Why do foreign countries seem to hate America until they need our help? Or forget how we helped them. (France)

Question

To whoever said that France influenced GB, get your facts straight. GB was the naval superpower of the time and the leaders of the world. France only agreed to help once they thought we could win the war (Saratoga). We were part of their ploy to weaken GB.

Answer 1

Why is it Americans forget other countries that have helped us? (France)

The United States would not exist without French intervention in the Revolutionary War. Ironic, considering what was happening in their country at the time, many French aristocrats found a means of upholding the more democratic virtues they were beginning to aspire to by assisting the US. The US benefited by money, as well as political pressure from France on Britain to end the war, and at the least keep it small. Don’t under estimate France’s influence on Britain, France had long been a rival to the smaller and weaker Britain, who was saved for centuries only by virtue of geography.

Also remember that the United States benefited greatly from France in its early days, it had low tariff when trading with France, US ships sailed under the protection of France, and France sold the US most of what they had in the Western Hemisphere. Yes, they needed the money, but they wouldn’t have sold the central United States to an enemy.

We didn’t enter WWII to save France, we went into Europe because Germany declared war on us. Never the less, France is grateful for American support during WWII. Most French people hated Petain for surrendering to readily to the Nazis, they supported the French Freedom fighter, and supplied the British and US with intelligence. After the war France regarded the US with much gratitude and respect.

France has bore a hear price for WWII, and they know the cost of war. Perhaps it is out of respect, and gratitude, that they opposed the US in it’s war in Iraq. Perhaps they were trying to save us from a mistake they understood very well, and didn't want to see their friends maket. We should have listened to them a little more and understood their position, and not listened to Fox News.

Answer 2

well theres been lots of stereotypes about Americans: arrogance, self-centered, independent, wanting to control everything and everyone. Kinda started when we got away from europe aand declared independence. Since then we wanted to be our own and without outside influence. WWI started and we went into isolationism. We wanted no part of the war and didnt help out in anyway. Along with our govt always wanting to keep everyone in check and tryin to be 'big brother' to the world. We have military aircraft and ships all over the world, would you be happy if Japan had a military presence in ur backyard? Or ppl telling u that u cant build or try to make nuclear power, whether is for energy or not? We try to protect OURSELVES first by being proactive and other countries dont like it. We helped out in WWII only because we were forced into it, germany destroying US convoy and civilian ships in the atlatic ocean, then we got hot and destroyed the 'axis of evil' we gave money in foreign aid ALL over the world. but they just dont like the fact that we impose ourselve in others business. Oh we dont help others when we impose taxes and levies on stuff while subsidizing our own. Sugar would only cost 10 cents if we didnt protect our own sugar cane farmers and allow them to come in from south america and instead we give tons of money to our own sugar cane farmers while we, the consumers pay over $1 for sugar

Answer 3

They perceive us as having something they don't, and there is no hatred like the hatred generated by envy or jealousy. Exactly WHAT they think we have that they lack probably differs from one society and culture to the next. It may be our modernized, technology-driven lifestyle to someone living in a mud hut in a third-world country, it may be our international political clout to someone in another industrialized nation or our apparent political freedom to someone in a really harsh dictatorship, (Note that I used the term "APPARENT" to describe our political freedom.)
Whatever they may see in us that they want, but think they cannot attain for themselves, it is the wind fanning the flames of their resentment.

We see the same thing around us on a smaller scale every day. How many average, everyday working people do you know that hate those whom they consider to be rich, and yet they dream of riches themselves - maybe even buy lottery tickets every week? It never ceases to astound me how many of us descend into hatred for those very same goals we strive towards and dreams we pine for!

And, YES, helping other countries IS a one-way flow. When there is a disaster anywhere else in the world, we promptly send aid and relief workers - usually volunteers - and LOTS of it.
Yet how many OTHER countries sent aid and relief workers to help US pick up the pieces of 911 and Katrina?
(There may have been a few individuals, but I certainly never heard of any large-scale, government-sponsored organized efforts by any other nations on our behalf - did you?)

It is what we call "human nature". (I STILL have to wonder - If we humans are all that wonderful, why is it that almost every time we use the term "human nature" it is to describe something NEGATIVE?)
That which we fear, we seek to flee from.
That which we just hate, we seek to torment and punish
but that which we ENVY, we determinedly seek to DESTROY!
Only by being aware of negative tendencies like these, recognizing them for the malevolent force that they truly are and refusing to grant them any validity can we ever make "human nature" into a POSITIVE term!

Answer 4

america is one of the only countries who has a democracy that fits the country - every one has a voice, equal rights, etc. we are like the "super police" to other nations (as in military power). some countries hate us because we have power and money. other countries like us because 1. we are their allies 2. we have money 3. we are a powerful country 4. there are options here - where to live, where to work, when we wanna live, when we wanna work (depends on the job)

Answer 5

I think that they fear us more than anything else.

It is normal to want to put down the biggest bully on the block.

They don't realize that our intentions are good. We want to protect and support our friends, and confront our enemies at the time and place of our choosing.

What's the fuss?

Answer 6

We are doomed if we do help, and ridiculed when we don't. It's either, " Oh, here come those frigging Americans again?" or, " Where is rich America when we need help/money?"

Answer 7

Same way a lot of people feel about the police. Damn cops always harassing us... Hey where's a cop when you need one?