Respect for the United States?

Question

I spend a lot of my time on YQs slagging off Uncle Sam (I'm from the UK, see) largely because of the insanity of Republicans, US foreign policy and dubvious educational standards in some instances. But as it is the New Year I would just like to wish every nice American Good luck for 2007! God bless America! (to some degree).
But am I right to do this?

Personally, I criticise the US, and the UK or any country because I think that they are behaving in a way that is bad for ordinary people. Some of the anti-US comments that have been made below are simply racist.

Answer 1

Thanks ....... I guess. Don't you think its rather difficult to judge a country of 300,000,000 from your far off perch? Most Americans, I think, don't hold hard feelings for the UK. I hope Jolly Old England does well in the future. That's coming from a fellow whose ancestors came from the large island to the west of England. You know what I mean?

Answer 2

Embracing the true meaning of having individual freedom as a primary tradition often means not burdening oneself with centralized educational standards. This freedom is practiced throughout the following and leading classes, as you have noted. America is where it has always been, fundamentalisically, but, of late, perhaps has been lacking in enthusiam or spirit. As with all natural processes of this sort, freedom cannot be hurried or slowed.

As to your question - There is nothing inherently wrong with your wishing America "good luck" in 2007, to a reasonable degree

Answer 3

do you really think the world would be better off without an America?? if you answer yes (which i'm sure most of you would say), then you need to read a history book and do your own damn research. you people bash americans and complain about how bad our foreign policy is. then when somebody gets invaded, a devastating natural disaster, terrorist attacks, etc, etc, who do you think is first in line to help?? I know we come across as "world police" (bullies) and i know most people (including Americans), would say "keep out". but, the fact is, this earth would be one big pile of crap if we did that. there's so many good things that America tries to do (for the greater interest of the world to keep us ALL safe), and for whatever reason (jealousy, stupidity, ignorance), we're hated for it. the world just needs to get with the times and essentially grow up. people are just fed with crap from their local mass medias that are either not true or the WHOLE story is not told. one thing i do agree on, most americans are depleted in the brain category. but, i have news for ya, there's plenty of people like that elsewhere in the world. not just America! oh, as for the "global warming" comment somebody made... no one disagrees that their is global warming. the disagreement is that humans have drastically accelerated this event. this is simply not true. i agree we've not helped matters, but, i have news for ya.. it was gonna happen anyway! the earth goes in cycles. we've had many ice ages including one as recent as a few hundred years ago! (The Mini Ice-Age). Global Warming is just a war cry from the extreme environmentalists (include all Libs). Happy New Year!!

Answer 4

Sometimes it is best to let the past go...for goodwill sake and world peace gesters. Each nation/country has its problems without and within, but we must not allow our differences cloud our human idenitity. We all need love and kindness. And we all should wish each other well. It would be a better world if more people would do as you have done. I applaud you highly.

May God Bless the UK as well in this New Yearof 2007!

Answer 5

firstly i think its cool you ask if youre right to slag off the us. i think its ok to criticise countries cos you think theyve done wrong. as long as its not tasteless and not generalising to everyone in that country. youre bound to end up offending some one if you do that, but who cares, you have to be honest about what you believe in right? i have no problem with people criticising the uk as long as theyre not incredibly ignorant or trying to insult me. however i would say there are more important things in life than the politics of a foreign country..

Answer 6

Yes. The problem some people have, seems to be an inability to distinguish between the American people and the American Government. These two tribes are not related.

Answer 7

It's very nice and civil of you to wish us good luck! There's nothing wrong with doing that, as it shows only good will and makes no statement about your position on our policies.

I personally am angry at and humiliated by my country due to, like you said, the insanity of Republicans, US foreign policy, and a few other things although I'd have to say our inane foreign policy is the big one. All the bullying and throwing our weight around-- I'm embarassed to say I'm American! I want to apologize to everyone for the boneheaded actions of our boneheaded administration! Are you people aware that our first President, George Washington, strongly advised that we NOT meddle in foreign affairs? He also warned us not to split into different political parties. Some respect the administration is showing our founding fathers, eh?

Perhaps you could wish best luck to the AMERICANS, rather than America. America is a big, bullying, self-serving, hypocritical jerk. Americans are people who live in America and are often quite nice, civil, pro-peace, pro-getting-along-with-everyone, pro-tolerance, and in rabid opposition to our boneheaded government's decisions. We Americans tend to have some unsavory qualities too like ethnocentricity and inability to deal with other languages, but we certainly aren't as bad as our country represents us!

Answer 8

You have stated some of the comments as racist but whats the race of americans please? to make racist comments you need a race Americans simply do not have one....Also I do know there are a lot of nice Americans, actually I would say I met about 10, 8 were nice so this is a lot, but brain washed tho, I feel sorry for them and blame their leaders for brain washing them....

Answer 9

Why not wish everyone in the USA a Happy New Year after all its an empty gesture anyway and makes not a jot of difference to anyone.

Answer 10

Right on! Nothing wrong with that...even ignorant Americans could use some blessings ;-) Please do not blame all Americans for everything that the government does. You CAN blame us for not speaking up and doing something about it when we have disagreed. Happy New Year and God bless you and the EPL, too!