Anti- American Sentiment

[IceWraith15]

I'll stay neutral on this topic. Isn't it possible that there are good people who are Americans? Isn't it possible that not all Americans are arrogant, greedy, and imperialistic? To those people who hate America, isn't it possible that Americans are just people like you or I? Is the U.S truly this evil imperialistic empire so many claim it to be?

Once again, i'm trying to stay neutral here, so don't flame me.(although this topic will probably become world war III.)

[stafffighter]

It's a deal of the individual in my eyes. And people who look at entire groups with hatred are going to reflect a view of an entire population of ignorance

[IceWraith15]

At 5/9/04 09:55 PM, stafffighter wrote: It's a deal of the individual in my eyes. And people who look at entire groups with hatred are going to reflect a view of an entire population of ignorance

I agree, it's sad how if you look at some (key word some) groups in the world, how they blend all Americans together into this evil imperialistic image.

IMO the American people and the American system are two very separate entities.

[TimScheff]

At 5/9/04 09:53 PM, IceWraith15 wrote: I'll stay neutral on this topic. Isn't it possible that there are good people who are Americans?

Certianly. There are millions. And many millions more who are good but easily misled idiots.

:Isn't it possible that not all Americans are arrogant, greedy, and imperialistic?

Certainly. However, out of fear and a sense of entitlement stemming from feelings of revenge for 9/11 those who are arrogant, greedy and imperialistic are able to manipulate the public to advance a paternalistic adgenda based around greed and imperialism.

Is the U.S truly this evil imperialistic empire so many claim it to be?

America has a long history of being an imperialistic empire, only our sense of rights and democracy has tempered the full impact of this. From the time our dominance over "our" land and tribes was complete we turned overseas, starting with the Spanish-American War. After leaving the Middle East to the british earlier the post-WWII world presented the oportunity to assanate the deocratically elected leader of Persia in favor of a Shah and and establish Isreal without consideration for existing populations. We then ally with Pakistan in the cold war because of India's ties to the USSR yet when they are in need refuse to help them maintain stability in the post cold war world.

Now that we abandon our moral legiitmacy of rights and being a global leader in the creation of norms to benefit all (weapons treaties - bio, chem, space, nuke, the Int'l crim court, global warming, the Vienna convention on treaties) we've moved from a hegemon to becoming an empire

[RedSkunk]

All Americans are assholes. Don't believe the hype!

[AbstractVagabond]

At 5/10/04 12:09 AM, RedSkvnk wrote: All Americans are assholes. Don't believe the hype!

But I'm an intelligent asshole, right?

[RedSkunk]

At 5/10/04 12:53 AM, Ovalshine wrote: But I'm an intelligent asshole, right?

Sure. They aren't exclusive to each other.

Heck, some of the biggest assholes are intelligent people!

[FatherVenom]

At 5/10/04 12:09 AM, RedSkvnk wrote: All Americans are assholes. Don't believe the hype!

Unfortunate, but true, all Americans are pretty bad. Hell, I'm an asshole too and I'd be hard pressed to find an American who doesn't qualify.

[bumcheekcity]

At 5/9/04 09:53 PM, IceWraith15 wrote: I'll stay neutral on this topic. Isn't it possible that there are good people who are Americans?

Completely possible. In fact, I myself have met a good few charming Americans.

Isn't it possible that not all Americans are arrogant, greedy, and imperialistic?

Again, this is true.

To those people who hate America, isn't it possible that Americans are just people like you or I?

Can't fault you here.

Is the U.S truly this evil imperialistic empire so many claim it to be?

Yes. So what if SOME (well, more like MOST) of the people are nice. It's the fact that the people in power are evil imperialistic assholes that taints our view of your COUNTRY (NOT of the people inside it) as being an evil imperialistic COUNTRY.

[KingOfTheKill]

I have nothing against Americans in general. But George Bush is a different story. I have to go to sleep and be up in 6 hours so I dont have time to elaborate much, but i will say that I think he is just an inbred, redneck, daddy's boy just trying to retain the family pride by finishing what his father started all those years ago.

[Fiend-Lore]

well of course there is no problem with saying that there are some Americans are good, outstanding people. I'm American, and i like to be concidered one. but there is a alot of hate reflecting of the greed of so many ignorant, money hoarding fools. And whoever controll the power controll the generalization usualy.

[Samuel-HALL]

Being anti-government and anti-establishment is a trendy thing...just like it was trendy during the time of vietnam. When it's the majority...people don't really think about it. They jump on the bandwagon of anti-control just like everyone else...they find ulterior motives to every governmental decision...they think ALL politicians and rich people are bad.

It's really quite silly how children act when you get a big group of them together.

[Slizor]

Wahh! I'm being bombarded by implicit premises. They're overwhelming me......drowning....... *glug*....

I'll stay neutral on this topic. Isn't it possible that there are good people who are Americans?

Is this you saying neutral? The implicit premise is that people think that all Americans are bad. Ever met someone who thought that?

To those people who hate America, isn't it possible that Americans are just people like you or I?

Another implicit premise - people hate America.

Is the U.S truly this evil imperialistic empire so many claim it to be?

It's not evil, it's greedy and imperialistic, but not evil.

