When are we going to see the end of US bashing?

[Stealth Hunter]

As long as somebodies got something, somebody else is going to want/envy that something (hence, jealousy).

Never ending chain.

[baggygreen]

Down here, if someone is asked to describe a yank tourist, you're guaranteed to get 3 answers: "loud, obnoxious, fat".

Thats the stereotype, and while most yank tourists dont fall into that stereotype, those that do leave the lasting impression - the poor form of a few will give the entire group a bad name. I personally had a runin with some yanks recently, a big fat bloke trundled up to a pharmacy counter which clearly said "closed" then got very shirty when refused service. Staff wanted him to come to them, he wanted them to come to him - bit unrealistic, given as there was no cash in the til or anything. He continued to get louder and violent, before i told him to leave as we reserved the right to refuse to sell goods to customers. At no stage were any of my staff impolite, but he demanded unrealistic service and then was uptight when reality was forced onto him.

I acknowledge that this is but one tale, but its an incident i wont forget - whereas the yanks i have met who were polite and so on will very soon pass into the shadows of my memory. As i say, the few give a bad name to all.

Another anecdote. France, early oct 2001. i was a high school kid on a school tour of France, when a group of 3 of us were attacked by an angry mob of 20-something black frenchmen, crying out "death to america, ******* america, die american scum". we quickly defused the situation by showing them we were aussies, and they were really really apologetic and contrite. We asked them why were they so mad at america? they replied that they thought america was spreading itself throughout the world (as evidenced by afghanistan, apparently), bringing with it everything that was bad. The irony here lay in the fact they were carrying baseball bats, wearing caps (as i understand, an american invention) and wearing those big baggy basketball singlets and ice hockey jerseys.

As far as im concerned, there will always be those who hate america. Normally i think it will be due to misinformation (usually spread by the media), along with a general hatred of everything western, which America as a whole is seen to epitomise. Find me a nation which has not made any mistakes in its history. I guarantee there will not be one. So why the focus on america? because they are overall the most powerful nation in the world. because they are willing to wage war when attacked. most of all, because it is human nature to aspire to be the most powerful and america is currently in that spot.

[Enigma]

Deebait, is what you put on deehook, when you want to catch deefish.

Got em, Waste. Clever.

[Kapitan_Phillips]

Originally Posted by Winston

Hay, no problem. You love you country, as I love mine. I thank you for hearing what I was saying.

Wales?!


Nah just kidding. Wales rocks

[Kapitan_Phillips]

wastegate, if you really want to know why many people bash the US, its because of attitudes you have clearly shown in this thread. In many of your posts you have suggested that without your country, the rest of the world would go to hell. Its insulting to think that any people here from Britain, Germany or anywhere else in the world is your little bitch. Yes, okay, Europe has its problems, but so do you. So stay the hell away from dissing my continent and I'll stay away from dissing yours.

[Happy Times]

I dont think USA is flawless but what country is?
It surely has lots more good than bad.
It is a big reason we enjoy this western lifestyle, but i would remind that Europe has done its share of innovation.
It isnt a nation state and its founding explains the American values that are little bit different.
Not wrong, different.
Only thing that annoys sometimes, is the lack of knowledge of Europe. And thinking that the living standards are somehow lower, when in reality they are in many places better.
But on the otherhand many Americans know more about Europe than i do of America.
I try to keep my mind open and hope that the connection between the continents would stay strong.
Dont we still all have a common culture?
How do you feel?

[STEED]

Will US bashing ever end on the GT forum

I voted for all the reasons as they are all possible.

No country is perfect and no one is perfect there for my my own strange logic the GT forum is not perfect.

Take my advice, drop your pants and slide on the ice.

[Torplexed]

Originally Posted by STEED

Take my advice, drop your pants and slide on the ice.

We can't. Al Gore has got us feeling all guilty about our carbon buttprint.

[DeepIron]

Take my advice, drop your pants and slide on the ice.

Would that ice be amorphous solid water, low density amophous ice, high density amophous ice, very high density amorphous ice or just your plain old hyperquenched glassy water?

Gads...

[Mikey_Wolf]

Waste_Gate, with all respect you appear from where I sit to have a chip on your shoulder.

As was pointed out before, America is not the only country that is despised by some nations, the only reason its got to you would appear to be because of how deep your patriotism runs. At any time, a country is little more than ground under your feet. Many people the world over could do well to remember that. Patriotism in my view is an illusion and a construct which can "pull the wool over our eyes" and can be a great excuse to not find ways to improve. A very conservative attitude indeed.

America has its flaws in abundance, having a huge military does not make you the bees knees its not about how many guns you have, not anymore, the world has at least attempted to move on from there, but if that is how you feel "oh we'll take our toys and go home. See how you fare without us." Then, if I were a ruler, my attitude would be "suit yourself". No one country has a right to call the shots and lay down the law to others.

I like America its a fantastic place with many accomplishments, but to expect to be adored and awed by everybody all the time, its just not going to happen mate. If you really want the hornets to keep away from you, ya don't poke the hive with a stick. Which you've pretty much done here. Unintentionally as you say.

[Fish]

Originally Posted by waste gate

What do you think? Will the jealousy ever end?

.

Why should I be jealous in the first place?

[lesrae]

Originally Posted by Fish

Why should I be jealous in the first place?

Pretty much what I was thinking.

[Linton]

It will not be long before this thread gets closed!

[STEED]

Originally Posted by Linton

It will not be long before this thread gets closed!

KABOOM

[Iceman]

Originally Posted by Winston

It depends on how one would define 'bashing'. If you mean expressing an opinion on current United States policy then as long as it worded in a thoughtful and non-insulting way then it should be fine. However, anyone who verbally attacks any country using foolish generalisations obliviously steps way out of line.
I live in Wales myself and enjoy quite a good western lifestyle. I get to do a lot of things thus I can say I'm not jealous of the United States. I think most people living in the western world would honestly tell you they are not jealous either. Most Europeans will probably have quite different views on a lot of topics then people in the United States and thus will often find themselves erupting in debate.


If I may Waste Gate I'd like to ask why you used the word jealousy? Personally if I were to look more closely at the term I might be slightly insulted myself that you'd think I'd be jealous. I'd ask myself, “Dose he think that I'd be jealous because he believes I'm worse off then the average United States citizen as I happen to live in Wales?”


Might I venture the question. Why dose it seem that there is so much 'resentment' to the United States? Might I then suggest that you review each releasable response you receive and think about these different point of view. Put yourself in there shoes and perhaps you might understand how and why there is resentment out there.


p.s. I did not vote by the way as I have no resentment toward the American people.

What a great post...bravo bravo.

This is the definition of "understanding".

Walk a mile in another mans shoes truly....to understand the mind of the muslim, the jew, the christian, the athesist....wow. great post. ...when you do, do that you do begin to understand.

Proverbs 2

[1] My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee;
[2] So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding;
[3] Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
[4] If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures;
[5] Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
[6] For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
[7] He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.
[8] He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints.
[9] Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
[10] When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
[11] Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:
[12] To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things;
[13] Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;
[14] Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of the wicked;
[15] Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
[16] To deliver thee from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words;
[17] Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the covenant of her God.
[18] For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
[19] None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life.
[20] That thou mayest walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous.
[21] For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
[22] But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.