Being that this is an international website. Americans how do you think we are really portrayed by the rest...

Question

...of the world,and what would you want them to know about our methods in dealing with each other on a day to day basis as representatives of the so called land of opportunity? Or do we just let them know that the UNITED STATES really are not ?

Better or worse and how?

IS PATRIOTISM CONDITIONAL?

Answer 1

We are portrayed as arogant, obnoxious people. We are hated all over the world by foes and "allies" alike. No one wants to be considered American friendly these days and they feel we are trying to dominate the world. The world doesn't know Americans and they are trying to get the last superpower to fall. When and if they do, their lifes are going to change for the worse as the domino effect will take out the entire western civilization. I as an AMerican am fustrated. Fustrated with the world, my government, my court system, social programs all of it.

Answer 2

I am not American therefore speaking from the perspective of an outsider I don't think the rest of the world actually hate America I think it is more a case of fearing the might and power of your country. If any one nation at this point in time has the ability to totally swallow the rest of the world it is America.
In reference to the Simpsons I think of the episode where Homer is wearing a T shirt depicting Uncle Sam taking a large bite out of the planet with the caption "Try and stop us" The loudest critics of America are Americans. Therefore you are seen as a nation at odds with itself which makes you very dangerous. Also if you didn't have such a nitwit for a president you'd probably be thought of better by the rest of the world.

Answer 3

Most people don't dislike Americans because they are jealous. They dislike them because of the way they act when they travel abroad. I'm a Canadian living in the U.S. and I've traveled all around the world. Foreigners automatically assume I'm American and don't badmouth anyone until they find out I'm actually Canadian, and THEN the stories come out. They talk about how Americans expect them to accept U.S. dollars as payment for things and are rude when they are told they only accept local currency -- I was told that in Malaysia but have seen it myself in many countries. I was at a Castle in Ireland when I heard a loud, obnoxious American saying "I don't know what all the fuss was about. This is just an old building. Isn't there anything to DO in this country....." HUH? Our Irish host was very offended and told him to go home and be amused at Disneyland. I could tell you story upon story upon story of similar things because people will open up to us and tell us and we've experienced it when we lived in Nova Scotia.

Americans are one of the few countries whose citizens don't "get" that when ONE person is inconsiderate, they reflect poorly on the many who are not. They just don't get that. So the next time you travel in a foreign country, accept that they might do things differently than at home and no matter what you might be THINKING, keep your mouth shut. It doesn't matter that at home everything is bigger, better, open longer, cheaper, cleaner, cars are nicer, streets are wider, nobody wants to hear it and while you might only be wanting to impart some knowledge on them, they take it as a slight against the way THEY do things. So zip it, Yank, or stay home.

Answer 4

I really want to answer this question, I really want the rest of the world to understand but right now i am just struggling with all the hate from the rest of the world...I could really now give a rats a** what another country thinks. We pour more money into other countries than any other nation on the globe and yet, are the most hated. Those who don't get it never will and its high time we turn off the money faucet for the ingrates who burn our flags and spit in our faces.

Answer 5

Well, here is my take on it.

Some of us are idiots and make the rest look bad. But that's the problem with generalizing. People should be smart enough to know that a few bad apples shouldn't spoil the bunch, and that most of us are just trying to do our best for ourselves and our families.

I live in a suburb of Washington, DC, which is an area very rich in diversity. As far as how peole here deal with eachother day to day, in my opinion we do very well. People disagree with each other regarding many things... there are extremists on both sides...but I still say that the vast majority of people just want to make the best life they can for themselves and their families. And I genuinely believe that even the most extreme liberals and conservatives want the best for our nation, they just have different visions of what "best" is and how to get there.

This is the land of opportunity, moreso than any other nation I can think of. I work for an international hotel company and have traveled to Canada, Mexico, Russia, Poland, Hungary and Ireland. People in those countries are wonderful, but I have heard from many of them how they would like to come live and work here. Some have even done so.

Just my personal opinion and experience.

Answer 6

People are the same everywhere - they love spirited debate. Ideally, all the parties involved learn through the process of debate, and occasionally, they even change their opinions, based on what they've learned. How about that? Other times, compromise occurs, and while no one gets their way, everyone gets a part of what they wanted. We have never been united on every issue, but we have developed a great means of resolving our differences. That's nothing to be ashamed of. If you are talking about immigration, well, the U.S. has the highest quotas for LEGAL immigration of any nation, and we have been more generous to illegal aliens as well. Sorry if this isn't the answer you wanted, but it is the truth.

Answer 7

The rest of the World deals with the Federal government. What they little realize is each state, county and community is allowed to have it's own govenment.
For example, when I began to pay a mortage on a home, I began to pay a tax to the city, another for the for the schools. I live in a border state, and the majority of our population live in apartments. These tenants do not pay any of these taxes, and they will do less to determine if someone is an illegal alien. The apartments often only care if someone has a criminal record, so most of illegal aliens live in apartments.
I have no children, yet my School Tax is more than my City and and County taxes combined. It is bad going to worse esp. in border states.
Knowing this, you ask: Do I care how the other world sees us?
I hope they do se how little our President cares for citizens.
He wants we should give criminals who have broken our law for years (and got away with it) a slap on the wrist, and a legal way for them to continue breaking the law. He feels we cannot do without these illegal criminals, but citizens can pay more for their care than the government.

Answer 8

There are 300,000,000 people here, there are bound to be differences of opinions. We may flame each other on the Internet from time to time, but at least we don't kill each other for supporting the wrong soccer club, or worshiping the right God in the wrong way. America is more united then other countries want to give us credit for. We may disagree from time to time, but when the chips are down we never fail to pull together and help each other out, or the rest of the world for that matter. When their countries are in trouble, we're the first to be there with whatever they need. When their no longer in trouble, then they go back to hating us.

Answer 9

Don't exactly know what you are looking for as far as answer wise goes. But, my take on what people should realize about us across the world is that we are the single most charitable nation in the world as far as its people are concerned. The US government spends more money than any other country charity wise but not when you look at it with income earned. While the American public spends nearly twice that of the 2nd place country charitably per money earned. The masses of humanity will always have to suffer I suppose.

Answer 10

Of course patriotism is conditional! For any country. If you are not willing to acclimate yourself into the society in which you choose to live in then why live there? There are certain ideals and gov't procedures in which you will have to conform to if you choose to live in any society. Is there room for change, absolutely but you must be willing to do it in a way that is going to be heard and not create more hassle than your cause is worth.