For people not from the US: How do you view the US, particularily its citizens?

Question

For people not from the US: How do you view the US particularly its citizens?
I have an essay (its due Wednesday) but I think I need more opinions on the subject then I have at the moment. This isn't a time for hate but it is a time to express your opinion, if that opinion is a negative one, then so be it but tell me why you have such a view. I appreciate the help and your time, thank you.

ps. I will be posting a similar question soon strictly for US citizens in a second. So if you are from the US and you'd like to answer this question, please go there.

For US citizens: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgsBpZcH7wsrI.p4p02UA8YjzKIX?qid=20061120224903AAzHx9B

Answer 1

I can't speak for all Canadians, but I can tell you the sense I get from talking to many other Canadians... at least in Western Canada. They see Americans as decent people, like us in most respects... but they do see some differences too.

Americans are much more propogandized than we are, and they are more deeply divided than we are. Canada see's itself as a 'citizen of the world' and we believe that we have an obligation to deal fairly and constructively with other nations. Americans are perceived as 'bullies', pushing their own national interests on other countries, often hurting those countries in the process.

America is seen as so deeply capitalistic, that their capitalism underpins their sense of social consciousness. Economic success seems to be a far greater priority than the success of American society, in terms of fairness, equity and humanitarian interests. The U.S. is a very dog eat dog society, compared to most of the world's modern countries.

"Might makes right" is often seen as the foundational principle that Americans employ in their relationships with other countries. They have more equatable relations with other powerful countries, and they are much less apt to treat weaker countries with respect and fairness. This does not help their cause globally.

We see the U.S. as a leader in technology, medicine, business and the world of entertainment. But we also see that these advances have accomplished little to make life for the average U.S. citizen what it could be, and should be.

The incredible level of crime, imprisonment (1/3 of the worlds prison population is imprisoned in the U.S. even though their civilian pop is 1/20 of the worlds population)... the fact that 30 million Americans have no health insurance whatsoever (and that many, many more millions are under insured), the deep political,social and class divisions... seem clearly to be symptoms of a society in crisis.

Obviously what I've said here only scratches the surface, but suffice it to say that the Canadians I've talked to are left shaking their heads at the dichotomy that the U.S. represents. The most powerful nation on Earth, and one of the most deeply scarred societies of all modern societies.

Answer 2

I am from Australia and I just love going to the US. I am fortunate enough to have brothers and sisters living there so I am able to mix with people outside of the tourist environment. I find the majority of people generous, friendly and helpful. 'Loud' is a term I have heard associated with Americans and guess to a degree that is true but so am I.

In a tourist environment all people change so I don't believe that the people you meet under those circumstances are indicative of the entire nation.

The only thing I get a bit annoyed about is that because I am naturally curious about lifestyles outside of Australia I find that sometimes when information is given on a particular subject and I respond with how different this is in Australia it is often thought that I am criticising - which I am not.

Answer 3

I'm from Iceland and have lived in other European countries in the past few years. I haven't been to the United States, but I've met and talked to a lot of Americans (both in person and online).

The following goes for the general attitude I encounter in Americans. Of course they're not all like that, I'm generalizing based on what I've encountered in most Americans I've talked to.

My view of Americans has in full honesty collapsed in the past few years and keeps on falling. I used to know them as friendly, nice, caring people, a little naive and ignorant but well-willing and proud (with actually something to be proud of back then). In recent years they've started showing a lot of arrogance and bad attitude and now come across as careless and selfish and they've got their morals all backwards now. Their ignorance and naivety have reached new heights (or are perhaps just more obvious now when brought out with arrogance). I am shocked to see them sit by and do nothing while their rights are being taken away from them. Americans love to brag about the freedom they have while that freedom is being taken away from them with no resistance on their part and they seem to fall flat for whatever propaganda U.S. authorities lay out for them and go nuts if somebody dares to criticize something about the U.S.

A lot of my fellow Europeans have gotten the same impression of Americans in recent years. Americans are turning into the opposite of what was once considered to be American and that is a sad development.

Answer 4

i'm a 25 year previous American lady. i admire my united states yet, we've our flaws. I hate Hollywood and don't even very own a t.v. with the aid of trash on it. i admire my freedom right here. i do no longer envy Europe, even nonetheless i might prefer to pass to sometime, i do unlike how that's now over run by mu-slams. Londonstan is a sizable comedian tale right here, or a minimum of that's what i've got heard. As for our recession, that's not hassle-free, and that i'm no longer wealthy. i'm a stay at living house mom of three ( I living house college my youngsters) and my husband works very stressful to maintain us above water and basically does so by the grace of God. we are very energetic in our church an Apostolic Pentecostal Church. no longer one American is like yet another. I even have stumbled on there are a number of races and alot of them are raciest--greater often than not black human beings are raciest of whites and attempt to portray it any opposite direction around. Such is existence no one or no united states is appropriate. i visit assert this, united states of america of america will upward push up for different international places while needed! We helped in WW2. we are able to help returned if needed. We export eighty two% of our flora to assist different international places! We do this even nonetheless we ourselves prefer those flora, with the aid of nutrition shortages everywhere in the globe. What have you ever executed to assist others?

Answer 5

With some amusement. As tourists, Americans appear rather loud and often arrogant simply about just being American. There seems to be little respect, intrest or knowledge about anything not American. For a country so technically advanced, so full of educational opportunities it often appears their world stops at the border(s).
We have a show called "Talking to Americans" where the "man on the ( American ) street" is stopped and asked a question or told a story regarding Canada. Some of my favorites are:
-the guy who thought we've just now managed to get indoor plumbing in Canada.
- our nations capital ( Ottawa ) has igloos for Parliament buildings
-American's need to lend us submarines and troops to help us push melting ice floes back to the North Pole due to global warming.
-We've finally stopped pushing our senior citizens off on ice floes to die when they become too old to deal with,
-We have only 1 hr. of sunshine a day,
AND, get this,
- George W. Bush was asked to say hello to our Prime Minister "Jean Poutine" and he did. Well, his name was really Jean Chretien, and "poutine" is a French Canadian fast food dish consisting of french fries, gravy and cheese. And he's your President??
But aside from all that, we are concerned with, and stand by you on most pressing political and world issues. As allies though it is often difficult to see possible abuses of power, doubtful people in high places, what often seems like the blind following of the American public after these doubtful leaders, the extreme racists, religious right, hate groups, gangs, drugs, crime etc. which appears rampant and beyond control. Yours seems to be a country of extremes, - right wing -left wing, haves - have-nots, coloured-white, and scandal after scandal with your media behind the steering wheel feeding the American appetite for celebrity gossip??! Paris Hilton? What's that all about?
Well, we Canadians seem to just watch, listen., and keep to ourselves. Canada is the apartment over the bar that is America. You can be annoying, but all in all, we can live over top of you.

Answer 6

I am from Alberta Canada,
I do not like American forein policy, and I think americans in general know little about other parts of the world.
I think that they belive the "more $$$ you have" the better off you are.

Not true.

In fact you better have lots of $$$ when visiting the states if you ever go to the hospital...look out hospital bills!

Answer 7

im a u.s. citizen in kuwait now. they dont really like us here especially the saudi's i think that they only dislike us because of the freedom we have in our country but the major reason is the dic*head president, bush

Answer 8

Some people think we are
lazy
stupid
stuck up
rude
in love with ourselves
hateful
ignorant
and celebrity obsessed

Answer 9

I met one last night, they seem friendly enough...maybee shes infected with canadian charm, who knows.

Answer 10

IG NO RANT