EJ, you have proven yourself exasperating to deal with. TWICE you have called on people to not rely on "statistics"... but for what purpose? What good is it to be able to voice an opinion if you can't be educated as to the validity of your opinion?
Far be it for anyone to ever be able to say that you ever allowed the "facts" to get in the way of your well-laid and stubborn opinions, huh? (Are you SURE you're not a Republican?)
Oh well. Fine. That's your prerogative, but I don't understand how surveys and statistics and offical records are any less valid than your anecdotal approach to what is "truth" about the selfishness, rudeness, etc. about Americans. It seems that like the country you say "can't take criticism," it is instead YOU who have proven to not be able to take criticism.
Americans take criticism every day all day, and we will until China finally rises and can become the world's whipping boy. (Earthquake in Iran! Blame America! Tsunami?! Blame America!)
All we ask is that your criticism be INFORMED criticism, or no, we will NOT be able to take it. Ignorant negative opinions are not to be taken seriously, just as ignorant POSITIVE assumptions about America are not to be taken seriously.
America is the largest "Western" nation... comparable in size to ALL of Europe and not just a small portion thereof. We are going to have challenges that nations in Europe with 5 or 10 million people are simply not going to have. Greater challenges, ESPECIALLY given our multiculturality. You want to compare Finland to America in discussing this, that, or the other cultural differences? Make yourself feel better by pointing out this or that about the Netherlands over the US? Fine. But realize that's about as useful and interesting as comparing Wyoming to California. I think we can all agree that the experience of living in New York City is vastly different than small town Ohio, no? Same rules apply on an international scale. Also realize that you are treading on one-dimensional thinking again, such as pointing out infant mortality rates without bothering to do some research as to possible reasons. For example, in an article explaining why Cuba has better infant mortality rates, the following provides insight I'm sure you didn't bother researching:
"The result is that the statistics make it appear as if Cuba's infant mortality rate is significantly better than the United States', but in fact what is really being measured in this difference is that the United States takes far more serious (and expensive) interventions among extremely low birth weight and extremely premature infants than Cuba (or much of the rest of the world for that matter) does."
http://www.overpopulation.com/articles/2002/000019.html
It's a shame your criticism is thus dilluted by an apparent lack of curiosity to "delve deeper."
I hope this site becomes a proper forum someday, because I'd relish good debate on this or any subjects. I am willing to concede where I believe criticism is appropriate - such as lack of universal healthcare - but far be it from me to allow ANYBODY criticize me indirectly (as a "typical" American) or my country without being able to back up their words.
Brian
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From the folks at Berkshire Publishing: We know some of you may be disappointed or upset that your comments aren't being posted. We hope you'll visit our blog, www.loveushateus.com/blog, to see Karen's post about the comments we're seeking (and our hopes of having an interactive forum for ongoing discussions). That said, on occasion some comments may get indavertently deleted along with the sizeable group of spam messages we also receive daily (and we're sorry if that happens). One other note: If you're originally from outside the U.S., it would be great if you would list your country of origin when you click on "Choose your Country." Thanks!
Anon
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I feel very fortunate to live in the United States and to have been raised here.
Anon
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While the US offers many opportunities for people as well as independence, the government is too selfish. Too many things are kept hidden from the people of the country, and the government needs to be more honest about their actions and choices.
Anon
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America is not perfect, and we handle disputes everyday. And even thoough the war is creating a lot of enemies, people need to realize that we all live in one world and the only way things are gonna get better is by working together......
Anon
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One word: Me, me, me.
Anon
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I am an Australian living in America. I have been here for 3 yrs and had enough. The health care system sucks, the education system sucks . I don't care what people say about Australia. There are no friendlier people on Earth.
Land of the free? I don't see one free person in America . Unless you have money. Its land of the brave, because you have to go through each day praying you dont have to call upon the medical system here. $1500 for one night in hospital?? I laughed and walked out. I don't know why they think health care is so bad. Australia's free medical and education is just to good to overlook, see ya America.
Anon
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I despise you finger wagging "shame, shame" self proclaimed intellectuals. I was surfing my favorite Southern California break yesterday and started a conversation with a couple visitors from Venezuela who accused me and most U.S. citizens of suffering from a severe case of propaganda induced brainwashing. Not often does my blood pressure rise while sitting in the beauty of an early morning offshore session waiting for the next perfect wave, however I immediately laid into these 2 socialists from Hugoland. How dare they accuse me and my countrymen of a global ignornance caused by some government induced misinformation. This coming from citizens of a dictatorship so afraid of truth, they distrust their people to such an extreme they must destroy freedom of speech and take over all media outlets. Maybe its time to look in the mirror and see who is brainwashed. You've been duped into believing the politically correct global warming junk science. Your leaders chant the endless propaganda of an evil America, when your own citizens are being murdered by regimes that would make Hitler and Stalin look like child's play. You believe we went to Irag for the oil while our soldiers are giving their lives to make sure the citizens of Iraq have control over their own economy. We believe in LIMITED Government, low taxes, less regulation so the individual can prosper. Yea, we're not perfect by any means, but stop your finger wagging and jealous accusations!
