Are Americans Hypocrites, Do they want to tell others they should be just like themselves?

Question

The United States was founded on a lofty set of concepts and principles; Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, freedom of speech and freedom to express ones ideas and beliefs, freedom of ones own religion, and freedom from other’s religions, freedom from tyranny, the right to bear arms, the right to congregate, freedom of minorities from persecution, the right to privacy, equality, and democracy. At least these are the ideas that Americans seem to think their country is about. So why is it, that Americans are so keen on telling everyone else, how to live, who to love, what is right and who is wrong? Are Americans hypocrites?

Answer 1

Yes, we are hypocrites who allow inertia to rule our lives and expect the government to do our thinking.

Answer 2

Yes, one of the ideas the country was founded on was freedom of one's own religion, but I don't see anything in the constitution about freedom from other's religions. Atheists and the ACLU are going around the country suing everybody because they say atheists should not have to be offended by being made aware of other people's beliefs, but that's a new idea, not something the country was founded upon. It's true that Congress was to establish no (Christian) church, but this power was left to the individual states, and Massachusetts did establish the Congregational church as the favored church.

Answer 3

America is like the world's babysitter.

Sometimes, for their own good, we have to tell other countries how things should be run.

when ever i see a answer like this one i always think of a guy talking about his movie on cbc's the hour, he had followed this kid from his home town to Iraq, his first interview with the kid was a week before he was shipped overseas, and a day after he had buried his younger brother who was killed in a drive by shooting. now one of the reasons he gave for enlisting was that Iraq was a safer place to be than his home, and that upon his return (if he lived) he might have a better chance of getting a job to support his family, to get them off food stamps, and stay out of the path of gang bangers. so what are yanks doing in Iraq when their own country is at war with it self, i think they sould look after some lower income americans first.
remember this?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina#Greater_New_Orleans_area
if only the poor non white people of america had some oil, then they might get some help.
yep a great and shining example for the world, make me sick.

Answer 4

America is like the world's babysitter.

Sometimes, for their own good, we have to tell other countries how things should be run. When a country has brought its economy to the verge of collapse and wants a loan from the IMF, the U.S. has to tell them the kinds of economic reforms they must abide by in order to qualify. If they don't, their economy will certainly continue to fail, and the money will be wasted.

When African countries want aid, we have to tell them that they must improve their human rights record. Why should we aid countries that act like barbarians?

But we do not, as a matter of policy, interfere with a nation's form of government, nor try to re-write its laws. Even though we have expended billions and billions of dollars to liberate and then stabilize Iraq, we did not write their Constitution. The Iraqis wrote it. The document contains Islamic provisions we find distasteful, but we will not pressure them to change it. The country is theirs, and they are free to write whatever laws they find fit. Same for their civil laws. They have their own police; we don't tell them what should be considered a crime, nor how to prosecute criminals.

Americans are not hypocrits in the manner you suggest. Sometimes we are compelled by our position in this world to give advice and guidance. Failure to do so would be negligence.

If anything, the world should be getting MORE advice from the U.S. Maybe then you wouldn't have forced starvation in Darfur, ethnic cleansing in Bosnia, the caste system in India, women in perpetual servitude, wearing stifiling burkas in the Middle East, etc.

Answer 5

The United States of America is the most powerful nation in the world. This is why other countries beg us for their help. We are helping the Iraqis now because they want our help. We aren't doing anything that isn't asked of us.

George Bush isn't a war criminal. Funny how ignorant people just throw that in there to try and prove a point. It is laughable. Get a life people.

Answer 6

I can relate. George Bush President of the United States is a man who has flushed all honor and integrity down the toilet. He has spread shame on America, it's Constitution, and it's People. It is a highly embarrassing situation for every Good American. This Man has spun completely out of control and he needs to be stopped immediately. President Bush has discounted himself to nothing more then a mere "War Criminal."

Answer 7

in fairness, not all of them but MOST of them!!!!!why? because they thought UNITED STATES OF AMERICA is the most powerful country in the world! Again in fairness, YES-it is, but the most dangerous, not-peaceful and the most racist country ive ever heard!!!!

Answer 8

not all of them are. i completely agree with you, most americans are. anyone who is against immigration, pro-war, and anti-seperation of church and state, and more. people who say if your against bush and the war your commiting treason go against the very foundings of the US. its stupid.

Answer 9

Not all Americans agree with our government's actions. Such generalizations should not be made.

Answer 10

well, american LIBERALS are hypocrites. that's for sure.