[Sesquipedalian]

Oh sure, I'm just saying it could be one.

[phatosealpha]

You might want to check the english version of al-jazeera.  Despite how it's frequently portrayed in the media here, it really does seem to be fairly well reasoned.

[Mongoose]

Originally posted by Kosh
http://www.isometry.com/usahate.html


A fairly good article on why everybody hates the US so much.

I'd count that as a pretty far stretch of the term "good." So many of those points are so utterly ridiculous that they overshadow the points that hold some validity.  Even the language the author uses is over-the-top and inflammatory.  From what I can understand, Bobboau's looking for balanced sources, not completely one-sided  wank-fests.

[Bobboau]

if it's the domonent view of the media in a particular reagon, a one-sided wank-fest would be ok for one of my sources. but that's not going to be what my entier project is going to focus on.
this is for a cultural anthropology class, I'm suposed to be makeing judgements/observations about the culture of the reagons I pick based on the media they consume. it is not about the US, it's about the other cultures.

[Martinus]

Originally posted by Mongoose

I'd count that as a pretty far stretch of the term "good." So many of those points are so utterly ridiculous that they overshadow the points that hold some validity.  Even the language the author uses is over-the-top and inflammatory.  From what I can understand, Bobboau's looking for balanced sources, not completely one-sided  wank-fests.

[color=66ff00]Are you sure it's not because you can't recognise exactly how horrific the US' foreign policy is?

The truth hurts and all that...
[/color]

[BlackDove]

Originally posted by Mongoose

I'd count that as a pretty far stretch of the term "good." So many of those points are so utterly ridiculous that they overshadow the points that hold some validity.  Even the language the author uses is over-the-top and inflammatory.  From what I can understand, Bobboau's looking for balanced sources, not completely one-sided  wank-fests.

Almost all of it is true by the way. I wouldn't say everything, but it's all pretty much there.

The only problem with it is the context. Generally, every single country in the world commited the exact same, or similar atrocities. So in the grand scheme of things, yeah, you're probably the worst so far, but only because it's been piling up over the years. Other countries have their fair share too.

It's a pretty grim image though. Not of the US itself, but of the entire world. It's amazing what the human race can put on the table.

[Flipside]

Well, I sometimes wonder whether Europe and the UK looked to America as a 'great hope' for the future back in the 70's, they were in space, pushing the word of 'freedom', far from perfectly, but then Europes' History is just as patchy.

I guess I always felt a bit 'let down' by recent American actions, they were supposed to be the country that taught the world that life was more important than control, that learning and personal individuality to believe what you choose so long as you hurt no-one were rights that were to be defended at all levels. For a long time after WWII, Americans had a lot more Freedom than their European counterparts, despite what many Americans believe, the shadow of Facism still loomed over us, creating suspicion and distrust.

I feel dissapointed because, to my mind, America has lowered itself to the same level as the petty Dictators that could barely shake a stick at it, they resorted to violence, intimidation, and leeching from countries they invade. Whilst this has always been going on at a low level with every country, of late in the US it has become a brazen, unashamed exploitation with the flimsiest of excuses, and a terrible cost on both sides. There used to be a belief in China that outside the borders were 'ghosts' and that anyone who wasn't born and raised in China was not human. I certainly see shades of that thinking rising in certain parts of America.

That is why my opinion of America has dropped, I still think it has the potential to lead the world forward, but right now, like a cancer, it has started to eat itself to survive. Look at your national debt for proof. I am worried because if America carries on without massive changes in Foreign and Domestic policies, it WILL collapse, and will probably take 1/3 of the planet's economics with it, what happens after that is anyones guess but it will certainly be Anarchial for a while.

[Mongoose]

Originally posted by Maeglamor

[color=66ff00]Are you sure it's not because you can't recognise exactly how horrific the US' foreign policy is?

The truth hurts and all that...
[/color]

Um, no.  In fact, as soon as I read the "war for oil" line, that's when I started snickering.  Much of the rest followed the same vein of tired leftist catch-phrases.  I don't mind intelligent criticism, but regurgitated crap doesn't do anything for me.  For instance, the author states that bombing runs in Germany/Japan were "terrorist acts."  Apparently, he doesn't really understand the concept of war.  Or how about points as general as "lack of empathy for foreign suffering"? Da hell?  Last time I checked, I have a pretty damn good idea of how badly a lot of people on this planet have it, and that holds true for everyone I know. Most of the other points follow that same pattern.  The entire postscript section is just laughable, and the quote about American gun "obsession" is equally so.  I don't want to spam up this thread anymore, but I will say that, if that's really the way the rest of the world sees us, you know absolutely nothing about my country.  Maybe you can incorporate that sad fact into your assignment, bobboau.

Edit:  I'm sorry if I'm driving your thread off-topic, bobboau.  If you'd prefer it that I shut up, just say the word.

[Flipside]

The whole world knows absolutely nothing about the rest of the world, that much is certainly becoming obvious. Be it America about Europe or Vice-versa. That is more than 90% the fault of multiple biased medias.

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Mongoose

I'd count that as a pretty far stretch of the term "good." So many of those points are so utterly ridiculous that they overshadow the points that hold some validity.  Even the language the author uses is over-the-top and inflammatory.  From what I can understand, Bobboau's looking for balanced sources, not completely one-sided  wank-fests.

