America... and the rest of the world.

[Shawna]

I don't know how many Nerd fighters are living outside of the US, but I'm still hoping to get some feedback from those inside and outside the country. I'm going to try my best to not generalize because I don't believe in that, but I did want to discuss a topic that has been popping up a lot for me.

I live in America, and I've (personally) been seeing a really common occurrence of what I would say are insults towards the United States as a whole. I'll admit, it wasn't until recently that I started paying attention to politics and global problems because I realized that they do affect me. With this, I have begun noticing a lot of judgmental comments about this country. They range from Americans being uneducated, ignorant to what the government is doing, controlled, not free, and many other similar insults. Because I have seen so many comments and support for those opinions, I've begun to feel like a lot of the world sees America as a "joke". Although I have read that a lot of it derives from the media and what is aired in other parts of the world, these insults are still very offensive to me. I know there will be some that don't feel this way, and some that do. I am driven to search for statistics or solid facts, but I don't expect to find very many. I was really hoping someone else would have an educated and supported opinion on this matter.

From Americans standpoint, I want to know why you think (in reference to my opinion) a lot of the world looks down on America. Do you think we represent ourselves as ignorant and controlled? Although I have heard that many see America as a "dream land" or "idiot country", what have you heard? What do you think the rest of the world (giving thought to individual opinions) think about America and the citizens?

From Non-Americans standpoint, (though your opinion obviously does not represent your entire country's) what do you think of America? Does the media have a large impact on that opinion? What do you see in American media/TV where you live? Do you feel that much of the world dislikes America and its citizens?

Obviously, any opinions stated here can not be understood as the the opinions of each country. I know that each person in the world will have their own opinion, but as a respected and open-minded generalization, I wanted to at least put a measurement on what a fraction of the world believes.

Hopefully, you can help me find out why I am seeing so many anti-American comments.

Thank you to any who respond :)

[sabelmouse]

not to mention overthrowing elected governments and installing dictators to get to resources, wich would be coconsidered criminal if a person did it.
not different from what most european counties did when the colonised so much of the world, something most of them have not taken responsibilities for either.
i a recent channel 4 doc a person of african decent tried to get even just an acknowledgement out of various institutions, like Lloyds of London, who insured slave ships, or have plaques put on those lovely old houses that you see in dramas like Pride and Prejudice, all build on slavery.
but, nothing. he figured that the english people owed all decendants of slaves trillions of pounds, but all he wanted was acknowledgment, maybe an appology. nowt. nada. nothing!
times are different though now. we have more info and we are suposed to be more aware.

http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/a-b/britains_s...

this is not the program, i don't think, it's all i can find just now though.

[Shawna]

I agree with everything that you said in the first paragraph. A lot of Americans feel that way. There is no limit to the hate that we have for bush and all the humiliation that he brought upon us. Very few agreed with that war in Iraq. Many don't even know why we are there. I believe Obama has made it a point to end that war. I hope he does.

[bleesedarethecheesemakers]

The following is the standpoint of an aussie nerdfighter and thus should probabaly not be taken seriously:

peoples opinion of america has been greatly influenced by steryotypes. no offense to any republican nerdfighters (if they exist) but george bush was seen in the public eye as some what of an idiot. we have also now gained access to that marvellous speech my Miss Teen USA. The same goes for australia. Most other countries think of us somewhat as a country of larrikans. Good for nothing but a laugh. They also believe that we throw shrimp on a barbie on a daily basis. every country has its own steryotype. It was just unfortunate that america ended up with the steryotype of being stupid. I do believe however with Obama in and Bush out, you guys might just end up with a positive steryotype. Heck if Barack Obama is American and Awesome there is not reason why the rest of america can't be.

[Erik Fredricks]

Well now for an Irish persuasion...

I well first of all I think the ignorant fact is abit true..because I mean...you call yourself 'America' which is basically calling yourself the entire western-hemisphere...Just saying ^^

And now onto the stereo-type that you all are dumb....
In 2007 I and my friends took a trip over to NYC, we stayed there for a week or so, we did the general tourist things...Saw the Statue of Liberty....Visited Ground zero blah blah blah....Well we found this bloke that we were talking to and he said "Hey, I like your accents, where you from? Canada?" First of all...(We LoL'd then I think my friend Jeff said this) "Wrong Hemisphere, 'bud. We flew from Dublin" then the moron asked where that is....We said Ireland. So this stupid ignorant prick then asked "That in Asia?"

My point.....*facepalm*

[bleesedarethecheesemakers]

lol irish... isnt this just the exact point of a stereotype the irish.. drunken booze hounds that smell like wee and thats more than often wthat they have in their pants... and of course the aussie.. and the bro cuz from new zealand... without stereotypes this world would have nothing. And dont forget this america. You guys do steryotype us. (not everyone just you know some people). being an irish, english australian gives me possibly the worst reputation in the world. i think that if america doesnt want to be known as the idiots they should stop being the idiots and that goes for the irish, the english, the kiwis and us.

