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ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 3:10:02 PM

pahunkboy

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http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_kevin_li_080131_australian_writes_ab.htm

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 3:23:16 PM

NorthernGent

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From what I can gather, I doubt very much that Americans are hated. From an English point of view, we appreciate your music, your individualism, and your "I know my rights" attitude. What we don't understand is this hand on heart flag thing, and the extremism that seems more prevalent in the US than England. It appears to be a double edged sword to me; then again, we're individualistic, too, but we have more of a "let sleeping dogs lie" attitude. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you.

Every now and again, these things surface. It's fairly predictable and dull really. A thread on American virtues would be more interesting, and I don't mean the usual that every country spouts, e.g. "land of the free" etc, - what is unique to the United States?

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 3:23:32 PM

cyberdude611

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That's nothing new...

Everyone beats up the super power. Just like everyone hates the Patriots and Yankees.

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 3:31:00 PM

RealityLicks

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It seems you increasingly hate yourselves, too.

quote:

The suicide rate among US soldiers has reached its highest level since records began almost 30 years ago, officials said.
Last year, 121 active members of the army took their own lives, up 20% on the previous year. Thirty-four of last year's deaths happened while the soldier was deployed in Iraq, compared to 27 in 2006.

Also on the rise are attempted suicides and self-harm. The number of soldiers who tried but failed to kill themselves or who deliberately injured themselves rose to 2,100 in 2007, up from 500 in 2002.

It's great watching the learning curve of an American in London, as they gradually realise we do not envy them. Come on over fresh meat!

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 3:36:12 PM

Moloch

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quote:

ORIGINAL: RealityLicks

It seems you increasingly hate yourselves, too.

quote:

The suicide rate among US soldiers has reached its highest level since records began almost 30 years ago, officials said.
Last year, 121 active members of the army took their own lives, up 20% on the previous year. Thirty-four of last year's deaths happened while the soldier was deployed in Iraq, compared to 27 in 2006.

Also on the rise are attempted suicides and self-harm. The number of soldiers who tried but failed to kill themselves or who deliberately injured themselves rose to 2,100 in 2007, up from 500 in 2002.

It's great watching the learning curve of an American in London, as they gradually realise we do not envy them. Come on over fresh meat!

did you walk into a room with a US Marine porking your mom or something?

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 3:42:23 PM

RealityLicks

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An elegant turn of phrase. You're out of my league.

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 3:43:18 PM

NorthernGent

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quote:

ORIGINAL: cyberdude611

That's nothing new...

Everyone beats up the super power. Just like everyone hates the Patriots and Yankees.

Another good example of why the English and some Americans are only superficial allies. The great nation means a lot to you; with regard to us, we have the self-confidence to not give a flying one about the nation. This could be an interesting topic, if you were to provide an opinion on what it means to be an American.

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 3:50:20 PM

kittinSol

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quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

Every now and again, these things surface. It's fairly predictable and dull really. A thread on American virtues would be more interesting, and I don't mean the usual that every country spouts, e.g. "land of the free" etc, - what is unique to the United States?

The temptation to bash 'America' as a concept is immense, but I think your positive attitude is wise, NorthernGent.

I'm franco-british living in the States (but I never tell people of my French heritage, for the Frogs are seldom understood anywhere around the world - indeed, they're probably the second most disliked nation on the planet

), and what I've learnt to appreciate here is the relentless optimism and 'get up and go' philosophy, as well as a service-orientated society which is altogether quite helpful.

This can be a pain in the arse when people constantly tell you to 'have a nice day' and to have waitresses in restaurants recite their curriculum vitae to you before they take your order... all in all though, I find it's more laid-back and less frantic than even provincial european cities.

Then again, I live in the boondocks.

What grates for me is a lack of curiousity about the world beyond the national borders of the country, the prevalence of easily digestible media and undemanding pop culture, and of seriously crap fashion. I think they call it 'the slobification of America' :-) . The jingoism and attachment to the flag really fucks me off, but it's ingrained in little children from the very first day they go to school, so the brainwashing is pretty thorough.

< Message edited by kittinSol -- 1/31/2008 4:00:57 PM >

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 3:58:09 PM

pahunkboy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: NorthernGent

From what I can gather, I doubt very much that Americans are hated. From an English point of view, we appreciate your music, your individualism, and your "I know my rights" attitude. What we don't understand is this hand on heart flag thing, and the extremism that seems more prevalent in the US than England. It appears to be a double edged sword to me; then again, we're individualistic, too, but we have more of a "let sleeping dogs lie" attitude. Perhaps I'm misunderstanding you.

Every now and again, these things surface. It's fairly predictable and dull really. A thread on American virtues would be more interesting, and I don't mean the usual that every country spouts, e.g. "land of the free" etc, - what is unique to the United States?

"let a sleepin dog lie" - ias I obseve folks 70ish, they seem to do this quite well. Let others make the noise- rattle the apple cart- then look in to polish it up.

The WW2 gerneration did alot for ---....
Ild guess someone young with no memory of WW2, the reasons- etc- I can see --hmm.

Americans seem to think everything needs to be "managed" manupilated- ....or litigated.

