Why people hate america? This video sums it up for me, the first 15-20 mins should do the trick - but you can watch the full 59 mins or so -
Last edited by --->[Your]Phobia<--- (2007-02-16 07:42:10)
I notice this has turned into a bit of a Europe versus the US argument. I kind of find this funny as the US population (not counting 'foreign' immigrants) consists of descendants of settlers from around the world who arrived in America after it was first discovered by outsiders (and most or at least many of those settlers were Europeans). The only such thing as a totally true American is a native American. Americans on this forum may have an amusing stab at the Europeans but many of them will be descendants of Europeans.
Regarding the common assertion that Americans have no culture, this is not true. America is a young nation and so obviously does not have the same rich history of Art and literature that Europe has but as I mentioned before the US rules the roost when it comes to cinema and cinema is the most modern addition to the arts that can be genuinely thought of as a form of culture (though it often is not given the respect as an art form I think it deserves).
I notice a lot of the Americans posting here get very defensive when discussing their country with outsiders who question their country but that's the way of the world, when you're at the top (and America are at the top, we all have to admit) people will scrutinise everything you do. You shouldn't see this as a negative, you should always question your leaders and what they do. They must be kept on their toes! We in Europe take such an interest in the US because what the US does has the potential to affect us all.
And to all the trumpet blowers who are just posting boastful comments about the US remember this: no empire has ever lasted forever.
Regarding the common assertion that Americans have no culture, this is not true. America is a young nation and so obviously does not have the same rich history of Art and literature that Europe has but as I mentioned before the US rules the roost when it comes to cinema and cinema is the most modern addition to the arts that can be genuinely thought of as a form of culture (though it often is not given the respect as an art form I think it deserves).
I notice a lot of the Americans posting here get very defensive when discussing their country with outsiders who question their country but that's the way of the world, when you're at the top (and America are at the top, we all have to admit) people will scrutinise everything you do. You shouldn't see this as a negative, you should always question your leaders and what they do. They must be kept on their toes! We in Europe take such an interest in the US because what the US does has the potential to affect us all.
And to all the trumpet blowers who are just posting boastful comments about the US remember this: no empire has ever lasted forever.
Are people obsessed with BF2, coz I see a lot of threads talking about it. This is a BF2 forum, and you should expect BF2 to be a topic. I think nobody is obsessed with America. This is an American forum, you should expect America to be a topic.
This is not intended to ALL American's; primarily the youths.
It seems to me that there is little outside knowledge of other countries besides there own.
Here in England we learn about the American civil war, about the culture of African countries, along with British past.
And we don't have a whole subject devoted to the history of our own country.
Personally I think it would do a great deal of good if American school children learned about other places and cultures beside their own.
I remember my exchange student along time ago when I was 15. It was hilarious. The complete ignorance he showed about the rest of the word was unbelievable. It appears to an outsider to be quite self-absorbed.
Opposed to the all round learning and exposure about the world and other countries we are given in England from primary school (5years old+).
I repeat, this is not an attack on any Americans. Plainly how it seems.
And I do not claim to know the intricate details of the American schooling system.
It seems to me that there is little outside knowledge of other countries besides there own.
Here in England we learn about the American civil war, about the culture of African countries, along with British past.
And we don't have a whole subject devoted to the history of our own country.
Personally I think it would do a great deal of good if American school children learned about other places and cultures beside their own.
I remember my exchange student along time ago when I was 15. It was hilarious. The complete ignorance he showed about the rest of the word was unbelievable. It appears to an outsider to be quite self-absorbed.
Opposed to the all round learning and exposure about the world and other countries we are given in England from primary school (5years old+).
I repeat, this is not an attack on any Americans. Plainly how it seems.
And I do not claim to know the intricate details of the American schooling system.
Last edited by james@alienware (2007-02-16 08:04:42)
This reminds me about my mate who has this wonderful story about his cousins getting an American exchange student when he was younger.james@alienware wrote:
This is not intended to ALL American's; primarily the youths.
It seems to me that there is little outside knowledge of other countries besides there own.
Here in England we learn about the American civil war, about the culture of African countries, along with British past.
And we don't have a whole subject devoted to the history of our own country.
Personally I think it would do a great deal of good if American school children learned about other places and cultures beside their own.
