This is a question only for those who are NOT American.?

Question

This is a serious question.
Why does the rest of the world hate us?
I like to consider myself a patriot (in the FDR, Truman, Kennedy, Eisenhower tradition), and I want to know what it is we do so I could at least try to understand it.

Keeping in mind I said ONLY FOR THOSE WHO AREN'T AMERICAN.

Answer 1

Dear Kevin. Very inteligent question. I´m sure people in general don´t hate North Americans. Most of people hate the way some people handle internationals issues. For example, why Bush and Blair send troops to Iraq "to defend" democracy and don´t send troops to Haiti to defend democracy? Iraq has petroleum. Haiti has poverty. Many others countries in Africa needs USA to defend democracy, but why Mr. Bush don´t send troops to defend democracy in Africa? They don´t have petroleum? You understand the difference?

By the way, I´m brazilian (my grandfathers are germanies) and I love your country, but I have serious restrictions to some of USA leaders policies. I have many north americans friends.

Good luck.

Answer 2

I'm Dutch. Before Bush, most Dutch people didn't hate the US or Americans, but simply despised you. The US was seen as the source of all that is superficial and materialistic, even though that's not really true. But politically most Dutch people were pretty much in favor of some interventionist US foreign policy.

However, that all changed with Bush. The overwhelming majority of the Dutch see Bush as stupid, arrogant and, quite probably, evil. That opinion is starting to become acceptable in the US nowadays as well, but here it was that way from the start. The 'old Europe' remark of Rumsfeld has created a lot of bad blood, as well as the Iraq war of course. But the worst probably, which may be hard to understand, was the cancelling of the Kyoto protocol. People still bring that up all the time: it very much strengthens the idea that the US is a big bully that ruins every team effort to do something good. Iraq, and the The Hague invasion act (opposition to the International Criminal Court) just add insult to injury. Guantanamo, well that is something else alright. Most people here have some idea that there is a common set of values that Europeans and Americans share, but every day Guantanamo stays open that feeling gets weaker.

Oh, and in most countries most people hate the neighbor countries, as well as strangers from far away. It's normal unfortunately. You're the biggest, so you may get the impression that we collectively have something against you. But we don't. Sure the Dutch don't like the US, but that doesn't mean we like the Germans, French, English, Turks, Chinese... whenever I hear an American ask "why do they hate us?" my first instinct is: "because you're people!"

Answer 3

I do not think people hate USA citizens or the country itself. Personally I think that USA is a very beautiful country and I have friends from there, all of them are nice and lovely people.

What is criticized is the foreign policy that the different USA-Administrations practiced along the history beginning after World War II, during the cold war and also the current foreign policy.

It is hard to explain something like this to people who never had had the experience of living in a country that suffers under this foreign policy. It is not only unfair, it is also a dirty play that costs many innocent`s lives.

Just a couple of examples, that are well documented not only by oppositionary organisation but also by USA-governmental offices and institutions as the CIA:

- A very old story: Pinochet, everybody know who he was, and we all agree I think, that he was a monster (as every dictator). It is well known, that he achieved becoming Chile's "president" in part thanks the CIA and the USA administration's support. Not only that, they supported and helped him all the time until he resigned.

- The whole thing about the civil wars in Latin America: USA supported the corrupted military goverments Dictature alike and of course the ex Soviet Union supported the guerrillas. Without this support the wars could not last so long. I come from a country that suffered such a civil war. I said it once and I say it again. To be in cross fire is much worse than what you see on T.V.

The way the administration pocks the nose in other countries issues and business without consideration or respect for the soverany and the feeling that no matter what is done, some actual war criminals with USA citizenship will be never judged by the international court assures a discomfort feeling among people from other countries.

It is this arrogant way to do the things, look what Bush said at the beginning of the Iraq war: "If they are not with us, they are against us". What about if a country did not want to be either for nor against this war? Will be those countries considered as terrorist countries?

As the former german counselor Gerhard Schroeder refused to support the threats on Iraq because in his opinion there were other diplomatic ways to solve the Iraqi issue Bush "took revenge" by going against every diplomatic protocol when he refused to congratulate Schroeder for his reelection. If you ask me, it was just childish behavior but at the end it was an insult for the german folk as Germany is a democratic country and the reelection Schroeder's was the expression of the german people. We can discuss if Schroeder's point of view was right or wrong, but something at least imho should not be questioned: The right of a country to decide about supporting or not an other country in a war issue. Germany did not wanted to do it, so Bush had to accept it and respect it.

As you see, the issue is not if people hate americans, the problem has nothing to do with common people. The real problem is the way the administration plays in the foreign politic scenario. The problem is also that some people do not understand the difference: one thing is what the normal people are and other thing what an administration does. You can not blame people for all the crimes or mistakes made by a goverment.

Answer 4

The issue is, at the root, American policy.

The American form of government is NOT a democracy (which is defined as representation by population), but instead a republic (like ancient Rome).

Therefore, they are not 'bringing democracy' to the world ... they are destroying the roots of democracy in several cases.

