NEW DELHI — Rohail Manzoor thought he had what it took to work in a telephone call center. All he had to do was pick up the phone and answer queries from American customers about their long-distance bills. He was armed with lessons on how to speak English like the Americans — adjust the r’s, say “zee” instead of “zed,” “mail” instead of “post.”
He even called himself “Jim,” and figured he would pretend to be an American customer service agent.
Rohail Manzoor, a soft-spoken call center employee in New Delhi, has dealt with many hostile U.S. callers. A survey said the calls are “psychologically disturbing” for workers. (Rama Lakshmi For The Washington Post)
But nothing prepared him for the shower of curses that came his way when he picked up the phone one night on the job.
” ‘You Indians suck!’ an American screamed on the phone,” recalled a soft-spoken Manzoor, 25. “He was using a lot of four-letter words, too. He called me names left, right and center.”
Call center executives and industry experts say abusive hate calls are commonplace, as resentment swells over the loss of American jobs to India.
[SNIP]
“When some callers are unhappy with the service, their frustration often turns racist,” said Amit Narula, 25, a call center agent. “They would say, ‘This is why you should not handle our work. Indians are not good enough.’ “
PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) can cause counter-racist behavior. It can cause people to be afraid of not only citizens of a nation, but also people from any group imaginable even including political parties. I’m not saying that it is justified, but that it is understandable.
Even animals have to be retrained after having been subjected to abusive owners.
People’s first impressions about a nation sometimes can occur by the very first experience and/or person that they meet. But if they are repeatedly abused (in this case, Indian call center agents), their counter-racist (or prejudiced) behavior can be more severe and outrageous. It could eventually turn violent.
A member of a Canadian Forum called Vivelecanada, said the following which really hit me hard:
Collective guilt is a fundamentally flawed concept. Germans were not collectively guilty for Hitler’s crimes in any way that humanity in general wasn’t guilty for in producing such a monster.
Races, families, tribes, nations, bridge clubs or gangs do not commit crimes. Individuals commit crimes. Individuals can cooperate in the commission of crimes, but each are individually guilty only for their own specific role.
These evils arise when we classify people according to convenient labels and collectivize them. Lepine and Hitler both collectivized their respective enemies, and this is their first step in dehumanizing them.
It’s easier to hit or kill a stereotype, a label, a proxy for a group or a faceless mass of people than it is an individual human being. Collectivization is the first step in dehumanization. The next step is the atrocity.
If you’ve ever picked up a pet from the Humane Society and notice really, really odd abnormalities with your furry fellow, it can be narrowed down to PTSD where the previous owner was abusive. Dogs, for example, react to “first impressions” or “repetitive impressions” similar to that of humans. They may begin to hate all mail-men as the dog was victimized by one, for example.
This is what started the Nazi regime. Hitler had it in for the Jews. The story of Adolf Hitler has many versions. Maybe we’ll never know what really happened. But from what I had learned, Hitler’s father was a Jew. He was extremely abusive toward Hitler. Hitler then developed an unwavering hatred toward Jews as a whole, and he got the nation of Germany to believe that Jews (and other groups as well) were evil due to his pseudo-nationalist party. I say pseudo because it was just a way to grab the hearts of the Germans (with a hidden motive) being that there was a world-wide depression going on at the time. He won over the German people due to what good he DID do as a leader. He actually DID help Germany in many ways – at least enough to persuade the German people that he was genius and “for the people”.
Once he had the Germans where he wanted them, via “racial cleansing”, he began to exterminate the Jews among other groups as well. Deep down inside, he was really Right-winged. If he had initially started out leading from the far Right, I wonder if he would have had the support from the people like he did.
The hatred these Indians are receiving over the telephone is not tenant of the “American culture”. Replace the US with another country, and you’ll find people doing the same or worse. People are somewhat anonymous over the phone, you know. Surely, the receiver of the call knows YOU, but your family, co-workers, and friends (the people you may put on an act for) don’t know that you resorted to racist and hurtful insults to the Indian guy on the other line.
I used to work for both travel agencies and one major airline as a call center representative. I became jaded and a bit hardened after that experience because customers can be assholes ranging from subtle condescending language to foul and blatant abusive attacks. I intellectually exaggerated that the majority of whom I spoke with were rude, but in reality, they were the minority. The exaggeration that I made it out to be at the time, was a way for me to cope.
The reasons customers can be so abusive over the phone is because they are anonymous and they are taking out their miserable lives on YOU. Additionally and most importantly, customers know that you cannot fight back or you’ll get fired!! This is mainly why some prey on telephone operators. There’s a big difference between taking a REAL issue with an airline that needs to be resolved and becoming personal with the agent on the other end who has NOTHING to do with your problem. I am 100% American, and I experienced what the Indians are experiencing now in New Delhi and other places where American businesses have planted themselves. The difference between me and the New Delhi agent is that the attacks made upon me weren’t racist.
If YOU have ever worked in a call center before, you know EXACTLY where I’m coming from!! It is pure HELL. You learn that not Americans (I worked for an international airline/travel agency), but ALL PEOPLE —– SUCK!
It is my opinion, however, when people are attacked more than a few times, they make a mountain out of a molehill and exaggerate their experiences. A LOT doesn’t mean the majority! After I calm down and revisit the nightmare experiences that I had with customers, I realize that the asshats in proportion to the neutral or nice ones, were the minority.
What I am trying to say is that all it takes is enough or one bad experience with “a type of species” to develop a sweeping hatred toward the group that the abuser came from. If counter-racism should occur, those attacks and the victimization will just get worse. The victim is just further victimizing himself. Counter-bigotry, in my opinion, should be dealt with on a more professional and peaceful level as in — see a therapist!!
Now, we have to figure out what differentiates a person who is a victim of racial attacks and doesn’t resort to collectivism versus one with the same experience who does? Child abuse? What do YOU think?
Since Nationalism is the center of a lot of cross-border debates, I find it important to introduce this article on Canadian and American Nationalism. While the focus is on relations between Canada and the United States, some of what is mentioned in this literature is relevant beyond Canada and extends to Europe and the rest of the world.
My personal comments will be based upon the text that I have bolded out.
Nationalism unites people of different classes and ideologies. It can create harmony, link our past to our present and give a people a sense of identity. But nationalism is also a tool used by dictators, despots and power-hungry politicians alike. It can create violent and mighty forces as well as divide people from different geographies. It is used to exaggerate differences, foster generalizations and cause discriminatory thinking. These two halves of nationalism can perhaps best be viewed in the context of World War II. Churchill, Roosevelt and King used nationalism to unite their nations against brutal enemies for the preservation of democratic civilization. Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo exploited nationalism to fuel an expansionist voracity the likes of which the world had never seen before. Therefore, we observe from history that nationalism can be a force for self-preservation, heroism and honor, or for vengeance, conquest, enslavement and dishonor.
This is why I am beginning to learn that those people from other countries that are bigoted toward Americans (not critical of US policies, but bigoted – big difference!) are staunch Right-wing nationalists in their own country. Those individuals I had once thought were on the far Left, are on the Right with a few exceptions.
[SNIP!]
While nationalism is a strong force in both the US and Canada, the expression of it is quite different on people divided by the arbitrary border line. The difference is not due to ideology or culture, but should be understood in historical and psychological terms. In many ways, the imagined differences are more powerful and divisive than any true realities.
One of my major complaints about Sarah Palin was her divisive speech and politics. Whether she was aware of what she was doing or not, she was encouraging a more clear split down the middle to separate America into two Americas: Right America vs Left America.
Americanophobes are equally guilty of dividing the masses as opposed to uniting them. But what else can we expect from xenophobic organizations?
The author then proceeds to explain how Canada was born. Then a psychologist takes the stand:
“If you step back, it’s very hard in objective terms to plot out what are the true differences between Canadians and Americans… Humans have a strong capacity to construct identities for themselves. It’s largely a social process of construction. Some of it is taking small differences and making them seem bigger. A lot of it comes not from the differences, but from feelings of a sense of identity. It’s tough to find things on which to hang an identity for all the English-speaking Canadians. It’s not really a language that makes them distinct. It only makes them distinct from French-speaking Canadians. It makes them more like the U.S. to focus on language. Food doesn’t work very well because, by and large food in Canada is the same as in the United States. What are you left with? Well there’s geography. It’s clear that if you live in Canada as opposed to the U.S., there’s a border between the two. There aren’t a lot of things onto which you can pin a distinctively Canadian culture, other than growing up and learning that you’re Canadian and not American. It’s identity by negation rather than affirmation.“
Thousands of Americans personally? Naw. Nobody with half a brain would fall for that. In my 40 years of being alive, I’ve never met so many people.
Visits to the US? Being a “captain” in the military, this wasn’t for pleasure, but for business. I wouldn’t consider that to be “seeing” the US.
Working and living with Americans for more than a decade? That’s very vague. And still, nobody will believe that all or even most of the Americans you met were these evil monsters that you make them out to be.
Rape is more prevalent in Canada and Australia. In the US, Americans rape Americans every day. Justice is not always absolute – anywhere in the world.
So, what is this guy’s point?
There is A LOT that Canadians should be proud of. There really isn’t a reason in modern times to identify themselves with negativity. Rather, the focus should be on the positives.
Pamala Sutton, a Canadian Expatriate living in the states tried to challenge her fellow Canadians in asking them if they could focus on a POSITIVE Canadian identity rather than the tired cliché “I AM CANADIAN because I’m not American” ho hum. It’s quite a challenge for some Canucks, you know?
Back to the original article:
There are of course many differences between Canadians and USAmericans, but there are few, if any, national differences that one can point to beyond the psychology of understanding that you are Canadian or USAmerican. As noted Canadian journalist and author, David Frum has pointed out:
“What we have here is one large, English-speaking North American culture with a number of components, of which Ontario is one, Western Canada is another. It’s true that you can get in a car at Anchorage and drive diagonally southeast until you hit Miami and speak the same language, use the same credit card, pump gas the same way. I think you’d be struck much more by the similarities than the differences. And the places where you would notice dissimilarities would not match the border.”
And more importantly…
While Canadian nationalism can often be described in these reactive terms, as largely an identity based on non-Americanism, the reverse is not true in the United States. As Canadian poet Margaret Atwood once said, this leaves Canadians looking through a one-way mirror into the United States, with USAmericans largely blind to on goings behind that mirror. USAmericans are far less likely to compare and contrast themselves and their country to Canada and Canadians. If they do, they are even less likely to look at Canada with contempt and righteous indignation. USAmericans largely look towards Canada with friendly feelings, and see Canadians as cousins or even as brothers and sisters, which of course was literally the case before the American Revolution.
This is what irks me the most about Americanophobia! The same can be said about Europeans as well. Both Europeans and Canadians are favored by the majority of Americans. Our media is generally good to them as well (with the exception of France on occasion). It’s really the case of “We’re nice to you, but you’re not nice to us”.
Try to imagine making this more personal. Think about being nice to someone because you like them just to have them be mean to you and all the people you know on top of it.
Since this second-class citizenship is undesirable, and since Canada could never match the United States in measurable terms due to relative size of populations, many Canadians often describe themselves as more civilized, peaceful and kind. Canadian historian George Woodcock notes it in this manner, “Canadians make up for their physical weakness by assuming an air of moral superiority towards the Americans, not unlike that which Scots assumed towards the English”. One example of Canadians acting out this idea is the strong Canadian belief that Canada is a nation of peacekeepers. According to the UN, Canada ranks 38th in UN peacekeeping, with 233 peacekeepers abroad working in UN peacekeeping missions as of Dec 2003, supplying less than 1% of international peacekeepers. Ghana commits about ten times the number of peacekeepers, at 2,306 while only having 60% of Canada’s population. Many will then go on to contrast their imagined leading role in international peacekeeping against the world policing of the United States. Even though Canadian soldiers have stood side-by-side with USAmericans in nearly every military action (UN-mandated or not) the US has taken. The only two notable exceptions being the Vietnam War and the recent Iraqi conflict, both of which were highly debated in both countries.
I really wish, not just Canadians, but everyone to stop telling Americans that they’re “peacekeepers”. People have really bastardized what that word means!
I would also like to point out that contrary to popular belief, Canada *DID* invade Iraq with the US. It’s amazing how many foreigners don’t know this.
So the next time a proud fellow citizen tells you that Canada didn’t join the Iraq War, remind them of Mark Twain’s famous quip: “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
To continue with the article…
Many other Canadians have attached themselves to the belief that Canada is “a kinder and gentler nation” (ironically a phrase taken from President George H. W. Bush). Yet, when put to the test in terms of philanthropy “Americans give over two-and-a-half times more of their income to charity than do Canadians”, according to a Fraser Institute of Dec 2003 report. The average value of charitable donations in the United States is $3,494 US; the average value of donations in Canada is $998 CDN ($760 US). An argument could be made that this difference is largely due to higher levels of disposable incomes in the US coupled with a less demanding tax burden. However, little can be shown to prove that in contrast to the United States, Canada is a nation consisting of kinder gentler individuals. Finally, United Nations ratings in Human Development have often been used in the past as a basis for Canadians to point out their superiority. Since the most recent report ranks Canada one spot below the United States, this sort of talk has subsided into sullen silence.However, it was not that long ago that many argued loudly that this mere collection of three basic indicators: Life Expectancy, Literacy/Enrollment and PPP, determined which was the greatest nation on earth. The same individuals who trumpet this sort of thing usually ignore reports done by other institutions that put Canada beneath the United States. Of course, this is not a phenomenon unique to Canada. Comparisons such as these, which match up countries often, help fuel nationalism everywhere.
