Anti Americans...Sound off

As an American for 50 years now I have some pretty good ideas about what's wrong with us. I could rant for days about our government or corporations (if they're multinationals I suppose they really aren't "ours"), so I will abstain.
But as for you American people! Yes, you are lazy, convenience and gadget driven, arrogant, comfortable sheeple for the greater part. You believe all the crap you see on TV that they tell you is news. You have forgotten how to think for yourselves and to challenge the status quo. You live in mortal fear of losing your jobs and the lifestyles that it has afforded you even if you know that the way you make your money causes injury to other people or to the planet itself. You have isolated yourselves far away from nature to the point of where grown men will run away from spiders or snakes should one get in your house. You American men have become pantywaists who cheer violence on TV but won't stand up to authority when it takes away your rights. You keep thinking someone else will fix what's wrong with our country and THAT IS THE PROBLEM.
American women on the other hand have become self-obsessed from watching TV and thinking that somehow you need to fit in with whatever new fashion trend they're trying to sell. That you need to paint yourself up to attract a man who fits your ideal of perfection; tall, good looking, moneyed, athletic. I.E - the man who doesn't exist. And American men all want women who look like they stepped out of the pages of playboy. No brains required, just stand there and look great so my friends can see you.
We have been entertained to death. We seek the impossible from life and from our partners. Poor disillusioned Americans. Sometimes I ARE ONE

I think that when a country like the US is in the spotlight, it's only human to look for the bad side of things... Yes, the US policy is controversial, and many people do not agree with what is happening in the world, but it should not be confused with the normal everyday people who live there and who just want to live their lives ....

I have traveled the world and have met both good and bad people from all kinds of countries. The only thing I have to say about some American tourists that I have met is that sometimes they don't seem to enjoy their vacations... I have met some people who expected the place to be like their home and that everything should be to their standards. I.E. Once on a touristic trip to Jamaica, I stayed in a hotel that only served American food (hamburgers, fries, etc...). When we would leave the resort to do activities and were taken to local restaurants for lunch, some people would not eat the local foods because it was not "to their standard"... Sad indeed...

Generally, I have nothing to say about the American people. The government, now that's another issue...

Magnum

Originally posted by CX
My personal opinion is that the stereotype of the typical american can sometimes be negative, but i've not met one in real life that i didn't get on with or really like.

I can second that, I think what it comes down to is we don't like your government or the oligarchs who give it the policies it pushes around the world.

As a result some people dump all their anger on normal cits, also the amount of religiosity and book literalism astounds folk in Europe and the English speaking commonwealth, leading to arguments about "stuff", I could barely resist the urge to put nonsense there, that can never be proved.

All of the let's turn the ME to glass talk and the urge to go to war over the slightest provocation, I guess you could say some of your compatriots let the side down.

But to reiterate if you don't count door knocking "missionaries" I've never met a yank I didn't like and one I briefly loved.

I agree very much that the U.S. (I am a U.S. citizen btw) has a lot of problems. However, I just have a few points to make. Not every American is what you see on TV. We are not all like the selfish, pathetic individuals that sometimes embarass our country while overseas. Most of us cannot afford to travel outside the U.S. at all. The ones that can are usually just the U.S. version of wealthy, snobbish culture. Ignore them as you would your own wealthy idiots. They are not worth your attention at all.

In the history of the entire world can anyone honestly say that a stereotype has ever truly represented the vast amount of the people of the society it is aimed at? People tend to focus on the few negative aspects of something and then try to define it based on that. It is a limitation found within the Human race in general.

Also, do you really think that the people here just decided to be this way? No, previous generations raised their children to view things a certain way and the results are what you see. It will take time for that to change just like in any society.

I do not defend or condone the negative actions of anyone. However, most of the people here are just as powerless as the average citizen of every other country. Our views are not properly represented and I don't believe that will change anytime soon.

Americans are good people, most of them anyway. I was born an American and have been one for the last fifty years. America used to be the greatest place to live back in the day when I was growing up.

Our government is totally out of control with their policing of the world and some of their laws, which is a totally different story. TPTB and We the People are two distinct groups.

Like any country, we have our Idiots, and most of them seem to be running our country into the ground.....

Ventian, I think if you look at your thread you are going to find that a lot of Americans are going to be more critical of Americans than others.

