america getting too much negative attention?

Question

Almost every country on earth has a bad opinion about America that is exaggerated. America makes mistakes, and its possible that the Iraq war was a mistake, but there is no country on earth that has a perfect record of leadership. The fact that America has had good leaders means its not hopeless. The fact that they have had bad leaders, means it is human like very other country. America has a huge responsibility, has a large burden from those who expect help from America, and has a lot of power. America is like the CEO of a company. If something very bad happens, the CEO is the first person to take crap, but no one looks at the smaller players. With so much responsibility, its easier to make a mistake, but one ever thinks that the smaller people may be to blame. Lets not forget that America does not "hire" countries!
With this in mind, is there a country that would *neccessarily* be better than America if it were put in to the same position of *power*, *burden*, and resposibility?

Answer 1

Reading your answer, from a foreigner's point of view, explains why people do get irritated with America. Look at your wording and the beliefs that you convey. Most of us are savvy enough to realize that the views of the government do not necessarily reflect the views of the people- I, myself, am married to an American. What people find irritating is the lack of cultural relativism or understanding- the very clear superiority that is conveyed and the lack of desire to be exposed to different points of view. The mentality of being the biggest power in the world, responsible for governing all countries and/or converting them to your values and beliefs system is percieved as arrogant.

Answer 2

Yes and no. Let's look at the CEO simile. A CEO applies in an open or discrete manner for the job. But he wants the job. The big mistake a CEO can make is to try and do all things himself. Like the US not wanting any support from the UN in the Iraq case.
The world isn't yours to run. All countries must work together and as long as the USA say that we must do as we are told, well ...accept the consequences. During the Vietnam war Graham Greene wrote a novel: "The Ugly American". Read that and learn! I'm not against the USA but sad that they seem so primitive.

Answer 3

"is there a country that would *neccessarily* be better than America if it were put in to the same position of *power*, *burden*, and resposibility?"

This is exactly the problem. Who decides it's America's "responsibility" to invade other countries, tinker with other nations economies, pick dictators, etc.

And when we use the "moral" arguement to stop genocide in Iraq for example, the same people turn a blind eye to the far large genocide that's still going on right now today in several areas of Africa. Why is it we only care about the country if it's got natural resources like oil? Who cares about the daily deaths in places like Darfur.

Bottom line: America tends ot be very arrogant. We think we're THE superpower and THE boss of everyone.

Answer 4

Coming from an American, I have the following to say about this:

1) I think Americans showed their true stupidity by voting the a complete idiot who cannot even complete sentences properly back into office. Mr. Bush proved during his first term that he was incompetent to lead our country and we voted him back in. For that reason alone, I can completely understand the negative image we are displaying to the world.

2) We should not be the worlds watch dog.
Why does it always seem to come down to us being the police for the world? Why do we seem to love war so much that we are always trying to find ways to get into it?

I hear those "gung ho" Americans saying all the time, we're fighting for our freedom. Ok, I'm sorry, but what does Saddam Hussein have to do with my freedoms? He was killing his own people in his own country, not ours. It's been proven time and time again we had no reason to go over there, except (GASP) oil.

Same can be said for Viet Nam. How are we fighting for our freedom? We went over there to stop the communist north from taking over the south. Again, I'm sorry, what does whether Viet Nam is communist or not have to do with my freedom?

Perhaps if America would try and be a bit more like most of the other countries in the world, and not stick their noses in everyone else's business, we wouldn't have so many problems.

Answer 5

Nice analogy the CEO thing, but that is one reason other countries criticise america, because the government thinks of itself as a CEO of other countries. America is a powerful country and what america does affects many people in many countries, so if America does something wrong or controversial, many people will be upset about it.

This current administration has acted in a gung-ho, shoot now, think later way, pissing off even its allies. Perhaps unfairly causing a negative attitute to the american people when the CEO of america is actually to blame.

Answer 6

Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Germany, Taiwan yep there are loads of countries that if they were superpowers would do a better job than the USA.

THe trouble with America is the corruption you have a president who has huge links with oil barrons at home and in Saudi Arabia.

In Briatin we get dragged into your wars and it makes it unsafe for us within our own country.

USA does not make mistakes as you put it, it throws its weight around in order to take advantage over the rest of the world and keep hold of its power.

What has America done that is good for the rest of the world? The biggest problems at the moment are terroism and climate change america is adding to these rather than helping.

If america is a company then the rest of the world are corner shops (small stores) trying to survive in a shopping mall full of wallmarks offering cheaper substandard goods.

Answer 7

Yes america makes big mistakes but they try to hide that. As for those who try to be a leader as America, they scared of America chopped them as a 'terrorists'. That is why no country on earth try to push themselves to judge the world.

Answer 8

Well, part of what you say is right, and maybe this is why so many other countries are so disappointed now that America takes sides which are not always the right ones and that America has started to make many obvious mistakes.

Answer 9

No. Just the Bush Administration. And its getting well deserved negative attention. More is headed this way.
I never supported Bush's war or voted for him. America and Bush are two separate things.

Answer 10

There's no such thing as bad publicity.

It doesn't matter if the United States is hated; just as long as we are feared and respected. No matter how much countries claim to hate us, at the end of the day, they aren't returning any foreign-aid checks.

When countries start saying to the US, "We don't need your money," that is when I'll start to worry. And from the billions we pour into other countries for everything from AIDS medicine and treatment to food and disaster relief, I don't see that happening any time soon.