Helping fuel nationalism: I’ve read through many, many blogs of all sorts and rantings from those all over the world. Is it not very telling that if you venture into an Americanophobic blog that you will, without a doubt, find “research” that compares…
The Swiss to Americans
The Brits to Americans
The Canadians to Americans
The French to Americans
What is this? It’s called Nationalism.
—>Will we ever find the Swiss being compared to Equadorians?
—>Will we ever find the Brits being compared to Canadians?
—>Will we ever find Canadians being compared to New Zealanders?
—>Will we ever find the French being compared to the Japanese?
Nope.
All foreign research is [Country A] vs [America].
That speaks volumes right there. This probably also explains why many Americans attribute this juvenile behavior to jealousy and/or short man syndrome.
In any event, why the need to compare and contrast cultures, anyway? I can understand comparing the health benefits of dark chocolate vs milk chocolate, but comparing cultures in quasi-formal “studies”? How is this useful other then intending to hurt the feelings of others?
Some Canadian nationalists will point to differences in medical care, gun control, capital punishment, drug laws and more recently gay marriages. But these differences are in governance, not culture. British Columbia and Alberta have made moves to offer privatized medical care, but this makes them no less Canadian. California and Oregon have tried moving towards more universal healthcare programs, but they do not become less USAmerican by doing so.
JFK once said, “Let us not seek the Republican answer or the Democratic answer, but the right answer.”
One could say the same about America and Canada when change is trying to take place. Just replace the words “Republican” and “Democratic” with “American” and “Canadian”.
Another argument offered by those who believe that imaginary lines draw real differences, is that Canada is more left wing than the United States. Although a large number of liberals reside in northern North America, describing Canada in ideological terms offers at best a momentary snapshot of an evanescent state of affairs. Just as in the United States, Canada has experienced several shifts from left to right and back again over the course of its political history. Indeed, Canadian politicians in the late 1800s touted Canada’s lower taxes in contrast to the tax-and-spend USAmericans.
Anyway, yes, the US goes through political stages between Right, Left, and in between throughout history just as any other nation out there. Does not anyone remember Margaret Thatcher? How did Obama get elected by a supposed “right-wing dominant country” such as America?
Nearly all the lavish social programs in Canada, that some say define Canada today, were first created by the United States. Still, it is hard to dispute that today there are small differences between the attitudes of average Canadians and USAmericans.
[SNIP!]
All the major differences we find between Canada and the United States are regional. For example, the people of Arkansas when compared with the people of British Columbia are vastly different (in North American terms). They speak with a different accent; they have slightly different customs, cuisines and cultures. In short, if you put the average British Columbian in the middle of Arkansas, everyone would know that he/she wasn’t from there. But put that B.C.er in Washington State and it would difficult for a native Washingtonian to know he/she wasn’t a Washingtonian. One might argue Seattle and Vancouver are virtually identical, especially when compared to Little Rock. The same could be said when comparing Manitoba and Minnesota to Newfoundland, Ontario and Michigan to Wyoming, the Maritime Provinces and New England states to the Yukon, etc. Overall, the differences between the United States and Canada are best seen regionally, not nationally. We do not have thousands of years of differing histories; we do not have generations upon generations brought up to believe completely different societal values; and we do not speak different tongues or exist within confined communities unable to travel outside our own borders.
When will people understand that the US is way too diverse to pigeon-hole? We aren’t one or the other. We’re a little bit of everything – despite what the BBC, the CBC and trashy tabloids will brainwash you with.
One such region that does speak a different tongue, and one that some would describe as a nation unto itself, is Quebec. Quebec nationalism is perhaps the biggest irritant to Canadian nationalists, because without Quebec, Canada would be much smaller and much less culturally different from the United States, overall. Quebec is also often used by Canadian nationalists as an example of what makes Canada unique. Although most Canadians outside Quebec know little French, there is a strong tendency for English Canadians to attach themselves to French Quebec as a means of distinguishing themselves from USAmericans. This is directly related to the anti-American sentiments that many have. From time to time Quebec has risen up and attempted to separate from the rest of Canada, but each time the rest of Canada (and in the past Britain) has managed to quell the movements. English Canadians will vehemently argue that Quebec belongs in Canada. Yet, they do so somewhat hypocritically. They rally and cry that the differences between Quebec and English Canada are slight and we ought to be together, yet the differences between Canada and the US are too great, and we ought to be separate. It would appear that based on this view the true defense of the sovereignty of the political entity known as Canada is defined by “the narcissism of small differences” as Sigmund Freud would say.
Let’s once and for all set the record straight, shall we?
ENGLISH CANADA IS NO MORE BILINGUAL THAN THE UNITED STATES! Canadians speak as much French as do Americans speak Spanish as their second language.
Even Euronationalists that brag incessantly about being “multilingual” are full of toad poop!
Some of the positive aspects of Canadian nationalism include ideas such as freedom, democracy, peace, good government and multiculturalism. Of course, the same ideas also define the United States. Canadian multiculturalism is sometimes distinguished from US multiculturalism as being diversity vs. assimilation. This is reinforced in Canadian minds by the USAmerican habit of describing the US as a melting pot. To many USAmericans multiculturalism and melting pot are interchangeable. Certainly, there is quite a bit of assimilation within US culture. People are encouraged to learn English, and often find it most convenient to conform to North American norms. This isn’t really any different from Canada, where the government also awards learning English (and French) and helps people acclimatize themselves to North American lifestyle. A Farsi-speaking Iranian cannot move to Canada, work there and live a normal life without adapting to his surroundings, just as he would have to if he moved to the United States. Both countries welcome diversity.
This entire essay basically spells out Canadian ignorance.
Despite the large overall commonalities of North Americans, when contrasting USAmerican nationalism against Canadian nationalism, few parallels can be found. As mentioned previously, these are largely self-made identities created by the human mind. If one accepts this notion, it would be safe to assume that, for example, a US-born flag-waving US nationalist who has a propensity to embellish the greatness of his native USA, if born in Canada, instead would be a flag-waving triumphalist Canadian nationalist, and vice versa.
People all over the world believe that it is only the Americans that are nationalists. Yet, another example of the ignorance that stems from hate.
Contrary to what Juan McDaniel and his Nationalist Eurosociopath pack of wolves believe, I personally don’t think that America is the best country in the world. I don’t even know if there is a formula to determine such a complexity? But I will say that I am not ashamed or apologetic to give Americans credit where its due. I will be quick to passionately defend my people as well. I am an American patriot. I am grateful to be an American. This is not nationalism – this is patriotism. At the same rate, I will also call out America where she deserves harsh criticism. This is not unpatriotic as some of my fellow Americans would like to believe – either.
There is good and bad everywhere, and what separates a nationalist from a patriot is ignorance outside one’s borders and even within.
Feel free to read more about Nationalism here. I’m willing to bet that most Americanophobes don’t even know what that word means.
“Europe irritates me to no end. I have been upset with European leaders for a long time, because they have welcomed with open arms the commanders of the armed guerrillas in Colombia that have besieged my country for decades. Europe is also home to numerous “human rights” organizations that constantly accuse the democratic government of Colombia of human rights violations but that conveniently forget to mention a word about the leftist guerrillas heinous crimes. However, the source of anger against Europe is deeper than that. I do not trust a group of nations that pretend to be all nice and peaceful, but that love to deal with other nations who are in clear violation of international law and that have been sanctioned numerous times by the UN.
What is it with Europe anyway? They pretend to be the standard bearers of peace and integration, but in reality they are war profiteers that integrate only with themselves, alienating the rest of the world and especially the United States. I understand that they would be mad with the Bush administration for going into Iraq against the U.N’s wishes and on false information, but they are bringing this act too far. They want to blame all the ills happening in the world on the United States. Now wait a second there!If there is anyone more guilty of the anger of the people in the Arab world and the rest of the third world that would be Europe. Let us not forget that not too long ago the European countries colonized good part of those areas and that the Spaniards exploited every bit of land in Central and South America. As a matter of fact according tothis article, the French were in the Ivory coast and without a UN resolution I might add, as the war in Iraq was underway. Historical amnesia is what I call that. As far as I can remember, and please correct me if I am wrong, the United States did not hold any colonies that it exploited to the point of vanishing. But the hypocrisy is not only historical, it also appears to be rampant in the present.
While Europe yells and screams that the United States “invaded a sovereign country” that did not attack them first, the Europeans were making deals with Saddam Hussein, who was supposed to be under an international embargo. Russia, France and Germany were happily selling arms to this murderous dictator and apparently they don’t stop at Iraq either. They are profiting from arm and nuclear technology sales to rogue states that have all the intentions of using them to wreck havoc in the international community. I am specifically talking about Iran and Venezuela and its deals with Russia, as well as Spain sending Jet fighters to Fidel-wannabe Hugo Chavez.
I did and still do not agree with our reasons for going to war, which are not all that clear anymore, but I will not side with the European hypocrites who have been “free riding” on America’s back for far too long. As a matter of fact, I think the U.S should force them to militarize themselves and share some of the burden of keeping the international order. They are largely benefiting from the fact that they don’t have to worry about solving pesky problems like the North Koreans building nuclear weapons, because of course, they have always relied on the United States to take care of everything for them. It is time that Europe stopped playing “good guy” and took responsibility for some of the fall out of their own past mistakes. I don’t believe their pacifist act for a second.
Thomas Friedman wrote a very interesting article in the New York Times, that pretty much sums up Europe’s hypocrisy in one sentence: “there is nothing worse than a pacifist that sells arms – especially in a way that increases the burden on its U.S. ally and protector.”(read full article).”
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We’ve all heard enough about American hypocrisy. It exists. Most of us are aware it. However, some of us are tired of hearing that everything bad that takes place in the world is somehow “connected to the US”. Our media portrays Europe in a good light, generally speaking.
It’s about time Americans hear the other side of the story as there are always two sides to every story.
Before you start accusing the American government for selling arms to dictators…
Eighty percent of Britons believe that between 1973 to 1990 the United States sold Saddam Hussein more than a quarter of his weapons.
This is a myth brought on by Anti-American propaganda.
Truth: According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute’s investigation, the US supplied 200 (0.46%) of Iraq’s imported weapons in this period, of a total 43,915 from all countries. The UK supplied 79 (0.18%) of Iraq’s weapons. The USSR, France and China supplied 57%, 13% and 12% respectively.
My recent results of having taken a political questionnaire. So, here is my political compass.
To take the test and compare your results with me, click here.
The results of past leaders: Many people confuse Hitler with Stalin. Hitler tried to sell socialism only to get the vote and gain control over his people. While he did open up his socialist-bag-o-tricks and save the German economy during the depression, once he had the trust of the German people in the palm of his hands, his true right wing character let loose. Hitler then executed is well-planned mission. Hilter was a right-wing nut-job. People who deny this are only trying to make you think liberals are all blood-sucking tie-dye wearing, tree-hugging, bleeding-heart, communist Arab terrorists that like dictators and no freedom. And they also call Hitler a right-winger to color pink the Bush administration’s poo. Conservatives till this day, still think Hitler was a hardcore leftist when it was actually Stalin.
What’s going on in the rest of the world.
When we look at Election 2008 in the US, here’s what the candidates look like on the map on the larger scale.
Notice where the Palin Administration is compared to Obama. Look closely at who wants more government and who wants less.
For more information as to where I stand politically, you can find my political profile here. What sucks about being a moderate is that you will always be called one of two things: (well, at least by the extremists, anyway)
a left-wing nut job … OR
a right-wing nut job
Anyway, please post your political compass results right here in the comment section!
Of first priority, I would most humbly like to thank Ms. Monkey for allowing me this exalted venue to make a very important announcement.
Zontar the Magnificent (this is where my blog is), your ever faithful scribe has in the past been merely an observer of the machinations and follies of the events on your fair planet Earth. Zontar, however, feels he must now take bold action. Upon observing the very negative campaigning occurring in the “United” States for the current election, Zontar wishes to declare his intention to run for president!
I know all of my faithful minions from my own blog will be delighted to hear this news and will vote for me with no questions asked. It is incumbent upon me, in order to achieve victory, to give you Zontar’s campaign platform in this very fine blog of Ms. Monkey.
For those who don’t know me, I hail from Xenon which is a galaxy 12,000,000,000,000,002 light years from Earth. Zontar is eligible constitutionally to be president as Xenon was made a protectorate of the “United” States during the incumbency of Gerald Ford.
Don’t write me any letters! I know what you are thinking. “Zontar”, I hear you say, “This is absurd! You are an alien! How can you understand the problems of a (mostly) human country?”
