were the same thing.

My most shocking experience in the US was driving through mile after mile of horrific poverty, half an hour away from sparkling beautiful finance districts in big rich cities.

The US is without contest the richest place on earth and has room and money for immense developments to allow everyone to live productive and worthwhile lives, but nobody does it.

Anywhere else in the world that sort of wealth has led to an enlightened welfare state, but in the US things have slipped so far the other way that travellers from the EU are now advised (by our governments) to take out additional health insurance and insist tat we are not taken to public hospitals if we are involved in an accident.

There are 3rd world countries tat don't get that rating from the Foreign office.

[SiN]

I've always been a US citizen, but I did live in Eurpoe for almost 3 years (germany)..

and while I didn't talk to many people about the Us, or spend much time trying to assess details about how germans view the US ... I did sense a pretty obvious disapproval (of the leadership and politics and such).

[canuckguy]

Like any country in the world, its gonna have some assholes, and its gonna have some awesome people.

Only thing that ever bothered me was after 911, it seemed like no american was asked WHY did the terrorist attack us, just how can we attack them back. Sometimes you have to look inward for resolve (for the war on terror) and not just be the aggressor. I think that has happened now, but when 911 was around all the americans in my office were jumping for nukes sorta speak.



edit- americans are great people, i think some people have views on america based just on the media (can be said about some canadians as well) that can create stereotypes that are not accurate. Anything to sell tv and print.

[Charlatan]

I think that many of the issues we outside of the US tend to have with those who live in the US is the insularity that has been referenced above.

The US is a big place but in general it is a big place that is very inward looking. The same media and cultural entertainment that is exported to the World is often the only (if not the most prevalent) thing that US citizens use for inormation about themselves.

I am often surprised at not only the lack of information about global events but moreover, the lack of interest in global events. I do see this changing for the better and wouldn't argue that it is universal by any stretch (the best example of this at a high level is GW Bush's assertion on the campaign trail in 1999/2000 that he had only been out of the US once in his life combined with his lack of knowledge of foreign leadership and general issues and he was an educated man running for the highest office).

[Elphaba]

I agree, Charlatan. It took a Brit to pull my head out of my arse and start taking a world view rather than an insular one. Best thing he ever did for me.

[analog]

Originally Posted by Charlatan

I am often surprised at not only the lack of information about global events but moreover, the lack of interest in global events.

Yeah. I mean, there's actually a thread on the boards right now where people are arguing over whether or not people should care about the world around them. Literally. People are being called insensitive and others are saying it's perfectly fine to not care or be informed.

That's a sad, pathetic view- but also very typical, which reminds me just how far this country as a whole has to go to actually grow up.

The forward-moving areas do well enough, but the areas where they're moving backward... well, it seems they move faster in the other direction all the time.

[Bodyhammer86]

The American SYSTEM seems totally incomprehensible to us - you worry about civil liberties and gun control as a purely academic issue, but seem to ignore the fact that if some of the big cities in your nation are so dangerous that the police won't go there at night time, it might be because you can get handguns in Wal*Mart

I don't mean to threadjack here, but last I checked, you can't buy handguns at Wal-mart. Granted, they have hunting rifles and shotguns, but criminals don't use those kind of weapons and they don't get their guns legally anyway, which is why they're criminals and since they don't give two shits what the laws are, they're gonna find a way to obtain those weapons, be it having them smuggled in, having individual pieces of them shipped in, or making them themselves. Besides that, the cities have many other factors that account for high crime, such as high numbers of minorities, gangs, underfunded police forces, and so on.
/end threadjack

[maleficent]

Originally Posted by Charlatan

I am often surprised at not only the lack of information about global events but moreover, the lack of interest in global events.

Not that it's a defense - -but look at the evening news... most of the news is local/state level - some national level. the newspaper same thing - there's very little world news.

Most non-americans don't get US news unless it's scandalous -- everyone new all about the election fiascos... but regular news -- no one outside of who is involved in it -- cares...

[BigBen]

I love Americans individually, and collectively I chuckle to myself.

The way that your government system is set up ensures division and hostility.

An old American Army Captain that I met had differing views of History. He was not taught the war of 1812 in school, and became quite enraged about some of the things I had been taught. We nearly came to blows over the subject, but luckily he out-ranked me and I deffered, preventing an international incident.

I envy the nationalism that seems to pour out from every American I meet. I have commented before how I wish that Canadians could somehow stop appologizing for being Canadian. I find myself constantly saying "Boy, I hope I don't offend anyone..." as I post replies to the TFP.

Do you think that Americans wander around saying that?

"I've got the Fucking First Ammendment gauranteeing me the right to offend people. Here is my opinion, here is the rationale behind it, and if anyone disagrees, they are wrong and I will tell them so."