The individual American, for the most part, is no different than the average citizen of any other country. However, the US is known for its sense of patriotism - regardless of whether that sense is correct or not. This apparently inherent need to 'prove' they are the best often brings out the worst in individuals ... usually by putting other people down (figuratively or literally).

Those who act as ambassadors for a country should be respectful of others in all cases ... and that means even within your own nation, because there are those who are from 'away' who are visiting, and taking in the grassroots attitudes shown by those around them.

Be the best that you can be, certainly ... but not at the expense of another individual, culture, or ethnicity.

Hatred is a strong term, and should be used sparingly. Most people of the world do not 'hate' ... anything or anyone. The discontent evidenced by non-Americans toward the American citizenry is aimed not at the individual, but instead at the image and methods of the country's ambassadors ... in all arenas of opportunity (both at home and abroad).

Answer 5

Well I'm American and I desire I would reply that however I consistently marvel too. People who don't seem to be American consistently look to pass judgement on all Americans from dull men and women that they see on television and I consistently think insulted it is like their calling me dumb. People consistently have a few shallow purpose like oh Americans are loud however men and women in ever race will also be loud me as an instance I'm and so rattling shy round men and women it is loopy lol so do not name me loud if you do not know me individually after which there may be oh Americans are impolite good there are impolite men and women in all places this planet. So I simply do not get it is it is like pronouncing that out of all of the billions of peole in this earth all of the unhealthy ones are in America. But I'm beautiful certain Hitler wasn't born in America. To me the complete human race in combination is dull lol.

Answer 6

Kevin as a European here we are not against the US people. Its the US government most people don't like. It the arrogant attitude they have. We get sick and tired hearing how the USA is the only true democracy country in the world. What most people hate is the way your government impose its way on other nations. Take for example Iraq. For years when Iran was the enemy who funded Saddam? The US government! They sold him arms for years. Pure hypocrites. Sadly the way we see it is you lot believe every word of your government. They have an attitude of we know what best for your country etc. The put people off them, and if you don't agree with them you are either a communist or fascist etc. They can give it the old saying but they can't take it.

Answer 7

We Europeans, as well as most of the Thirld World, are highly critical of US foreign policy, not of the Ameircan people.
If you make it a habit of reading newspapers and other media from other countries (most have English language editions in the Internet), at least once in a while, you'll find intelligent, well informed and coherent articles that will help you understand how the US is perceived around the world.
Popular excuses given by some Americans, such as "envy" and the like, are mere simplifications of larger and deeper issues.

Answer 8

Well, some Americans have responded on here and already added to why many foreign countries dislike America.

Jealously is likely only a small part of the dislike. The US and its citizens are considered arrogant by the industrialized world. Quality of life index does not rank the US as the top country to live in but this is contrary to what your government wants you to believe. European countries, the UK, and Canada, are all great places to live for individual human beings.

The possibility for wealth is great in the US, however, most of this wealth is held by a small group of people who want you believing in the American dream. Unless you measure greatness by how quickly you can destroy the entire world, the US in not number one. For that matter, even thinking that being number one is significant is irritating. It's the equivalent of saying my dad is the best. Who cares! How are you measuring this in order to make such a claim. Humility is a far greater virtue than what America puts on display.

We all better hope that a coalition of anti-American countries who want to destroy the US as a superpower is far, far away. Because with China's economy emerging and their enormous population, things could change.

Answer 9

I'm not American and the rest of the world who don't like America don't hate you Americans. It's the government and it's foreign policies they hate for that matter. At times they spew democracy on one hand and on the other vested self-interests.

On a personal level, as an observer whose been in various parts of the globe, American emissaries aren't that squeaky clean at all. Since your embassies and its personnel are representatives of the USA, they should act properly and of course be mindful and respectful of other cultures. In my case however, I've seen that most of them don't care since they are the "USA" quote unquote. They mostly talk down on others which make liking Americans in general difficult. They have this "royalty" factor, which they feel warrants them privilege, priority and attention when abroad. Unfortunately it's wrong for others to stereotype as one person is different from the rest but they represent the America you love and they aren't doing a good job at it. As they say, representation is everything.

Answer 10

What the world really hates is Bush because of what he's done to Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries. Most people hate Americans because of the fact that Bush is the presìdent of America. There are different reasons. For example my friend, who is Indian, hates Americans because every American she's met is rude, stuck-up, selfish, and racist. And she's met quite a lot of Americans. I don't agree with her completely because I know that there are Americans who are actually pretty nice. So, it's not really your fault that Bush's your president, now is it?

Answer 11

The world hails US for its spectacular achievements and a bit critical of its some policies and acts only.So there is no such general "hatred".
There is a universal devaluation of "higher values". The high offices once occupied by the best talents are now filled with mediocres. Majority of the public wants their leaders to play to the galleries. Press which kept a good vigil and acted independently does not do so now.
Now, as never before, the people have to realize that things have to be changed and not seek scape goats.