Panama is not a 'region', and certainly the US is despised by many people/leaders in Latin America, there is a LOOOOOOOONG history of American interventions in Latin America that won't be forgotten anytime soon.
Tigermission1, I think you probably want to revise your vacation plan now based on this list. A Recent History of Major Explosions in Indonesia Published: October 2, 2005 Following are some of the major explosions in Indonesia in recent years that preceded the bombing attacks yesterday near Bali, as compiled by the Reuters: MAY 28, 2005: Two bombs rip through a busy market in a Christian town in eastern Indonesia, killing up to 21 people. NOV. 13, 2004: An explosion near a police station on the eastern island of Sulawesi kills five people and injures four. SEPT. 9, 2004: A powerful bomb explodes near the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, killing at least 3 people and injuring more than 100. JAN. 10, 2004: Four people are killed by a bomb in a karaoke cafe in Palopo on Sulawesi. AUG. 5, 2003: A bomb outside a JW Marriott Hotel in Jakarta kills 12 people and injures 150. DEC. 5, 2002: A blast in a McDonald's restaurant in Ujungpandang, on Sulawesi, kills 3. OCT. 12, 2002: Blasts on the island of Bali kill 202 people, including 88 Australian tourists. DEC. 24, 2000: A series of Christmas Eve blasts at Jakarta churches and elsewhere in the country kill 17 people and injure about 100. SEPT. 13, 2000: A blast at a stock exchange in Jakarta kills 15 and injures dozens. AUG. 1, 2000: The Philippine ambassador is among dozens of people injured in a blast that kills two outside his Jakarta home. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/02/i...28916800&en=2075f29ac864360d&ei=5070&emc=eta1
Are you kidding me? That's nothing! Combine all those together, and I still have a higher chance of getting hit by a drive-by in Houston. I won't cower
Indonesia is a huge, diverse country. If you are considering Bali as a vacation, the only thing above that matters is what happened in October 2002.
And a few days ago. But I agree with Tigermission. 10 terrorist attacks in 5 years. I don't think that is even comparable to how many fatal traffic accidents happen in one week in any major US city. Then again driving in Indonesia is pretty hairy!
Every country I go to in Asia with some exceptions (HK, Singapore, Malaysia) I'm prepared to hand "worst/most dangerous drivers/roads/driving experiences ever" title too. At first I thought mainland China truck drivers were the worst -- then India took the prize after a few weeks in the mountains. Well in Hanoi, I saw 2 accidents on the way in from the airport, the second of which involved my taxi running off the road and smashing into a signpost (which fortunately kept it from running off a 10 foot ramp and causing serious injury), so there's a new champion
Your statement assumes the odds of getting killed by 1) auto accident in Bali AND 2) terroist attack in a US metropolis are nil. I think this kind of logic (or mentality) is also shared by Tigermission1 and apostolic3 et al, judging from their posts. Actually I wouldn't mind visiting places like Bali by myself. But before my trip, I'd purchase extra disability insurance in case I have to come back with some bodypart(s) missing or damaged, and go over my life insurance policies and my will to make sure my beneficiaries are taken care of in case I am finished. There is a particular fish well known in East Asia for its delicacy and poisonousness. While officially banned in China, it is available and highly sought after in Japan. It requires very experienced and skilled chefs to remove the deadly poison-producing organs before the fish can be rendered to the next step. Despite all the precautions taken, accidental deaths still occur due to the probable contamination of the poison during preparation. But you know what, the Japanese are dying to taste the dishes made from this fish, which is only served in very expensive restaurants. They consider that as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
I would hazard to say that if you were to go to India, particularly the areas involved in the tech and IT industries, such as Bangalore and the surrounding region, you would find yourself most welcome. Believe it or not, the educated people in most of the world, I truly believe, can differentiate between a criminally incompetent American government, like the one we have now, and the American people. I'll give you an example closer to home. I cannot stand the current state leadership in Texas. I think they are bought and paid for by special interest groups, and have done a horrifically divisive and incompetent job running our state. Having said that, it has nothing to do with my deep love for Texas, where I was born and raised, and still live. You can separate the two. So can the educated in other countries. Keep D&D Civil!!