Take them as a whole, and then recognise that there are a large amount of people who will agree with one or more.

 The essential reason, I think, is arrogance.  That's sort of understandable - it comes with the global dominance of being the only superpower.   But when the US is pushing its foreign policy upon other nations, then it's really seen as bullying.  I don't think, for example, a lot of people in the UK like being seen as Americas lapdog in europe.

I guess... the general stereotype of the US (the country) in the UK is as being brash, loud mouthed, quick acting (but not in a good or fair way), aggressive, bullying, self-centred and now (largely because of Bush himself) somewhat thick.  On the Bush subject specifically... I think the general public consensus here is that he's an idiot, and that Cheney and Rumsfeld really run the show.  It's a very negative perception, partly due to history, partly due to importation of culture, and currently primarily due to the Iraq war.

[BlackDove]

Originally posted by Flipside
The whole world knows absolutely nothing about the rest of the world, that much is certainly becoming obvious. Be it America about Europe or Vice-versa. That is more than 90% the fault of multiple biased medias.

[Kamikaze]

Originally posted by Mongoose

Um, no.

What about how US supports horrible governments like those of China, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia, etc. The only reason the country supports those governments is because it helps the wealthy upper class that runs the government.

Or do you benefit from the US supporting countries that boil people to death?


Bobboau: http://www.asahi.com/english/asianet/column/eng_011109.html

[Mongoose]

Originally posted by Flipside
The whole world knows absolutely nothing about the rest of the world, that much is certainly becoming obvious. Be it America about Europe or Vice-versa. That is more than 90% the fault of multiple biased medias.

I think you do have a really good point.  I know that, speaking for myself, I really don't know much more of British or general European culture than what I'm exposed to through people here/on a few other forums.  (And from that, the thing that always jumps out the most is aldo's frequent use of mind-boggling Scottish slang. ) I'm sure the same holds true in reverse.  Maybe this is a case where something like exchange programs can really do some good.  I'm not really a travel person, and I've never had a huge desire to travel to Europe, but I have the feeling that spending some time there would help me understand where a lot of you are coming from; likewise, I think that if you were to spend some time in my environment, the same would hold true.

[BlackDove]

Not really.

Just open a history book and an encyclopedia as a starting point.

Also, you seem to be forgetting that some of us actually traversed the European continent, or have actually been to both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

Having been places myself (all over Europe to be percise), I can tell you for sure that not even 10-20% of your knowledge about another country or continent can be magically gained by just habiting there.

Most of it is from books, and by that, I mean different books, as in multiple resources.

The fact that I despize your government and the way that it's run comes from the experience of reading multiple resources on the subject (yours as well, the internet is a magical thing), and then forming my own opinion. I don't need to LIVE there to obtain information you recieve there.

[Flipside]

Originally posted by BlackDove

It's a lot more profitable, for example, to sell a story about soldiers in Africa raping and killing innocent people than stories about soldiers out there who are actually trying to help, thus we get presented with an image of all the military in Africa being vicious bastards, when, in fact, this may not be (isn't) universally true, but bastards sell more papers than saints.

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Mongoose

I think you do have a really good point.  I know that, speaking for myself, I really don't know much more of British or general European culture than what I'm exposed to through people here/on a few other forums.  (And from that, the thing that always jumps out the most is aldo's frequent use of mind-boggling Scottish slang. ) I'm sure the same holds true in reverse.  Maybe this is a case where something like exchange programs can really do some good.  I'm not really a travel person, and I've never had a huge desire to travel to Europe, but I have the feeling that spending some time there would help me understand where a lot of you are coming from; likewise, I think that if you were to spend some time in my environment, the same would hold true.

I don't know of the europe-rest of world situation (although I guess I should), but from all accounts I've read the (tiny amount of) coverage of the rest of the world in US news is apalling.

I think it was Martin Amis who said "Open a newspaper in America and watch your country disappear".  I've not been to the Us recently, although my parents have been and inform me it's still a similar situation; I remember her story explaining to an - incredulous - New York policeman that not only did we not have legal firearms, but we also had very low crime, for example.  

Or one time when I was in Florida on holiday, and an American couple - hearing our accents at the hotel - approached us to ask 'don't you really hate the english?'.

Yep, they'd just watched Braveheart.

[Deepblue]

To conclude: Hollywood is the problem. Hollywood must go.

[Deepblue]

Originally posted by aldo_14


I don't know of the europe-rest of world situation (although I guess I should), but from all accounts I've read the (tiny amount of) coverage of the rest of the world in US news is apalling.

It depends on where you get your news. This statement is very true for newspapers, but some network news channels do an OK job of covering world events. Still, neither is as good as the internet.

[Rictor]

Originally posted by aldo_14

Yep, they'd just watched Braveheart.

Hey man, at least you have Braveheart. Consider yourself lucky. My country is judged by others based exlusively on gun-cam footage via CNN and the occasional photos of refugee columns and/or kids playing in the trash and/or war crimes tribunals. Have you ever seen "Behind Enemy Lines"? It makes Braveheart look like a downright scholarly work.

[Deepblue]

You live in Bosnia?