I remember my exchange student along time ago when I was 15. It was hilarious. The complete ignorance he showed about the rest of the word was unbelievable. It appears to an outsider to be quite self-absorbed.
Opposed to the all round learning and exposure about the world and other countries we are given in England from primary school (5years old+).
I repeat, this is not an attack on any Americans. Plainly how it seems.
And I do not claim to know the intricate details of the American schooling system.
Firstly they live in Scotland and it was winter. Hence cold, windy, lots of snow. Now they drive an hour or so to the airport to pick this kid up and on the way back it becomes overly clear that this kid thinks Scotland is a third world country. He's going on and on at how amazing America is and how advanced everything is and how backward places like Scotland are in comparison, despite only having been there for an hour and only seeing the airport. Once they get back this kids asks if he could have a shower. Now they remember they have a disused hand pump out back that was never removed when the house was renevated. They told him that yes, you can have a shower, but being Scotland and therefore being such a backwards country, to get the water pressure to run the shower you have to go outside and pump the hand pump for 30 minutes.
About 20 minutes later they decided he'd probably learnt his lesson or died of hypothermia and let him in the power shower.
Haha yeah.
'Ryan' said to me: "do you guys have TV's in England?" .....Being totally serious.
And another classic line: "Yeah, I've been to Europe - I went to Africa."
'Ryan' said to me: "do you guys have TV's in England?" .....Being totally serious.
And another classic line: "Yeah, I've been to Europe - I went to Africa."
Last edited by james@alienware (2007-02-16 08:14:25)
that kid sounds like a big headed bastard like some americans on here dont you think?.:XDR:.PureFodder wrote:
This reminds me about my mate who has this wonderful story about his cousins getting an American exchange student when he was younger.james@alienware wrote:
This is not intended to ALL American's; primarily the youths.
It seems to me that there is little outside knowledge of other countries besides there own.
Here in England we learn about the American civil war, about the culture of African countries, along with British past.
And we don't have a whole subject devoted to the history of our own country.
Personally I think it would do a great deal of good if American school children learned about other places and cultures beside their own.
I remember my exchange student along time ago when I was 15. It was hilarious. The complete ignorance he showed about the rest of the word was unbelievable. It appears to an outsider to be quite self-absorbed.
Opposed to the all round learning and exposure about the world and other countries we are given in England from primary school (5years old+).
I repeat, this is not an attack on any Americans. Plainly how it seems.
And I do not claim to know the intricate details of the American schooling system.
Firstly they live in Scotland and it was winter. Hence cold, windy, lots of snow. Now they drive an hour or so to the airport to pick this kid up and on the way back it becomes overly clear that this kid thinks Scotland is a third world country. He's going on and on at how amazing America is and how advanced everything is and how backward places like Scotland are in comparison, despite only having been there for an hour and only seeing the airport. Once they get back this kids asks if he could have a shower. Now they remember they have a disused hand pump out back that was never removed when the house was renevated. They told him that yes, you can have a shower, but being Scotland and therefore being such a backwards country, to get the water pressure to run the shower you have to go outside and pump the hand pump for 30 minutes.
About 20 minutes later they decided he'd probably learnt his lesson or died of hypothermia and let him in the power shower.
Last edited by ELITE-UK (2007-02-16 08:16:45)
A girl i know from Mayo in Ireland was asked by an American girl where she was from, when she said Mayo the American girl asked "is that where they make the Salad dressing?"!james@alienware wrote:
'Ryan' said to me: "do you guys have TV's in England?" .....Being totally serious.
And another classic line: "Yeah, I've been to Europe - I went to Africa."
Last edited by Braddock (2007-02-16 08:33:24)
Because USA (america) is obsessed with ruling the world......thats why ppl talk soo much about it.
We are talking about the actions of sovereign nations. My ancestors left the old decayed social structure behind them and created a new beginning. They were not content with their past. They did something about it. You see this is what separates us. The defining characteristic and difference is the desire to act on our dreams. My ancestors left continental Europe for opportunity. They were unwilling to accept a predetermined future secured in concrete.Braddock wrote:
I notice this has turned into a bit of a Europe versus the US argument. I kind of find this funny as the US population (not counting 'foreign' immigrants) consists of descendants of settlers from around the world who arrived in America after it was first discovered by outsiders (and most or at least many of those settlers were Europeans). The only such thing as a totally true American is a native American. Americans on this forum may have an amusing stab at the Europeans but many of them will be descendants of Europeans.
