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- neave, on 10/12/2007, -46/+260Most Americans think the world loves their country, yet most of the world actually despises it.
9/11 was their wake up call, but the usual response was "why do they hate freedom?" and "why do they hate democracy?". This is missing the point. Americans really should be asking themselves "what have we done to make other countries hate us so much?" rather than just assuming America is the victim and the rest of the world needs a good hiding.
Today's America is blind to its own arrogance. I hope it learns some humility, then it may earn some respect. - atdigg, on 10/12/2007, -23/+89Saddam said the truth (at least in that instance) and he's dead.
Bush lied and he got re-elected. - kakwakas, on 10/12/2007, -20/+82"Most Americans think the world loves their country"
Thank you, expert on a country you probably don't even live in. =)
Come over here sometime. At least half the country hates what's going on. - 2bornot, on 10/12/2007, -22/+80I find it amusing that they think we, arrogant Americans, would actually care about what they think.
- quakerorts, on 10/12/2007, -20/+74Would you? Or perhaps I should ask, do you?
- 0x0000ff, on 10/12/2007, -4/+54>They hate us, yet want us to solve the world's problems. LOL
Thanks for displaying such a fine example of the arrogance and ignorance that has become a stereotype of the typical American citizen.
I enjoyed holidaying in the USA, but it'd be a nicer place if a couple of you traveled overseas once in your life - spudnic, on 10/12/2007, -3/+46"Come over here sometime. At least half the country hates what's going on."
But not enough to get off their arses and vote for someone else? - ratbear, on 10/12/2007, -3/+45When we stop invading sovereign countries to serve as a proxy to fight a war (see: flypaper doctrine), we *may* earn some of our credibility back.
- realyst, on 10/12/2007, -3/+41@chris:
Please, no. No more problem solving. We're fine...really. Thanks anyway...but you're sorta like the drunkard who caused all the messes at a party and wishes to help clean up(all the while vomiting profusely).
Well, the part of you that isn't requesting to do so so you can bang the host's wife. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -12/+47Surprise surprise!
- returnofmalv, on 10/12/2007, -2/+36American's foreign policy basically amounts to, "***** you, we'll do what we want bitches."
- neave, on 10/12/2007, -7/+40"Nice to see that so many people feel american foreign policy should be dictated by how much the rest of the world wants to hug us."
If the US wants to be utterly isolated from the rest of the world, it's currently foreign policy is doing exactly that. As the only super-power it sets an example for the rest of the world to follow. And it's current attitude is promoting alienation and aggression. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+33I don't trust us either.
- JCSaint, on 10/12/2007, -1/+33Well, most Americans aren't happy with US foreign policy either.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16720627/site/newsweek/
As Americans, we love our country. We don't always love our government. - inarguable, on 10/12/2007, -17/+47(Keep in mind i am a born and bred Canadian here) Many love to forget that the only reason the rest of this planet is not speaking Kraut or Sputnik right now is the United States. For all its bad, the FACT is that the USA stands in front of a tremendous amount of heat being radiated from some truly evil parts of this planet. Let me ask you this - If the USA was to cease its dominating global sphere of influence tomorrow, do you really think these enemies of the free world (notice i said 'FREE WORLD" and not just America?) would stop trying to increase their's? As a Canadian, I thank God for the USA, because EVERY stable nation in the free world knows without question that if the ***** hits the fan in their neck of the woods, the USA will be there to defend freedom and democracy (and their own interests of course, but nothing is free people). Funny how many dont want to acknowledge that all of us in the free world owe the USA a HELL of alot.
- Stalks, on 10/12/2007, -7/+37No. Thats just the thing. We DONT want you to solve the worlds problems. Since America and allies launched its terror campaign, the world has become a dangerous place to live in.
- rationalist, on 10/12/2007, -3/+32Actually, that is factually incorrect, and there are abundant polls to prove it. Most recently, we squandered unprecedented global support after 9/11 (unprecedented, at least, since WWII). The world was largely behind us - even in Muslim countries. Our actions since then have dramatically changed world opinion. Check out the facts for yourself, rather than just mindlessly spouting propaganda.
- thripper, on 10/12/2007, -10/+38@chriskzoo
No *****, nobody wants you to solve any problems. You ARE the problem.
I'm not saying that regular americans are the problem but the ones that represent you are the problem. If you don't fix it you (the people) become the problem. - carguy84, on 10/12/2007, -4/+27It's what happens when you have a moron running a country.
