Americans

[Statistic]

Mainly in response to KlinkKlanks post: -
Although I’m not for the American 'imperial grand strategy' (an official US foreign policy by the way) and I usually side against it, I feel this argument needs some balance. I think Americans themselves aren’t bad people for the most part but are affected very heavily by Propaganda and the Media, as are we all. Our views and opinions are swayed more than we think by these factors.
America is simply the latest Hegemonic global power, one of a long history of predecessors of which Great Britain has been one in the past, and ironically some of our policies of that era would be considered pretty awful by todays standards.
The point is it's an established pattern in political science that these powers rise and fall, being replaced by another. Americas Hegemony will end sooner or later. God knows who will replace them and I think you'll find that if you look at the alternatives they don't look great either...
Counter to that though, you could say, why can't America with all her global coercion and power use it for the good of the world? Well that would be a liberal ideal. America favours realism - or the belief in power through Military and economic supremacy and didn't get to where it is today using flower power!

Call it waffle if you like but it's all common sense. Second to that I study this sort of thing in Uni for what it's worth as everybody seems to be a political scientist these days!

JZ.

[Sol Bro]

America's the biggest power on the globe so it comes on for the most flack. When the Brit empire was running the british were considered arrogant yokels. Dont worry about it.

[Guest]

I have now awaken to realise why that idiot of a person who goes by the name of "SpliffVortex" was calling me a liberal when in fact i am quite right-wing....

I saw on Sky News last night, Senetor John Kerry out in Shooting Gear going hunting, and this was apparently to help people see that he is not a liberal. I think Americans have got this idea that, people who like 'guns' and shooting/hunting are right wing, and people who are against it are left-wing liberals.

To link this into the whole Propaganda theme of Statistic's post, it is obvious how the Yanks are so affected by propaganda, and 'what is said on the tele, is obviously the truth', as to my mind, someone who is anti-guns does not necissarily mean he/she is a liberal, whereas in the U.S, you are automatically branded as this.

To respond to the original post, i believe that everyone does not dislike Americans, but there are certain features of America that people dissagree with. For example, Westernisation. I hate the way our Island has become so much like the U.S, with McDonald's, KFC, Cokecola, and all other US influences. And it is not just the UK, as everywhere in the world now sells Diet Coke and McDonalds even in developing countries such as Malaysian Borneo, and modern places like Dubai.

Another thing about Americans...is it me, or everytime the News, or any television programme interviews the average American citizen, they always seem to lack intelligence? It is almost as if the most developed country in the world does not bother to educate its average person on the street to a reasonable level, so atlest they can hold an intellectual and cohesive conversation with the T.V interviewer. I also find some Americans very patronising.

Don't get me wrong, this is not a rant at the U.S by any means, and i do not hate your country as much as other people. However, i can appreciate how many people do hate the U.S especially parts of the Muslim world and other Nationalists in countries such as Britain.


James

[Greg S]

America's the biggest power on the globe so it comes on for the most flack. When the Brit empire was running the british were considered arrogant yokels. Dont worry about it.

Actually if America keeps on going the way it is for the next 4 years, the main players in terms of world power will be China and Europe........

This business in Iraq will drag on for a good 8 - 12 years..........

[Guest]

Dont have a problem with American culture, just oppose it being imposed by gunpoint.

[Redhand]

We, in the West, are all influenced by the media just as much as any American is.

[Dave.Mil]

I have worked with a few Master Gunners from the US Army and always found them to be extremely good at their job and in some case's better than the Brit's in certain area's. I also had an American as a Squadron leader for a time and he was one of the best I served with. On a visit to 2ACR in the Gulf I was also very impressed by the high standard of the troops, so you will find most of those who have actually worked with the US forces do not have a problem with them. I just wish you could sort out your political system and stop clogging our TV with your elections. I'm with Artist let's pick on the Cloggies,long haired pot smoking gits

[snyder]

Hey all you Euros, if you think the U.S. is a selfish, grasping, cynical, destructive global hegemon, just wait until we're supplanted by China. You'll be wishing for the day.

[snyder]

proud to be an American.

More like "fortunate." This proud to be an American stuff sets me teeth a-grindin'. Especially when you hear it from the Christian right wing. They of all people ought to know that pride's a sin.

Knock it off with the chimp bit snyder,it's old already.

Methinks you'll get your wish soon. Looks like we'll be sending him back to the monkey house. No need to talk about the Chimp once he's gone, other than to take his name in vain for the mess he left for his successor.