I of course am aware of our culture. I was just pointing out what has been posted before.Braddock wrote:
Regarding the common assertion that Americans have no culture, this is not true. America is a young nation and so obviously does not have the same rich history of Art and literature that Europe has but as I mentioned before the US rules the roost when it comes to cinema and cinema is the most modern addition to the arts that can be genuinely thought of as a form of culture (though it often is not given the respect as an art form I think it deserves).
There is a fine line between pride and arrogance. You can be proud and be aware of your short fallings. There are many problems I acknowledge and even point out myself (routinely I might add). I don't think the defensiveness is limited to Americans. In many of the non-US threads if you begin to critique another nation immediately someone looks for a hole to punch a comparable American aspect. This is obviously defensive since it is just an attempt to shine the light off themselves.Braddock wrote:
I notice a lot of the Americans posting here get very defensive when discussing their country with outsiders who question their country but that's the way of the world, when you're at the top (and America are at the top, we all have to admit) people will scrutinise everything you do. You shouldn't see this as a negative, you should always question your leaders and what they do. They must be kept on their toes! We in Europe take such an interest in the US because what the US does has the potential to affect us all.
Acknowledge the past but live in the future. The most laughable predictions of the past few centuries have been those forecasting the decline of America. The formal empires may be gone, but the Anglolateral world enjoys power, wealth, and freedom without precedent, while continental Europe has never lived so safely or so well as under Pax Americana. The last half century has been the most peaceful and prosperous in European history and Europeans don't want the party to end. Look into history and see if you can find a circumstance in which a nation of 200 hundred years has dethroned an empire established with a thousands of years under its belt. It is a tough pill to swallow and I believe that is why there are so many who never miss a chance to point out an American flaw.Braddock wrote:
And to all the trumpet blowers who are just posting boastful comments about the US remember this: no empire has ever lasted forever.
Just as there are obvious people who run around shouting "America Fuck ya", there are people who do everything in there power to take a swing at The United States. There is nothing wrong in defending your country, so long as you are not acting in pure ignorance. Your family and your ancestors worked hard to create it for you.
Last edited by Kmarion (2007-02-16 10:21:24)
Xbone Stormsurgezz
Yet we feed more. That is all that matters. We save more people from starvation than anyone else. That is "better." I dont care how the rest of the world feels about the morality of our sacrifice, what matters is less people dying.Vilham wrote:
Exactly other countries sacrifice far more than America does to help others out.PureFodder wrote:
Read what Vilham said.weamo8 wrote:
I appreciate the story of the Widow's Mite, but this isnt Sunday School. The fact is that Americans feed more impoverished people than any other country in the world. That is called reality. More filled stomachs, and less people starving to death is "better," imo. Most is most. In the future you can just say "Thank you."
We dont "screw everything up." It is just that people only focus on what went wrong, not what went right. Everyone in the world was okay with Iraqis dying when Saddam was killing them, but when we kill innocents in friendly fire and the like, there is international outcry. Give me a break.
You give more but as you're so rich and so large you actually give a smaller percentage GDP than many.
Im not arguing morality, I am arguing reality. Obviously, that is not good enough for you.
Yet America does more. You sound like a very unappreciative brat. Let's not forget about that multi-trillion dollar debt thing.Vilham wrote:
Exactly other countries sacrifice far more than America does to help others out.PureFodder wrote:
Read what Vilham said.weamo8 wrote:
I appreciate the story of the Widow's Mite, but this isnt Sunday School. The fact is that Americans feed more impoverished people than any other country in the world. That is called reality. More filled stomachs, and less people starving to death is "better," imo. Most is most. In the future you can just say "Thank you."
We dont "screw everything up." It is just that people only focus on what went wrong, not what went right. Everyone in the world was okay with Iraqis dying when Saddam was killing them, but when we kill innocents in friendly fire and the like, there is international outcry. Give me a break.
You give more but as you're so rich and so large you actually give a smaller percentage GDP than many.
