Views on Americans

Mr. Pointy said:
I think it's jealousy - both ways😉🙂 I think they love each other really - it's like a good-natured sibling rivalry thing.

I also like most of the Canadians I've met btw (before killergardengnome🙂 starts to work that old weather mojo on me😛)
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No worries, mon ami, you are very close to the truth of it! The present government of Canada (Liberals) are very good at exploiting the average Canadian's weakness...hand wringing about the question of what defines our culture and to a lesser extent how the rest of the world sees our culture. To that end, the government has promoted and fostered a mild form of anti-Americanism..."We're NOT Americans" is the usual answer to what a Canadian is...as if it was some type of answer or something! Even people who know and like Americans have been known to take potshots at them for their patriotism, insularity, etc...that used to be me, even though I have family in the States. But 9/11 changed all that for me...I saw what the government here has done in the meantime, and it sickens me that we couldn't even muster some type of support for our biggest ally and trading partner, and indeed, dismissed legitimate concerns about our internal security with a sneer and insults. To that end, I now have an American flag displayed proudly on my car...and NO Canadian one. That will be the case until this current government is defeated, and our relationship with the US is mended.

Canadians seem to be a bit resentful of the power and success of our cousins...it never stopped us from liking them a lot...until lately.
 
Americans, hmmm

i kinda agree with frenchy faith for the most part. there generally quite nice on their own but in large groups they can get on ones nerves

and the patriotism comes across as being stuck up their own arses
 
OK, I need to clarify something lol,
Alot of people have said Americans are very Patriotic, Um I know we are Patriotic, but we don't go around singing the National Anthm every day (I don't even know all the Words), but in most public schools (Atleast the ones I go to) we stand up and say the 'Pledge of Alligiance everyday. But we aren't forced to say it, as most people just stand up without actually reciting it, The thing that I think Americans are all patrotic about is...We're free. ::evil2::

^Yeah yeah, I know I already added my 2 Cents but heres an extra 2. Cause I've been alittle irrated by seeing everyone say that we are all too patriotic and that "the patriotism comes across as being stuck up their own arses" 🙂
 
In Norway Americans are made by the media to be die hard christians who love guns and wars.
My own personal opinion, is that there are some things I really disagree with, like the gun politics, and about everything Bush says, but I know not all americans agree with that, and that even many of those who do, are really nice. So it's mostly the politics I don't like, most americans I have talked to seem to be nice.
But I have to admit that often when I hear americans talk, or see the flag, I feel the anti-american voice inside my head. I try not to listen to it, cos I know all americans are different.
 
This is a very interesting topic, and I love hearing all of your opinions! 😀 Just do me a favor as it is a controversial topic (most of you already know this) but make sure you continue to be respectful of everyone's opinion 😉

Ok, you may continue American bashing (just joking 😉 )
 
WiccanSlayer said:
^Yeah yeah, I know I already added my 2 Cents but heres an extra 2. Cause I've been alittle irrated by seeing everyone say that we are all too patriotic and that "the patriotism comes across as being stuck up their own arses" 🙂
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we were asked to say how americans are perceived outside of the U.S. and what kinda steriotypes there are

knowone is stating things as facts,

although your rush to defend yourselves does help reinforce this 😉
 
"Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hard-working, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then--we elected them."
Lily Tomlin (1939 - )

Most of my traveling has been restricted to North America(mostly cuz you cant drive to Europe) but one thing Iv noticed with my traveling and my international contacts is most people are just like every one else. We love our children our pets and our sports, we have family's and friends and jobs and at the end of the day we sit down in front of the TV to watch the news and hope the world gets a little bit better tomorrow.
 
OneEyedXander said:
"Ninety-eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hard-working, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then--we elected them."
Lily Tomlin (1939 - )

Most of my traveling has been restricted to North America(mostly cuz you cant drive to Europe) but one thing Iv noticed with my traveling and my international contacts is most people are just like every one else. We love our children our pets and our sports, we have family's and friends and jobs and at the end of the day we sit down in front of the TV to watch the news and hope the world gets a little bit better tomorrow.
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Amen to that, brother! If we all kept that in mind, we'd all get along better. And WiccanSlayer, patriotism is just fine! Problem is some people use it to justify lots of bad crap...even disliking Americans!😉 And I know the words (all of 'em) to your National Anthem...and I'm proud that I can show respect for my cousins that way!
 
