Question for non-Americans?

Question

After reading through these posts, it seems as though some (not all) of non-Americans blame the USA for "taking over their culture" and thus making their fellow countrymen obese, stupid, or "chavs".

Can the ones of you that feel this way not realize that you are doing this to yourselves?? Is there an American on every street corner shoving McDonalds down your throat or forcing you to listen to 50 cent and wear hoodies?

And as far as GWB goes, most Americans can't wait for his term in office to be OVER. He has an extremely low approval rating. Yes, he was voted in in 2004, but none of us Americans can predict the future in that this war in Iraq would turn into such a mess. If any of you have any suggestions as to how we can look into the future and see how a politician is going to run our country, by all means, let us know and you won't have to complain about us ever again!

What is TRULY the reason behind your hatred of America? And don't give me the reasons I've already cited, because no one is forcing you or anyone in your country to adopt the American culture and our President's term is almost up.

Krazy Kitten- and you call the Americans arrogant? I go on so much to make my point. And do far no one is giving a solid answer that has some merit.

Sui- perhaps you are the one that is "stupid". The election in 2004 - Bush vs. Kerry- was as follows:

Bush- 286 electoral vote, 52% popular vote
Kerry - 251 electoral vote, 48% popular vote

I hardly call that 80% of Americans.

H&PM- read through the Military thread alone and you will see that there are at least 2 posts on each page blaming America for something.
And I know British wit & sarcasm and understand it perfectly. Most comments are not "wit & sarcasm", its hatred. As for McDonalds, if you don't like it, don't eat there and urge others to do the same and it will eventually go out of business! And from what I read on YA, its Britains "underclass" that frequent McDonalds and adopt the American "chav" culture. What did the lower classes do before they became "Americanized"? Who did you blame then for their behavior?

Answer 1

The US is the home of a pervasive popular culture, a global economic powerhouse, a key participant in global affairs and the home to 300,000,000 people. The way Americans conduct their lives and their global economic and international affairs affects people in other nations. On one hand the emulation of American culture and the adoption of Americanism should be flattering, on the other when the main street becomes taken over by American corporate identities it can feel like we are losing a little of ourselves. Would you want to visit London and only eat in McDs and drink Bud light?

It is somewhat hypocritical to criticise the US for taking over our culture, for the very reason you suggest, it is up to us what we adopt. Culture is dynamic. However buying into our high street is buying in to our everyday lives this takes what we adopt out of our hands.

People will give opinions on the US because the US affects our lives. They will (where they can) criticise their own governments for not running the country in what they see as their best interests. There is no point in getting sensitive about the criticism, if you made a mistake with GWB don't make the same mistake again. If criticism is ignorant ignore it if it is constructive learn from it, we all have to live with it.

Answer 2

It is easier, quicker and cheaper to buy a McDonald's than to cook a meal.In Britain to cook a meal of say mince and potatoes with a veg
Potatoes £1.99
Mince.......£2.99-£3.50
Carrots.........99p
Bread............80p
Oxo...............75p
Butter.......£1.25
£8 .77
this does not include electric and time.
for £3.98 you can get 2 big macs and chips plus a drink
Mostly the low income families are obese

It is only a certain kind of person usually the inner city uneducated youth with very little parental support and no future prospects who wear hoodies hang around shopping centres in gangs and listen to 50cents and the like.

No one can predict how bad an elected representative of the people will act until it is to late, look at Tony Blair must be the most corrupt Prime Minister Britain has ever had.

Like it or not it is the people of Britain who keep Blair in Government that have destroyed our once great country, made it poverty stricken and now turning us against each other, if you want to win divide and separate.
People will blame everyone but themselves for their own problems

Answer 3

i do believe (with out meaning to offend) that that is a very narrow minded veiw of "non-Americans" and the way they veiw American culture.

the fact i globalisation, Mc Donaldisation and yes, Disneyfication (which are real terms, check george ritzer) do seem to be takig over western cultures rather quite quick whether we like it or not. yes mc doncalds are appearing left right and center, even two on the same street in some places!!!

yes GWB was voted in, many British citizean were ver against his...but then again our government wasnt any better. As for the low approval... the majority STILL voted him back in... i blame the masses-not the individual.

i hope this helped you get a few things off your chest any way... dont stress about things out of your control, it only gets you down worse.

x

Answer 4

The British American-baiters enjoy writing scathing replies to questions and responding to answers that are often factually incorrect and arrogantly worded and I am included in that number-sorry(not).

Sarcasm and a dry wit are both traits of the British sense of humour, which unfortunately passes straight over the head of many Americans-and having met a good number of you at university I can genuinely say that that's my experience-and hence leads to them taking umbridge where no offence was intended.

