I'm American: Why is there so much negative sentiment towards my country?

Question

I have been looking through a lot of questions (and anwsers) about the USA and I feel extremely hurt. I'm American and I don't understand why there are so many negative feelings against us. So many people have said that Americans are fat, arrogant, loud mouthed, ignorant, and lazy, etc. It is true that there may be those type of people in America but one can find any of those people in any other country. People are people no matter what country you go to. I'm not looking for angry or offensive answers I just want to know: Why is it that Americans are so generalized?
I used to want to go to the UK so badly and after reading about so many negative opinions towards my country and people I'm not so sure that I will not feel alienated if I go.

"the americans that come on package holidays to england generally are thick and overwieght ive been asked by an american if we have electricity in my country!!! but then others ive met have been the best people you could meet. the best thing to do is be your self and make sure u dont make yourself seem like a typical american!"

"Random's": this is just proving the point I'm making- a "typical american"!? That is the exact kind of stereotype I'm talking about!

Answer 1

It is lazy stereotyping about individual Americans brought on by anger about the cynical way your government has exploited the biggest terrorist attack of recent years to put in place policies that have led to the death of tens of thousands of innocent people & the suspension of ancient liberties like trial by jury.

Most of the people posting those comments would be polite if they met you face to face. They understand individual Americans are not responsible for the stupid things done by your government. But you did elect them - this time it seems he really did get more votes than the other guy. Foreigners are angry, frustrated and alienated. Dubya would be a better target, but until he deigns to post here you'll make an acceptable target.

If you do choose to come to the UK there are three things you might want to remember;

- There was a massive amount of sympathy around the world about 9/11. I was in a hotel in a Muslim country at the time and I saw locals apologising to US citizens - just because the attacks were by fellow Muslims. However the rest of the world has spent the last 40 years dealing with terrorism, including many groups funded by Americans and their government. The IRA used American money to murder thousands of people across Europe. You've stopped inviting their leaders to the White House but you still refuse to extradite the bombers to face justice. So we welcome your conversion to the right side of the debate but the way your government has tried to lecture the rest of the world and claim leadership in the fight against terrorism is revolting. Given that people were dying in the UK barely 10 years ago when bombs paid for with American money went off a little humility would not go amiss.

- No one in the UK believes Iraq had anything to do with 9/11. It was payback for when Sadaam was nasty to Daddy. And the
fact that your leaders continue to justify so many deaths by trying to tie in Iraq to the attack on the WTC makes it easy to dismiss they all as amoral morons.

- Most importantly, we are led by the only world leader who gets less respect than Bush. The fact that Blair cannot or will not get his lips off Bush's *** and stand up for his country is a source of deep humiliation.

Enjoy your trip.

Answer 2

ry other freggin country. I love my country for my country not for leaders or the negative. I guess because America is such a large country and so powerful some people feel as though they should trash talk us and state all the negative. Basically they're just giving us a bias name. To me it's almost as if every country is a politic and they're all running for presidiency of the world and they go deep inside each other records and pull out b.s. from years and years back so people just have a have this idea about you (america) that we're such bad people, but we do the same thing back. It's like when you're in an argument with an annoying sibbling they know stuff about you and use it against you. So don't even trip every country sucks in it's own way but when such a popular country... people are gonna hate on you and make up, or black mail you to the fullest.

Answer 3

In my opinion America sucks, just like every other freggin country. I love my country for my country not for leaders or the negative. I guess because America is such a large country and so powerful some people feel as though they should trash talk us and state all the negative. Basically they're just giving us a bias name. To me it's almost as if every country is a politic and they're all running for presidiency of the world and they go deep inside each other records and pull out b.s. from years and years back so people just have a have this idea about you (america) that we're such bad people, but we do the same thing back. It's like when you're in an argument with an annoying sibbling they know stuff about you and use it against you. So don't even trip every country sucks in it's own way but when such a popular country... people are gonna hate on you and make up, or black mail you to the fullest.

Answer 4

You are taking too much notice of the press and other media. I have travelled to many countries and I meet many people. I find in general that Americans are friendlly and helpful people. As far as the way other people view you I do not encounter a negative opinion against Americans. Whatever the political climate is and if it is negative at the time then people will generalise about a nation. Sometimes in England people call the French and then it's the Germans turn and very often it's the Scots who get called a lot.
I say come to England and enjoy yourself and you will be welcomed.

Answer 5

The first problem is that America is big.