Fear not, future faithful minion. I can assure you there is ample precedent. Simply look at history.
That is correct, oh ye of little faith. Abraham Lincoln, arguably the greatest president was actually a cyborg hailing from Uranus. During the 19th century, this tidbit was swept under the rug. But all Xenonians are very knowledgeable about this. The fable of his assassination at the hands of the mad actor Booth is a complete fabrication. What happened was his unstable wife through a glass of Big Red at him after a particularly heated argument. This caused him to short circuit. There was no cabal involved at all. It was just a marital spat.
Even in our own time there is proof that Aliens have been deeply involved in politics. It is well known that the neocon aliens endorsed George W. Bush:
Perhaps the most astonishing revelation of all is the fact that the current vice-president, Mr Richard Cheney, is an interloper from beyond the Milky Way.
This is certainly not hard to believe given the evil which he hath wrought upon the world. He was born on the Planet Fellatio and it is well known who malevolent and bad-tempered Fellatians are. Thank Allah he will soon be on the street in January.
But Zontar is not about finger pointing about others wrong doings. Nay! Zontar is benevolent and wise and is all about Change! Change we can believe in!
But what are Zontar’s stands on the issues? Why should I vote for him, I hear you thinking.
The reasons are sundry and overwhelming.
The most important reason is that Zontar is a good family man who has old fashioned family values. As an example I give you a picture of the most recent child which was given birth by his beloved daughter wife Placenta.
Don’t ya think Krok is adorable?
Among Zontar’s other accomplishments, are that he was co-chairman of the PTA (Parent Teacher Alien) association in Xenonia and later mayor of that fair city. While mayor Zontar made many fine executive decisions such as which books to ban and how much of a bounty to place of wolves legs.
The greatest reason to vote for Zontar is of his sacrifice for his planet of Xenon. During the Third interplanetary war between Xenon and Fellatio, Zontar was taken prisoner. He was tortured twice daily upon the electric chair
and inhumane toilet practices
Zontar would not give in to his captors. He would not divulge any military secrets until the second day of captivity.
Zontar is an intergalactic hero. Zontar is a maverick.
To make sure you can trust this ticket, Zontar is nominating himself as vice-president. Xenonians have a unique self cloning feature which comes in very handy.
So on election day, I want ya to ask yourself this question. Do you want four more years of Bush as represented by Mr. McCain?
Or do you really want a president who is a tax and spend liberal who will enslave you to his communist belief system and send you to a gulag prison camp if you disagree with him?
I think you know the answer my friends. On November 4th, as you enter the voting booth, make your choice for Change, Truth and the American Way!
The extreme right wing keeps announcing that if Obama took office, that the US would be defenseless – that our soldiers can basically go home and wouldn’t be needed until another Republican took office. This is all despite Obama supporting our presence and military needs to take down Osama Bin Forgotten.
Woodrow Wilson(Democrat)—> had us go to WWI (for the last year and a half of it).
Franklin D Roosevelt(Democrat)—> WWII
Harry Truman(Democrat)—> The Korean War
John F Kennedy(Democrat)—> got the ball rolling for Vietnam War
Lyndon B Johnson(Democrat)—>another Democrat who continued the Vietnam War
I’m not going to give an opinion about these wars whether they were illegal or not – defense or offense. My point is to prove that, historically, we have gone to war MORE under Democratic presidents than Republicans!
Even the International Anti-American crowd doesn’t know this as they associate Republicans presidents with warmongering, and naively think that if Obama gets elected, that he won’t go after Osama bin Forgotten.
Besides being a nation of backwards nationalistic, paranoid, arrogant, fat, lazy, greedy, racist, spoiled-rich, slutty, ignorant, stupid, humorless, loud, obnoxious, gum-chewing, carbon-emitting, gun-toting, bible-thumping, baby-killing, flag-waving and self-centered rednecked Neanderthals living in the most disgusting chunk of the globe, have we done ANY good? Any good at all?
Could backwards nationalistic, paranoid, arrogant, fat, lazy, greedy, racist, spoiled-rich, slutty, ignorant, stupid, humorless, loud, obnoxious, gum-chewing, carbon-emitting, gun-toting, bible-thumping, baby-killing, flag-waving and self-centered rednecked Neanderthals be capable of anything deemed worthy or noble?
What’s the big deal with the whole 4th of July speech? “All men were created equal….bla bla bla….” Does anybody know who this was meant for and what it REALLY means??? Most of it doesn’t even hold true any longer as times have changed, and…. FOR THE BETTER!! How much do people really know about America? That speech actually degrades us and continues to make a laughing stock out of us. Not that we need too much help, but ya know…..
Here’s what is important. For several years, the Brits were bullying us around and taxing us like crazy. Being that the Americans don’t take being walked on very well, we stood for what was right, kicked some British arse and became independent from them! Now, that’s why we are as patriotic as we are – if we are. We got where we are today by fighting for what was right. Although I’m truly sorry we got rid off all that precious British tea (10,000 pounds worth was a lot of money back in the day). I’m not kidding. Take it from a SERIOUS tea drinker, as myself.
No. America’s not perfect. Read in my glossary how I define patriotism before the Americanophobes come here with THEIR automatic weapons and laundry list of American errs.
But it´s important to realise this: The basic experience of the USA as a nation is, that it had to fight for it´s freedom and independence (against Britain) and later in the american civil war… For this reason their believe in the USA and the strong patriotism of the american citizens are an expression of their pride, that they have survived and did not brake appart, and also on their strong believe in freedom and independence their fathers have fought for – and the strong believe that the USA is standing for these two qualities.
Listen to the lyrics of the national-anthem of the USA, it is all about this. Many Americans support their country, because it is assuring their freedom. Many Americans support the US-troops, because the troops are defending their country and the USA gained it´s freedom through war….
You may allow me to say… It is not that dumb to support your countries troops – it consists of your people and is fighting for your values and interests. (Let´s say – it should fight for your values and interests…)
[snip!]
Another thought on American patriotism: The USA is proud to be a separate and independent nation – it is proud, that it has become a wealthy and strong country (the Europeans predicted, that America would brake apart in anarchy and chaos) and it is proud to be the oldest democracy on this planet, that still exists…
Things one can actually be proud on. There IS a form of healthy and honest patriotism in the USA, which you should be careful to critizise. (some overdo it – but extremists are standart in human societies.) Be sure, that you understand what you are up to, before loading your weapons…
And remember people, if it weren’t for the French, chances are we would have never been able to have an Independence Day. There would be no “4th of July”. They fought courageously and helped us kick British butt! Give credit where credit is due. As SuperFrenchie says, …
If it were not for the French, Americans would be speaking English today!
I have decided today that your average moderate liberal American is the same as your average conservative living in Canada or Europe.
I have found that other countries who (the Americanophobes) call themselves, “liberals” are really not, “liberals”. They are really leftist elitists (aka moonbats) who pretend to “care” about “the world”, “the people”, “the poor”, “the starving”, “the dying”, “the dead and wounded from wars” and “the earth”.
That is the irony. Leftist elitists put up a “because I care” veneer”, but underneath, they are only concerned about themselves.
This is why I like to make conservatives friends. Even though conservatives don’t really match where I stand on the political platter, I relate to them SO MUCH BETTER than those who “call” themselves “liberal”.
I find the term, “liberal” to be misused and abused – just like the term, “racism“.
This is how I see a “liberal”:
Note: Tolerance of the ideas and behavior of others? Pfft… this is why I cannot call myself a true full-throttle liberal because I am *not* tolerant of the leftists or any who subscribe to extremist or elitist views on both the right or the left. So, count me out. Broad-mined… yeah that’s me. A leftist is the same (to me) as a leftist elitist (see my glossary). “Liberal” is a loose term, though because there are conservatives who favor reform, open to new ideas, are tolerant and broad-minded. Those on my blogroll that are conservative fit the mold for being open and accepting. However, I think that the fundamental definition of conservatism lies more on tradition than anything else.
American Patriotism (or insularism?) is often misunderstood as well by the Americanophobes – as if defending one’s country is “unique” to Americans??? Just insult or mislabel the country and/or the people of any non-American, and see what happens. Watch how defensive they get. Sit back and watch the sparks fly!
American Patriotism is often confused with the type of patriotism that existed in Germany back when Hitler was running the show. This is why Americanophobic Europeans get offended by the term and “actions” behind “patriotism” – especially when they see how many Americans were led to believe that the Iraq war was justified back in 2003. This reminds Americanophobic Europeans of the German citizens hailing to Hitler’s command to exterminate the Jews. Americanophobic Europeans are seeing another Holocaust through the Bush administration in the sense that…
Bush = Hitler
The Iraq War = the extermination of all Arabs
The American people = the Nazi’s blindly following their leader, cheering on and participating in the deaths of all Arabs
No! I don’t believe the above example even though I’m against the Iraq War. The above is a disgusting hyperbole at best and insulting at worst. But this is how Europeans see American Patriotism!! My German friend wrote about this very topic in his blog which you can read here.
This was my response to his post:
Yes, all things need to be in moderation. Hyper-patriotism, in my opinion, is an angry response – rather than one of *true* pride. Americans (including myself here) become more patriotic when we feel (well a lot of us) threatened in any way whether it be verbally or physically. Americanophobia just makes people feel more patriotic and then we start to sympathize with the conservatives. Americanophobia is destructive like that. Rather than helping Americans, it gives us more reason to… wave our flags lol. And feel more bonded to one another.
Neo-conservatism began as a backlash to the loud and noisy leftist response to the Vietnam War back in the 60’s. I don’t actually feel this is a rational response, but it does happen.
In any event, I found your writing about European patriotism to be very interesting and informative!
Maybe each continent/nation/culture defines patriotism differently because I even see Canadians threatened by American patriotism as well. It’s very confusing yet curious for me at the same time. My gut feeling, however, is that Canadians just parrot whatever the British say. In my experience, I find Americanophobic Canadians to be just as patriotic or more (in a nationalistic way) than Americans.
The only way you can really understand American patriotism is by living here. Erik Svane posted a non-conventional argument in defence of the irrational fear of the American flag in this article, “Some Thoughts on American Patriotism”.
One common stereotype thrown at us is “excessive pride” to which one of my American friends responded to:
Excessive pride? Most of us love our country (the same way you do yours), but I don’t think its excessive. Most accept the flaws of our society and our government. Ever heard of Saturday Night Live, the Tonight Show, Conan, Comedy Central? we make fun of ourselves ALL THE TIME? Too little modesty? Please? Obesity and fat people, excessive use of energy, and the President himself get made fun of every day on some of the most highly rated shows on TV. Especially the president. According to most polls, about 4 out of 5 Americans dislike their president. yep.
Excessively religious, some of us, but in America’s youthful population, agnosticism and atheism are pretty widespread (and have been for 40 years), a trend that includes myself.
Our history may be short, but it’s full. And so what’s the problem with celebrating your nations history anyways? everybody does that.
And nobody carries a gun around. 1 out a 1000. and that’s in the south. in the rest of the US its more like 1 in 10000.
Sheltered! Relaxed! Gently and Calm! did you take American history? what about the frikin’ American Civil War! 600,000 dead in 4 years. battlefield sites spread throughout Virginia and Tennessee. 450,400 Britons died in World War II. (By the way, America had 418,500 deaths in WWII).
A lot of Americans don’t think we’re helping. there is no allusion at all. A LOT of people. how ’bout the entire Democratic Party (the most popular) and a lot of others too.
Don’t blame Microsoft and American automobiles for selling there video games and their cars. They’re just making a living. I don’t blame all those British manufacturers for falling short a making quality vehicles and going under (Jaguar, Rolls, Bentley, Lotus, do I have to go on?), its hard to make cars, and I understand those British companies and I understand GM, Ford, and Chrysler. Don’t forget, we can actually draw mirrors between the British and American auto industries. – Samuel Smith
This makes me wonder… do comedians and TV shows in other countries make fun of their own people, their own government, and their own leader like Americans do?
History tells us why American Patriotism exists as it does (reference: the Revolutionary War). But history also tell us why Europe hates American Patriotism (reference: the Holocaust/Nazi Germany). It’s about history. It’s about war. The PAST makes us WHO we are and WHO we hate.
This is why I believe learning History, as much as you can, is critical when it comes to appreciating where everyone came from and the cultural differences that come about through our unique histories and birth. After all, ignorance is one of the classic reasons for xenophobic attitudes, is it not? This is not to say I know as much history as I should (!!), but we all should at least be willing to learn little by little. And in my opinion, history is not something that can be taught solely by a grade-school text-book. Most of them are liars, anyway!
A common trend: Many Americanophobic leftists take much time out of their lives to critique America and Americans. However, they spend very little time (or no time at all) learning about America and Americans. In fact, they spend just as much time learning about the US as Americans do about other countries. It’s this type of hypocrisy that I like to talk about in my blog.
Back to the topic, I haven’t decided a fancy enough term to match my political standing. I sometimes alternate between calling myself a liberal, a moderate liberal, or a moderate. The last time I took the political compass test, my results basically required me to wear a tin-foil hat for the rest of my life.
