Why are so many American's unaware of how they are perceived overseas?

Question

Surely they have to realise that they are universily despised for their arrogant and overbearing attitudes.

America is a nice place but no matter how loudly you shout it cannot be the best. Any country that has so much hate for other cultures (gay's/ muslim's / non christians) can never be the best.

Wow....there are some real haters out there huh!

For those of you who think I dont know what I am talking about ...

1. I am English by birth
2. I have lived in many different parts of the world so know what I am talking about.
3. I lived in America for 7 years
2. I left after the last election and moved to a better country.

Answer 1

I don't think all Americans are bad, just the ones that are blinded by their pride too much to appreciate the issues that face the est of the world. The Americans are well known for jumping into confrontations they need not be in, and following rules of their own. I think that gives them a bad mark. They have enough tension and problems on their own soil they should think about getting sorted out before they elect another trigger happy president. Of course, they didn't elect him. Even americans aren't that stupid.

Answer 2

It is the best because it is the most diverse and everyone, pretty much, can live the way they want to without fear of religious or racial persecution by the government. We don't have to worry about going to jail for making a speech or writing a contraversial book like in some other countries where you might be put to death for such a thing.

Anyway, the majority of Americans never leave the United States because it is difficult and expensive, and similarly they do not read international newspapers from other countries because they are mostly focused on their domestic issues since there are SO many since it is such a huge country.

Personally, I've been all over this country and all over the world, and I used to have a negative attitude towards America, thinking how arrogant the people were, and being almost embarrassed of being American. But after traveling around a lot, and seeing a lot fo other countries, and living in a few, I'd have to say America is definitely the best country to live in and (NY the best city to live in) and I'm proud to be an American.

So many Americans give up their time and travel to provide relief aid for those in underdeveloped nations, our government gives tons of money and military aid to poor nations all over the world, and we try to defend our own interests, yes, but what country doesn't?

The "hate" for other religions and homosexuals first of all isn't a problem in our most major cities (NY, LA, Chicago, Miami, San Francisco, Boston, DC and so forth, where everyone is equally welcomed and treated pretty much), and is mostly concentrated in the center and south of the country where the bible-bangers live. But it's nice that everyone can voice their opinion freely as it is to be expected that in such a large and diverse country, many people will not agree with one another and many ways of life willl conflict with one another.

Oh.. and I don't mean it is the best, absolutely without any debate. I am only stating my opinion and why someone else might have said that in the past.

Answer 3

DISCLAIMER: The following is a generalization. There are Americans who aren't like this, (I being one of them) but the idiots tend to end up being the ones that are seen.

No Americans were harmed in the writing of this answer.

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There R lyke, PEOPLES over ther? No WAIIIII. Just lyke, in cAvEs N StUfF riiiite??!!!!

Okay. So that's an exaggeration, but in a way it's true. (and sometimes it's literally true and that scares me.) People over here just don't care about the rest of the world.

They don't even care about THEIR part of the world. They just care about their day to day lives; "surviving," and that's why our country has gotten so screwed over. Everyone's so busy trying to get what they want, that they forget what they need (cue Rolling Stones), or what got them there in the first place. Everyone's trapped in this happy little bubble world, where they can leave everyone else to fight for what's right. They just don't have the TIME to care! And the people that do care are usually so sick of everyone else not caring that they give up.


One last thing. Not to be nitpicky, but I'd say non-Christians are much less hated in American culture than Christians. The only people that really hate non-Christians are the extremeist Christians... which I'm fairly sure not even the regular Christians like too much. Just a thought.

Answer 4

Why are you so delusional?

We don't hate other cultures - come here and eat out sometime. But we are suspicious of the current state of Islam. Anyone with any sense would be - but that obviously excludes you.

Gay's have plenty of rights in this country. There is a debate if Gay's should be allowed to have a religious thing called marriage - when universally all religions say that homosexuality is an offense to God. There are no easy answers to this, though you might be a moron and think so.

Finally, the real issue is your latent anti-semitism. The US supports Israel - everyone else hates that in the stupid belief that if Israel would just lighten up, then the Muslims would leave them alone. You really are a bit of an idiot.

But thanks for the 2 points.

Answer 5

The american people are not the problem per se. it's the media soup they are fed; billions of dollars of twisted misinformation.
Only the few american intellects are doing their best to correct these falacies. Fortunately their blogs are winning Americans round from their media matrix. More and more Americans are asking questions why are we hated all over the world. The few that are still trapped in that MATRIX style existence are the ones on this forum giving you the we dont care answer.
Have you noticed that most Americans have a Uniform answer to why civilians are dying in lebanon "because hezbollahs are hiding among civilians. This is backed up by Israeli media showing blurred picture of missiles flying from lebanon.
Most elderly african Americans have a saying everytime america is attacked " It's what america have done overseas that is coming home to roost".

Answer 6

We were glad to see the back of them when they left on the boats. We would be happy with just a post-card now & then. What we get is "arrogant and overbearing attitudes".

America is not a nice place, they have a lot of really grotty bits. We just don't get to hear or see them. We just get to see the fluffy picture. There is such a wide gap between the haves and the havenots.

The only reason that they are still "in business" is because of the "petro-dollar". The USA is really the "kings clothes" of countrys.

Wake up and smell the coooorrrrfffeeeeeeeee !

Answer 7

Do you as a person care how you are perceived by others, as long as you behave within reasonable moral, ethical and legal boundaries then why should you.

As a Brit I would rather be friendly with a country that has at its basis a constitution that promotes freedom of speech, democracy and free will, than with any country that seeks to destroy these things such as Iran.

Granted mistakes have been made, and foreign policy may leave a lot to be desired, but ask yourself this :- why are countries that have existed for thousands of years so poor and backward, and a new, vibrant and FREE country hold such knowledge and wealth. Where would we all be without the Yanks, a lot worse off.

Answer 8

Alandicho, what you just described is actually called ignorance. Look into it; you're also ignorant. I'm aware that we're perceived as bullies who are only after their oil, and I can't say that I disagree with them because I don't. However, I think the hatred and their perception of us is more directed at the dumba$$ running our country(even when he WASN'T elected). I'll just make sure to point out to them that I didn't vote for that moron if I ever do travel overseas. I'll just try to translate it into different languages(depending on where I visit) so they'll understand.

Answer 9

Sounds like a personal issue to me.

Why do you need Osama Bin Laudin's approval? Did mommy not breast feed you as a child? Since daddy didn't throw football with you, you need a hug from Kim Jong Ill?!!!

Grow up little man, and start with yourself. Who are you hating? Gays? Muslims? Non-Christians? I can hate a strait christian person that wants to rob me, and be very grateful if a gay muslim police officer saves my life from the bad man.

How about you? Where is this hate you speak of? Obviously you suffer from white guilt. Poor baby. If you have never owned a slave, then you are not automatically bad just because your skin is lighter than mine.

Really, my friend, you should get your communist manifesto back out and smoke some pot and read, and leave it to adults to keep you safe from terrorists who want you dead because you aren't muslim...and if you feel guilty about having money, let's talk and you can send all that evil money to me.

Answer 10

if you are from ouside the us and you watch american news you will understand why. the media are all trying to out do each other to be the most dramatic so all stories are blown out of all proportion. stories from other countries often have the fact wrong, even the countries sometimes. it is such an insular country that many people never leave it so never experience any other part of the world or any other culture. even many states and races are insular so have no understanding of other cultures outside their own group.

sorry to generalise, i know all americans arent like that. there are areas in my home city in the uk that are like that. it just seems that there are whole areas that are insular there.