I love americans. I used to get a family move into a rented house nears mine for an air base, and i made such good friends with them all and they were always really nice to me.

I like Americans anyway. And a lot of my friends on the net and in the 'real world' are americans. They're all nice.
 
I'll go on the record and say I LOVE CANADA!! I've never been there, but I would kill to get the chance. Canadians are just so...for lack of better word...cool! I love America, and I can't really see myself moving to another country, but *really* patriotic people scare me. I'm all "yay" for loving your respected countries, but when people use patriotism to justify unjust actions, it's pathetic. The Lily Tomlin quote was great, and very true. If I could change anything about the outside perception of America, it would be that we aren't all like Bush. Nor do we all like Bush and his politics. I think a lot of intelligent people understand that, though. It's hard for any country to seperate itself from it's leader, especially if he's been elected by the majority.
 
I think the reason us (The Americans) are looked down on so much right now is because we have a horrible representive to the other countries. Bush is the bad American Stereotype rolled into one single figure head which really hurts us. He does incredibly selfish and not very thought through things to other countries that he shouldn't even be worried about (he wants oil, good old texan) and hides behind patriotism and his religion when it's all said and done. I'm sorry, but the war on terrorism should be against actual threats to OUR country, like Bin Laden, not a country like Iraq who will never have the means to actually attack us. Bush was just trying to follow in his dads footsteps and failed miserably. Again, ANY AMERICANS IN THIS FORUM, DO NOT VOTE FOR BUSH THIS ELECTION YEAR! But yeah, I'm pretty sure he's the reason that alot of other countries look down on us and think we are very arrogant and consider ourselves more important. But as usualy there will always be stereotypes about us from other countries just as we stereotype other countries as well.

Oh, not every single American is patriotic (least I'm not that much, although I do like when other people show the sentiment, just not me, you'll never see me go to war) it's just that since 9/11 the people have changed a little bit and being patriotic is the "in" thing for Americans right now, I remember when 9/11 first happened and I was working in the hardware store people were practically beating each other up to buy American flags, not to show sympathy, but because everyone was doing it. But those were mainly the "rich" Americans and they have a tendecy to fall into the bad stereotype of Americans as well.
 
I like America... It's got Hollywood, and Disneyland... and most of all Cookies! 😀

No, seriously... I'm not racist... or whatever... I have no beefs with Americans just because they are American. It's individuals such as Bush that I don't agree with... but not cos he's American... it's cos he's dumb... and so's Tony Blair! I have my views on people as individuals not for their nationality!
 
Take it from me, I live a half hour away from Hollywood, work at Disneyland and eat a whole lot of cookies. It's not what's it all cracked up to be.
 
Guestage_87 said:
Take it from me, I live a half hour away from Hollywood, work at Disneyland and eat a whole lot of cookies. It's not what's it all cracked up to be.
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I can dream! There's always pancakes and syrup... and Mickey Waffals... YAY!!!! I went to Disney in Orlando when I was 12... those are my memories... I don't wanna lose them. 😀
 
i'm not gonna say all the things i could say- in stead i'll just say that all the americans i've ever met has been very nice to me and very respectable! NO complaints there🙂
 
I am an American and I know some Americans who do not respect all the freedom we have. When they are asked to at least stand up and be respectful they sit there and be stubborn. I hate those people because they do not know how good they've got it. We have the freedom of speech, the freedom to practice our own religion, and the freedom to dream and persue those dreams. Millions of men died so that we could have those freedoms. So do you think we should honor those men and women who serve our country with out question?

Many people may think we are all pompous jacka$$'s and it may be true with the people who act that way. But we are a nation of millions of people with their own wants, needs, ideas, and opinions. That's what makes America such a great place to be. I have to admit after 9/11 I felt unsafe. But since then, because of our soldiers I feel more safe.

Patriotism is good here. When you have love for your country that shows you care and respect the freedoms that you have. Well that's just my opinion.
 
personally i have nothing against them, but trully they have here in my country (portugal) a very bad steriotype and general view about them are ussually bad....the hole Bush and Iraq sitch is making the country look bad, and the Bush guy is a b*stard! so don't vote for him again pleese. but the american people i know are pretty cool. i just don't get why you pass such a bad image, like it seems you're obcessed with guns and stuff...
 
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