I guess I just need more moonbats to piss me off, and then I’ll have my OWN M-16 and join the GOP!
Despite criticisms going back and forth toward each other on occasion, on D-Day (which is today – I know … the day’s almost over), let’s reflect on the positive and see that they ARE our ally. They do appreciate us when appreciation is due. Give the French a chance please and let us open our minds a bit – even if it’s just a tiny bit (it’s better than nothing).
SuperFrenchie, a Frenchman of course, has a blog. The running theme in his blog is similar to that of mine in that he’s fighting against French-bashing / French stereotypes(he’s a lot nicer than me!!) so prevalent in the US media and in the US itself. SuperFrenchie is also dispelling common myths that many people are indoctrinated to believe. He sometimes criticizes the US as well in the form of “bashing back“. But naturally our government and its people deserve criticism as we aren’t immune or exempt from committing wrongs in the world, and he’s pretty fair and balanced about it too. After all, he’s been living in the states since the 1984 and has two kids going to school here! He has a big clue about American life!
SuperFrenchi sticks up for Americans where credit is due. I happen to find his blog very well-written, thoughtful, and also humorous at the same time. He, like Jean, is *not* Anti-American and just wants Americans to realize that we are friends, and also wants us to realize that the bashing of an entire people hurts them just as much as it hurts us. I stand up for their right to debunk myths and defend themselves and their country.
I was indoctrinated to fear going to France for expected arrogance, when it doesn’t seem that it is the case. It’s okay to be brainwashed. It’s a human thing. We are all guilty of this. But there’s a big difference between people that can listen to contrary arguments with an open mind and those that don’t. Of course, the argument has to be a compelling one, for me, at least. And the French have me convinced. You’d be surprised how much they really do appreciate our war efforts from reading this and this. I’d say it’s quite a refreshing change from hearing this on Memorial Day and this on D-Day.
Some notable facts that we have to remember about the French:
During the Revolutionary War, France aided the United States immensely. Had it not been for their aid, we, most certainly, may have lost against the British!! (Hence SuperFrenchie’s quote, “If it were not for the French, Americans would be speaking English today!”)
They gave us the Statue of Liberty that we Americans very often use to show our patriotism, right?
In WWI, they fought VERY valiantly against the Germans, so it is very ironic that they are now known as “cowards”.
In WWII, the fact that they surrendered to Germany is not an indicator of their courage or lack of. Hitler’s army vastly out-manned the French, and the German weapons were over-powering. It would have been an act of supreme idiocy to have fought against the Germans under these circumstances! To have done so, would have meant the needless deaths of thousands of Frenchmen. Even the US and Britain had to wait until 1944 before they could start their officialassault against Germany on the same landmass.
In any event, let’s take today to recognize the French. Of course, every nation needs to be recognized in their own special way, but I feel that the French get the very least amount of credit, and it’s time we open our eyes!!
I think that there have been some misunderstandings? This is not an Anti-American post – nor is it an Anti-soldier post. Quite the opposite!! If you would have clicked the links inside, you’d know. It’s VERY hard to *NOT* be touched when reading this(from a French Association called “The Flowers of Memory”)
Peace is precious and it has a price, it is an effort, always it is of blood, and too often its price is paid by men’s lives. The peace we know in Normandy and France was paid for by the sacrifice of the young lives of Allied soldiers.
In the American Cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer there are 10,944 brave Americans remembered; in the American Cemetery in Saint James the markers of 4,908 Americans remind us of the supreme sacrifice paid for France’s liberation from the yoke of the Nazis. Today we know the liberty and happiness of freedom. We can never forget those that are buried in our country. Two generations have passed that to do not know the horrors of war.
Les Fleurs de la Memoire (the Flowers of Memory) is a French Association created to honor the memory of the soldiers, sailors and airmen buried in the American cemeteries of Normandy by placing flowers on their tombs.
Members of the Association commit in writing to lay flowers on the designated grave of a soldier, once a year, preferably on American Memorial Day. And to make sure the obligation is perpetuated, the family that takes responsibility for placing flowers on the grave is asked to pass it on to its children. If and when it becomes impossible, they are to notify the Association and try to find a suitable replacement.
As of last month, 8,648 graves were honored in that way.
On this D-Day anniversary, I couldn’t find a better way to say thanks.
I have been invited by virgomonkey as a guest blogger.
She asked me, if I could post some historical information about WWII (a German perspective) and I´ll do my very best to answer the questions as correctly as I can due to the ongoing debate between liberals and conservatives in the US regarding Hitler’s political orientation. For further information on my person and background, visitmy blog.
The first question I am asking:
“Was Hitler a right – or a left – winger?”
I want to start with some basic information on the German political system and understanding of the political constellation.
Basic information: In Germany we have many several parties, that are standing for different ideas and political orientations. (too many to mention them all – the most are unimportant. You have to get at least 5% of the votes, otherwise you´ll not even get a seat in the “Bundestag”. (-> 5% Hürde)
Political orientation:
Extreme Left – hates the democratic system and wants to replace it with – socialism/ anarchism/ communism etc… claims to be against authority/tradition and to stand for freedom and social justice.
known parties: Die Linke, PDS
—Here begins Democracy—
Moderate Left – liberal/social… Wants to improve certain aspects of the democracy – social issues, environmental protection, freedom. In this sector you can find: labour parties, environmental activists and similar.
known parties: Bündnis 90 die Grünen, SPD
Centered – SPD and CDU are the biggest parties in Germany, and they are the ones, that rule in Germany – I will only mention them to be right or left, because this is their origin… But in order, to win the elections they tend to be centered – to get votes from all political directions.
Moderate Right – conservative… they tend to support the economy and stand for “traditional morality” (Christian morality) for example for a stricter immigration policy, or against the manipulation of DNA.
Known parties: CDU, CSU
—Here ends democracy—
Radical Right – hates the democracy and wants to replace the democratic system with – a dictatorship these are the parties who claim to stand for our “national pride”, our national stability/tradition and most of their answers are simple: “remove ALL immigrants from Germany, and there will be no unemployment anymore…” Here you*ll find all that “intellectual” neonazi cowards and xenophobic, homophobic paranoids. This is the really conservative opinion in Germany, because they want back to our roots – and the whole world knows what that means.
Known parties: NPD, Republikaner
—Independent—
Additional there are some parties, that I would neither put in the right, nor in the left corner
- for example the FDP – they call themselves “liberal”… a pure party for the rich ones – they want an completely liberal economy (American style system).
—Unpolitical opposition—
- for example the “Autonomen” – It*s a mistake to call them a political group at all, but I*ll do it… they don*t have any party (they are not allowed to – because they are stupid enough to say, that they hate our democracy) – these are simple minded idiots – they are against globalisation, against the “system” (whatever this means), many of them believe in different conspiracy theories – most of them are completely anti/unpolitical (they say it themselves) and don*t know what they want, but they exactly know what they DON*T want and that is our system – culture – education – civilisation…. Right now I found a translation! chaos…
- for example the “Neonazis” – they are stupid enough to say, that Hitler was great and that we should start over again with this – conquer the world – thing. They don*t have any party for this reason. They are the militant part of parties like the NPD… but as there is no prove for it, the NPD itself can not be wiped. They are the ones that burn down houses and kill foreigners.
“Where to place Hitler?”
Let us have a look at the name of his party, first.
NSDAP – Nationalistic Socialistic German Workers Party
The first things you may realise are the words “socialistic” and “workers party”… you may come to the conclusion, that Hitler must have been a communist or socialist then. Hitler claimed to be “a socialist” to win the German working class for him as voters. He wanted to replace the SPD and similar parties, which are traditionally connected with the working class.
The sense of this is to “annex” the opposition as far as possible. The plan was to create the impression, that the NSDAP represented all classes of society and that there is no need for all the other parties – Hitler said this himself in a speech, but in short it is expressed in this slogan:
“One nation – one party”
In reality Hitler is far from being a socialist… His SA is fighting the communists and socialists in the streets and politically the left-wingers and the Nazis are direct rivals.
When Hitler reached his goal to become head of state, he used the “Reichstagsbrand” to declare, that all socialists are traitors and enemies – resulting in the first mass-murder and deportation in Germany.
Later when he established his dictatorship in Germany, he worked closely with the German companies and the last thing he would do, is to limit them – he needed the companies for his war plans.
He is a clear enemy of the socialists and supports none of the traditionally “left” ideological ideas. For this reason he can not be a left-wing politician.
The remaining words are “nationalistic” and “German”… This is closer to reality. Hitler wants to continue the war, that the “Kaiserreich” lost – WWI. He wants to start a military dictatorship again – an opinion shared by many german ex-militaries and conservatives. He believes, that violence is the only way for the “aryan” race to survive. He believes, what war will be the way to German dominance. His ideas can be described in three words -
imperialistic, racist, nationalistic.
the typical topics for a radical right and ultra conservative person in Germany.
It has come to my attention that a hotly discussed topic around here is the closing chapters of WWII, and the roles the various participants played in this stage. I have written an article offering a tentative explanation and potential answer to this question, in the hopes that through either agreement or provocation of further debate, a conclusion may be reached.
I’m going to post an entire documentary here. While this is good for the whole world to see, I find it just as important – if not more, for Americans to see. At least for me, it made me appreciate the feelings that Europeans have concerning their relationship with the United States.
Note:If you have any problems getting any of these videos to play, try refreshing the page. If that doesn’t work, click the link above each video so that you can watch it on the Youtube site. Also keep in mind that my feedback about each video will be at the bottom of each one (not the top).
It will take an hour of your time to go through all of these videos, but I cannot begin to stress the importance of this material for those genuinely concerned about America’s relationship with Europe. As much as I’d like Europeans to open their minds a little bit about us, I feel that we, as Americans, should at least try to understand them. This is not to say, however, that I won’t be leaving my usual sarcastic and sassy comments in response to some of the odd misconceptions/distortions they have about Americans. In any event, please watch. It’s certainly an EYE-OPENER!
If you are European or Canadian and aren’t a Americanophobe (see definition), can you have friends that are Americanophobes and visa versa? Can you speak about any positive feelings about the US publicly in your country? How about Australians? Or New Zealanders? I’d be most curious.
A gentleman named, Chris, who lives in Germany was kind enough to not only answer my questions, but also gave me a lot of his personal experiences (as a German citizen) about his country and his people. He replies after reading my blog post:
And for the questions you ask:
Yes, I am able to express positive feelings on the US, I am able to write it to you and on YouTube and I have never been shot or insulted for this I don*t believe all Americans are of the same opinion (would be hard work to reach this in such a big and multicultural country) And to do it in short…. Americans and europeans are not that different as some would claim.
I made it clear to him that that I knew he’d never get shot at for his opinions. He understood and gave me a thorough answer.
I decided to have a new try, to answer your question, when I woke up this morning and thought about it… it would have been really easy for me, to simply reply: “hmmm? Oh yes sure, sure – can do that, whenever I want to…” but then I decided to simply – try it I got a discussion going with the people in my class (many of them are not of my opinion in some things, so I thought, it would be the best place to start this ^^) and our history teacher… nice thing – this is surely not representative, but I think at least the evidence, that I can do it.
I asked this… “Isn*t it ridiculous, how many people here in europe judge the american citizens, without even having talked to one of them? Surely not everything the US is doing is great, but this rather is concerning the american politics and not the USA at a whole! I think the USA is a great nation!”…. And we discussed about that – some were of my opinion, some were more cirtical on the US – some simply didn*t care or participate… and our teacher participated, too - even if this was completly terminating his plan for the lesson ^^…. We even discussed this while we had brake and so any teacher was arround to concern about an anti-american answer… but… the people were taking this serious and really thought about it – not one attacked or even insulted me for being of this opinion. Thanks for the idea ^^, this was interesting ^^
This was very interesting for me to read. I see diversity in thought. Not the “just following the crowd” mentality going on there at all. Could it be because it’s a college community? I don’t know. But how refreshing is that? A stark contrast from what you can find here.
It appears that Canadian grade schools have a reputation for teaching their students to compare themselves to the United States. We know America is no angel, but I’ve heard no evidence of Canadians ever being taught anything the states did RIGHT. As you can see from my sidebar and previous postings, their knowledge of past wars are frighteningly distorted (the Americanophobic Canadians, that is). I’ve heard many Canadians say that America’s role in WWII was, if anything, minimal and at maximum, self-serving. All I hear, basically, is “Shame on you for Hiroshima and Nagasaki!!”. If you hear this once, you think… well, that person’s just clueless. If you hear it twice, you think … “Well, I ran into another bad egg”… If you hear it time after time after time, it makes you wonder, “What are Canadians learning about the US in their school system – especially when they’re in grade school at that young and vulnerable age?”. They are also led to believe that they successfully burned down the White House in the War of 1812 – when technically the credit is reserved for the British. (Aren’t Canadians about “peace-keeping”, anyway?) While there may have been Canadians among the troops, the main Gold Star goes to Britain. So, I wonder. But when you read articles like this, it makes you wonder EVEN MORE. Perhaps, maybe a Canadian can give me some clarification on this?