Arrogance, narcissism, etc etc etc.

The people are arrogant for reasons that they think they know, or for reasons that have NOTHING to do with modern day America. They are arrogant of our history, yet do not stand on the very principles that made us great in the past.

The narcissism is hammered into us by our government officials and their MSM propaganda networks. I am almost to the point that when I try to watch any MSM news that I just get angry at the blatant lies and manipulation.

As for punishment, how bout making a pact with our so called enemies, the other side of the coin I am referring to. Dems, Repubs, Independents, Libertarians, etc need to come together and shut down the corruption and the outright tyrannical, totalitarian mindset in our federal government.

These governmental officials, including the mega corps and the bankster thieves are the ones the world are fed up with. I say they have to be punished for their complicit actions in the downfall of unalienable rights, economic freedoms, of social rights, of our sovereignty, of other country's sovereignty, of non protection of our borders, and for the hundreds of other machinations they have instituted against US of A citizens and people of the world.

Time for a sobering look at where we go from here. More empire tyranny or freedom.

I think the American people have been punished enough, time for the punishment to be meted out to those that are deserving of our ire.

I'm not anti American. I am pro American.

These people have been our staunch friends and allies for decades. But I don't think that friendship necessarily extends to their government. Infact opposing their government even in a passive manner as I do is to help them.

Wow......alot more politeness than I expected on here. I am a proud American.....love my counrty,and proudly served my country. America really has achieved great things in it's relatively short history. However, our government has got to change, it's not about us, or even the rest of the world anymore, its about making a few rich people even richer. The media not only portrays most Americans as lazy, arrogant etc etc....it convinces people it's ok. to be that way. Time to tune out the t.v., pay attention to what goes on around you....and then maybe we can begin to progress back to the point we were. Another thing often overlooked in our down fall, is political correctness....at some point it has to stop. When did doing the right thing become evil? When did thinking a certain way become evil? When did realizing your own potential, as well as faults become evi? Time to get past it and talk personal responsibilty again, something sorely lacking in todays America. Thank you to those that hyave kept this as civil as they have........

On an individual basis? Just be humble. Most I've been friends with are. When on holidays, I can generally pick out the americans from the rest of the crowd. BUT. There are also a lot that I completely gleen over without meeting them, because they are humble. Two sides to every coin. That goes for all currency, if you know what I mean.... and I think you do. I've met a lot of candians that I would swear were from the stereotypical u.s., but nope.... born and raised right here.

So I wouldn't condemn a whole nation, just an individual. Gov't is a completely different ball of wax all together, and I think that people of any nation will have issues with their own, as well as other gov't policy. Aside from the native americans being segregated almost right from jump street, there are also native north americans in this country that were screwed out of their homes and lifestyle because of foreign invaders. So clearly, we have our own issues, and to condemn a nation because of the past, is harsh.... but the current generation can do a lot to overcome prejudice and wayward thinking. On both sides.

I'm rather critical of the USA sometimes and I apologise for that. But when 9/11 happened you guys changed. And we stayed the same.

The reason I am critical is because I do consider American's to truly be friends of this country and unfortunately the USA have gone off the deep end so to speak.

You're at the brink of becoming something that isn't what the USA stands for, or did stand for. You're the opposite of what you should be.

And I don't think a true friend would shirk their responsibility to try and pull you back from the brink, we owe you that much at least.

When I was younger, in the 90's I wouldn't have hesitated to go to war at America's side. But now, I couldn't in good conscience aid and abet the criminals that are exploiting the American people.

I would still willingly fight for the American people, just like they did for us so long ago. But for the same reasons. To free them from a tyranny that would otherwise destroy them. To help them when everyone else had turned away, just as they helped us.

But I will never ever fight in a war of conquest for the Kleptocratic American government. Or support their warcrimes.


[edit on 4-5-2010 by belial259]

Project Jimmy, your post is great, however, American football is superior IMO though I do enjoy a good soccer match (used to play myself).

To everyone else...I am surprised as I was expecting the real hardcore anti American crowd on here and I haven't seen it....yet. Seems we (Americans) as usual lead the charge in speaking up against our ways (not to fast on the punishment parts though). Not unbelievable though, I mean, we got Octomom on Dancing With the Stars. We definitely got problems. Still though, while good to see I am waiting on some more punishments. Apologies IMO is just brilliant. Thanks for the replies and keep em coming.

