If everybody in the world hates you, there is probably a strong reason for it. Maybe we as good American citizens should research why this is and not just dismiss it.
It's probably the same reason everyone hates the NY Yankees. THey have more money and are more succesful than anyone else It's called Jealousy. We have it, they want it, they can't get it.
Good God! Extreme Stereotype in action...I thought people who actually said that kind of thing out loud ( so to speak) were extinct, or at least a rare bird...Sadly, I suspect that many Americans feel the same way you do..and, moreover, I know that it is often for exactly that kind of attitude, and the ramifications of same, that many foreigners do have issue with America... Ever heard the anti-American joke line...Americans think that there are two kinds of people in the world...Americans and those who want to be Americans...It's even funnier/sadder to see that type of thinking in a living, breathing person as opposed to a comedic stereotype...
So you are now using an Extreme Stereotype by saing that "many Americans feel the same way." Actually, look at all the protests and anti- American resentment building up around the world. And this was before W was even in power. Some of it is natural, the US is the sole superpower, but some of it IS just envy (especially from France and Germany, not so much from countries like Britain, India, and Japan, which are more relevant anyways).
I can see that you are being open-minded about this...You agree that there are 2 reasons why the world hates us...1) It's not our fault, it's just beacuse we're the only superpower, and 2) It's not our fault, they're jealous...
If you think that we have little or no responsibility for the way the world perceives us, yes. But I do apologize for the unwarrented sarcasm...
If you think that the opinions of others are formed solely by a sober analysis of US actions, then I disagree. If you think every country except the US thinks rationally, then I also disagree.
No, but by saying that they think that way of us because of the reasons you cited, you are saying that A) We are the only ones in the world able to think clearly, all others are clouded by our super-powerness, and their envy...and B) we should always assume that we are right and everyone else is wrong, because we can always dismiss any disagreement with us on the basis you provided, even if, as now, that disagreeing party comprises almost all of the rest of the world. Question...how many times in history has one nation invaded another with most of the world against that action, and been seen afterwards to be in the right? I am sure that you yourself could think of at least 50 examples of the opposite, where the USSR, Iraq, Germany, or whoever invaded another nation in spite of world opinion, and was thereafter seen to be the aggressor, but can you name the opposite? But I suppose it's another example of our clear-thinking objective and not-at-all ego centric mindset to suppose that we will be the first in history to be in the right in that circumstance, because we have our reasons, whereas everyone else was in the wrong, because their reasons weren't as good as ours...in our opinion.
1) I'm not sure how you drew those conclusions from what I said. I simply said that there is some jealousy and envy coming from other countries, and that is true. I think you are being unreasonable when you accuse me of thinking "we should always assume we are right." 2) I wonder how many countries were against us invading Afghanistan? Sure, they supported us at first, then they quickly started comparing it to Vietnam and started coming up with conspiracies about an oil pipeline. 3) That's just a strawman.
1) The original statement I was objecting to, and assumed you were supporting by virtue of disagreeing with my disagreement, and agreeing with at least part of was that the reason the rest of the world hates us is because we are the NY Yankees, better, more successfull, and they are just jealous. That kind of mindset, I argued, COULD and often WOULD excuse thinking that we are always right. 2) World opinion was not against invading Afghanistan, nor was the UN...Still no examples of doing what we are about to do and being 'right' vs. hundreds of examples of doing it and being wrong. If, as you claim, you don't automatically think we are right, doesn't that make you just a little uncomfortable? Every invading nation in history has believed it's own 'hype' before a war...The fact that we have some shouldn't make us think we are right.
ZRB, The title of this thread was would you fight for "OUR" country. Since it is not your country, you should abstain. DD
1) No I don't have that mindset. But lets be realistic and understand human nature, these countries will feel a resentment towards us, especially those like Germany and France which have lost a lot of political influence over the last few decades. Your whole point of view can't be dictated by a critical view of American actions, you should also have a critical eye to other countries instead of giving them a free pass all the time. 2) This war makes me uncomfortable in some ways but not because other people think we are wrong. I'm sure lots of Europe thought socialism was the way of the future at some point, and that didn't work too well. I want to have a good rational reason to oppose this war other than "Bush is doing it for oil" or "civilians will die" (more will die under Saddam's rule) or "it costs too much" (true, but that is an indirect reason) or "the UN disagrees, we can't do it." Everyone AGREES we would be better of without Saddam in the world, but so many at the same time don't want to take the necessary steps.
I find it hysterical when gungho patriots who have never served in the military critisize an individual or group of people who say they wouldn't fight unless we were invaded. Put your money where your mouth is and join up for 2-4 years if you feel strongly in support of American military action. If you're beyond the allowable years or if the military would get in the way of your career then simply don't b**** at people who feel differently than you because the time is already past and right now you're playing armchair quarterback. I hope you remember that for a very long period of U.S. history we were not an aggressive nation. For the most part from 1776-1898 or so we didn't meddle in the affairs of other countries. We did tell the Europeans that they couldn't invade South and Central America to collect debts and we did tell the Japanese that they would trade with us whether they wanted to or not.
It didn't? Not to interrupt your point, but I think you might be confusing socialism (practiced all over Europe and to an extent right here in das Homeland) with communism. Again, I know that wasn't your main point. Sorry.