To be fair, I’ve seen Americans online announce publicly that the US (and the US exclusively) was responsible for defeating Nazism in WWII. I feel embarrassed when I hear these things. I wonder where they get this from, but suspect that it was taught to them by their parents. The fact of the matter IS – is that ANY COUNTRY not part of the Axis of Evil in WWII WON the war and liberated the Germans! It was a TEAM effort.
So, with that said, young people are brainwashed from their own homes. Sadly.
Let’s hear what Chris learned about WWII in Germany.
What am I taught at school….
WW2 and the NAZI-regime were the biggest mistakes in german history. The victory of the allies and the reconstruction of the european nations and their lasting peace were possible through the participation, help and engagement of the USA. Without the participation of the US after WW2, france and other european nations would have ripped germany appart. (The french for example wanted to make us a agrar-nation (farm land)… in other words… a third world nation – so we could never attack them again. By reminding me, that we attacked their country in both world wars I can understand this position.)
The USA are the ones who taught germany how to run and start a democracy. The USA are the nation, who prevented germany from being overrun by the russian communism.
We are educated to LOVE the USA for their work here. And actually – many germans emigrated to the USA – In the past – starting with the colonialisation of America – to avoid the several german dictatorships and wars, or simply because they liked what they heared about the USA and wanted to live there.
Nowadays – because the USA in our eyes is a great nation and is a big economic power….. and maybe simply because many of our relatives already live over there Just by the way… Every time I see an american on tv, who has an german first or second name I have to smile – sometimes simply because of the spelling of this name (american style)
Chris also criticized some things about America as well, and could not have put it in a more constructive way.
I have a couple of friends in America and so am more in touch with what is on vogue in the US, than many people here… The US have a BIG problem – which is not actually, that you attacked iraq, but that you (dangerous word—I don*t really mean you as a person, or the citizens of the USA) put a really scary picture of the US in the world.
To be honest – simply the way mr.bush tends to explain his intentions is frightening me… I hear about a “crusade” against the “evil” of a worldwide war on terror… of an axis of evil, which is not clearly defined, so that I don*t know which nation is next (Iran or Syria I guess).
I hear and see, that the USA attacks nations without respecting international law – using torture and mercanaries as an instrument for the modern war – I hear and see on YouTube, how patriots are grunting at everyone, that they could “f*** the whole world – and every nation in it” and so on and on and on.
I*m scared and frightened (as many europeans), that all this will result in additional international instabilities, or another worldwar. So much for the european perspective… they can*t do anything about it and they are frightened of big, powerfull USA raging arround all over the world – and this creates anger and maybe even hate…
The Europeans can*t really support the US and they can*t really judge their actions, for they are threatened by the islamic fundamentalists, too – our own extremists (extreme left or right) over here use this situation for their own benefit, by giving simple answers to the big questions (USA is evil – fullstop) So don*t feel too offended by them, for they are only a minority and in an adition – maniacs (I mean it – I know the Neonazis over here – And you know your maniacs over there.)
I*m not going to write about the unbelievable things islamic fundamentalists are doing to their and our people (here and in their originate countries), because I think we both are well informed about this, through media. And I don*t think, that I really have to point out, that every human being should be terrified by this and though I am not going to try to justify it, nor do I think, that it could ever be justified by anyone.
The big question for me is… what do I want to think about all this?
- The USA has been attacked -
Fact for me! I don*t believe WTC was an inside job! And even if it was – this would denounce the US-gouvernment to consist of total barbarians, but would NEVER justify the islamic terror on the other hand – which IN FACT is existing
- and as every nation, responsible for the safety of it*s citizens, the USA has to react.
So the “war on terror” is not to evade and – from my point of view – justified. The way this war is fought is odd, and as every war dirty – and as every crusade it*s about profit, too. International right is violenced, Iraq is more likely to be an chaotic Anarchy, than a Democracy after this and the target of a clean and reasonable war was failed once again – for there will never be a war to ensure peace and war will never be clean.
This is very fair, balanced, and constructive criticism of the US. Notice how up above he stated very positive things about America, but also was able to talk about his disappointment without insulting Americans. Also notice how he *included* other crimes (re: his own folk and Islamic Fundamentalists) not associated with the US. He’s not part of the “blame America first” committee. He doesn’t blame ME for all of his problems. He *doesn’t* have a black and white view of the complex world that we live in. This is the kind of criticism that I can handle because it sees me as a human being and is intelligent enough to differentiate American people from the government. A lot of people are ignorant about the US and assume that the people have the control and power to moderate the actions of our government – when, in fact, we don’t have that power. Yes, we ARE a democracy. But we only have so much control. We have the same amount of control Canadian and British citizens have or those from other developed nations. I don’t know where people get the idea that I can just go to the White House and throw Bush out and re-write foreign policy. Sadly, some people expect Americans to do this. I said this before, and I’ll say it again. We have an electoral voting system here that I find to be a bit unfair. (Bush did *not* win the 2000 election, by the way). The popular vote doesn’t assume the next president. The electoral vote decides. I disagree with this. And even for those that DID vote for Bush… who would have known in advance about the Iraq War? Don’t get me wrong, though. We have many Iraqi War supporters here. While I disagree with them, I don’t judge them.
Chris is obviously educated in a sophisticated kind of way and knows how to communicate his feelings intelligently, thoroughly and reasonably.
It is becoming increasingly VERY popular on Youtube to create, “Why People Hate America” videos. Just put those terms in the search engine over at Youtube, and you’ll find so many videos like these, that you’ll be overwhelmed. I received 1,230 results.
This is my point of view: If you see something as ALL GOOD or ALL BAD, you’re not thinking. There’s (aside from the obvious evils) good and bad in EVERYTHING. Too many people who critique the US neglect to mention anything positive, and just as importantly, neglect to mention the evils that exist elsewhere in the world. Some radicals go as far as sympathizing with the terrorists. But there’s something else that’s not mentioned in a lot of foreigners’ criticisms of America. Can you guess? In this article, there’s a tiny hint:
Britain’s opinion of the United States has sunk to an all-time low, according to a YouGov poll that revealed only 12pc of Britons trusted America to act wisely on the world stage.
The Daily Telegraph defended the superpower in a Leader article, “To Hate America is to Hate Mankind”arguing that to dislike such a diverse country is misanthropic as well as ungrateful, given America’s benign intervention in various European conflicts.
Do you think it is hypocritical of Britain to demonise the United States, while supporting its foreign policy and copying its social trends? Or does the UK have a legitimate case for backing away from the ’special relationship’?
Have recent controversies such as the war in Iraq and the treatment of prisoners at Guantanamo bay affected your feelings about America?
Yes….. they forget to mention that their own countries (i.e. Canada and Britain) are doing the same things. It’s also interesting to note that these two countries are the MOST vocal in their hatred of the US… on the internet, that is. A lot of people like to say things like, “… and YOU ALWAYS DRAG US INTO FIGHTING YOUR STUPID WARS….” Who’s dragging who? America is *NOT* responsible for your leader’s decision to send their troops to Afghanistan OR Iraq. Nobody has a gun to anyone’s head. Remember how YOU blame us for voting in Bush? It would be nice if the Americanophobic Canadians and British could own up to some of the responsibility instead of using that tired “victim card”.
You can take a look at the comment section of that article too. It’s very interesting. You’ll see both balanced and unbalanced views there. There are 286 comments posted. The majority of the comments are obviously posted by British people. But I cannot help but to share one view from an American that’s after my own heart (which are comments # 8 and 9).
As an American, please allow me to begin by asserting that our nation has had its strengths and its weaknesses, its successes and its failures, and its justices and injustices throughout history and continuing into the present. Although I sense much patriotism for my homeland, I recognize our need for humility to understand that our country is not above questioning or reproach but is rather under the same standards as all other nations of the world. I would simply like to ask those who view our country from afar to maintain a balanced perspective and realize too that there exists good and bad in America, both in terms of its domestic society and politics as well as in its relations with other nations.
Whilst there may be growing anti-Americanism in the United Kingdom I do not believe such sentiment to be reciprocated on our side of the Atlantic. I viewed a recent survey that indicated most Americans view England positively, and never have I seen the flag of your country (or any other foreign land, for that matter) burned in the streets of our cities. Clearly we as American citizens have not meant to be your enemies.
This is exactly how I feel.
Speaking of “copying America’s trends”, Cappl spoke about this going on in Germany too.
We germans are listening to your music, eat your food (ok most of the time your _fastfood_, but hey we really like it anyway), watch hollywood films, many dress american style (I dislike HipHop, but it may show this the best.), we are learning your language – as it*s the world language… and watch thousands of documentaries about your – history, culture, problems – and so on and on and on… And by the way – we are using many english words even while we speak german! Want to see some examples?
“Das ist so verdammt cool!”
“OK, das hab ich verstanden.”
“Verdammter Bug! Immer, wenn ich das Game starte, flieg ich raus und lande auf meinem Desktop!”
!!! hey we guys like you !!!
ok – most of us like you…
This is not specific to Germany, either. In fact, the majority of those who moan, groan, and spit at the USA and it’s people are ’secretly’ devouring our popular culture. Here is just one of the numerous examples that was mentioned in the article and in the video, “How European Media Damages America“:
“Anti-Americanism is hypocrisy at its finest,” he added. “You can spend your evening catching the latest episode of “24″ and then complain about Guantanamo the next morning.”
I’m going to continue this topic with a Part II, but I’d like to finish this with one fine quote:
“There is a big difference between being anti-American and being critical of the United States….critiques are appropriate and necessary, provided that they rest on facts and address real abuses, real errors and real excesses–without deliberately losing sight of America’s wise decisions, beneficient interventions and salutary policies. But critiques of this kind–balanced, fair and well-rounded–are hard to find, except in America herself…” — Jean-Francois Revel
WARNING: Do not drink any liquids while reading this blog post. You’ll know why… soon.
I just received the following message today:
(sic) Its the fact that the american people and government are to ignorant to be able to embrace their multiculturalism and try to make everyone the same fat, stupid, greedy, obnoxtious asshole american people that the world tends to HATE.
My jaw dropped to the ground when I read this. Classic: It was written by not only a kid, but someone who’d not even stepped foot into the US. I was shocked that these kinds of messages were being sent to Canadian citizens everywhere. I haven’t heard something similar to this just once, not even twice, but many times. It puzzles me. It isn’t just Americanophobic Canadians that are guilty of this either. So, are some Americanophobic Europeans, but we’ll get into that later.
To challenge this cliche knee-jerk and ever so tired reactionary statement above, I will first say that Americans do *not* do the following:
We do not force people to eat certain foods. This is a free country. You have two hands and a mouth, and nobody but YOU controls what you put in there. If you become fat from over-eating, it’s YOUR problem unless you are sick. There’s a little something called “personal responsibility”, and in the US, you are accountable for your own actions. “Free will” if you must say. Nobody puts a gun to anybody’s head and forcibly shoves Big Macs, super-sized fries, and two chocolate shakes down anybody’s throat! If you decide to live a sedentary life, that’s again, YOUR choice, unless you’re disabled. And if it’s fact that we forcibly make our immigrants fat, then how can we explain for all those who have immigrated here that are thin and eat healthy? If you are swayed by our Big Mac commercials, guess what…? Again, that’s your problem and YOUR choice that you’re too stupid to think for yourself and choose to be brainwashed by a silly 30 second commercial. Sixty million people are obese in America. Now, if we were a fascist country, how do you explain for those other 240 million? How come they’re not obese? And how in the world does this have anything to do with multiculturalism or the lack of is beyond me…
America does *not* create or forcibly make someone “stupid”. This one, too, boggles my mind. Doesn’t this lie more in the hands of parents? If you cannot afford a decent college education, there are plenty of other ways to learn. Ever heard of financial aid? Community Colleges? Scholarships? Independent study? It’s up to the individual. The last time I checked, our government doesn’t police or meddle in the private affairs of others. Here in America, we have that much freedom: Freedom to be dumb and freedom to be intelligent and freedom to be dumb sometimes and intelligent sometimes. At least we have CHOICES here. Your brain cells aren’t served to you on a silver platter. You stimulate your own brain cells without expecting nanny-coddling-government to do it for you. And you call Americans lazy?
America does *not* coerce her immigrants to become “greedy”.How is this… I wonder? I’m sincerely confused. Greed by definition is the stepping on other’s toes to get what you want. This is not a quality that makes an American likeable – yes, even to another American! Yet again, these mindless teenybopper bigoted mental midgets are confusing the big corporate giants such as Halliburton and Microsoft (to name a few) with the general public. Sure there are greedy Americans that are a part of the mix. Again, it all starts with how one is to be brought up. If a Mexican person decides to risk their life crossing our borders (which most do) to come and live here, where exactly are they “taught” to knock other people over to “grab it all for themselves”? Who teaches them? How are they taught? Again, our government is NOT a dictatorship. You listen to what you want to; you choose to learn what you want; you choose to agree and disagree with what you want. There are just as many generous and cooperative players out there whom aren’t getting credit in this very cruel and unnecessary sweeping generalization. What some Americanophobes don’t get is the fact that Americans are victims of the Major Corporate Giant system too. We are to take personal responsibility for ourselves in this country. We’re on our own with limited help, and if nobody else is going to cater to our needs, we need to get off of our asses and fend for ourselves…. yes, those “lazy bastard Americans”. However, THAT can be a bit harsh for some people who cannot, for a valid reason, fight for themselves. But America understands this – which is why over half of American citizens are on welfare. Get a clue, people!