Anon
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I speak as an African who hears the talk of many here (when no Amerikans are present). Also most of us don't say it to your faces but African people, like South Americans, are sick and tired of you cheating, double-dealer, evil Yankee people; (corporations/government/cia) empire with "your" World Bank and "your" International Monetary Fund, for all the suffering, hunger, pain and death you cause on us with your capitalist lies. With memories of what you have done to us in the past and what you do to innocent Iraqis in the present, secretly more and more the men form groups at all levels in preparation to drive you out and defend ourselves. All we want is peace and freedom to prosper in our own lands but all you cause us is hunger, poverty, slavery, death in our own lands. What have we done to you?
We are not afraid of your bombs, Iraq is our brothers now! Venezuela is our brothers now! Iran is our brothers now! Korea is our brothers now! We will fight you and cause you the same pain that you cause on us.
Is it not one of your ancestors who said: I would rather die free than live a slave. Aluta continua!
Anon
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It would be "wiser" to love the US ?
Anon, don't make me laugh. If this land is about freedom, what about respecting other people's opinions?
Through me, you are whining about the rest of the world not liking you? This is a new fact and you better get used to it now. And do something about it. Don't "complain". Vote better.
I am entitled to "hating" America and stating it: this is the site for it.
I have noticed that when I don't write, no-one does either... Your little sonnets don't really inspire anybody to write anything.
I draw the conclusion that people like you cannot have any discussion without shooting from the hip.
If everybody agrees it is not a discussion.
This site is called "Love Us . Hate Us". Not : "everybody is beautiful and they are all very happy".
And you know what? YOU ARE NOT EVER GOING TO TELL ME WHAT TO SAY.
I have never been rude, but YOU are.
EJ
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There is no way for everyone to be happy. We try to help. Some of us are less altruistic than others.
Anon
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People who "love" the US should tell us what they "love". PLEASE.
Not statistics collected by groups with agendas. Stop criticizing foreigners for not liking you, and start telling us, constructively, what there is to love. Right now, the whole world "hates" America.
("Love" and "Hate" are too strong words anyway).
M. Glade is very perceptive. Having visited lots of countries and talked to people there, he has a real "feeling" of what is really going on. He is right about the news we get. And I like his choice of words : brag and no shame.
EJ
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The only countries that get criticized are the ones whose citizens think themselves above criticism!
America the beautiful. We are the best. We are the strongest. We kiss ass. We are the richest. We are the free-est. We want to spread democracy to the world. We contribute to charity more than anybody else. We live better. We live longer. We have the best medicine.
We have the biggest army. We have the most nuclear bombs. God bless America.
America is beautiful (not your fault...). Yes, you have the biggest army and nuclear bombs. You do not adhere to treaties (Kyoto Protocol- yes you are responsible in great part for global warming) or you criticize the Geneva Convention when it suits you. You ban torture when it suits you. You do not have Universal Healthcare. You are no. 13 in the World for longevity with a 5 year gap from the leader, and even behind Greece. You are among the top of the Western World for infant mortality. You have the highest imprisonned population of the Western World and you have the Death Penalty - the only western country to do so.
In Europe people are charitable too and it does not get deducted from their taxes. And furthermore, their taxes pay for lots of services that here have to fall back on churches.
In Europe people walk and have cars with good mileage. Their healthcare is very good and yet they spend far less to contribute than the US, half actually than the US.
God bless the World.
As for one dimentional thinking, there is always a "reason" to why someone would not like America: it has to be jealousy, it can be envy, one dimensional thinking, stupidity, ignorance etc. It is never that others have the standing-back observation of what America was supposed to be like versus what it has become, but that others are idiots.
As for kids in this country, I have met quite a few expats, from different continents, who lament the way their own kids pick-up the bad ways of the American kids. Hey, just in my street, a couple, foreign born - not Europeans - (He PhD, she a dentist) who just moved in with 2 small children were telling me they were sorry to have moved here in this street. You know why ? Because there are some 40 kids in our street and they are so bad mannered that this couple is worried for their own. And I am not making this up.
And my neighbors like me by the way.
