Is most South Africans' opinion of the USA based on movies like 'Colors' and 'Death Wish'?

Question

In my various meanderings through this site, seeing all the denial, wishful thinking, grovelling at the feet of the ANC and genuine sad despair at what has happened to a once great country, that has befallen the fate of all self-ruled African countries - poverty, sickness and general anarchy - I am always slightly amused at the people that have this Hollywoodized vision of the USA.

Do some of you guys actually believe that street gangs roam the streets, that there are car chases, that people carry guns here and that the Mafia controls everything?

Such childish thinking about the USA could not be further from the truth. Things are organized here; citizens by and large respect one another, there is effective law enforcement, and, speaking for the great city of New York, since 1994 we have experienced dramatic drops in crime and renewed investment in this great city.

A footnote: the same team that revolutionized NYC were hired to try to do the same for Jo'burg a few years ago.

They failed. Wanna know why?
It was an impossible battle, because the cops in South Africa are either too incompetent or are criminals themselves.

gunner2za - having you come into my life was an early Christmas present, with your bullshitt stories. First you were PW's bodyguard (did you call him 'oom'?), and now this. You were a cop for 18 years? How? Isn't there an intelligence quotient that applicants have to meet?

poepies - I agree with everything you say, but this question was directed at the people that believe that we carry guns in America and always want to say, "Well, it happens in America, too" when I talk about the savagery currently dominating the culture in South Africa.
The things you say about black and white cultures here and in South Africa are probably going to be called racist, but they're not. Like a lot of other things you say on this forum, that perception is very insightful.

Answer 1

Hi Brad,

Just remember, you can't compare USA with SA.

First of all, you've got a white President. (No matter what the Saffers say, you can't compare the American black man to the South African black man) Therefore, even if America got a Black President, it would be much different to South Africa.

I partly blame the White person for the problem with the South African Black Culture (and by that I DO NOT mean all Black People) that do not have a culture of paying ext. We always just provided food, if they beg, we'd provide money, and they were always standing "bakhand" for a bit of money or food. In our homes, we gave them food. Still today, if we get them to work in our gardens, we are expected to give them food (breakfast, lunch...)
If we go to work, we must provide ourselves, take our own food...

Now I guess you wonder what this has got to do with your question. By means of saying the above, we've got a country that is ruled by people who doesn't believe in paying and working for what they need. So at the end of the day, they do not provide jobs for their own people, and if they do, it is via affirmative action, which means that most of the time you get hot shot people in hot shot jobs who doesn't know anything about what he/she must do!

So at the end of the day, crime goes up, corruption starts, do I need to go on?....

And for those who have "Hollywood Vision on USA", where do you get that from? Who in the world will think that your country is just honky dory? And don't tell me that USA is just sunshine and roses, because we both know it's not. Yes, I agree that SA's crime rate is sky high against USA's, but don't let us argue about this OK!

Answer 2

I would think that their views on the US are based on what they see in the movies and on TV. They probably think Paris Hilton is the norm but I believe there is an upsurge of American wannabe's in the former South Africa. They imitate the gangsta rappers and now everyone is a "dude" or it's "amazing" or the all time favourite "awesome" which has an obligatory use of 3 times per sentence as a means of self affirmation that they are all on the same wavelength. I guess Giulanni took a look at the place and decided only divine intervention could save it. I believe he gave them some advice but it is like everything else concerning the new SouthAfricans - in one ear and out the other. The Germans who tried to assist with their World Cup preparations gave up saying that they have numerous meetings with the South Africans but nothing happens. Every meeting has to start at the beginning all over again so they gave up in exasperation. Remember that the majority of South Africans have hardly travelled outside their own Province and if they believe the crap the ANC feeds them then they will believe the crap they see in the movies and on TV about the US.

Answer 3

Just to answer to the last part about South African cops...I personally am a cop. There are alot of decent cops around just as there are corrupt and incompetent ones. As far as justice goes, that does not depend on the cops, but mainly on our judicial systems. Most criminals in this country get off with very light sentences or even no sentences at all. Dockets go missing, there is not enough evidence to prosecute by, etc etc. The only thing a cop could really do in order to prevent crime is to teach the criminal a lesson as he is caught through physical force! That's what most cops do now. Police brutality? No - JUSTICE!

Answer 4

I have been to the USA and what springs to mind to best describe it is Jerry Springer and his merry band of in breds and Wendy's or the very big Mac, sorry that's how i saw it.
Jokes aside the east coast intelectual,the west coast the dreamers and in between lays fat America the salt of the earth.

Answer 5

No Brad, it's based on CNN and FOX showing us mad Yankees who think they can deploy the whole of US Military power on hurricane Katrina . When I first saw the report I thought it was Liberia only to realise it is New Orleans .

Answer 6

No. Mine is based on Rambo and Deep Throat.

Answer 7

brad......are you back on line again........we believe it exactly to the same degree that you believe that crime murder and rape is on every corner.......PS I was a cop for 18 years and our average cop here is better than the average US cop......FBI told us that at a seminar I attended in PE in 2000............