As far as using up all the world’s resources are concerned, you may want to also take a look at how Canada is viewed as the world’s biggest pig when it comes to the consumption of energy. Some also say that China is the world’s biggest green house gas producer. (Global Warming may even be a hoax and even if it’s not there are more people dying in the UK from the cold than the heat!) If we are eating too many twinkies and not leaving enough for South Africa, you’re wrong. We donate more than other countries … by a long shot. And South Africans appreciate our triple-processed twinkies.
Our donations including private donations to world hunger and foreign aid are quite generous. Sure, we abuse our power sometimes (which I don’t like, by the way), however dingy brainwashed monkies like to see the US only for it’s faults as opposed to ever looking at what we’ve done RIGHT. I don’t know how people can call all of us greedy pigs when we sacrifice the needs of our OWN citizens in need and constantly prioritize those in developing countries. If you remember Hurricane Katrina, and also the tsunami in Indonesia, you’ll know that Indonesia got support FASTER (much faster) and more efficiently than Kartrina did or could have ever dreamed to have gotten. Lots of Americans naturally complain that other countries “get the goods” before we do. Even if our selfish interests come to play when giving foreign aid, think twice before you collectively try to bully all of us into thinking that we’re “greedy“.
America has limited government. YOU choose your own destination in life – *not* your next-door big fat white hairy bible-thumping gun-toting neo-con hick neighbor. But see, you’ll never know this unless you’ve lived here, yourself. We are clearly more diverse than any other country (yes, and even the ‘evil whities’ don’t all think alike), but your press tells you that we’re all alike. This problem is not with your agenda-ridden media as much as it is with YOU that chooses to believe everything that you’re told. And you have the nerve to tell us that we’re not “free”? If Micheal Moore and Rosie O’Donnell is not any indication of how free we are, I don’t know what is? Just no dildos in Alabama, EH?
You people also confuse Americans with “being white” and I have the foggiest clue where you got that from? Oh wait. Thanks to Michael Moore for that. Just keep in mind that when you make hateful blanket statements about American people, you are also including ALL of those people that have immigrated here from all over the planet. Black people are American too, so you’re a racist as well!
Do me a favor: Ask all the immigrants if they’re happy here. Wouldn’t that be the TRUE test, after all? I mean, it SPEAKS VOLUMES that the majority of immigrants (both illegal and legal) come here ONE-WAY. They don’t return to their respective countries. Why? Ask yourself why most immigrants chose to immigrate to the states more than any other developed nation in the world. There’s got to be a reason for this.
America does *not* train her immigrants to be “obnoxious assholes”. We are allegedly somehow schooling people of all different ethnic backgrounds to “conform” to the “All-American Obnoxious Asshole Think-Tank Committee”? Does anybody have any substantiated evidence as to how America takes all of these (naturally smart and kind people …just because their immigrants) people from different nations and molds them from “nice to naughty“? This is actually a funny accusation if you ask me as it suggests that Americans are inherently mean, and also suggests that if you come from another country outside the states that you’re inherently GOOD. How does one tackle such a weak “black and white” narrow-minded argument?
The dumb kid who said this to me is a walking contradiction to it’s most frightening degree. To see the world as “black and white” and ignore the “gray areas” is to indirectly admit to being an elitist, ignorant buffoon that makes Bush look like a Cum Laude graduate.
Next, to assume that all Americans are “obnoxious assholes” is to make it VERY clear that you’re *not* an expert of the American culture – rather an expert at having your thoughts, thought for you. My burning question is.. how does someone that has had both a limited to none, face-to-face experience with Americans and not having ever come to live here, claim to be an “expert”? America (find my definition of “America” in my glossary) is too big for some of these ‘holier-than-thou’ small-minded simpleton multicultural elitists with a “small penis syndrome” to consume. Keep in mind that there are 50 states, and there are over 30,000 incorporated cities within those states and 300 million inhabitants. Every city in the US has it’s own unique style and personality.
At least we all don’t think alike here in the US unlike some other countries where those that have a different opinion are out-casted. Remember Michael Moore? We are proud that we can think any way we want to here and be who we are. I sometimes hate that there’s a virtual civil war going on in the US as the two parties (Republican and Democrat) are extremely bitter toward one another. There are times that I wished that we all thought the same. However, on the bright side, that’s the beauty of America. We have the choice of either thinking for ourselves or being dumb and following the crowd to get “social approval”.
(sic) Its the fact that the american people and government are to ignorant to be able to embrace their multiculturalism and try to make everyone the same fat, stupid, greedy, obnoxtious asshole american people that the world tends to HATE.
…. is not a classic Gold Standard tell-tale sign of Obnoxious Asshole-ness, I don’t know what is?
My advice? If you’re going to have an opinion about the US and want to sound intelligent and “morally superior” at the same time, KNOW what the heck you’re talking about, for one. And two, if you’re going to accuse the entire United States of something, make sure that you’re own hands are clean first. You have the right to say whatever you want, and nobody’s going to stop you – even Facebook, Youtube, and any other websites in cyberspace where you whine, moan, pitch fits, and groan about the big bad neighbor to the south. We let you do what you want, however, you’re not sounding like too bright a bulb when you’re hand-fed your thoughts without having any REAL experience living in the states.
There are two-sides to every story. Dumb people only look at one side. And it’s that same kind of collective-Nazified-group-think that get dumb presidents elected too. Remember that. How DID Harper ever get elected? I sure hope that you don’t have a electoral voting system like we do here? Let’s just say that America is *not* the Democracy you’d like to think it to be, but that’s another story for another day….
“If Dinesh D’Souza or his publisher were concerned with being politically correct, this book would never have seen the light of day. D’Souza is not interested in defending an idealized version of America. Rather, he describes the real America, both the good and the bad, andreminds American citizens that they should be proud of themselves and their country despite the peevish criticism that the United States receives from others who blame them and their country for everything that goes wrong in the world. Not surprisingly, America’s harsh critics conveniently only tell one side of the story and never give the United States credit for any of the good things that happen around the world.”
“If all cultures are equal, if everything is relative, if no culture can really be termed “superior” to another, why is it that every year, all over the world, millions of people vote with their feet for America and the American way of life? People immigrate here from every corner of the world, and it’s virtually a one way traffic. How many Americans choose to emigrate to Nicaragua, Sierra Leone, Thailand, or Poland? But people from other countries are so eager to come here that they will do it illegally if they cannot do it any other way. If America is so terrible, how did we become the richest, most prosperous nation on earth? I know many would say it’s because we are oppressors, and we have exploited the rest of the world, both people and natural resources, until we are on top, but this doesn’t wash. While we are no angels, to be sure, neither are we really comparable to history’s REAL oppressors, such as the Nazis, or the communists (who not only killed more millions of people than the Nazis, but had a far, far worse record of raping and polluting the environment than any Western country). I have yet to hear a multiculturalist give me a convincing answer to this.
Multiculturalists, like most modern leftists, live in an idealized universe; they have long since lost the habit of testing ideas against their actual results in the real world. If you look the facts in the face, it’s very hard to disagree with most of what D’Souza says.”
Another great thing about America, in my opinion, is that we’re a healthy combination of both being multicultural and a melting-pot. Like I had mentioned in this entry, when one immigrates to America, they get to keep their ethnicity, they get to continue speaking their language, celebrating their holidays and their religion, reading and watching news in their own languages, they get to keep eating their own foods, and do the same things that they did in their own country simultaneously becoming an American and learning English – (although there’s a HUGE amount of immigrants from many countries that have been living here for 20 + years that still cannot speak English). If that’s not a hint of multiculturalism and tolerance, I don’t know what is? Even those within the same ethnic group are allowed to be free-thinkers, say what they want, and be their unique selves – yes… just like the “ugly, fat, greedy, ignorant, white man”. There are several unique varieties to being an “ugly, fat, stupid, greedy, and obnoxious” white man. Come to America and see how they come in all different colors, shapes, and sizes.
And by the way, how did Arnold Schwarzenegger get elected as governor of California? How did Obama get where he is now if we’re so “intolerant”?
Here’s a speech about what makes America a great country by a German immigrant at Wisconsin’s McCain campaign event.
Now, this is something that you cannot find in any textbook in any classroom across the globe. Sadly, there are too many people from developed nations on the world map that have no clue about what the Americans did for Germany. Who cares if you’re from the right or the left? Who cares if we didn’t go to WWII until we were attacked first (mind you, an attack from a country that was part of the Axis of Evil – hello?) Another hint, we DID get involved BEFORE the Pearl Harbor attacks – ever heard of the Lend-Lease Act of 1941? That’s all trivial regardless of any “hidden motive” or unsubstantiated “conspiracy theories”. The fact of the matter is that we did good that we never get credit for from a bunch of leeching, dependent, ungrateful and stubborn little elitists that think their cow pie doesn’t stink. And they have the nerve to call America “arrogant”?
But the prepubescent teen had more to say.
Also, in my country I have been brought up to respect and admire the us from my PARENTS, from my TEACHERS, and also from the MEDIA. This is just the result of my own reaserch and conclusions about the country and its fundamentals.
No, hun. Your teachers and media are biased. Let’s have a look-see at my research. You cannot claim to have done your research yet have a one-sided view of a VERY large group of people (say, 300+ million?). You’re credibility is lost. Not to mention the hypocrisy in most of the statements made by Americanophobes like yourself.
And Mr. “I’m an expert of all those places I’ve never been to” continues his little rant, ……….
The fact that you went to Japan and lived there for 6 1/2 years and learned their culture and language doesn’t impress me. It was your choice to do that not anyone elses. Not only that but you lived there temporarily so you weren’t forced to essentially become Japanese. Im sure they veiwed you in the same way that the rest of the world does plus your country dropped TWO nuclear bombs on their country so they probly dislike you even more then most.
Living in a country for a long time and learning their language and participating in their customs doesn’t automatically give someone a shiny gold star. However, my experience having lived in Japan made me grow in so many ways. I worked under their system there which is entirely different from where I come from. Speaking a second language does make you more open-minded. While I didn’t strip myself of my own “American identity”, I also blended into their culture or at least gave it a good shot. I feel, I have more a say as to how Japanese people behave and about their country than some little dweeb in secondary school who just got done learning the alphabet and hasn’t even stepped outside of his own comfort zone.
While I wasn’t forced to “do as the Japanese do…“, I did it because I wanted to. It’s called respect. I think this says more about my ability to tolerate diversity as opposed to some disgruntled Canadian teenager judging from a distance.
The most amusing part of his rant was the fact that he says, “the Japanese hated me more than any other group in the world”. (???) I’m sorry, I had to share this with you all just to show you what kind of people are out there. It’s no wonder why some Americans think that Canadians live in igloos. (joke) Anyway, I find this rather interesting as in my college days, the majority of my friends were….. JAPANESE! I mean, I sorta decided to pack my bags, live and work there for a reason. The Japanese are, with no doubt, the nicest people I’ve ever met! By the time I arrived in Japan, I was fluent in Japanese because all of my Japanese college friends helped me immensely with the language a few years before that. When I arrived in Japan, I lived with my friend’s family for two months. They took very great care of me as I was there until I found an apartment. But no… the Japanese are supposed to hate ME for something that happened before I was even born??? The Japanese have much more class than that; they put people like YOU to shame. This little whiny brat feels that it is right to judge a person based on wars that happened in the past ?
As a matter of fact, friends, one of my students in Japan (I was an English teacher there) was 70 years old – from the WWII days. She was learning English….. *gasps* …. in Japan! She treated me with utmost respect and told me that she wanted to learn English because a lot of people from other English speaking countries were frequenting her liquor shop. Now, would an Americanophobe (who even lived through WWII) come seek me for help? Would an Americanophobe learn English in Japan so that she could chat with other English speaking groups? And for the record, there are thousands of Americans living in Japan… happily.
I also had a Japanese boyfriend and was, overall, well-liked and respected in Japan. If any nation should copy another nation’s “best practices”, Japan should be the role model of the world. Other countries, including America, should be more like the Japanese. And if this is not any indication of a positive experience in Japan, I don’t know what is, folks. I have over 400 photographs showing something a bit.. uh different than “being hated“. That country is amazing, and I wouldn’t be saying that if they all “hated” me or was keeping grudges over past wars like a retard.
And for the love of all that’s green and bushy, the attack on Japan in WWII was JUSTIFIED! Go read about Pearl Harbor and how Japan partook in the Axis of Evil in WWII succumbing to Hitler’s regime. We gave them warnings before the dropping of EACH bomb, and they refused to pay attention. They didn’t surrender until the third time we asked them to. I’m not going to do that research for you because I don’t think you’ll want to read it anyway as god (the secular one) forbid the US should defend herself and do something RIGHT. That picture is too pretty for you.
