Most Recent CommentsI live in America and I too see the injustices like those abroad do. We get in other countries business, though sometimes rightfully so, we occupy other countries without need. I don't see other countries doing these things, if they did they would bring the same hatred on themselves too. I wish some other country would try to liberate us from the corruption of the republican party. Seriously we need help. We need a REVOLUTION, We need change. We all don't agree just because we live here.Amanda B USA ..more by this author..  
(67 votes)
I'm from Saudi Arabia, and I live in the US now, actually what I wanted to say is: the biggest problem now is about what some of the Americans think about us they think that all Arabs and Muslims especially the people from my country hate the US and that's not true at all. I'm going to talk about myself I'm mad about this country I love the US and I always loved the US since I was a child. I spent 3 years trying to get to the US after that damn Sep 11 things went wrong and it was so hard to get a visa but thank God now things are a little bit better. Anyway, a lot of people love the US in my country; yeah there are some who hate the US but they are a minority and stupid extremes. The people are so friendly in the US. I love the Americans so much they always give you that warm feelings, I'm in love with everything in this land. God bless the USA and bless the Americans. Abdullah Saudi Arabia ..more by this author..
(32 votes)
I implore for Americans to open their minds, eyes and souls because even as a Mexican-American, I feel misunderstood in my own country. Before Americans can understand the rest of the world, they must understand their own. America has a lot of growing up to do. Ethnocentrism is the new black it seems. “ME, ME, ME!” is the new American slogan. How fruitless would it be to live without knowing how others do? Instead of just coloring with your red, white and blue, why don’t you try some brown, yellow and green? Learn as much as you can, because even if you’ll never visit that particular country, you’ll be a better person for it. Maybe I was raised differently, my parents always said “if you don’t know something, look it up,” and I always did. Also, I must add generalizing is for the feeble of mind. Grouping is human nature, yet we must realize that such generalizations are just a way of making it easier on ourselves. That does not mean they hold any sort of concrete insight into the American psyche. Yes, all those stereotypes are present in American society, but we must remember those stereotypes have their own foreign equivalent present in every country in the world. Kimberly USA ..more by this author.. 
(211 votes)
Do Americans ever read beyond their newspapers, religious convictions to see what is going on in their country. The changing borders for "security" reasons, Amerodollar and NWO "DUMB"s, unconstitutional changing civil liberties etc. We hear the rhetoric of your politicians and wonder when a war on Iraq will commence, is this what the people want and what are they are going to do about it. America has become so caught up in its own (governing people's) ideals that it tries to control other countries. Meanwhile its own people suffer, and many in yours and other countries question what is the potentially corrupt motive of your government (or the organisations driving your government). Maybe it is purely distraction to keep your country's people focused elsewhere than on the real issues. Unfortunately I think this is a global phenomenon. Anybody who does something different or thinks differently (especially questions established ideals) faces ridicule or worse. If we in other countries have trouble doing it, why do we expect Americans to have an easier time - especially in the land of the corporation and non elected power organisations. U.S. problems are just a bit more advanced on the timeline. Americans are just a bit louder (speech accent), a bit more fervent, "appear" a bit more ignorant, and Americans like their money and "things" and hence are open to what we in Australia call tall poppy syndrome (they need to be pulled down). There are also many good things about America - including music, diversity, food and friendliness, innovation. If people on this forum expended energy finding out everything that we globally are facing in terms of environment, health, new governing bodies etc we would realise that to judge Americans without appreciating the bigger picture and taking our own action is just plain hypocracy and arrogance. As countries we need to get off our superior behinds, work together and get on - altruistically. Sometimes I wonder if higher authorities in the U.S. really just want us to dislike Americans for their own reason - but that is something else again. Clancy Australia ..more by this author..
(152 votes)
I neither love nor hate the US. It's a complex place, full of contradictions - founded both on ideals of liberty and on the single-minded destruction of the native peoples, with a culture of both simplicity and thoughtless consumerism, dedicated to democracy yet having a current President whose initial election was decided not by votes cast but by politically appointed judges. I'm saddened by many of the comments I've read here - both from US-icans in blind support of their country and from people around the rest of the world who focus only on the negative. Sweeping generalisations serve no-one but politicians. In my experience the people of the US are just like the people of any other place - they have desires and loves and hates and fears and hopes, and they live their lives in many different ways which they believe will enable them to enjoy a 'Good Life'. Yes, because of the military might of the US as a nation state, and its ideological hold on institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank, policies of successive US administrations have led to disaster for many, many people in other parts of the world. But this is not the individual responsibility of the people of the US, any more than other governments around the world allowing the US such hegemony is the individual responsibility of their peoples. The more I read, the easier I find it to blame the US for everything. Forget the fact that Western Capitalism defeated the Nazis and the Soviet Union, and in a cold war, you have to make certain decisions that will impact an economy and one's way of life. The Iran incident was in response to the Soviet intrusion in British and American oil interests as well as the fear of a well oil-supplied CCCP. Remember, the USSR had more tanks than NATO. The chess game that had the world on the brink of nuclear war had repercussions, that is what we are seeing now. Before the cold war, problems in Latin America and Africa always existed. The age of the caudillo in Latin America is something to be noted. What beautiful and glorious days, where one dictator would be ousted by a new challenger within a year. It was recorded that one dictator was killed by the next in line in front of a crowd. That same crowd, then cheered for him as the new dictator.
