Why is America so hated when we try to help others when they have catastrophes? I think we need some support.?

Question

It always seems to me that the USA is helping some other country by sending food, medical supplies and help when another country is rocked by an earthquake or flooded or starving. Does China ever do anything like that? No, Americans help others at the drop of a hat. I sponser several children in Indonisa so that they can have good food, clothes, medical and go to school.

By the way, I have been to the UK several times, to Ireland, Scotland and England and have yet to find a person who wasn't kind, friendly, caring and absolutely wonderful. I enjoy going there because the people are so nice.

I am a part of the human world and I would love to end the war with the people having a strong, stable government which they could control their own country. I wish the women could be treated like human beings. They aren't right now. Saddam was a cruel man who killed for pleasure. They attacked us first. I suppose you think it would be great to live in terrorism. Well, I don't think that way. I am all for peace in the middle east. I wish we could bring our troops home but there is a threat to America. They want to kill us. You have to decide if you want to live in freedom like we live now or live under the treat of being killed by terrorists. We have to protect ourselves. I can't believe that some of you just don't get it.

I'm sorry, I meant threat not treat.

Felix, we do help people who need help.
For the guy who said I couldn't spell, well, I may have made two mistakes, but my sentences are not jibberish like some sentances I've seen here.

Ok, I'm typing and wrangling children at the same time. I misspelled sentence. Forgive me.

Answer 1

Thank You!!! I agree with you. Why is everyone always bad mouthing the USA when we're always the first ones they call for help.

Answer 2

I dont think America is hated as a whole. Those that hate America as a whole then are being very predjudiced. Everyone should know that not everyone in a country agrees with what is going on....

You are right though, America has got a 'bad name' as such. I think the leader has just a small something to do with it and I think most people dislike the leader rather than America itself. (Although I suppose a lot of Americans also voted for him, but...) Even with the good things that are happening, that you mention then there are a lot of very bad and very silly things that are happening too and they are very noticeable. It is a big country, which announces a lot of what it is doing, and so it will be notices. (Again that was generalising the term 'America'.

However, I dont necessarily think that other countries have such a good name. I dont hear people saying that good things about China either for example...

Its also always good for people to have someone or some country to blame. Of course people need to express what they are feeling, but they also need to look around them and see what they can change about themselves and their lives too!

Anyway starting to gabble too much! That was not a very good answer....

I am English though, and although I admit to being predjudiced against 'America' sometimes myself, I should not be, because I also have some nice American friends had 2 nice times in America when I went to visit a few years ago.

Answer 3

The devil will tell nine truths to tell one lie.

People all over the world would love Americans, if the only time they came into a country was to help people. But helping others, while admirable, does not then absolve the US from the atrocities such as those inflicted on innocent people in Iraq. You know, the ones who are having their lives turned into a nightmare because GWB decided that because the terrorists on Sept11 were mainly Saudis, that Iraq should be invaded.
And, before you ask, I am neither a muslim, nor from the middle east, nor from the US.
Just the way I see it.

Keep helping others, it's good for your collective soul.

Answer 4

Well, to start if you spelled a little better that would give others a little less reason to dislike us--its "sponsor" and "Indonesia" for starters.

Americans comprise the most successful democracy in history, the largest accumulation of wealth, the most powerful military machine the world has ever seen. In short we are successful and the successful always have their detractors.

However, we also have the attitude to go with that success which causes problems for us as well--the "ugly American" is more than some fictitious concept. Oftentimes we lack sensitivity to cultural and social differences and our current government (as have many prior administrations) seems to think an American Style/Western Democracy, coupled with Capitalism is the answer to any problem--especially when it favors American business interests. The Soviets were not entirely off base when they complained of American Imperialism.

The war in Iraq is an example of our government's hubris--the idea of the first strike against a potential threat is new to our foreign policy, the concept that we can install a western democracy and capitalist economy is not. This hubris results in messes that take years to clean up and which cause us public relations problems with the rest of the world....

Answer 5

As far as the UK helping with Aid, the UK sent money to America after 9/11 we helped out, we also help with other countries when they have Earthquakes etc..we send million of Pounds to help, also Aid supplies, all the English pull together and give food parcels and clothes parcels, we also do charity events to raise money to send to these countries when disaster strikes, I cant talk for China, you may have a point with that one I don't know, but we do our fair share when its needed, we are a caring nation, more than you realize, the English in general are very friendly and caring, the Northern folk are wonderful people, maybe a bit to caring and friendly.

Answer 6

I think it all boils down to the same conundrum as disabled people have. In general most people in the world like to think of themselves as independent and able to do anything. If you take that away from them they might get a little upset.

Then of course there will always be the people who don't want help, who like the way their life is going.

A lot of the population see people who are trying to help as interfering busy bodies who don't belong in their country.

Finally, America as indeed most other developed nations do not themselves have a perfect system. It works so far as if you get into school, work hard etc you can make a decent life for yourself. But there are still children from families too poor to educate them properly and this inhibits their overall progression through life. A truly proper system would see free, full and high quality education for all.

Answer 7

Where not Hated as the media keeps wanting people to believe ,if we where then all these other people would not want to come here , People Hate what they dont understand and most countries dont have the freedom that we have , You cant even ask this question in China,
people in Ireland ,Scotland and England are very friendly even more so than Americans

Answer 8

I know its frustrating. My friend was venting this just last week. But are you just expressing hurt American pride or really trying to see through other peoples' eyes.

America, the gov't, sometimes does great stuff for other people. Sometimes they do nasty stuff. Stuff you don't know about.

