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Post your assumptions about all of us from the U.S. (pg. 7)
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| CranberryJuice |
| quote: | Originally posted by ATL_Trancer
i couldnt agree with you more
there's so many problems with things as fundamental as healthcare, social security, welfare, etc, why are we ignoring these problems and just creating new problems in other countries? |
like erratik said and u say that's exactly what i meant in my post .....though i agree every countries should be tolerant and accept criticisms from others countries but criticisms can be useful and good to improve ....but i dont think it gotta become a way of trying to dominate the world and impose to all the countries their system with values in an authorative way. |
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| eRRaTiK |
| quote: | Originally posted by RJT
My guess is the answer is yes, in which case I'm even more depressed by my governments misrepresentation of me in the world... :( |
well stop electing wits to power*.
*note: this statement applies to the Australian prime minister also. He's Mr Bush's sideshow Bob.
EDIT: of course one could argue that the figure head of the country is elected by the people and is thus representative of the people. |
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| RJT |
| quote: | Originally posted by CranberryJuice
but i dont think it gotta become a way of trying to dominate the world and impose to all the countries their system with values in an authorative way. |
I'm sorry. :(
These are the kinds of misconceptions and misunderstandings that really bother me - Because most Americans don't realize that there's a GOOD reason people feel the way they do towards us, and that criticism made in that vein is wholely justifiable. |
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| RJT |
| quote: | Originally posted by eRRaTiK
well stop electing wits to power*.
*note: this statement applies to the Australian prime minister also. He's Mr Bush's sideshow Bob.
EDIT: of course one could argue that the figure head of the country is elected by the people and is thus representative of the people. |
This is a huge problem - Our population doesn't elect our leaders, only a sliver of it does.
There are significant fundamental flaws in American elections period. I mean, ffs we have them on a Tuesday and predominantly during hours when people work. American elections need to be changed in substantial ways - We need to make election day a national holiday or hold it over two days (a weekend?), and people who don't vote need to be penalized for not doing so, period.
President Bush is a fine example of a leader who is in no way representative of his people. |
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| Dj O'Callaghan |
| quote: | Originally posted by RJT
I agree with just about everything in there 100%, and will say this much: During my time in the Netherlands, I can't even count how many times I was thoroughly embarassed by my countrymen. My guess is that a big part of the problem with Americans abroad is that a large majority of them generally fall into two categories:
1. The American tourist who will get one trip out of the country in his/her life, generally taken during middle age. These tourists (often families) do absolutely nothing to prepare for cultural differences, and expect vacation in another country to be the same as every vacation they've taken in America. They generally act like asses out of shear ignorance, and it's painful to watch because many of them are well meaning, but just completely oblivious to the fact they're outside of America.
2. The privileged American Student. These are kids who've grown up in privilege their entire lives and feel the world owes them something. Easily the worst of Americans abroad, these kinds think they're intelligent when in reality their parents money has bought them everything in life, including their grades. They feel everyone owes us, and we're the greatest. ing twats.
'Tis a shame, because most of us are fairly courteous people... :( |
I 100% agree with these two categories.
The privilege college student reminds me of the Ralph Lauren, Abercombie and Finch crew. They all have this certain look to them like early 90's saved by the bell esqe haircuts etc. These people are the lowest of the low, travelling around Europe on their trust fund or Daddies American Express card.
It's a pity there is some American's who would really benefit and deserve to be in Europe for their holiday, however they cannot afford it etc.
Being half British I will tell you we're no Angels. If you go to the majority of Spanish and Greek Mediterranean resorts, your guaranteed to see lot's of violence and alcohol abuse 90% of the time the people involved are British. |
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| CranberryJuice |
| quote: | Originally posted by RJT
So in general it appears that the consensus is genuinely:
American Government = Bad
American People = Good (For the most part)
:conf:
This would have been my general assumption about asking people who'd think about the question both thoughtfully and personally, but suspending those kinds of personal feelings I think it's undeniable that the international community has some assumptions about the actions or values of Americans in general. For instance, Marie used the word "arrogance," which I think is a term many people would place on Americans (and perhaps justly). This though begs the question "is the perceived arrogance of Americans a result of our foreign policy in the world and not a genuine indication of American people as a whole?"