It could be argued that when the going got tough your ancestors got going, those that remained in Europe have seen it flourish again. Maybe this is why European soldiers are tougher mentally than American soldiers, we as a continent have been through many hard times and many wars but have stood solid through them all, America is a young nation without the same long history and a population of people who left Europe during the harder times. I'm glad to have grown up in Europe, I believe we here in Europe have the right balance between capitalism and socialism. There is no safety net in America; if you get sick at the wrong time in your life in America you can very easily find yourself poor and on the street with almost no way back. If we as humans believe we're truly superior to animals perhaps we should prove it by taking care of our fellow humans once in a while. Don't get me wrong I don't believe in a welfare state where free loaders can exploit the system but I find the American approach too extreme.kmarion wrote:
We are talking about the actions of sovereign nations. My ancestors left the old decayed social structure behind them and created a new beginning. They were not content with their past. They did something about it. You see this is what separates us. The defining characteristic and difference is the desire to act on our dreams. My ancestors left continental Europe for opportunity. They were unwilling to accept a predetermined future secured in concrete.
I notice that many Americans when questioned about the horrible mistreatment of the Natives say it was the actions of the settlers who came from Europe but when someone points out that most Americans are of the same stock as us Europeans they immediately disagree and try to distance themselves from us.
Holy shit I agree with you 100%.Bubbalo wrote:
Some use that term. I find it childish and unimaginative. It's like little kids in a playground:Kmarion wrote:
The United States is a Hyper Power, get with the times..lol
USSR: I'm a superpower.
US: So am I! And you suck. You can't be a superpower.
Iran: Oh yeah? Well I'm a rogue state.
China: I wanna be a superpower.
US: Fine, but I'm a hyperpower.
It's like the UN version of an e-penis.
I agree also. It was sarcasm directed at the pointlessness of a label.Commie Killer wrote:
Holy shit I agree with you 100%.Bubbalo wrote:
Some use that term. I find it childish and unimaginative. It's like little kids in a playground:Kmarion wrote:
The United States is a Hyper Power, get with the times..lol
USSR: I'm a superpower.
US: So am I! And you suck. You can't be a superpower.
Iran: Oh yeah? Well I'm a rogue state.
China: I wanna be a superpower.
US: Fine, but I'm a hyperpower.
It's like the UN version of an e-penis.
Xbone Stormsurgezz
America is like that arsehole at work u have always wanted to punch in the face, but you wont cause ur full of shit. The generalisation that americans are all fat arogant morons, and the factu are the richest most influential, means u are the worlds scape goat, if things go wrong, who was incharge.......... THE YANKES!
And so it goes on, wouldnt say obssesd, rather a touch of jealousy, which is academic considering a rich America benfits more than just those who enhabit its lands.
Martyn
And so it goes on, wouldnt say obssesd, rather a touch of jealousy, which is academic considering a rich America benfits more than just those who enhabit its lands.
Martyn
You really don't get it do you.Ajax_the_Great1 wrote:
Yet America does more. You sound like a very unappreciative brat. Let's not forget about that multi-trillion dollar debt thing.Vilham wrote:
Exactly other countries sacrifice far more than America does to help others out.PureFodder wrote:
Read what Vilham said.
You give more but as you're so rich and so large you actually give a smaller percentage GDP than many.
" when the British fire, the tali'ban duck, when the tali'ban fires the British duck, when the Americans fire , every f**cker ducks "
Bell wrote:
America is like that arsehole at work
Last edited by LostFate (2007-02-19 02:36:19)
We need help.
How do we need help?.
Meh, let people think want they want to think. I don't care if you thin 9/11 was an inside job, I don't care what you think about Iraq, I don't care what you think about Bush, I don't care what the Romans were like and I certainly don't care about who is the asshole at work.
Really, it is quite foolish for anyone that doesn't live here to judge us because they are basing all of their opinions on biased news and not from personal observations. If you think you know this country because you visit BBC and watch youtube then you are very wrong. Crime is higher in the UK and Australia (really pretty much all of Europe)http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_t … l-victims, Austria has more deaths from fatties then us per million people, so does Denmark and New Zealand ( 2 of which are European countries, yay!!)