American corporations build factories in Mexico to give jobs to the poor Mexicans, but they severely pollute the surrounding areas and do not support the Mexicans who get seriously ill because they company is too cheap to give them protective equipment.

Americans, the people, do sometimes give a lot of money to those in need, but sometimes we sound rude or put other people/cultures down. Condescending. (and sometimes we don't even know it) Superior. Materialistic.

If Mr. Smithers of the Simpsons gave you money, but treated you like you are beneath him, would you be his friend? Probably not. It is sort of like that.

(You'd still take the money, because you don't wanna starve, but you'd probably not be too happy with yourself.)

Answer 9

because under the republicans you stopped being a member of the world community and decide you ran things. its like being in a row boat with a 500lb gorilla, who has decided to start rocking the boat and might tip it over, you cant do anything about it but you sure dont like it.
yes you do give aid so does much of the western world. however they dont invade countries for no apparent reason. the childish rantings over France not joining you in what they consider an unnecessary and unjust war is worth of an 8 year old(freedom fries???).
you dont listen you decide what is right and seem to get your feelings hurt when people dont think the USA is the worlds greatest democracy and the presidential system is wonderful or the American Constitution is the worlds greatest political document. it is absolutely frightening that for no apparent reason you have decide that creationism is worthy of being discussed to be taught, any where else in the western world you would be laughed out of the room for suggesting it is a even a serious idea.
you attack the EU for tariffs and barriers and yet you ban Australian lamb because your farmers cant compete.
You dont like Cuba's p[political system yet 50 years later you lament the overthrow of a corrupt and terrible regime but you then punish foreign companies who arntt in the USA for dealing with them , how dare you!!!!!!!!!
you champion democracy yet over threw and elect south american government becuse the people wanted a socalist, you would like the same thing for chevez. you invaded a country becuse a fruit companies unsed land was being confiscated and given to farmners to grow food to feed their children, however the chiquita fruit comapny was reimbursed at MARKET rates for evey acre sold
why dont you go metric ther reat of the world is, and your gun laws are insane people die for no reason, which is fine in your country howver you destroy any treaty trying to stop the trade in small arms
no one elected you world policeman and we have doubts about your intentions and dont expect justice or fairplay off you

Answer 10

Seems like I answered a similar question not too long ago. But, as I see it, I am at least under the impression that a good portion of the problems of other countries are at least in part caused either directly or indirectly by the United States (the government I refer to.) Although I'm not exactly sure which catastrophes you are referring to. The tsmuami in Indonesia? Aids in Africa? The war in Iraq? Sudan? There are many unfortunate things that happen all over the world. Many happen right here in America, too. Katrina of course was hard to miss, but every day there are people right under your nose who are sufferiing.......

Anyway, not to go on and on about every tragedy, since your question is so broad, but when I think of "America" being the country who always seems to be going to the rescue, I think of the American People Mainly it seems to be the "Hollywood" celebrities who we actually hear about who are doing and or donating the most. Probably in part because they can afford to, they need good publicity and mainly I'm sure that they truly do want to help and are in a position too.

Anything the government does, seems to be mostly token gestures. To "one-up" other countries, to attempt to not look totally selfish in the eyes of the world and in the eyes of the citizens.maybe. I don't know. But you don't seem to differentiate between The American Government and The American People. I don't believe that the American People in general are hated. It is the American Government that has over the years, and most predominately during the course of the current Administration been wreaking havoc with the rest of the world. I think that, as you wrote, in the European countries that you visited, you found very nice people because people are just people, the majority are not representative of their government's agendas. You saw that in them, they saw that in you.

That is very nice that you are sponsoring children in Indonesia, and I hope that your money is truly going where you are told it is. I just barely have enough myself to get by, but about 10 years ago, I started sponsoring a little girl in Guatemala through "Children International". I felt good about it. But, after about 5 or 6 years of sending money every month, my husband-at-the-time & I were planning a trip to Mexico, and thought that while we were down that way, it would be nice to also see Guatemala, and to see my sponsored child. But, when I contacted Children International about aranging that, they gave me a bunch of excuses that made no sense, then it became impossible for me to get hold of anyone I could talk to. Just a bunch of people saying they didn't know, they would leave a message, etc... I would write letters that were never answered. A couple even came back as undeliverable. (This was before the Internet made long distance communication much easier). But my checks were never returned. Eventually, we went to Mexico, but not Guatemala, as I was never given any information as to where in the Country she was. I only received periodically a few pictures of a little girl, who actually looked pretty healthy at the very first one. Anyway, I felt very disillusioned and eventually sent my last check with a note that I could no longer continue to send money under the circumstances. So, I still wonder to this day if any money I sent ever went to her or not. Children International is still around, advertising on TV to this day....so, I just don't know for sure.

Hey, I'm sorry to have gone on like that. It was getting way away from your actual question. I guess you sponsoring children just reminded me of how sad I was back then. I apologize again.

Basically, George W. Bush has managed to p*ss off so many people around the world with his bullying ways, that I'm sure no one could ever compete with that record.

Keep being good, remember that even if you are an American, you are not in control of what the out-of-control government has done (although, technically, they are 'elected officials', 'public servants' to us, therefore, we should be in control of what they do), in realilty, we have somewhere along the line lost that power.

This was not a good answer for you. I'm sorry. I started out thinking I could give you a good answer, but I obviously failed. Got too emotionally wrapped up in the subject. But, I hope that mabye there was a word or a sentence in here somewhere that you could take that might clarify a bit of something for you?