My guess is the answer is yes, in which case I'm even more depressed by my governments misrepresentation of me in the world... :( |
rob u know it's funny when i was younger like a teen 14 or 15 i was pretty much anti american like a lot of french here ....and i remenber at this time i would never have the idea to ever go to US someday even for tourist because american appeared from what i saw on TV like showin off people rich and just so fake .....and i had no plans to go to a place which sounded to me more than superficial ....but i went a lil later and i got hooked with your country but not like blind ....like in every countries in the world some people are nice ....some are less...and so on but i would say about arrogance that i wouldnt say it's against american but more in a general way ....the way the whole country behaves against the rest of the world .....
and im sorry but we all keep bad memories about what happened before the iraq war started and how american were bashing france and put some embargo ......and like many others people we felt revolted to see that because no we didnt agree (i dont want to speak about reasons) just because we dared to say no we wont follow you in this war ,US got pissed off and decided to make us pay for having dared to be against you
i think every countries is independent and should be able to decide what they want in some subjects without having to pay the price for it
that's all |
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| Dj O'Callaghan |
| quote: | Originally posted by RJT
This is a huge problem - Our population doesn't elect our leaders, only a sliver of it does.
There are significant fundamental flaws in American elections period. I mean, ffs we have them on a Tuesday and predominantly during hours when people work. American elections need to be changed in substantial ways - We need to make election day a national holiday or hold it over two days (a weekend?), and people who don't vote need to be penalized for not doing so, period. |
I think people should be penalized for not voting providing there's enough parties for people to vote for.
Loads of people who work for me don't vote, I always question them on why they don't bother voting, most people are just lazy that's the reason why. I'm a political person so it annoys the out of me when people don't use their right to vote, people in some countries have died to have this privilage. |
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| nchs09 |
i think, and im not shure why.... that americans, for the most part have a poor sense of geography.... now of course not all, but i would say a high % do.
i get asked all the time..
stupid redneck american "where are you from"
hot and sexy guat "from guatemala"
stupid redneck american "oh... is that in mexico?"
hot and super stud guat "yes...." *shakes his head*
now maybe cause i am living in georgia? i dunno seems like the poeple here have no ambition of leaving the country and exploring the world.... not to sound wierd or anything but my friends from college all come from good families with money, yet only like 1 of my friends has a passport... and he went to mexico... cancun
ehhhhhh.. so ya i think most of you guys are geography challenged...
hopefully i am wrong and its juts because i live in the south where its cool to have a 10 inch lift on ur truck, and spinners on ur 78 cadillac pos. |
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| eRRaTiK |
| lol u damn mexican :haha: |
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| nchs09 |
| quote: | Originally posted by eRRaTiK
lol u damn mexican :haha: |
hahah.. :(
anyhow just to clarify, guatemala is not the only place they dont know where it is.... i mean when i say geography challeneged. i mean it. its probably as bad as my spelling in english :D
or worst...:nervous: |
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| -=ryancoke=- |
As your neighbour (notice i spelt neighbor with an 'our' damn queens english keeps setting off my spell check) I have no issues with the american people. I have met several Americans who are not the ones that are plastered all over fox news, nor CNN. They are real people, just like you and I. So, the two things that I have a bad feeling towards in the USA are, you guessed it.
The media (and believe me, Canadian media isn't much better)
The Bush Administration
I know politics are a dangerous topic that draw the division line down a nation as much as religion, etc. So, I will try to be as concise as possible on my approach. I honestly believe that Bush was not the peoples choice in the first election in which he took power. I also feel that the Bush family tends to protect their interests more than the interests of those Americans who allegedly elected them. The one thing that I do enjoy about the American electoral process is that you can not have more than 2 terms in office - unlike us here in Canada. This prevents someone from running the country further into the ground, year after year.
Also, I know your beer isn't as strong
/rant |
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| RJT |
| quote: | Originally posted by -=ryancoke=-
Also, I know your beer isn't as strong
/rant |
Just gotta find the good stuff ;)
9.6%  |
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