I admire that way of thinking.

[BigBen]

Originally Posted by maleficent

Most non-americans don't get US news unless it's scandalous -- everyone new all about the election fiascos... but regular news -- no one outside of who is involved in it -- cares...

Umm, I'm going to have to disagree with you there.

I get at least 5 American news channels, including Fox Rochester and CBS/NBC Detroit local news.

I watch the news to get my dose of international events.

I bet you folks in Rochester didn't know that your FOX station was being rebroadcasted across the Canadian Prairies !

[maleficent]

YAH, But Canadia is kind of like a US suburb...

Someday, i'll tell the tale of the international incident i almost caused in Australia when i convinced a waiter (who thought he knew everything) that there had been a great war fought between Canada and the US, for Canada's independence and well - i'm sorry, but we kicked their ass (actually i think there was a hockey game on and the canadians went home to watch the game and drink beer and let us win). and now they worked for us (the two canadians sitting at the table with me were my slaves...

The war was in all the papers, I can't beleive he didnt know about it.


Now, remember, i think all the cute boys live in canuckistan, I'm just teasing here... it's my right dangnabbit!

[Charlatan]

Originally Posted by maleficent

YAH, But Canadia is kind of like a US suburb...

No them's fightin' words!!! Dust off the muskets boys we're goin' to war!

[maleficent]

Originally Posted by Charlatan

No them's fightin' words!!! Dust off the muskets boys we're goin' to war!

::sigh::

I'm kinda busy right now, can it wait a week or so...

[Charlatan]

OK... no problem. A week it is. What colour are you going to repaint the White House this time? I think a nice Chartreuse would be good...

[maleficent]

Originally Posted by brian1975

Only thing that ever bothered me was after 911, it seemed like no american was asked WHY did the terrorist attack us, just how can we attack them back.

to be perfectly honest, knowing why wouldn't change a dang thing for me, it wouldnt bring back my best friend, nor the countless other associates, collegues and friends I lost that day... Knowing Why they did it didn't change my desire to level that entire part of the world -- a few well placed nukes would have been perfectly good therapy. Why? As horrible as it makes me sound - I don't care why they did it - they did it.

[Mr Honest]

I loathe the USA Government and Imperialist economic system but not every citizen of the country, there has to be one or two nice people

It's got nothing to do with nationalism, I feel the same about the UK where I live.

But where do you draw the line between a government and the people who live there?
There are tens of millions of people who believe in their system and actively support and legitimise it and the same numbers who passively accept and therefore condone what is done in their name.

[Suave]

Originally Posted by analog

Yeah. I mean, there's actually a thread on the boards right now where people are arguing over whether or not people should care about the world around them. Literally. People are being called insensitive and others are saying it's perfectly fine to not care or be informed.

That's a sad, pathetic view- but also very typical, which reminds me just how far this country as a whole has to go to actually grow up.

The forward-moving areas do well enough, but the areas where they're moving backward... well, it seems they move faster in the other direction all the time.

Linkage please. I'd like to explain why it's not a sad or pathetic view (although I disagree with it) without derailing this thread.

[Janey]

Originally Posted by Bodyhammer86

I don't mean to threadjack here, but last I checked, you can't buy handguns at Wal-mart. Granted, they have hunting rifles and shotguns, but criminals don't use those kind of weapons and they don't get their guns legally anyway, which is why they're criminals and since they don't give two shits what the laws are, they're gonna find a way to obtain those weapons, be it having them smuggled in, having individual pieces of them shipped in, or making them themselves. Besides that, the cities have many other factors that account for high crime, such as high numbers of minorities, gangs, underfunded police forces, and so on.
/end threadjack

/addendum to threadjack:

you can buy rifles and shotguns at Canadian Tire too. for what that's worth

/end addendum

on topic:

I have worked with many Americans over the years, and find them to be the nicest, most polite people around. They go the extra mile to make sure that you are accommodated in all their dealings.

politcally, they are as divisive as Canada, with a seemingly dead heat between rural/conservatism and urban/liberalism outlook. I do agree that their insularity is grating, but given the sway and pure volume of cultural exposure that we receive from them in Canada, it's often hard for us to maintain our *different* perspective. It's no wonder that they accept as gospel what ever the media down there dishes out. It's a bit scary, mind you, because the media tends to atract the extreme or unbalanced people

[powerclown]

Originally Posted by Mr Honest

There are tens of millions of people who believe in their system and actively support and legitimise it and the same numbers who passively accept and therefore condone what is done in their name.

Al-Qaeda operates on this same theory.

[World's King]

We're assholes.



'nuff said.