[Shawna]

Just to comment on "you call yourself 'America' which is basically calling yourself the entire western-hemisphere...Just saying ^^".

I was wondering why a good bit of people have mentioned this. It confused me because we were always taught that there were 7 continents. North America, South America, Asia, Australia, Europe, Africa and Antartica. Because of this, I wondered if others were taught differently. It turns out I was right.

Link: Wikipedia: Continents

It turns out education does vary in different regions. So to answer your comment...

We call ourselves America because it has always been this way. In opinions, I believe it derives from our name being "The United States of America". Thus, we use the terms "America" and "American". Similar to this reasoning, in the United States, we refer to The United Mexican States as "Mexico". Mexico is not the official name. It is "The United Mexican States". Yet, we call it Mexico and Mexicans. We call people from Brazil, Brazilian. We call people from Canada, Canadian. I don't know why we have always used the name of "American". Everyone else has the right to use the same name. If you want to get technical about it, we should call ourselves the "North Americans". I think we used Americans because what else was there to use? The United Staters?

[Rosianna]

Yes. The Spanish use estadounidenses, so United Statians would probably make sense.
When I speak Spanish, "americanos" are anyone from the two American continents.

[Viko]

My friend is Croatian. True conversation

where are you from? ~this person
Croatia. ~ my friend who is blonde
YOU'RE FROM ASIA? ~ this person

*headdesk*

[VT100]

I am an American. Have been for 40+ years. I am not about to move, but I am afraid that in many ways, America behaves stupidly. We behave arogantly. We are short-sighted to a pathological degree. And when the results of our poor planing hit us, we act surprised.

Being disapointed in your own country is not unpatriotic. It is a rational way to make it better. I have great hopes for our new president. He seems to be trying to make things better. I don't agree with him universally, but I think he is trying. Which is a huge improvement. You can't make your country better by just claiming it is the best country ever. You make it better by looking at that you are doing, and wondering if it could be better.

America isn't perfect. I hope our current crisis helps more of us understand that. I don't expect any country to be perfect, any more than I expect any person to be perfect. But when you understand how you are lacking, you can do something about it.

[Kaschi]

So now it's my turn I guess :o)

I'm German and yes, you are totally right if you say a lot of people here think, Americans (US Americans) are stupid. Plus I have to admit that I think the same sometimes...
You want some figures, some numbers? OK, here's what I heard just recently:
Only about 36% of Americans believe in evolution and about the same percentage of them can actually name the three branches of the government. ......... Hello?! I won't criticise you if you say people are specialised on other stuff, but I really think there is some general knowledge everyone in an industrialized country should have.
So it's clear that statistics like these are not working towards an "Americans are intelligent"-point. And to tell the truth, if someone who wants to become the vice president of a country claims the earth is 6000 years old - we would send him (her, you know who I mean) back to school. Freedom of opinion. Fine. But mankind didn't invent something called science to completely ignore it.

For the ignorant and/or arrogant part let me throw out a quick comparison:
A presidential candidate tours the country, people have bumper stickers with his name on it, little flags in their front yards, gather when he's coming to their town, yell and scream and cheer like crazy. Yes, like crazy.
There are United States flags absolutely everywhere, people praise their country to be the best and the strongest and the freeest (spelling?). "Patriotism" is (after "terrorist") about the most important word the media throws around. Proud to be an American. That's the USA.
And now imagine what would happen if Germans would start to glorify someone, have flags everywhere and would say "Hey, we're the best! Suck on that, world!". Hm? Know where I'm heading to? Right. The whole big world (except of some African states who are to busy) would scream the Nazis are back!
So much to national pride. I'm not saying that one shouldn't support one's country and try his and her best to make it a better place to life. I'm just telling you that you have to look at everything from different sides.

Now my own private opinion: I travelled the USA for two months, not long ago, and everywhere I came there were extremely nice people. Helpful and friendly. I like the way of life (except the fast food! No wonder most Americans are overweight. And that's not a stereotype, that's a fact. Sorry.). Sure, there are also a lot of thing I disliked (use of energy e.g.) but that's like everywhere else.
To speak in stereotypes: You might be fat and stupid and ignorant and arrogant, but you sure are lovable. ;o)

There would be so much more I could write, but I bored you enough. Have a nice day ^^.
Oh and by the way: In my opinion every US citizen should travel another country that shows him/her America is not the world at least once in their lifetime. That would be great, wouldn't it?

[Hel]

Just because Germany is ridiculously eco-friendly ;P! Oh, how I want to go there. I didn't learn German for nothing!

[Kaschi]

Ridiculously eco-friendly... I have to keep that in mind, that's awesome XD. You know, we like the planet we are living on ;o).
Come and visit me! ^^