why do most Americans feel ashamed?

Question

As an Englishman it always amazes me thet American people always feel ashamed about where they come from.
I have met many Americans who usually tell everyone they are from Canada, in order not to be mocked.
This is a sorry state of affairs,i dont think you chaps are too bad.

Answer 1

who says they are .

Answer 2

I'm not sure "ashamed" is the right word. Some people are "ashamed" but many just want to avoid being mocked, or having to have yet another political discussion.

I lived in England for a while. It was fun, except one thing completely sucked. All my roommates (or "flatmates") did was make fun of America and Americans. One day I pointed this out to them. One of them said to me, "Come on, like it's not the reverse in America."

My English friends don't get that story. My American friends laugh. IT'S NOT LIKE THAT. We don't constantly make fun the UK. Probably the French get it the worst, but even then, we hardly ever make jokes about them.

By the way, I also did this when I was living in Boston. I would tell people I was from Arizona, when I'm really from California. Because, I as learned, people in Boston make fun of Californians a lot.

But thanks!! I think most of us chaps aren't too bad either.

Answer 3

That's an interesting question. As an American, I personally don't feel ashamed of my country. I might at times feel embarrased by some of my government's policies or actions but I wouldn't ever say I was from somewhere else. Those who did clearly don't feel the same but I wonder if there are that many who do?

Answer 4

Oh I've traveled to many places, and actually can't wait to get home to the good ole' USA. I've been mocked in other Countries, and to avoid remarks and some rather Hollywood-ish questions, I just laugh it off, unless provoked to the point of someone pushing my buttons.
There are some people who do point out some interesting questions, and I dearly love good conversation, but ,when in Canada, I would rather speak to those who are from Quebec, they at least enjoy our music, even Chuck Barry.

PS, I would never admit to be Canadian.

Answer 5

i don't comprehend what usa you're from, yet i comprehend that the terrorists are killing people in greater international places than only the united statesA. Are you ashamed which you're usa is unwilling to confront an enemy that persistently violated sanctions of the United international locations? As to this dying-toll (which became around 650,000 - i think you only around upwards to make a factor) . . .besides the actuality that the learn itself is quite suspect in its accuracy, permit's assume it incredibly is genuine. it incredibly is a marvelous type of persons killed. although, it became no longer by ability of American troops. study the entire learn. no longer in basic terms the headlines. Do you in addition to would comprehend that, interior a similar learn, they estimate that over 70% of the deaths are by ability of the terroists themselves. i do no longer look to pay attention a marvelous type of point out of that. Of something, that toll includes Iraqui millitary warring parties and certainly terroists that have been killed the two by ability of coalition troops or by ability of their very very own suicide bombings to boot as American troops killed in conflict or by ability of cowardly terroists. sure, there have been civilian casualties and that's constantly unhappy. they're those with lives and households and such. regrettably, there are constantly harmless casualties in any conflict. much greater unlucky is the actuality that if the terroists did no longer conceal amidst the civilians on a similar time as staging their assaults, maximum of those civilians does no longer have been harmed. A determine it incredibly is disregarded of that learn is the "existence Toll" that has take place from the conflict. what proportion lives have been saved because of the fact Sadaam is not any longer waiting to kill people for conversing out against him? what proportion women persons have not been raped by ability of the corrupt participants of his regime? what proportion people are receiving drugs, food, training, shelter, electrical energy and such that does no longer have won it had the overthrow of Sadaam no longer taken place? what proportion lives have been saved? i'm very proud to be American. i might extremely stand for what's right than be widespread.

Answer 6

Well you see mate.. things are like this..
people LOVE to associate McDonalds, fat people, tv and 'hallmark'; perfect families to americans.
And I know you probably know this..

ITS UNFAIR TO STEREOTYPE!..

You're english, and i think it would really bother you if someone came up to you and said 'hey!..how was your tea with the Queen?..'

so yeah, i personally LOVE the english.. so please don't take this the wrong way it was just an example.

My point here is that american people nowa days feel very wary of who they are!.. because they predict whats goin on in other peoples minds..
I personally really don't care. I am however really disapointed with whats goin on right now with Bush and the whole bit.

So when I tell someone I'm american, I feel pride but I also know I'll be spending a few minutes telling the person where I stand and what my point of view is on politics&government to get rid of the tension between us.
:) then everythings ok.
But I do think stereotyping is EVIL.. I'm american and I do not support the war !!!

Anyways ,
enjoy your day guys

Answer 7

I myself am Proud of the fact that I'm AMERICAN and I feel sorry for those who are not proud.We I believe that our countries are the greatest on Earth.But when abroad you hear ANTI American sentiment every where you go.When you are on vacation you don't need to defend yourself or your country everywhere you go but you do and it gets disheartening.The U K and the U S A are the only place es in the world that you can defend your country without repercussions. GOD BLESS US ALL!

Answer 8

Anyone you meet from the USA and they lie about where they are from or are ashamed, do me a favor. Spit in their face and whoop their a**, because they're not an American at all.
We may not be perfect, but we should all be proud. I know you're proud of your country, but I can say with all my heart I feel God has blessed me with being born in the greatest country in the world

Answer 9

Listen, anywhere I have ever been to, if asked where I am from, I always say that I'm from New York. (I live in the city) I don't know what Americans you know, but I have not known any Americans that would say that they were Canadians.

Answer 10

If they say they're form Canada, it's security. Terrorists don't target pansy Canadians.

I mean come on; ashamed of America but claiming to be from Canada so they're not mocked?

Answer 11

Thanks, I don't think you Brits are too bad either.

And I'm not ashamed of where I come from, when I was in Portugal I had no problem telling people where I was from - but I did find it a big compliment when someone called me Portuguese (because that meant I finally got the language down decently enough).