[alansmithee]

American's don't have to pay attention to world affairs, unless what some other country is doing directly affects America in a negative way. As the reigning superpower and the largest economy, other countries have to come here for business. Now knowing about world affairs isn't necessarily bad, but I think it's awfully vain of other countries to think that America should care about what they are doing. Until someone else is a threat to us either economically or militarily, America should focus on America. It's why most other industrialized nations are all taught english in their schools-It's not to deal with the UK. If you want the US to take notice, threaten us (although you might not like the attention you recieve). Otherwise, it's not necessary.

[Charlatan]

Originally Posted by alansmithee

American's don't have to pay attention to world affairs, unless what some other country is doing directly affects America in a negative way. As the reigning superpower and the largest economy, other countries have to come here for business. Now knowing about world affairs isn't necessarily bad, but I think it's awfully vain of other countries to think that America should care about what they are doing. Until someone else is a threat to us either economically or militarily, America should focus on America. It's why most other industrialized nations are all taught english in their schools-It's not to deal with the UK. If you want the US to take notice, threaten us (although you might not like the attention you recieve). Otherwise, it's not necessary.

I agree with you on this... I don't argue against it at all.

Just so long as you are aware that is this approach is one of the reasons people elsewhere don't like America.

And... English is important for more than just dealing with the US. It is only one among many reasons don't kid yourself.

[Pacifier]

I've met nice americans, I've met dumb and stupid americans, just like everywhere else.
What freaks me our is the level of nationalism and the outright ignorance and arrogance towards the "outside world". Also the level of religiousness is somewhat strange.

I won't even start about your current administration...

[Pacifier]

Originally Posted by maleficent

Why? As horrible as it makes me sound - I don't care why they did it - they did it.

Yep, I bet a lot of people in nations around the world which have been bombed by the americans think the same way.

[ironman]

I think you are sure the sun revolves around the US.

[canuckguy]

Originally Posted by maleficent

to be perfectly honest, knowing why wouldn't change a dang thing for me, it wouldnt bring back my best friend, nor the countless other associates, collegues and friends I lost that day... Knowing Why they did it didn't change my desire to level that entire part of the world -- a few well placed nukes would have been perfectly good therapy. Why? As horrible as it makes me sound - I don't care why they did it - they did it.

well i would assume your always being perfectly honest. or should i assume otherwise.......

[alansmithee]

Originally Posted by Charlatan

I agree with you on this... I don't argue against it at all.

Just so long as you are aware that is this approach is one of the reasons people elsewhere don't like America.

They don't have to like us. I'd prefer if they don't, makes it easier to deal with them. But they will keep taking our money, which makes them little more than sycophants, groupies, or whores take your pick.

And... English is important for more than just dealing with the US. It is only one among many reasons don't kid yourself.

There are two major industrialized nations that have English as a primary language (US and UK). Canada is greatly English-speaking, but from what I know from my visits there is that French is the official language in at least one province. In Europe, on the mainland there is no country who primarily speaks English. I don't see what benefit English has over other languages inherently, except for the fact that you can easier deal with US and UK. IIRC, French used to be considered the "universal language". It's definately the primary language in more countries. Also, english is considered one of the more difficult languages to learn. Yet it's the one that most countries choose to focus on.
---

I'm sure this all comes off quite a bit arrogant. Well, it is. But many of the posts in this thread seem to boil down to "we like the people (read-their money) but we don't like their administration (read-their having self-interest)". It seems like world opinion wants the US to be a world welfare agency/ATM machine without having it's own interests. And that's ridiculous. All the UN/WTO talk is silly from a US perspective-those bodies are nothing more than a way for the countries who have less power to try to exert authority over countries who have more power. Why should the US listen to the UN? Seriously, what benefit comes from the UN toward the US that couldn't be gotten outside of it? But for France for instance, there's great benefit to having US (or China or Russia for that matter) held under the yoke of UN authority, because otherwise they lack the power to be able to reasonably influence the US.

I mean really, the world hates the US because the US doesn't pay attention to them? Maybe the rest of the world should start looking more internally instead of worring so much about the US.

[Seeker]

Originally Posted by alansmithee

But many of the posts in this thread seem to boil down to "we like the people (read-their money)

Ummm... NO... as individuals.

I think your views have put words into others mouths.

We like the people (read - as individuals) is just as viable in such said statement.

[aberkok]

Originally Posted by alansmithee

I mean really, the world hates the US because the US doesn't pay attention to them? Maybe the rest of the world should start looking more internally instead of worring so much about the US.

Well.... we probably would except for the fact the the U.S. always comes a knockin'. Either they want to invade your country or get you to join in on a "coalition of the willing."


For those who would get upset about what non-U.S. citizens think: nobody had it in for America. We're all being honest and if it's uncomfortable to hear then this is not the thread to explain why "we are wrong" for thinking so.