why do you think America is so hated around the world?

Question

Even before Bush the second, America had a bad reputation around the world. As a canadian, I have my theories about why, but I'm interested in what Americans think is the problem.

so far, the general answer seems to be jealousy. Are you guys really that self-absorbed? Do you think the rest of the world sits at home thinking "If only I was American my life would be complete"? get a clue!
DBike - if we were in trouble you'd be the last ones I'd want to call. You'd move in and never leave and drag us down with you at the same time.
Sally - its sad that you think you shouldn't care what the rest of the world thinks of America. That in itself is part of the problem. Americans, like it or not, are a part of the world stage and you can't just stick your heads in the sand and hope we'll go away.

Answer 1

I think you found your answer - in these answers. Yes, Americans are that self-absorbed, but that is the fuel for the hatred - not the actual cause of the hatred. We are hated because our government only cares about its own interests (and it's just a macrocosm of our society - Americans, for the most part, only care about their own interests - which is why they think we are hated because others are jealous). You hear people talk about how everyone wants America to save them - as if we are world saviors. They don't realize that we only stick our nose in another countries' business if it benefits us. If we did it out of some moral obligation we would be concerned about the atrocities in Darfur. Since there is nothing there for us to exploit, we haven't lifted a finger.

Americans are so far removed from reality that they can't even see this. We think watching reality TV puts us in touch with reality.

Did you notice how some people equated America to the popular kid in high school? How immature and ridiculous is this? It just proves that most Americans maintain their high school mentality long after they should've grown up. The world is not a high school, and people who are starving to death, and do not have a pot to piss in don't have time to be concerned with such nonsense.

Americans on the other hand focus all their attention on what they can do to improve their image in society - in a constant attempt to become that popular kid that they are referring to. How can you expect them to understand why the world hates us, when they think that people like you for what you have? They are too busy paying attention to what their neighbor has, so they can go out and get whatever it is (but a bigger and better one - so they can feel like they are bigger and better than someone) to pay any attention to what might be going on in another country. Some may have time to catch a glimpse of CNN or FOX news.....just enough propaganda to ease their minds, and let them know that we’re better than everyone else – and that’s why they hate us (does this subconsciously fulfill that need to be better than someone?) and they take that propaganda as gospel, and feel like they know something about the world.

I thought as much before Bush became President. I just didn't realize that what I disliked in the people around me could ever manifest as our country’s national image.

Answer 2

Unfortunately the American Government in the past and at present appear to support the wrong country or leader for the wrong resons. In the name of Democracy many repressive dictators and ruling classes have fooled the US to believe that they are the protectors of the masses. Whereas the masses were/are almost like slaves.

India and Pakistan are two good examples. India is the largest democracy in the world whereas Pakistan is run by a military dictator. India is a responsible Nuclear power whereas Pakistan sold US Nuclear power. But sadly the US is on the side of the Pakistanis.

Tibet is a good example where the land was owned by nobles, lamas, and temples and everybody else was a serf. Even today the US is supporting the Dalai Lama.

US supported Saddam Hussein and Taliban in the past but now there is war in Iraq and Afganistan sad.

One thing I see is that the ordinary citizens have good intentions and want to help but politics has only interests and unfortunate consequences.

Answer 3

Jealousy. Also, people have the tendency to tell only the bad things about a country and, because the U.S. is a major country of the world, people like to dump on it. It would be nice, though, if the media would focus on the nice things for a change and not try to dig up dirt that isn't there. Think about the war in Iraq; does anyone out there realize the humanitarian mission that is happening there to protect human rights and to protect women from misogynous idiots?

Answer 4

It's time America looks all the countries that supposedly hate us straight in the eye and says "you are now cut off". We are the single greatest exporter of foreign aid in the world. We give to foreigners while we still haven't figured out a way to eliminate homelessness and lack of medical care to our own poor. If the foreigners HATE us, let them all drop dead.

If not for our "invasions", England and France would have Deutsch as their national language. Hitler would have run right over them and conquered them.

The rest of the world lost the right to hate us a long time ago.

And some day we will have a president even more couragous than George Bush (if that's possible) who will stare at Chirac and spit in his eye. And tell him to drop dead.

We are the greatest nation that ever walked this earth. Anyone who HATEs us (including the lefty loonies in San Francisco who hate America), can move to Cuba and practice their "freedoms."

Answer 5

Propaganda and our biast news and ignorant citizens who believe it.
Also we have the most money,power. We have a history of sideing
with Israel the jews and majority of us are Christians. We have alot
of Influence over others due to constantly financially backing who
we choose to, and not. I think many people are jealous of our freedoms. We take alot here for granted that other people don't
have. However, we as a nation do not care what other countrys
think and that also could be part of the problem. However We
shouldn't care. We need to do what is right for our country and
if we are perceived that way, Hated or whatever. Tough. So they
better get used to it.

Answer 6

In REALITY, America is NOT hated around the world, IT IS ONLY our policies that "many" people hate. Even Americans do some of them. Why do you think we have MILLIONS of immigrants coming from ALL OVER THE WORLD are coming to America?

You are talking about America's foreign policies, NOT AMERICA as a land and a diverse society.

Answer 7

Exploitation of other countries economies. Exploitation of oil. The do what I say not what I do attitude. We continute to use resources at a rate much faster than many other countires, but we tell third world countires and developing countries that they can't do the same thing. U.S. of A. is a dying giant trying to hold on to a legend. Even Rome fell.

Answer 8

I'm not an american but i just like to share my OPINION of a POSSIBILITy why some people hate america. america seems to be interferring TOO much with other nation's affairs(but, the blame must not be solely directed to them,since, they could never push through anything unto certain nation for instance if the leaders of those nation does not allow.)

Answer 9

George Bush has done nothing to improve our immage, Bill Clinton was welcomed around the world. Bush is jeered and booed. It is about our so called spread of freedom which is only construed as sticking our nose into a place where it doesn't belong.

Answer 10

Because the rest of the nations all jealous. Example....Montana or the lovely desert of Iran? Cheese Burger or Camel? Nascar or a Hezbollah rocket show? Etc. Hopefully this helps you understand.