Yanks are ok in my book. A very friendly country to be in, at least as a tourist.

But I do not agree with everything in the american lifestyle. But hey, how boring wouldnt the world be if every was identical.

And an american tourist gave me a great laugh last summer when she told everyone around her how disappointed she was about the midnight sun. She had believed that it was another sun, not the same one as home

I'm an American. The problems I see in my country can be observed anywhere in western society, and frankly in humans generally. Pretty much everything "bad" about America, is something bad about humans. Western society in general supports plenty of what is "bad" about humans.

Some of these problems and issues are shaded in different colors due to cultural norms but from America, to Britain, to Iran, to China, to Russia, the problems are all the same. People are stupid, unthinking, irrational, unreasonable, overstressed, overworked, underpayed, greedy, gluttonous, selfish, and a variety of other adjectives and describers. This isn't new. This didn't start in 1776. This didn't start with Bush, or Clinton, or Reagan. This isn't an American problem. It's a human problem.

Originally posted by Gromle
She had believed that it was another sun, not the same one as home

Did I mention that people were stupid?

reply to post by Gromle


"And an american tourist gave me a great laugh last summer when she told everyone around her how disappointed she was about the midnight sun. She had believed that it was another sun, not the same one as home "

LOL
You know what else I heard last week on a documentary? During a power outage in LA, California,I think they said in 1994, tons of people called into the observatory asking what the thousands of colored lights in the sky were.

To the OP, I'd give it more time on the negative comments. Perhaps a lot of those who have posted such hateful comments about the US are asleep right now.

I just want to chime in on some of the comments about Americans abroad.

The people in the US that can afford to travel abroad usually fall into to two categories. First, the wealthy, who, no matter where you're from, tend to think their special, better and more important than anyone else. This, of course, is the "bombastic American" that everyone refers to. They are like that all the time, not just abroad.

The second category are the children of the wealthy. They are usually the children or grandchildren of the first category. They either believe they are just as privileged as their parents (see above), or have never lived outside their gated community and think they can go out and change the world, like the gentleman from Africa posted. These same people also think they can go into inpoverished communities in the USA and end up getting the same wake-up call.

I find it truly nice that many of you can seperate the acts of US Government from the US people. I also feel the same way when it comes to people from abroad. I'm not a big fan of Iran, but the Iranian immigrant and his family that own/run my corner conveince store are really nice. I see the man almost every morning and like to shoot the BS with him.

People are people no matter where you go.

Yeah, people are mostly nice. Too bad that the a**holes gets most of the attention...

reply to post by harryhaller

Yes, we as a nation need to apologize for our war crimes. I love America but must speak out about our wrongdoings. To be silent would be unamerican.

Originally posted by links234
reply to post by ventian

 

Before I go off on some socialist tirade that you expect me to do can I ask what exactly constitutes 'Anti-American' sentiment?

Is it anti-American government? Anti-American people? Anti-American continent?

Or anti-establishment that has hi-jacked america, anti-american foreign policy, anti-GOP/DNC, anti-banker-gangster elite, anti-congressional industrial military complex?

america is made of a lot of pieces.. if regular everyday people ran congress, soccer moms and non sociopath millionaires, would america be an empire fighting two wars of choice? have a CIA? allow cheney & bush anywhere near being in charge?.. we'd be a peaceful nation with free health care, the best free education on the planet and drugs would be legal where the locals voted it so...

... and obama would be an anonymous struggling used car salesmen in chicago looking over his shoulder for angry customers he lied into buying lemons.

reply to post by ventian
Well, since you ask...
Though I'm not particularly enamoured of your government, I'm not overly chuffed at mine either.

The people? I like Americans a whole bunch. As a rule they are open and friendly, I like the small towns, especially in the summer when they are either winding up for, or winding down from the Fourth of July...festooned with red white and blue bunting. I'll be in Mystic on that day this summer, and I'm looking forward to it. American culture is close to mine...though their spelling is kinda funny, but different enough to enjoy.

I don't want to carry a gun, but I sure liked the range I checked out in the Poconos.

Hey, God Bless America...why not, eh?