That said, however, I haven't heard that we were blaming you for hoodies and Macdonalds.

Macdonalds, yes, I'm afraid you started them and allowed them to spread like a virus worldwide along with their health consequences but hoodies? Parental responsibility and an overhaul of 'teenage rights' in this country would solve them overnight.

As regards Bush, well yes he's quite clearly a pillock but it's not your fault that the only part of Blair you see when he's around is his feet sticking out of his a**e now is it?

I have to say I agree with the fact that there are some facets of our society that need to do some looking in the mirror before they pontificate elsewhere.

For example, I don't know where the young lady who says that Macdonalds is cheaper than 'real food' shops but she quite clearly needs to change supplier-
25kg spuds £6.50,
5lb minced steak beef £6.00,
2kg onions 80p,
4 cans heinz beans £1.00,
2kg carrots 90p,
12pack OXO cubes 75p,
1kg cornflour 45p,
1 tin mustard powder £1.50(for flavour).
Total approx £18.
Based on two rubbery burgers and soggy chips being £4, I'm positive that there's a few more than 2.5 meals for a family of four off my shoping list-and a fair amount left over.

For income to be used as an excuse for laziness and ignorance is just an example of what America has spread over here-the victim culture.

Enough said me-thinks.

Answer 5

I've only read your question - not the 'other details' - It seems whenever anything in society goes wrong it's blamed on some 'faceless' ogre forcing folk to do wrong. I'm not at all fat but do have a MacDonalds from time to time. I don't feel as if my life has been taken over by 'American' culture, in fact, I enjoy noticing the differences in our culture. Skinny models don't make me do anorexia, mannequins in shop windows don't either. Yes GWB was voted back in in 2004, but so was TB in 2005. I am, therefore, not someone who feels annoyed due to influences beyond my control, however, I am in my mid 40's now, so maybe that's got something to do with it.

Answer 6

Alot of hatred spouted on this site about America (ans) is from the vocal minority alot of hatred is of your government & not of the country & the people itself -some is a result of your foreign policies,some is because of the cultural differences not understood by non Americans,some is just put on here to wind Americans up - oh & when your bated you really do bite well & the Yank baters love it when you do! I personally like the U.S & its citizens you have always been good to me & my country (U.K) the only thing that I dont like is the we can do what we want because we can attitude of some Yanks "dont mess with us -we can whipp your ***" "were the best" & a comment I remember from a woman after the awful events of Sept 11th 2001 "how dare they - were a superpower " it is this arrogance of some of your countrymen that I feel anoys some people in the world.A classic example was on TV the other day I was watching the drama Commander in Chief & some U.S hostages were being held by terrorists in Turkey,President Allen told one of her ades-"tell the prime minister(of Turkey)not to storm the building".
& I thought who the hell do the yanks think they are - telling the Turkish Prime minister what to do in his own country - why not ask nicely? & I like the U.S very much & have argued your cause on many an occasion, but its the attitude displayed in that drama that I & many others dont like - thats not the way to make friends & influence people - you as a country must win the hearts & minds of others to win them over.But dont worry too much most of us Brits realy like the U.S.of A.

Answer 7

i dont have a thing against Americans, personally. I agree with Marki to, if it weren't for them,we would be speaking German. I love Macdonalds and where would we be without Disney. But on the political level that you are talking, who could have known how the war in Iraq was gonna turn out, Blair is just as bad. Bush says jump, Blair asks how high. It is no-ones fault really. The Government cant win either way can they?Some agree others oppose. Its all swings and round-a-bouts

Answer 8

You said

"Yes, he was voted in in 2004, but none of us Americans can predict the future in that this war in Iraq would turn into such a mess"

Thats why we dislike your country. You're all so damn stupid. The whole world cried for you not to invade, telling you that it would lead to disaster. Yet 80% of Americans supported the war. We knew how it would turn out, you chose not to listen. We dislike you because your stupid and you do what you want to, no matter what the world says.

Answer 9

Hi I really think GW has made the US very unpopular around the world with Britain in second spot. He has done the US untold damage on the international stage.
I think the US culture is very popular only that people out there don't wish to admit it. Look what some fantastic music and films the US has come out of the USA (some silly biased ones as well but there you go). I like the USA, but please get rid of Bush & Co.

Answer 10

The American government wields extreme financial power to force its morals onto other parts of the world, often doing more harm than good. It also seems bent on damaging/destroying the sovereign governments of countries it doesn't like such as Nicaragua, Panama, Libya, Iraq, Iran, and Grenada, to name a small selection from the past quarter of a century.

I fully endorse that the American people that read (well, the ones who read more than just religious texts), those that travel, and the academic institutions of that country are shining examples of what can be achieved.