- hambend, on 10/12/2007, -3/+25The moment that defined it all for me was a couple of years back, when I heard a Fox News presenter declare that the US was losing the "war on image" with the rest of the world. It's such a shame that one never took off.
(here's a hint: try being nice instead) - TheChihuahua, on 10/12/2007, -2/+24True, but this poll is looking at trust levels in recent times - and while the Bush administration may have done a lot of good (although nothing comes immediately to mind) most of it is just continuing what previous administrations have put in place, whereas many of the major policy decisions (particularly foreign policy) have been very poor.
As a British person I dislike Americans for one reason - you're all a bunch of feckin' traitors ;-)
...oh, and the show Friends. - Ajajadude, on 10/12/2007, -3/+25Past actions don't give us a "Get out of Jail Free" card. Just because the U.S. has done the world a great deal of service in, say, WWII and in other areas doesn't mean the world should forgive and forget everytime we act like arrogant ***** who (still) think the world owes us a favor, 60 years after-the-fact.
- neave, on 10/12/2007, -6/+27Here's the original BBC poll, including pretty charts and a PDF document: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/6288933.stm
- nuclearpenguins, on 10/12/2007, -2/+21"We Have Seen the Enemy, and it is us" - Pogo
- spookyttws, on 10/12/2007, -6/+24Anyone really surprised?
- mikev, on 10/12/2007, -1/+18@ dasluvaluva:
Europeans don't. They have it made. Coming to America would only screw them. The dollar is worth a piece of ***** compared to the Euro. - spudnic, on 10/12/2007, -1/+17Using 'we saved the world during WW2!' reasoning is complete nonsense. It took Britain two days to start fighting back after Poland was invaded, with France following suit literally hours later, it took the USA 2 years to get involved.
Yes, American involvement may have been the deciding factor, but taking a dying friend to the hospital doesn't make you a good person, it's just the right thing to do; and should have been done a lot earlier. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -12/+28I don't like where we are more than the next guy? But 50 years? Should we apologize for modern society, the internet, cancer drugs, and the fall or dictatorial communism? We've done bad, but we've done good. It's just that the American government has done so much bad, and the American people have done the good.
- inactive, on 10/12/2007, -7/+22I think most countries trust the US about as much as a drunk with a handgun.
- rationalist, on 10/12/2007, -3/+18Don't presume to lecture either the world nor us Americans about the great things this country has done in the past. None of that excuses current behavior, any more than Afghanistan's past struggle against the Soviets excuses the Taliban's behavior, nor any more than the Soviet Union's heroic role in WWII (they paid a much heavier price and fought a much more dire struggle than we did, on their own soil) excuses Soviet offenses in the aftermath.
Factually speaking, most of the people in most of the countries polled, including yours, know a *lot* more of global history than most Americans do. It took an awful lot of ***** for us to bury that good will, and this current administration, and the corporatist excesses it has enabled and facilitated, has done more than its share - particularly in light of the serious *uptick* in global support for the US post-9/11. - banditski, on 10/12/2007, -0/+14@inarguable
Another born and bred Canuck coming back at ya...
I would have agreed before the current US administration took power. Like most Canadians I've always disliked the US, in a sibling rivalry kind of way. The same way the Dutch don't like the Germans, the Scots don't like the English, etc. But to your point, when push came to shove, I was glad they were on our side. When Sept 11 happened, I couldn't have been more pro-American to the point where I felt like Canada had been attacked.
But since then, the Bush administration has burned all the goodwill from 9/11 not to mention the innate sense of being on the same side. I completely distrust them and all their policies. (I'm talking the government, not the citizens here.) Afghanistan was necessary, I felt, if for no other reason than because it was sanctioned by the UN. But everything else, from Kyoto (which Canada is no better about) to Iraq, to Guantanamo Bay, etc. makes me sick. And scared. The country that once was an imperfect but good friend has turned into something very different.
And I think that is the point of the survey and the article. That Americans have lost - at least temporarily - the goodwill and trust that the rest of the world feels toward them. They've stopped being a big brother and started being a thug. - fantasticFlan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16I agree our foreign policy shouldn't be based around making other countries like us, but our global reputation is still important and should be tended to.
- Valarauka, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16Wow, Dirk. You set a new standard for pure hatred, ignorance and small-mindedness. Congratulations.
