Anti-Americanism - repairing America´s relations with the rest of the world.?

Question

At Oxford University last week, the Oxford Union(the debating society) debated the motion, " This house regrets the founding of the United States of America".

Has anti-Americanism sentiment got to this stage?

I noticed that Democratic front runners are aware of such thinking, Clinton promising "....to get our country back in the standing it should be", Obama talking about rebranding America.

Amanda Ra-You are right. Most Americans I know are good people. And yes your President is an idiot.

Answer 1

Sadly it has thanks to the left wing media ( The Guardian) etc and the likes of Michael Moore and other opportunists . I don't agree with all that has happened in America under Bush but it has been overblown and distorted by liberals .

Answer 2

Oh, if only explaining Anti-Americanism were easy.

I can assure you, it did not begin with the arrival of Geo. W. Bush, left leaning media or show business types like Michael Moore. In terms of causality, they're collateral at best.

I just want you to know, before you go after me with an ax, that I'm 54 years old, have lived abroad off and on since the 70's and am very proud of and love this country.

But because Americans tend to be obsessed with their own self-esteem, they equate criticism of America with Anti-Americanism. No nation, including we Americans, is above reproach! Criticism is useful-it has to be dealt with, or one never becomes any good at anything.

Anti-Americanism, as I've known it, lies closer to the fact that we are probably the only nation that can and will act unilaterally. Much of the world has been intimidated by this over the last 50 years.

Let's be real: if we wanted to, we could've occupied North Vietnam in < than 72 hours, rounded up the populace, "neutralized" those that didn't cooperate and then gassed the tunnels the North Vietnamese high command used to plot their moves. But we didn't. Instead, we supported the corrupt South Vietnamese government which was rife with Viet Cong, dicked it out for 10 years and made a fortune on Wall Street. Remember America's standard of living in the 60's? A new car every 2 years, landed a man on the moon, etc. If we were so opposed to communism, where were we in 1956 when Hungary tried to put the Russkies on the lead? Why didn't we help Alexander Dubcek in the former Czec Republic during the Prague Spring of 1968? The Poles would have gladly fought a vicious war on their land side by side with us if it meant getting rid of the godless communists. Instead, we chose a malarial, Southeast Asian backwater to impose the American way and our reputaton as inconsistent and immoral nation was cemented. Now we're applying this same magic to the Middle East and the world is not amused.

Another thing that intimidates other countries are our natural resources, as well as our capacity to create materials that aren't in natural supply. They are so envious of our resources and the vastness of our country. Countries that must import nearly all raw materials can't believe Americans are willing to drive SUVs that get less than 12 mpg from mall parking lot to mall parking lot, when a vehicle that used a third of those raw materials would be just as reliable and comfortable. They seem to see us as a kind of Nero fiddling while Rome burns. The oil embargoes are a distant memory.

French Anti-Americanism appears to be based on the fact that France peaked as a pre-imminent culture in the 19th century, when nobody could match her literature, music and science. Now the Republic of France is just another country, probably not as odious as American propaganda would suggest, but just another aging society. They haven't created anaything since 1955's Citroen DS19 automobile. Consequently, the pervasiveness of American culture and its on-going ingenuity, is a thorn in their side.

My dear old Germany, where I lived for many years, managed to land the world in two world wars in less than 25 years with results that rewrote the book on atrocities and man's inhumanity to man. Deep down inside, Germans will always psychologically resent the fact that we flattened their cities and occupied their nation along with France, GB and the late, unlamented USSR, as morally superior victors. Deep down inside, this is just killing them, because many Germans do believe themselves to be superior to other cultures. I know, trust me.

As for the Middle East, Iraq and Aganistan are probably licking their chops in anticipation of some sort Marshal Plan that will make them modern countries. Too bad about their murderous and destructive tendencies which still need another 100+ years of evolution before a subway in downtown Baghdad has any meaning.

Well, have I harrangued enough? Anti-Americanism is a result of our having catapulted ourselves into the future in a way that took the world's breath away. Now most of the Old World has caught up with us and they're comfortable fixating on our many inconsistencies and problems. Not that we don't give them plenty of ammunition.

Answer 3

i dont think it should go as far as someone saying they regretted the founding of our country. other countries have done things just as bad as us but because we're a super power(or whatever you want to call it) people tend to blame us for EVERYTHING. if our country had never been founded i'm sure another country would be in our place, powerful and getting blamed for a lot. dont get me wrong, i know our country has done some crazy stuff but people shouldnt be so quick to judge us. just because our president is an idiot doesnt mean all americans are.

Answer 4

Well, for a start, not invading other countries to get their resources would help improve that image. Then maybe not mingling in everyone's politics. Signing the Kyoto agreement. And that's just for starters.

Answer 5

Well first we have to get Bush out and charge him for his crimes and I think if we can accomplish this the world would definitely look back at us and remember who Americans really are and what we really are about!

Answer 6

Americans should apologize to all the countries we offended on 9/11.