Pretty much everywhere in Asia from the steppes to the tropics. You know how easy it is to get around as a native English speaker in most parts of the world? I've been out of the coutnry for 4 months now and have encountered almost no anti-americanism directed at me personally, generally it's the opposite. (although everybody dislikes GWB to a man, but that's nothing new). Plus it's just much cooler in certain circles to be a US anglophone rather than Aussie/British. It's too bad that most Americans don't seem to take advantage of it, very few of them out here off the beaten path, which is actually very well beaten considering.
Everyone loves America, its technology, its comfort, its luxuries.... But not a single non American imo, honestly, likes america's foreign policies...
I didn't say Latin America. I said Central America. You can't lump Central and South America together politically (or culturally for that matter). South America, with leftist rebels in several countries and leaders like Hugo Chavez, is very unhospitial for Americans in a lot of ways, though not as much as most people think. Even in Caracas, Venezuela there is a strong pro-American sentiment among middle class people (who by the way, hate Chavez with a passion). In Colombia (Bogota & Medellein) and Ecuador (Quito specifically) I found the people to be very pro-American. You have to differentiate between demogaguery spouted by leaders from the actual feelings of average people. Certainly in South America there are large groups of people who don't like America. But in Cental America I can't think of one country I would say most people "despise" the U.S.
I agree with most of you that most places around the world, we as individual Americans won't have many problems. I think it would be more accurate if I were to say that American politics are despised the world over (generally speaking that is of course, there are few countries here and there that might deviate from the general sentiment). As for Americans themselves, I don't think we are 'hated', our culture is imitated the world over, and everyone loves the culture of 'consumerism' and wish they could afford to live it like we do. They love to wear our jeans, they love to drink Coca-Cola, and the wealthier ones love to dine at a McDonald's and have a drink at Starbucks every once in a while. I agree with Deckard that it's important to distinguish our 'policies' (political America) and the people/society (cultural America). I have had many conversations in the past with people from different parts of the world and what I usually hear is something along these lines: "Man, I hate your government, you are imperialists and war-mongers. But one day, I am hoping to send over my son to get his education from America, half of my family are already there"!
The US had lots of nasty interventions in Central America too, including Nicaragua, Cuba, Haiti, etc.
bull****. interventions in cuba and haiti, specifically, were not only justified but undoubtably would have left/did leave the people better off than pre-intervention. as for nicaragua - you have no chance of showing the sandinistas were better than the contras.
You are talking about more 'recent' interventions or those of a century ago? And I am not judging based on a specific 'view' of whether it was good or not. The bottom line is intervening in any one's business will create a lot of ill-will, whether you like it or not. Calm down HayesStreet, the sandinistas AND the contras were both criminal...happy?
I didn't deny the U.S. intervened in Central America. I said Central American people generally like Americans and anti-American feelings in some South American countries is overstated. Read my post. I didn't even comment on countries like Cuba or Haiti. I don't mean to lecture, but you can't lump all countries south of us into on giant pot. There are huge regional and national differences in political opinions among the countries. It would surprise you. Panama, a country we "intervened in" when we tossed out Noreiga, loves the U.S. and even adopted our currency. Panama is probably more pro-American than some U.S. States (I exaggerate for effect ). That is another very beautiful country I recommend to you as a vacation. It's a well-kept secret and it boggles my mind more Americans don't go there.
I understand it's 'overgeneralizing', and I even said so earlier on in my post. Believe me, I know enough about the world to understand that even within specific regions (i.e. Middle East, Central America, South America, etc.) there are major differences among all the countries that exist in that region. Agains, I was generalizing, and I was asking people to name one 'region' (i.e. ME, Western Europe, East Asia, SE Asia, etc.) that doesn't have a negative view of American policies. Anyways, it's besides the point