American lifestyle and priorities, and statistics? These are what a few people answer to weighted questions. I find a lifetime of observations and mingling with lots of people from all over to be much more valuable, as well as lots of information. And I have a voracious curiosity and have always dug deep. I "feel" people more than I count their hair! I listen a lot and if you knew me, the last thing you'd think is that I am one-dimentional. Hahaha.
EJ
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America is like an excited dog in a very overcrowded room; something is going to get knocked over.
Anon
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I Love America because:
1. Anyone has availability to food, shelter, clothing and healthcare...no matter what
2. Free market and a democracy
3. Womens rights to show their faces
4. George W. Bush
5. Nice highway system
6. The invention of airplanes
7. Computers (if it wasn't for us, the haters wouldn't be able to leave messages like these. They would still be using a stick and dirt
8. Freedom!
9. Our military
10. It is nice to live in the most Powerful Country in the World and be a part of it all. God Bless the USA.
Michael Dailey
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Well then, Brian, America is not a melting pot but a garbage bin?
I still believe this American man quoted in the British newspaper from my last entry. He really put it in a nutshell. I could not have done it better myself.
Also, isn't it ironic that one year after Katrina, nothing has been done to reconstruct New Orleans, yet if we had people organized like Hezbollah, rather than FEMA, New Orleanians would have homes to go back to by now. That bit of news really had me chuckling! Americans can't think straight. They talk, talk ad infinitum, and nothing ever gets done.
And yes, schools and universities in Europe and other countries prepare people by educating them well. Think of India's best of the best Technological Institute, which American corporations fight for. These countries' taxes have paid for these students' education and then they get recruited by these American corporations with "fantastic" pay, by comparison to salaries overthere. That is not right.
There are places where people still have a sense of ethic. Where it is not might makes right. And where people are better educated than here. Not just Europe. And where kids are still polite, and nice, and respectful and not brain-dead already...
EJ
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The whole idea of this site is great but it gets silly… Tell me how all this complaining is going to solve anything? The Europeans seem to do the most of this. We will never do anything right in your eyes. My suggestion to them is to take a look at yourselves. Why would America want your counsel? When we stand by and do nothing we are accused of being inept, when we act because you are too impotent, you complain of unilateralism. I can’t imagine why a country would act in its own self interest...honestly for shame on us!? We are the considered the greatest murders in history, even though the facts show that it is the Europeans that hold this title. It was you who made the 20th century the most bloody in history, with your world wars, and death on an industrial scale. It is your governments' ineptness to be bold enough to stand up for yourselves that gives America the power she has. All your hate and innuendo do nothing but strengthen America‘s position. WE are not without faults, but before the finger pointing starts look in the mirror, you and your governments deserve the same if not more. Wake up and stop blaming the US for your governments shortcomings. If Europe were more powerful America would not have to fill that vacuum. To the Americans that hate this country: it is far easier to complain than to actually do something about the situation. Be bold, stop typing, organize, run for office, volunteer and make a difference. Those who say you can’t make a difference are defeatist at best and cowards at worse. This site is a true window into the feelings of many individuals--most of which are negative--and this preconceived dribble does absolutely nothing towards bridging understanding. We could have a list with 100 complaints, address 99 of them with facts and it would make no difference to the elitist. You are sick, psychologically, when fact and myth are considered the same. People will always hate us, a double standard will always be applied, fault will always be found, and we will always be accused of acting in our own self interest. This may not be the intent, but this site seems to do more to fan the flames of hate than it does for understanding.
dbowman
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In no other country in the world do so many religions and ethnically diverse people coexist. How many Jews and how many Muslims?
Perfect?
No nation is perfect. Any other country allow so much dissent? Even hate speech? Which country can print satirical religious cartoons?
Which country has given more charity and relief effor than all other nations combined? Which country started, supported and hosted the United Nations, yet is constantly derided as not doing or giving enough?
What country supports other states in self determination through popular elections.
When it comes to exporting democracy, it was actually Rome and France that brought the world the representative form of government. Which country is 'the enemy' until a natural disaster occurs?
Correct, Ginovia....
Frank Benjamin
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I believe that America is a wonderful nation that is very forgiving. We respect other countries and interfere only if it is absolutely necessary. Some other countries may not like how we run our own country, but what other country is more successful than ours?
Anon
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I see many people here wish to blame the US for the problems and failings in their own countries. Some of it is truth. Some of it is what your leaders say to continue their corruptive hold on power. Denying you of your unalienable rights as human beings for their own greedy profit: under the table deals with the US. The weakness of America is its ruthlessness in capitalism. Its people don't hold on to that ideal, but they ignore it for they do not want to lose the lifestyle they do have or hope to grasp.
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.
Johnny
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