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_o … per-capita
BTW this we live in the US not America because America is 2 continents separated into a north and a south, bust out an atlas and you may learn something. (sorry it just bugs me...personal rant over)
Really, it is quite foolish for anyone that doesn't live here to judge us because they are basing all of their opinions on biased news and not from personal observations. If you think you know this country because you visit BBC and watch youtube then you are very wrong. Crime is higher in the UK and Australia (really pretty much all of Europe)http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_t … l-victims, Austria has more deaths from fatties then us per million people, so does Denmark and New Zealand ( 2 of which are European countries, yay!!)
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_o … per-capita
BTW this we live in the US not America because America is 2 continents separated into a north and a south, bust out an atlas and you may learn something. (sorry it just bugs me...personal rant over)
Last edited by Pernicious544 (2007-02-19 03:31:08)
Since when is New Zealand a European country?Pernicious544 wrote:
Meh, let people think want they want to think. I don't care if you thin 9/11 was an inside job, I don't care what you think about Iraq, I don't care what you think about Bush, I don't care what the Romans were like and I certainly don't care about who is the asshole at work.
Really, it is quite foolish for anyone that doesn't live here to judge us because they are basing all of their opinions on biased news and not from personal observations. If you think you know this country because you visit BBC and watch youtube then you are very wrong. Crime is higher in the UK and Australia (really pretty much all of Europe)http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_t … l-victims, Austria has more deaths from fatties then us per million people, so does Denmark and New Zealand ( all 3 of which are European countries, yay!!)
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_o … per-capita
BTW this we live in the US not America because America is 2 continents separated into a north and a south, bust out an atlas and you may learn something. (sorry it just bugs me...personal rant over)
Moron..
Fuck off, its called a mistake dip-shit and because Im not an asshole like you I will admit that I jumped the gun when typing a number. New Zealand is an island nation off the south eastern coast of Australia.Gillenator wrote:
Since when is New Zealand a European country?Pernicious544 wrote:
Meh, let people think want they want to think. I don't care if you thin 9/11 was an inside job, I don't care what you think about Iraq, I don't care what you think about Bush, I don't care what the Romans were like and I certainly don't care about who is the asshole at work.
Really, it is quite foolish for anyone that doesn't live here to judge us because they are basing all of their opinions on biased news and not from personal observations. If you think you know this country because you visit BBC and watch youtube then you are very wrong. Crime is higher in the UK and Australia (really pretty much all of Europe)http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_t … l-victims, Austria has more deaths from fatties then us per million people, so does Denmark and New Zealand ( all 3 of which are European countries, yay!!)
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_o … per-capita
BTW this we live in the US not America because America is 2 continents separated into a north and a south, bust out an atlas and you may learn something. (sorry it just bugs me...personal rant over)
Moron..
Last edited by Pernicious544 (2007-02-19 03:35:54)
I'd happily swap a higher crime rate for a lower Murder and rape rate.Pernicious544 wrote:
Meh, let people think want they want to think. I don't care if you thin 9/11 was an inside job, I don't care what you think about Iraq, I don't care what you think about Bush, I don't care what the Romans were like and I certainly don't care about who is the asshole at work.
Really, it is quite foolish for anyone that doesn't live here to judge us because they are basing all of their opinions on biased news and not from personal observations. If you think you know this country because you visit BBC and watch youtube then you are very wrong. Crime is higher in the UK and Australia (really pretty much all of Europe)http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_t … l-victims, Austria has more deaths from fatties then us per million people, so does Denmark and New Zealand ( all 3 of which are European countries, yay!!)
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_o … per-capita
BTW this we live in the US not America because America is 2 continents separated into a north and a south, bust out an atlas and you may learn something. (sorry it just bugs me...personal rant over)
I assume the bit about New Zealand was said with the appropriate sarcasm tags.
yep, caught it and had a lol at myselfSpaceApollyon wrote:
Am I reading this right or did you just say:Pernicious544 wrote:
...Austria has more deaths from fatties then us per million people, so does Denmark and New Zealand ( all 3 of which are European countries, yay!!)
http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_o … per-capita
BTW this we live in the US not America because America is 2 continents separated into a north and a south, bust out an atlas and you may learn something. (sorry it just bugs me...personal rant over)
New Zealand is in Europe & Bust out an atlas and you may learn something.
Mindboggling!