Now I have to agree, the US has failed the world in becoming that 'house on the hill." We have too much power, I concur. The US must disappear from the world stage and reestablish balance in world affairs.
The EU must get itself in order to become a superpower. India and Brazil must control and improve poverty in their countries which couldn't have been done thus far without international corporations yearning to maximize their profits through their investment. China must democratize and quit alienating its rural society. Allow a Japan to re-arm itself so it can police and bring balance between the Koreas and China/Taiwan.
The US should close all of its military bases worldwide. NATO will be stronger with a unified and militarized EU. Once that happens dissolve NATO, and let the EU be on its own.
I'm tired of the US being a global superpower that polices shipping lanes and provides security till this day to the not so weakened countries after WWII against a bellicose Soviet Empire. The Soviets are gone. Let the US be gone from Europe and their affairs. Let Washington's words ring loud today as they did back in his farewell address, do not get intangled in foreign alliances (remember, he said this when the US was a weak and destitute nation.)
North Korea will not invade South Korea because they won't survive the South Korean counter attack. Disregard what the S. Korean President wants in the presence of US troops, bring 'em home.
Do we really need a buffer zone island? Let Taiwan go communist. The USA needs to fix its internal problems as should the rest of the world.
Governments have a contract with its people, and ours must be dealt with since only the elites run this country. If you don't agree, then why does it take only millionaires to run for office? Then again, the elites in every respective country rule that country. American farm corporations do make food a business where they will store food in order to get the prices they want. This is a human crime. It must be punished. BUT European and American interests in their farmers' plight have protective barriers. Moreover, this crime happens in Africa and South America. People in Africa do this crime to the people that are already suffering. Somalia is a prime example. US and UN forces had to go in there to intervene because people were starving due to their own leaders greed for power.
I'm sorry, I don't buy this anti-Americanism. The people of America give more than the rest of the world. Ever hear of Christian Children's Fund? I contribute, I believe that specific groups can make the world a better place.
However, a country that bullies its people. A country where you ridicule your president lands you in prison or in front a shooting squad...no thanks. In Africa or South America, families rule the country. You know this, and then they blame the US.
Funny how Chavez despises the US, but has he cut fuel supplies to the US? If the US was my enemy, I would cut off everything going into its economic empire. Yet has he done that? He can't, he's a populist. He saw what happened to Juan Peron, he needs the money to continue his policies.
As an American, I know the fault of this country. It is money. We fought because we didn't get proper representation for taxes that were made to curtail colonial expansion past the Appalachian mountains. The British Crown did not want to spend more money after its debts were too high after the French and Indian War or Seven Years War.
Moreover, Africa suffers the most in the Congo. That was Belgium's colony. North Eastern and Western Africa was controlled and dominated by the British up until the 1960s. And guess who pushed for them to let go of colonies? Money and the US. Money was the overall issue since GB went broke after the First World War.
So who really is at fault? Should the US be the world's keeper? Or should it survive first and foremost, then out of her good intentions, when it suits her, help others? You can't save others if you can't save yourself.
That is why I argue for American isolationism. Have fun with the new emerging empire, CHINA. Good Luck, and I hope I won't have to hear how, when America does decline in power to China, how everyone whishes for her return. This happens also with political criticisms if it doesn't agree with the views of the owner of the paper).
You must read, read a lot, all sides, and then make up your mind. Americans are very poorly educated in high schools, and college Degrees offer a good specialized education, but not a 'complete' education.
Lots of Americans are nice, but lots are so gullible that they act like sheep and follow the leaders, right or wrong. They affirm lots of opinions without knowing anything about them, just they heard it said and liked the sound of it.
I like American girls, and they seem to like me, which is nice. I have some of my closest relationships with American girls. Don't ask me why. I am 22 now, but I was just 15 when the planes crashed into the towers. Allow me to say it's difficult to watch flaming bodies jump from buildings in history class. Now imagine every other teenager in America going through the same experience. I think that we Americans, as a society are trying to do our best. We try our best to make the world better than it was. The key word is "trying". As I said we are not perfect, we do not have all the answers, but we are trying our best to lead the world. If any other nation would like our responsibilities, I would like to see its strategies. In essence, give America a chance and look at the world through its eyes. |
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