- gujjuweb, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14Your whole country is in debt and now dependent on China and India. Try being independent and see where you stand. Your economy will crash.. your money ? Check the books and find out how much you owe!!
Thank for spending on Iraq - Xanadude, on 10/12/2007, -7/+20Anti-Americanism has a very long history. Some of it is rational, much of it is not. Sadly, the immense amount of public goods that the US provides to the world community is a lot less visible than the specific acts of injustice its government has committed over the last 100 years, thus the current global perception of the US. I would recommend Niall Ferguson's "Colossus" to those of you looking at a non-polemic and well-reasoned analysis of the US's role in global affairs.
- neave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+13Hardly. BBC is one of the most unbiased news broadcasters there is. It can be sensationalist, but it's definitely not America-hating.
- TheChihuahua, on 10/12/2007, -4/+17Kraut or Sputnik? Those are languages?
The United States as a country stands for a lot of good things - in theory. But when the people in power are basically flushing that down the tubes, that's where the problems start. It's no good saying you stand for freedom, democracy and puppies if your actions go completely against that.
Incidentally, no-one knows where the world would be at if the US as an entity stopped existing - it may be that nations of the world would actually balance out better in terms of economy and military power. You can theorise, but don't assume. - rationalist, on 10/12/2007, -3/+16Let me guess, DirkBelig: you've never served your country, you drive a gas-guzzling car that contributes to our dependence upon foreign oil - but you have a "support the troops" magnet on it - a magnet made in China.
- JCSaint, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13This isn't about America hating. It's about how the world views us which, contrary to what a lot of people think, is important. Our diplomatic influence will decline if we don't keep the trust of the rest of the world.
- ellisgl, on 10/12/2007, -1/+13Of course some see our government as the people of this country. I don't want our government blowing up countries that didn't do ***** to us. I don't want our army occupying countries that don't want our help.
- bmson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12Mexicans?
I don't see many Canadians running over the border :/
Neither Germans, Icelander, Swedes, Italians, Belgians, Australians and so on.
But.
There are allot of great schools in the States and many people go there to study. They also go to England and many other countries. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12and what is a soverein country? Well, they're sovereign. They have sovereignty.
- Stalks, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11mattmoto said "Take a look at this ..."
That data shows that the number of Europeans immigrating are on a steady decline. And with global population rising during the times the data was taken, the percentage or immigration is on a steep decline.
So basically, you proved your own point wrong. Played. - JCSaint, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11@ ellisql
Perhaps that's true but it's also important to remember that our last two presidential elections have been some of the closest in our history. This country is polarized and split with about 90% of the voting public not willing to budge on their views and the other 10% mostly not paying too close attention. Policy in this country could flip on a dime with a few percentage points going either way. - JCSaint, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12"America is about freedom." Attorney General Alberto Gonzales questions the right of habeas corpus recently.
"It seems the only time we're popular in Europe is when we are helping put quick ends to their wars." Are you referring to WWII? 60 years ago?
"We give more to foreign aid than most countries in the world" As a percentage of GDP, we give very, very little.
"You have every right to disagree with our government" The Pentagon put peaceful protesters on a list of "threats."
"the first thing you do is say: "Wow, America's government made a mistake, its people most be fat, ignorant bastards," then, I'm sorry, friend, but you are a bigot." Okay, I actually agree that it's unfair to blame everyone in this country for a screwed up administration. - fortressgame, on 10/12/2007, -11/+21I'm american and i'm completely ashamed of us. It's not all the people (although we have a lot of ignorant idiots here) - its the republicans. Most corrupt administration ever.
Every time Bush opens his mouth he shames us all. - Ajajadude, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Cashing out now wouldn't be the brightest idea. I'd hate to have a billion Chinese cash collectors knocking at the door.
- ramaz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10I still love my country! But I'm worried.
- JCSaint, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11They're jealous of all our jobs moving overseas, our underperforming public school system, our 45 million citizens w/o healthcare, tremendous debt... I could go on. Yeah, I'm sure they'd love to be in our position with nearly 130k troops stuck in a middle eastern civil war. You're right, things couldn't be better here.
- zwilliams, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9"People get mad at me for these views [anti-American government opinions]. They say, 'If you don't like this country, why don't you get out of it?' And I say, 'Because I don't want to be a victimized by its foreign policy.'" -- Barry Crimmins
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