Why do Americans have such a bad image overseas?

Question

For those of you who say we shouldn't care, you probably have never left your state and are part of the problem. For the rest of us travelers its a crying shame.

Answer 1

Much of our foreign policy undermines other countries. In general we do not care about other countries. Most of our foreign policy is geared toward protecting American interests, regardless of whether it harms others in other countries. While the US gives the most money to the WMF, we give the lowest percentage of our GDP. Also, most Americans, myself included (I'm just as guilty as anybody else) aren't educated on other cultures and generally don't pay any attention to what is going on in other countries. We are very self - centered and really take our wealth for granted.

Answer 2

I was borne in the US, lived in Miami-Florida for seven years, before that, in south America and I recently move out of Florida for good to the UK(London), and now, I look back to those 7 years, and even though I did my professional career there, I feel, they were the 7 worst years of my live (social wise), because of this capitalistic systems I did not have many friends, everybody was busy, did not have a real girlfriend cause I did not have money to show and people saw me like I was a rat because I was poor “the more you have, the better you are” and also in the US you can only pursue a university degree when you come from a very wealthy family or live in debt for the rest of your life and if you become sick, you either have to have an insurance (very expensive if not paid by employer) or live in debt for the rest of your live.



I think in the US, there is a strong culture to work but no culture to socialise with others, for example Drs see you as a number $ more than as a patient, I don’t want to generalise, but I think the US system (media and government) changes people into working machines and blocks their minds from what is outside, most of the people I met there think that the US is the best country in every single way, without even visiting other countries, well I don’t blame then , with the little time off we had in Florida as listed on linked below, there is not time to visit any other countries, and also only a very little amount of Americans have a passport. please see attachments below.



Well, something else, I realize when I was travelling around Europe and south America, I noticed that most of Americans did not make any effort to a least speak the most common or used word in other languages and expect everybody to speak English as once a girl from Chicago told me “we are leaving the globalisation so everybody needs to speak English”



In the other hand I think that economic wise US is great country , my parents are doing financially very well so is my brother and most of the people I know, but unfortunately all the money they make and have, cant not even be enjoyed. I truly respect you opinion but I think that WE as “Americans” should see the world equally, change our minds, not because we are richest and have the economical power we have the right to abuse others and impose our system, ethics and moral in other countries as they have their own and we should respect that.

Answer 3

The reason we have such a bad image is because of the way we treat other countries, we are obviously the greatest world power and abuse it horribly, the rest of the world sees us a a bully people don't hate us because of out religion it's because we are always sticking our noise where it doesn't belong. I'm not saying we shouldn't help other nations in need or protect people who are being oppressed, but we only do it when we can get something in return. like Oil. why aren't we helping people in Africa where there is genocide being committed and hundreds being brutally murdered every day, simple theres nothing there for us. Small countries then resort to terrorism because they have no other way to defend them selves, i mean it's like a 5 year old fighting a teenager they have no chance, and terrorism is the only way the can try to get back at our country for all the harm we caused them, i mean if some one came to my town and bombed it and killed my friends and family I'd be pretty pissed about it.

Answer 4

This has been an issue even prior to the very boorish foreign policy demonstrated recently (that only served to compound and already existent problem)

I am a frequent traveler, and Canadian. I do often get asked if I am American and am met with relief when I state I am not. The understanding and explanation that I have received is that many Americans are bad travelers. Thus they show little respect for that nation they are visiting, the laws and the people.

Answer 5

The Iraq thing didn't help, but it stretched back much further than that. Basically, America is seen as an imperialistic power. Since the end of WWII it has been removing unfriendly reigimes with varying levels of sucess. For those inside America it might seem like spreading freedom; but for those of us outside it looks a lot like international bullying.

The fact that American fast-food chains are slowly eroding centuries-old culinary traditions doesn't help your image either.

Answer 6

"Overseas" is a bit of a generalization don't you think? It occurs to me that America is the first country others think of when they need money or a hand from our military. If it has such a bad reputation then why do we lead the world in immigration?

Answer 7

from what i have heard, a lot of americans that go over there create this problem with their actions and attitudes. [that is just what i hear] however a few years back, a couple from sweden stopped at my place of business and asked for a part for their volkswagon. i had a vw yard. the part was small and not valuable, so i said, no charge. they looked stunned, and said, how can that be, americans never give things away. they always charge. and i told them, dont judge us all like that, please. it left me wondering where they got that from. this IS a true account.

Answer 8

Because we have an active role in international affairs. Many think we should just sit back and let the extremists walk all over us...until trouble lands on our doorstep. Its disgusting to see these countries that recieve millions of dollars in US aid bash us for being involved in the international problems. If we took the aid away we would be stronger domestically. But then other countries would say the US is ignoring them.

Answer 9

interior the early 90s I met some people whilst traveling in Europe and that they especially lots greater healthful the adverse effect I already had of people (which effect I had created from American video clips and television and what we pay attention interior the information). on account that then even nevertheless, I even have made some marvelous friendships with some American people on line. My on line American acquaintances are purely amazing and look much like me and we are able to become attentive to with each others existence. i like them plenty and that they mean an undesirable lot to me. on the different hand, and making a extensive generalisation ... people come throughout as being very full of themselves and supply off the effect that they are greater ideal than each physique else. people seem to be very self absorbed and look to correctly known little or no approximately different worldwide places or cultures. people seem to be very materialistic and shallow. traveling people tend to be very impolite, obnoxious, annoying and unappreciative. i know those comments are generalisations, yet it truly is the way people come throughout to me and to maximum folk i know.

Answer 10

Because we have so many in this country that like to go overseas and speak out about this President. I personally could care less what the rest of the world thinks. Wait until they need help from us and their tune will change. Jealousy is a sin.