The idea of "anti-Americanism" is just plain stupid. It's a term used to silence dissent, "they don't have any real views, just irrational anti-Americanism." It is used in much the same way that "Anti-semitic" is used by Israel's supporters. You accept that people think in such an irrational way with not a shred of evidence. Sure, you can look at what Bin Laden says, but he wouldn't think all Americans are evil like George Bush doesn't think (should I end the sentence here?) that all North Koreans are evil.

[IceWraith15]

At 5/10/04 12:09 AM, RedSkvnk wrote: All Americans are assholes. Don't believe the hype!

This is kind of a stereotype don't you think? How would you react if I were to say "All French people are arrogant assholes" ?

[RandomFreak]

Well to be honest the rest of the world has hated american's for a long time it's just they haven't been as open about it until more recently. I don't think the problem is that they think we're imperialist pigs (yeah some think that but they're the vocal minority). I think the problem is that most see us a living the blessed life in a wonderful country and we tend to not care or notice about the problems of the rest of the world (which to be fair isn't untrue). In other cases it's simply a case of hating our leadership and then hating those who elected them by association.

[bumcheekcity]

At 5/10/04 10:48 AM, IceWraith15 wrote: This is kind of a stereotype don't you think? How would you react if I were to say "All French people are arrogant assholes" ?

Yeah, but he was being sarcastic.

[Davisman]

Hey RedSkvnk, ease up on the stereotypes, I'm American, but I think all the war-crimes and propoganda my country is involved with is bullshit, and Bush has truly done a marvelous job of screwing things up.

[IceWraith15]

It's interesting that some terrorist groups state that they don't hate the American people, but hate the American Government, yet one of these groups, Al-Queda, attacked innocent American civilians and killed almost 3000 people?

How do you know all 300 of them were innocent?

I think George W. Bush said it best that "if you're not with us you're against us".

I think that terrorists live by those words even more so than the US goverment.

[Fiend-Lore]

yeah. of course though, that one man's terrorist, is another man's freedom fighter.

[Samuel-HALL]

At 5/10/04 11:22 PM, Fiend_Lore wrote: yeah. of course though, that one man's terrorist, is another man's freedom fighter.

If you use fear and cohercion through the means of killing innocent people and intimidation, than you are a terrorist. So, actually, no...one man's freedom fighter ISN'T another man's terrorist...either you're a terrorist...or you're not.

[Fiend-Lore]

well obviously not. one mans terrorist wouldnt be their freedom fighter. you worded it completly wrong. One person's terrorist, is a different man's freedom fighter. if they beleive in somthing to use those methods, and somone agrees with them to the point of admiration, then that terrorist so some people, is a freedom fighter/hero to another.
plus, a terrorist is also someone who causes trouble against the state.

[RedSkunk]

At 5/10/04 10:48 AM, IceWraith15 wrote: How would you react if I were to say "All French people are arrogant assholes" ?

I wouldn't care, I'm only 1/8th French.

[Samuel-HALL]

At 5/10/04 11:38 PM, Fiend_Lore wrote: well obviously not. one mans terrorist wouldnt be their freedom fighter. you worded it completly wrong. One person's terrorist, is a different man's freedom fighter. if they beleive in somthing to use those methods, and somone agrees with them to the point of admiration, then that terrorist so some people, is a freedom fighter/hero to another.

Ok, ok...we're splitting hairs here..but i'll go ahead.
Even if said terrorist were to be a group of people's 'freedom fighter/hero', he would still, technically, be qualified as a terrorist.

plus, a terrorist is also someone who causes trouble against the state.

You find me a definition that says that, with a link...and if you're right, ill eat my fucking hat.

[Fiend-Lore]

i dont think a percentage would matter. im about 40% African American, and when people tell stories about hating blacks, or read a story about it, they look at me like a care...and i dont

[bumcheekcity]

At 5/10/04 06:59 PM, IceWraith15 wrote: It's interesting that some terrorist groups state that they don't hate the American people, but hate the American Government, yet one of these groups, Al-Queda, attacked innocent American civilians and killed almost 3000 people?

No, they state that they hate the American People, American Flag, American Government, American Buldings, and everything else about America. So their actions aren't really strange.

[Der-Ubermensch]

Anyone who hates ANY race, culture, religion or nationality has some serious questions to ask himself. Whether we like it or not, we carry some of the stereotypes and prejudices of our ancestors... its up to this generation to end it all. What we need to hate is hate itself.

[Empanado]

At 5/10/04 11:40 PM, RedSkvnk wrote: I wouldn't care, I'm only 1/8th French.

And i'm 1/8 Syrian! Yay! Syria rocks!

[ehsteve7]

America is locked in a lose-lose situation throughout the world. If an incident arises in another country and we come to advise the leader or help at all, the rest of the world is pissed because we can't stay out of other countries' business or the advice doesn't pan out the way we'd hoped. On the other hand if we don't come to the aid, we come across as uncaring or arrogant or cowardly...so what the hell do we do? We interfere. And no one likes someone who interferes with everything...therefore no one likes America...except for true Americans. If you are American and you have a problem with this country...why not get the hell out? Go to the Uk or something...just stop complaining and leave.