Now, how in the world am I to take the rantings, of an arm-chair political science/international affairs expert wannabee, seriously?
So, you probably want to know why I wasted all this time on an insecure ignoramus who’s probably celebrating his first arm pit hair, right? I’d better waste my time with some more intelligent feedback if I’m going to waste my time at all, right? Well, while that does make better sense, and while this type of goon doesn’t reflect the opinions of the majority in his respective country, I do find more often than not, similar sentiments being expressed on the internet and found it important to voice my feelings on the issue, spread awareness as to what kind of freaks are out there, and debunk yet even more misconceptions about the US – which ultimately is the purpose of this blog… right now.
Suffice it to say that, I found this idiot’s profile picture on Facebook to be the most telling of all.
Now, if that doesn’t spell “insecurity” and a bit of jealousy toward America, I don’t know what does. Additionally, he belongs to the “Canadian Action Party“.
The “Canadian Action Party” is very telling in and of itself. Never mind the fact that Canadians roam about cyberspace flaunting their Canadian Pride and telling all the Americans off simultaneously. Notice how Canadian Pride is non-existent without the mention of the USA. Anyway, lets see what the “Canadian Action Party” is all about. And I quote….
“The Canadian Action Party is, above all, a pro-Canadian party dedicated to the principle that Canada can best serve its citizens and the world by re-claiming and maintaining its political and economic sovereignty as an independent country.
It is opposed to the ascendancy of “corporate rule” and those aspects of unrestricted global investment that promote colonization of the world’s smaller powers and in Canada’s case its absorption by the United States of America.”
Actually, the Canadians DO have the power to un-join NATO. They can make their own computer operating systems, their own websites, their own technologies, and everything else that they’re taking advantage of. I think this makes them feel insecure and weak as a nation – considering how dependent they are. But see, the US depends on goods from China, Japan, and all other parts of the world including Canada, yet… that doesn’t make us feel … small. I love this convenient “blame my sorry-assed life” on America” banter when they’re supposedly a “democracy” to which they claim Canada to be the only nation that truly exercises FREE SPEECH. If they were THAT free, they’d become independent, make their own stuff, get out of NATO, defend their selves militarily (if London, Paris, and Madrid aren’t immune to terrorism, neither are they!) and make changes for themselves without playing the “look what you did to us” card.
The only thing I can think of to explain the type of behavior expressed by this bitter Canadian is that people like to feel a sense of “belonging”. A lot of people don’t question things when everyone’s thinking alike, right? Americanophobic Canadians feel that if the whole world hates America, then that means that America merits the hatred and it’s logical and correct, right? The Nazis in Germany were brainwashed to hate Jews, right? So were two other countries. Weren’t they the majority? Was it right? That’s what the “mob mentality” is all about: feeling validated in a group. When are people going to grow a pair of cahones?
I’ve been American for 39 years. Canadians who have never lived in the US before have been telling me this over the last few months… that we aren’t multicultural, that we hate gays, and are a bunch of racists. Suffice it to say that this “news” is coming from the Canadian Americanophobic Group ‘Think’ Tank. Of course, some Europeans believe the same thing – yes, Europeans who’ve never ventured to America. The BBC and the CBC is an Americanophobic’s best friend – not to mention their outdated fairy taled textbooks from 1934.
When the topic of racism or intolerance of religion or lack of, or homosexuality is brought up, in the same breath/sentence, Americans are brought into this subject all the time. Canada is apparently “morally superior” as they accept “dual citizenship”. Here are some words from a proud Canadian that is not necessarily Americanophobic. But the very fact that the below is practically unknown in the US is what is troubling. She states…,
I mean, c’mon. If you’re going to hate America, at least do it properly. If you’re still an amateur at it, watch this video for some some tips from an expert.
Where were you when America was attacked (I am sometimes asked)?
Granted, my experience of 9-11 was nothing in comparison to those who lost loved ones or even those who lost their own lives. But I’m still allowed to share, nonetheless.
I used to work for Delta Airlines, and as part of our benefits, we were able to fly in First Class (if available) for free on a stand-by basis. Both my husband and I were cleared for stand-by and were looking forward to our trip to one of our favorite places to visit, The Big Apple.
And here’s my stand-by boarding pass. (Click to enlarge the photo.)
Flying from Los Angeles on the red-eye, my husband and I made our connection in Atlanta. Anxious, yet sleep deprived, I got comfortable in my seat and fell fast asleep. We were to arrive in NY a little after 10:00AM. About half way there, the pilot interrupted that there were some problems and that we needed to revert back to Atlanta. Normally, an announcement like that would frighten me as I’m deathly afraid of plane crashes due to mechanical problems, but I had been sleeping, and half-asleep as I was, I didn’t care. I turned to my husband to notice that he was half asleep too and wasn’t affected by the pilot’s message. I sat back and closed my eyes again.
A bit later some flight attendants were nearby chattering. I heard them talking to other passengers about some kind of “bomb threat” to NY. I was still not phased. I whispered to my husband that we’d make the best of our trip regardless.
Our plane landed. As we began staggering for our luggage to deplane, I overheard a passenger on his cell phone, “Shit! The World Trade Center’s down!”, he said startled.
I was surprised to hear that, but at the same time, I couldn’t believe it. When my husband and I entered Atlanta Airport still half-asleep walking and around in a daze, we went to a restaurant/bar to take a look at the TV screen to see what was really going on. It was almost like I was watching a movie on TV. I couldn’t believe my eyes! That’s when the reality started to hit.
For obvious reasons, we were unable to catch another flight to anywhere. So, in manoeuvring ourselves through the mad chaos in and outside the Atlanta airport, we were lucky enough to find a hotel to stay in. For two days, we spent most of our time watching the news on TV. It was hard to get away from the TV as I guess, in a way, I couldn’t believe what had happened. To say the least, we were in shock. Fortunately, this was a great day for Anti-Americans across the globe. Those vehemently against the death penalty(notice the irony) cried out that America finally got what she deserved. I never thought that I wanted another country’s people to die before just because of a poor foreign policy system, so I was shocked at that as well. But that’s another story for another day.
If Americans weren’t jaded before. They are even more so today. And justifiably so.
Anyway, after two days of being in Atlanta, we were able to find a place to rent a car. We spent the rest of our vacation driving back to California. I kept my promise, and both my husband and I made the best out of a bad situation. I was able to explore parts of the U.S. that I had never seen before. Unless you travel cross-country do you realize how diverse and huge America is.
While it wasn’t the Big Apple, we still found it in us to enjoy our vacation.
The 9-11 attack never intimidated us. In fact, one month later, my husband and I went to Disney and Epcot Center in Orlando and had ourselves a blast! We were one of the very few people there as most people were too afraid to travel. In my opinion, it’s the best time to travel!
Life is too short to play victim and let the bad people win.
So, there you have it. That’s my 9-11 experience.
UPDATE:
My husband just reminded me today that we were up in the WTC six weeks before this incident! I had forgotten about that. With the free flight benefits, we were always flying somewhere!
To the Americanophobes: You will get yours. Don’t make the same mistake that Americans have made by being so over-confident.
“On December 24, 1971, the New York Times ran one of the first of many articles on a new holiday designed to foster unity among African Americans. The holiday, called Kwanzaa, was applauded by a certain sixteen-year-old minister who explained that the feast would perform the valuable service of “de-whitizing” Christmas. The minister was a nobody at the time but he would later go on to become perhaps the premier race-baiter of the twentieth century. His name was Al Sharpton and he would later spawn the Tawana Brawley hoax and then incite anti-Jewish tensions in a 1995 incident that ended with the arson deaths of seven people.
Great minds think alike. The inventor of the holiday was one of the few black “leaders” in America even worse than Sharpton. But there was no mention in the Times article of this man or of the fact that at that very moment he was sitting in a California prison. And there was no mention of the curious fact that this purported benefactor of the black people had founded an
organization that in its short history tortured and murdered blacks in ways of which the Ku Klux Klan could only fantasize.
It was in newspaper articles like that, repeated in papers all over the country, that the tradition of Kwanzaa began. It is a tradition not out of Africa but out of Orwell. Both history and language have been bent to serve a political goal. When that New York Times article appeared, Ron Karenga’s crimes were still recent events. If the reporter had bothered to do any research into the background of the Kwanzaa founder, he might have learned about Karenga’s trial earlier that year on charges of torturing two women who were members of US (United Slaves), a black
nationalist cult he had founded.
ACCORDING TO COURT DOCUMENTS, Karenga’s real name is Ron N. Everett. In the ’60s, he awarded himself the title “maulana,” Swahili for “master teacher.” He was born on a poultry farm in Maryland, the fourteenth child of a Baptist minister. He came to California in the late 1950s to attend Los Angeles Community College. He moved on to UCLA, where he got a Master’s degree in political science and African Studies. By the mid-1960s, he had established himself as a leading “cultural nationalist.” That is a term that had some meaning in the ’60s, mainly as a way of distinguishing Karenga’s followers from the Black Panthers, who were conventional Marxists.”
Many of you probably already know about this already. I recently was having a conversation about this with my brother, and I just had to look this up for myself.
I find it very important that this holiday exists for African Americans, and I see absolutely nothing wrong with it. I do, however, find it’s origin very interesting, and it came as quite a surprise to me.
Since the beginning of electronic greetings on the internet, I had often seen Happy Kwanzaa cards as I was perusing through the holiday assortment during every Winter Season. I had always wondered what that “Kwanzaa” meant. I only knew that it was an African American holiday.
“Kwanzaa is supposed to be celebrated from 26 December through 1 January: It competes with Christmas and Chanukah while incorporating some echoes of both, e.g., gift-giving and a ceremony built around a seven-holed candle-holder that recalls Judaism’s seven-branched menorah.”
The author, William J. Bennetta, continues….
“Karenga has concocted some bits of lore, lingo, and mumbo-jumbo that are intended to make Kwanzaa look like something out of Africa instead of something from Los Angeles County, but his efforts have been feeble. If you scan The Official Kwanzaa Web Site, you’ll read that the origins of Kwanzaa lie in “the first harvest celebrations of Africa,” which allegedly “are recorded in African history as far back as ancient Egypt and Nubia” — but there is no explanation of why any ancient Egyptians or Nubians might have held harvest festivals around the time of the winter solstice, and there is no identification of the crops that they harvested. Karenga’s formula for celebrating Kwanzaa requires the use of two ears of maize — but maize is a New World plant, and it wasn’t known at all in ancient Africa.
In Karenga’s Kwanzaa-lingo, ears of maize are called by the Swahili name “muhindi.” In fact, all the objects that Karenga has worked into Kwanzaa have names taken from Swahili, which The Official Kwanzaa Web site describes as “a Pan-African language” and “the most widely spoken African language.” The labeling of Swahili as a “Pan-African” language is rubbish. Swahili — a Bantu tongue that includes many words absorbed from Arabic, from Persian and from certain Indian languages — is spoken by some 50 million people (i.e., about 7% of Africa’s population). Most of those Swahili-speakers are concentrated in eastern Africa, in a region that includes Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania and a strip of Zaire. The language which is used most widely in Africa is Arabic; and indeed, Swahili was originally written in Arabic script
Kwanzaa is a hoax — a hoax built around fake history and pseudohistorical delusions. By attempting to dignify and promote Kwanzaa in The American Nation, Prentice Hall has joined in a flim-flam.”
It doesn’t sound like the founder of Kwanzaa knows much about his own roots, and had no problem creating
this holiday on a lie. Nonetheless, he is a man due no amount of respect.
If it weren’t for Ron N. Everett, someone else would probably have invented a similar holiday. As I see in several different cultures world-wide, depending on the ethnicity, the celebration of the Holiday Season is done differently and are very moving to observe. I don’t know why I feel this way, but I find that other cultures appear to stick together more so than that of the American culture. This is not to say I’m not proud of my American heritage, but I do feel we are somewhat drawn apart from one another.
Upon observing other cultures practicing their rituals, sometimes I become so moved that I cry. I think this is because I envy them and wish Americans only had the same type of bonding between one another.
I admire the way that the African Americans stick up for each other. Although, I have to say that’s inconvenient when it comes along to a predominantly all African American jury deciding the fate of an African American defendant as with the case of OJ Simpson. I guess you can’t have it both ways. Nevertheless, I think you get my point.
Culture is a beautiful thing to observe. The Kwanzaa Holiday, whether it be founded by a criminal or not, if the African Americans are happy celebrating it, good on them!
Hello all, and welcome!