It has overwhelming presence worldwide in political and economical affairs and the nasty habit of interfering abroad.
The "let's spread democracy" argument for invading countries and overthrowing governments is, obviously a lullaby for stupid children (see the Panama affair, the support of undemocratic regimes worldwide as long as America's interests are safeguarded, the absolute neglect of far more serious conflicts when these happen in countries with no relation to American economical interests). Everybody sees through this hypocrisy and it rubs us wrong when a nation tries to take you for a fool.
Americans are indeed ignorant. America is so big that the news are mostly focused on internal affairs. Since most people's world view is shaped by television, the average american's knowledge of the world outside its borders is, then, negligible. The problem is not so much with people that get their information through newspapers and combine media, but with those that get all their information through commercial TV.
Americans are shaped throughout their schooling to be patriotic. This american brand of patriotism is disturbing to us, as there is nothing in Europe like the daily pledge of allegiance or the flags on every public building and if one would try to start something of the sort, accusations of fascism would ensue.
Religion is a big one too, as European states are ferocious advocates of state and church separation. The whole evolution/creation debate involving the President and government is inconceivable over here, and, frankly, quite ridiculous.
There are fat people in Europe, but give me a brake, if you board a bus or plane in say, Minneapolis or say, Lyon or Antwerp, it's a pretty safe bet which group of passengers averages a higher gross weight.
Last but not least, american popular culture, supported by corporate economy is slowly asphyxiating everybody.
It's so powerful a combination that the whole world is becoming more and more the same and more and more like a sanitized, Starbucks and McDonald's ridden bland version of american downtown. The fact that American tourists are not typically adventurous and want to find in Venice the same moccacino they'd get in downtown Houston gets another franchise built and another small local business closed down.
The world is becoming more and more a Nike wearing, burger eating, R&B listening franchise and these corporations are so strong there is nothing much one can do but watch the tide and try not to get wet.
America is, indeed powerfull, but the logic of the strongest wins is not the a logic we want to live by.
We are helpless because in the 21st century only money matters, and money is uninterested in culture, diversity or complication. Little by little we are losing all that made us different from one another and for this we cannot forgive America.

Answer 6

maybe people who are making these comments have just had poor experiences with Americans. The first impression tends to set the tone for all the others. It really is too bad that you feel this way HOWEVER, these people who make these comments may be from other countries and are able to compare the people of their country with their encounter with Americans and then make a judgement. You however, being an american, only have americans to compare. I am canadian and YES... there is a tendency for Americans to much more prideful, ignorant and bull headed COMPARED to Canadians. Maybe you shoudl do some travelling around the work to get some opinions on other cultures and then you can do a better comparison for yourself. you may be suprised with what you find out

Answer 7

I am a Brit. and am ashamed of the way that some people on this sight keeping criticising the US; we should, in fact, be sticking together.

I visit the US quite a bit, so does my son, we have long standing friends there. I like the US and its people, particularly New York.

Let me try and offer a possible answer to your question, particularly regarding young people. Unfortunately, many of our educationalists (teachers/lecturers) are left of centre/liberal, they, together with the Left wing TV media and current government, seem to have an unpatriotic attitude toward traditional Britain and the West generally. This has a strong influence on the attitudes of students and the general public. America gets caught up in that, because it is seen as the centre of the Capitalist system. In recent years the British centre ground has been moved to the left. Young people don't realise that, however, they think that the current climate represents centre ground commonsense. We older ones know better.

The Iraq war has become a 'cause celebre' for the 'left' to attack
both Britain and the US. The negative sentiment that you have noted, has increased quite a bit over the last three years or so.

Please regard these offensive people as representing those that have been indoctrinated by the forces I have mentioned above, and are also unable to think for themselves. I worry about their attitude toward their own country (Britain). I think that there is something a little more sinister going on though. Through mass communication, people are able to try and influence the American people direct. They don't need to go 'top down', they can go 'bottom up'. You must not allow these lefties, or indoctrinated people, to influence you, because it will destabilise the Country.
Incidentaly, attacking George Bush, is another way of undermining his administration by putting pressure directly onto the American people.

I think that the personal insults flow from the general attitude described above. We, more sensible Brits. take a different view.
Don't forget that it is probably the more vocal ones that come onto this site anyway.

Answer 8

Country's have always hated each other. I'm a pan-Asian girl living in a pretty rough area of England (i've lived in da UK since I woz 2 weeks old! I woz so cute bac then not so cute now! hehe damn puberty! damn u!) and I just put up with it. Just walk on by if anyone says anything. You've gotta be pretty thick skinned. Remeber that they can't judge you on where you come from. Just ignore it but obviously if it gets violent or if you feel really scared run away and tell the police. It's mostly to do with the whole Bush invading Iraq and Tony Blair doin w/eva Bush sez or summat. That's what I've heard anyway. And probably Super-Size Me and all that. Don't let it stop you from coming to England. We may be wet, windy, cold and up to our knees in mud but many of us are very friendly! Besides if good American's didn't come to the UK who would prove all these prejudices and negative opinions wrong?

Answer 9

I don't mean for anybody to take this the wrong way,but the facts speak for themselves. If you really paid attention in history class,this country was founded by the oppression of others. Forget all those stories about the English fleeing religious prosecution. This land was snatched from the Native Americans,worked the Africans,all for the pleasure of the white man. And today,both groups are still oppressed. No other nation has been born thru the indignities as America. Finally,adding fuel fuel to the fire,Bush's war on terrorism has really strained all relations with other countries throughout the world.

Answer 10

There is lot of anti american sentiments in the world.The Americans mostly I have seen/had dealings are really good.But it is bad publicity that has created the image.American councils/embassies are there in almost all contries.They are not properly projecting the image of America,that is the main problem.The publicity materials released,advertisement expenses of American Embassies/councils/Centres are meagre.The local people are not involved in publicity.I am from India, about 10,years back,documentaries on America,American life and other lietrature were freely available.Now American publicity is almost closed or ineffective.We get information in news channels about American intervention /killings in Iraq and Iran only.That is adverse publicity is more. Solution is publicity /public relation sections in Embassies has to be revamped to improve the image of America or Americans.This is the case in most of the coutries.Revamping American Embassies all over the world and high impact publicity are the immediate requirements.