In theory the US was buildt to comrise of peoples from all over- which would give it a place where if one style doesnt suit- another is doable. Being a young country the western expansion was a givn.

--US foreigne policy is- well we have our medling into everywhere. yikes.

the corporatists are a threat.....

there are plenty of people I dont care to associate with. trouble can easily be found.

maybe the boomers generation was a fluke- music/arts talent is dismal- as compared to the 60s-70s-80s.

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 4:00:13 PM

cp144

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England is still the superpower. Look where the money is.

The US is pretty much a bunch of under-educated people that are trained to wave the flag and self-righteously believe that God loves them more than the rest of the world. The country has some of the highest obesity rates because of sugar, tobacco and junk food marketing. A country of sedentary yahoos glued to the TV.

Love it or leave it? Give me some money so I can leave it...But seriously, all world governments are corrupt. But...Not forever. Thy Kingdom C??? on Earth.

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 4:01:49 PM

LaTigresse

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It's funny kittin that the things that bug you about the US and the citizens are things that annoy me, and I grew up here!

Though, in my current dress of jeans, sneakers, menswear shirt and fuzzy vest........I believe I might fit the crap fashion part......

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My twisted, self deprecating, sense of humour, finds alot to laugh about, in your lack of one!

Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 4:04:45 PM

kittinSol

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The temptation to spread was in proportion with the size of the land. Growing lots of food, having huge homes, living far apart from each other, all this has created a very materialistic people, yes. And the consumerism has made many of them fat.

Ownership is second to God here. That will probably be America's downfall, eventually.

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 4:06:52 PM

kittinSol

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quote:

ORIGINAL: LaTigresse

It's funny kittin that the things that bug you about the US and the citizens are things that annoy me, and I grew up here!

Great minds ... :-) ?

quote:

Though, in my current dress of jeans, sneakers, menswear shirt and fuzzy vest........I believe I might fit the crap fashion part......

I don't believe it for one minute; but I advise you to let go of the men's shirts. You're too cute for that.

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 4:07:37 PM

lusciouslips19

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quote:

The US is pretty much a bunch of under-educated people that are trained to wave the flag and self-righteously believe that God loves them more than the rest of the world.

Funny you say that. You wouldnt have the internet or the PC if it wasnt for those undereducated Americans. We are the creative innovators who dare to dream and try.

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 4:10:24 PM

LaTigresse

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Thank you beautiful lady but the shirts help keep the guys eyes on their work and not my boobs.......I am genetically blessed/cursed, what can I say.

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My twisted, self deprecating, sense of humour, finds alot to laugh about, in your lack of one!

Just because you are well educated, articulate, and can use big, fancy words, properly........does not mean you are right!

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 4:11:13 PM

kittinSol

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Are you saying you are the only innovators on the planet? Cos, you ain't. Far from it.

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 4:13:15 PM

RealityLicks

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quote:

The temptation to bash 'America' as a concept is immense

Nevertheless, the only people on this thread actually bashing are Americans themselves. Nowadays, I think they are incredibly sensitive and that anything other than outright adulation is viewed as an attack. I think maybe in the UK, we are less invested in nationalism than they are - and by that, I know I generalise..!

Maybe living in closer proximity to so many other countries prepares us to accept that other people live quite cool lives in their own way and not to assume that they want to have our lifestyle. We have "travel". Americans have "travel" and "foreign travel".

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 4:16:57 PM

Politesub53

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quote:

ORIGINAL: lusciouslips19

Funny you say that. You wouldnt have the internet or the PC if it wasnt for those undereducated Americans. We are the creative innovators who dare to dream and try.

Except you didnt invent either, nor the railways or the telephone.

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 4:24:42 PM

utterlybutterfli

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_fr_

I only hate the ones that voted for Bush !

(ducks)

And btw, you wouldn't have lightbulbs or televisions or.. well.. LOADS of things if it wasn't for us.
And we probably wouldn't all be using the internet in this form if it werent for people looking for a convenient way to find porn.

Seriously I don't hate any American - and I don't know anyone who does. But I have to concur with a couple of the previous posters that we aren't envious. We just aren't.
We know you'd love it here if you could afford to live here!
(and thats another joke, btw)

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RE: ouch- USA people hated - 1/31/2008 4:32:08 PM

GreedyTop

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As an American who considers myself a patriot (yes, I was raised on the Pledge of Allegience, hand on heart, salute the flag), I think that this country, as a whole, has gotten a bit too big for our britches in many ways. Call it hubris. The fact that so many people were screaming "HOW DARE THEY" after 9/11, to me, only illustrates just how cocky we've (generic) gotten.
But what's GOOD about America?
Take a road trip...criss cross the country. We have plains, mountains, deserts, tropical, tundra..name it, and we've got almost every kind of climate and landscape all wrapped up within our borders.
Visit the small towns. Where people still greet strangers with a hello and a smile (ok, you can find that in the big cities too, but I think it's mostly people who've moved there from the small towns that do it..LOL) and no ulterior motive.
I could go on, but I would like to see other Americans say what THEY think is good....

Andrea - Proud to be an American (which isn'tpreventing me from moving to the UK..LOL)

< Message edited by GreedyTop -- 1/31/2008 4:49:59 PM >

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