In my blog, I discuss Americanophobia, politics, political extremism (my rantings about the extreme right and the extreme left), anthropology, crime news, psychology, LOTS of humor, and try to debunk common rumors spread about the American people. The variety of topics I discuss are in 360 posts ... Continue reading »
“There is a big difference between being anti-American and being critical of the United States….critiques are appropriate and necessary, provided that they rest on facts and address real abuses, real errors and real excesses–without deliberately losing sight of America’s wise decisions, beneficient interventions and salutary policies. But critiques of this kind–balanced, fair and well-rounded–are hard to find, except in America herself…” — Jean-Francois Revel
"The fundamental role of anti-Americanism in Europe in general, and particularly among those on the Left, is to absolve themselves of their own moral failings and intellectual errors by heaping them onto the monster scapegoat, the United States of America. The U.S. is charged with all the evils, real or imagined, that afflict humanity, from the falling price of beef in France to AIDS in Africa and global warming everywhere. The result is a widespread refusal to accept responsibility for one's own actions." — Jean-Francois Revel
"Anti-Americanism is hypocrisy at its finest, You can spend your evening catching the latest episode of "24" and then complain about Guantanamo the next morning." --the Berlin bureau chief of Der Spiegel
"Of course some Americans are stupid, but... "It all boils down to the fact that knowledge and intelligence are two different issues. Rote memorization of world capitals does not equate intelligence.
I do find it interesting that Canadians and Europeans have such strong opinions on this, considering that there are many more pressing issues to be concerned about. Perhaps the steady Canadian and European refrain of "Americans are stupid" is a reflection of their own deep-rooted insecurity. You know -- an inferiority complex." --Mohammed
"As an American, please allow me to begin by asserting that our nation has had its strengths and its weaknesses, its successes and its failures, and its justices and injustices throughout history and continuing into the present. Although I sense much patriotism for my homeland, I recognize our need for humility to understand that our country is not above questioning or reproach but is rather under the same standards as all other nations of the world. I would simply like to ask those who view our country from afar to maintain a balanced perspective and realize too that there exists good and bad in America, both in terms of its domestic society and politics as well as in its relations with other nations.
Whilst there may be growing anti-Americanism in the United Kingdom I do not believe such sentiment to be reciprocated on our side of the Atlantic. I viewed a recent survey that indicated most Americans view England positively, and never have I seen the flag of your country (or any other foreign land, for that matter) burned in the streets of our cities. Clearly we as American citizens have not meant to be your enemies." --Seth
"As someone who takes human rights seriously, I'm appalled by the lack of sympathy the left feels toward the victims of any regime other than the Bush administration. Let's shout it to prisoners everywhere: If you're not harmed by an American, your suffering doesn't count." --Erik Svane
"Ambivalence, antipathy, and resentment toward and about the United States have comprised an important component of European culture since the American Revolution at the latest, thus way before America became the world's 'Mr. Big' -- the proverbial eight-hundred-pound gorilla -- and a credible rival to Europe's main powers, particularly Britain and France . . . . While the politics, style, and discourse of the Bush administration -- and of George W. Bush as a person -- have undoubtedly exacerbated anti-American sentiment among Europeans and fostered a heretofore unmatched degree of unity between elite and mass opinion in Europe, they are not anti-Americanism's cause. Indeed, a change to a center-left administration in Washington, led by a Democratic president, would not bring about its abatement, let alone disappearance." --Andrei S. Markovits (author of Uncouth Nation - Why Europe Dislikes America)
"Is Euro Disney Land a threat to the French Culture? If French culture can be squashed by Mickey Mouse, or more exactly by simply moving Mickey geographically, it would have to be disturbingly fragile." Moreover, Revel argued, culture always circulates and, in the case of Euro Disneyland, California was merely repackaging for Europeans such European stories as Cinderella and Pinocchio. According to Revel, French culture was not being colonized and if any culture was in crisis, he contended, it was that of America with its fad for political correctness and other forms of "neoprovincialism." --Jean-François Revel
"Anti-Americanism is the only face of xenophobia still broadly accepted in Europe." --Mary Fitzgerald (New Statesman)
"Americans find themselves damned either way. If they remain within their own borders, they are isolationist hicks who are shirking their responsibilities. If they intervene, they are rapacious imperialists." --To hate America is to hate mankind
"The British find it very difficult to come to terms with the loss of their global dominance. We felt a deep sense of hurt and loss. We used to run the world, and we don’t anymore. So, in order to palliate that insecurity, we tend to run ourselves down too much. And we’re also snooty about the people who DO run the world." -- Boris Johnson (Member of Parliament)
"It is tragic that Anti-American ideas are so easily passed through rumour, while reconciliatory ideas and notions must be backed up with catalogues of evidence before they are even considered, purely because of the fact that it is so much easier to hate than to keep an objective open mind." --David Hatton
"Other common anti-American objections are ignorance and stupidity. In dealing with these two, I have no reason to suspect that the average American is any less intelligent than the average person from anywhere else. One trait I have noticed is that other cultures are generally much more ashamed of any deficit in the intellect of the individual, especially ours (the British), and as such will make a much greater attempt to hide it. If all cultures bar one are scared of looking stupid and take action to prevent that happening, then that one remaining culture is inevitably going to be lumbered with that image." --David Hatton
"We became not a melting pot, but a beautiful mosaic. Different people, different beliefs, different yearnings, different hopes, different dreams." --Jimmy Carter
"Most of the anti-Americanism these days stems from plain old nationalistic jealousy by a lot of countries that are born of insecurity about their own place in the world and their painful self awareness of their own failings and shortcomings...like the kids in the next block who are jealous of the boy who has a better bicycle or a newer fancier skateboard....phuque 'em all." --Robbins Mitchell
"Europeans, like the rest of the world, hate America and Americans, but love our aid when in distress, and our soldiers to die for THEIR COUNTRIES. You need to work, live and pay taxes from this side of the Atlantic to understand our vision of Europe and the rest of the world." --Jerry
"Unjustified hatred of Americans:
There is much unjustified hatred in the world. There is unjustified hatred of the USA. Much of this arises from the victimisation complex that sweeps much of mankind. Whoever is in charge, whoever is powerful or successful will also be hated. This immature hatred often evaporates quickly with a little reason or thought. There are some some invalid, unjustified criticisms. The most widespread hate is the hate by people the world over who fall victim to their own shortcomings, and want a scapegoat." --Vexen Crabtree
"USA citizens are not given world news in the same way as most the other developed nations, and may well be genuinely unaware that much of the world is as poor as it is. European news is highly world-centric, whereas due to its size most USA news does not have enough time to cover news in all neighbouring states, let alone news from around the world. " --Vexen Crabtree
"Despite the USA's dominance of mass media, it is frequently only the pro-USA, self-congratulatory messages that seem to arrive in Europe, the USA citizens criticism and disbelief of their own government is not apparent, which gives the overall impression that Americans are either gullible, ignorant or honestly uncaring." --Vexen Crabtree
"If a person outside of American culture is a hateful person, they may actively hate and verbally attack America. If the person takes this to include a hatred of Americans themselves, they are inconsiderate and have become a fool. If a person like this is brought up by people with vested interests in attacking America (and there are many), a person can be driven to take his opinions to a violent level. Generic hatred is not solved or soothed by adding more layers of hatred.
There is a belief and hope that if enough nations oppose America, the American people will realize what their government has been doing and will overthrow them. This hope is misguided, as anti-American actions are causing the opposite"--Vexen Crabtree
"I think it is best, when faced with people from other nations, to treat them as individuals. Yes, you can "hate" the injustices that governments perpetuate on us all, and yes, you can despise ignorance in all its' forms. But any sort of blanket prejudice punishes yourself more than anyone else, because it thwarts the opportunity to learn from someone else. It stops you from making potential connections that could ultimately change your life. As an "american" living abroad, I pity my fellow countrymen who still have the wool over their eyes, but I don't hate them. The fact that when I meet them, they are indeed traveling at the time, says to me that they are in the process of opening their minds. Being in Europe, for many Americans, is the first step to realizing that other cultures do indeed exist and thrive, and that other forms of social structures are both possible and desireable.
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Many ask me why I left. Political reasons aside, when I mention that my family now enjoys free health-care and that my daughter will have the opportunity to go to university virtually for free (O.K. not free exactly, because we all pay taxes, but these services are included in what we as citizens receive for our tax dollars here in Europe,) they always respond with a sigh as they realize that this is the way all societies should be run. They know that something has gone terribly afoul in their beloved "homeland."
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Americans, in essence, need to be re-taught what is possible in the world, they do not need to be shunned. Shunning them will only help to produce more negativity in the world. If we all, from without, can help them to change what is wrong with their country from within, by sharing our knowledge of alternatives, then the whole world will benefit." --Lily
"Sometimes the caliber of a nation is found not in why it is liked, but rather in why it is not." --Victor Davis Hanson
"Everyone is in favor of free speech. Hardly a day passes without its being extolled, but some people's idea of it is that they are free to say what they like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage." --Winston Churchill
"With a military that has become a laughing stock and her increasing irrelevance in the world around her, I believe that the Canada I know and loved is gone. The sad truth is, Canadians have only themselves to blame since they meekly chose to accept everything without question and without fighting back. Most of them even pat themselves on the back for being so “progressive” and “multicultural” and “diverse,” while failing to recognize that all of those things will bring about Canada’s demise. America may not be perfect, but at least there is a strong conservative movement and a population who will fight to keep their rights." --Jayne Gardener (Why I left Canada)
"Regarding Race Relations in the South:
I once read an observation that ONE (and there are many) of the differences between the Northern and Southern approach to race is that the North tends to reject the Individual while embracing the Race. The South conversely seems to have prejudice towards the other Race while embracing the Individuals. It's a generalization to be sure but one with more than a grain of truth.
Blacks and Whites have always lived closely in the South, most southerners have an aquantince of another race whom they like, while at the same time generalizing about the 'others'.
The North has always been more segregated and less mixed in ordinary commerce and interaction. They accept the race but interact with few individuals of another group. Leading to less real experience with the other group. Fewer Northerners subsequently have friends of a different race.
I think we a need to be cautious when making these generalizations but I believe they still offer food for comment.
I guess I'm just saying that one shouldn't assume the South has a less open society because of some who have lingering, isolated, racist attitudes towards 'Canadians'. It just seems that these notions, are more exposed, and carry more gravity due to their past. --JG (reply #70)
"My “two cents” to all you Americans out there: speaking as a Brit, it pains me to see some of the comments emanating from this page by alleged British sophisticates. Much of the real reason for anti-Americanism of this type — though it will be hotly denied — is nothing more than envy. Truth be told, many an Englishman yearns for the day when we were the number one dog in town, with the world sitting obediently at the feet of hordes of short-back-and sides public school boys lording it over primitive tribes of Africans and Asians, whilst men such as Joseph Chamberlain and Winston Churchill sincerely speculated on the chances of the USA being welcomed back into the imperial bosom.
Americans, don't lose heart; you are the great power of the age. It is your lot to be envied and feared. Do not fall for the soft hearted illusion that this translates into moral superiority of any variety." --James
"It is sick that to be Canadian one must hate other people. I've been to US hundreds of times and England as well and they never equate their nationality with hatred of others. It seems we are a nation of people that are in serious need of therapy. Thank god I enjoy visiting other countries and felt no need to hate or denigrate others. When ever I go to United States or England I always leave the Canadian stuff at home and I get along just fine. I would recommend this for others." --Nov. 12th, 2005 5:08PM
"The only thing more annoying that a 'typical American' (and they do exist!) is a Canadian with a superiority complex! Americans do get the piss ripped out of them behind their backs but with the flag on your pack you probably will as well." --travoholic
"I grew up on army bases my whole life and nothing makes me prouder than watching Canadian soldiers do what they can, when they can, to help out more impoverished nations. I do, however, become angered at people who begin talking about who has the better, or bigger army and who can beat whom. Soldiers sacrifice their lives for the betterment of mankind, not to win pissing contests." --Mon Dec 13, 2004 5:12 pm
"I attribute European anti-Americanism to a state of prolonged “adolescence” from being protected by American treasure and military might throughout the post-WW2 era. I think about how teenagers rail against their parents actions and restrictions, all the while knowing, deep down, that they cannot provide for themselves.
On a somewhat lighter note, there was a program on PBS (Public Broadcasting System) a while back about why Europeans don’t like America. One interviewee attributed it to the Europeans knowing that America won’t hurt them." --Denis Eugene Sullivan
"In spite of the constant accusations of “arrogance,” Americans are really very self-deprecating in many ways and often place the French, and other Western Europeans, on a pedestal of cultural superiority; this probably goes further back into world history than virulent anti-Americanism does." --Jennifer
"Yes, anti-Americanism is a sad reality all over the world. I feel its simply part of "hatred of the superpower". Britian for most of its empire's history was mocked harshly by English speaking colonies and much of mainland Europe. Nobody likes the "big kid on the block". I think the fact that American media plays a more dominant role in English speaking societies around the world further reminds us of our inferiority complexes.
In short, America's ok with me. I can only hope that reason and the shedding of jealous ignorance can let other people see that America isn't that bad." --Matt
"Conservatives love America the way a six year old loves his mother. Mommy is perfect, don’t be mean to mommy, etc… Liberals, according to me, have a grown-up love for America — the kind that recognizes faults and works to improve the nation out of love." --Al Franken
Most of them are liars, anyway!
I got a discussion going with the people in my class (many of them are not of my opinion in some things, so I thought, it would be the best place to start this ^^) and our history teacher… nice thing – this is surely not representative, but I think at least the evidence, that I can do it.
