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Does everyone else dislike Americans?
RP Members what your take on this controversial question?
By the way - I like Americans and My Country!
After a decade of strong anti-Americanism all across the globe following the “War on Terrorism,” the notion that a majority of people in the world actually like the U.S. almost seems inconceivable. With Bush no longer in charge, though, such is the case. Global surveys indicate that, over the past three years, a plurality of people in the world have approved of the U.S. as a global power. Per the 2011-2012 BBC World Service Poll, 47% of people across 22 countries have a mainly positive opinion of America’s global influence, versus 33% holding a mainly negative opinion. The EU, per the same poll, had a minimally higher 48% approval rating. Gallup’s 2011 Leadership Poll shows that 46% of people in 136 countries approve of the leadership role of the U.S., with 26% disapproving. In that poll, only Germany surpassed the U.S., with a 47% approval rating. Pictured above is a crowd listening to Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech in (you guessed) Berlin, as a reminder of how constructive the relationship between the U.S. and other countries can be given the proper leadership – and how responsive people can be to this.
On the other hand: I don’t need to remind you that the approval ratings of the United States five or six years ago were, in fact, abysmal – and I do mean, abysmal. And regardless of the man in charge, Anti-Americanism is a widespread phenomenon, make no mistake. But the next time you hear someone say “that’s why everyone hates [you] Americans,” just remember that, fortunately, the world isn’t as stubbornly hateful a place as it’s made out to be.
RP Members what your take on this controversial question?
By the way - I like Americans and My Country!
After a decade of strong anti-Americanism all across the globe following the “War on Terrorism,” the notion that a majority of people in the world actually like the U.S. almost seems inconceivable. With Bush no longer in charge, though, such is the case. Global surveys indicate that, over the past three years, a plurality of people in the world have approved of the U.S. as a global power. Per the 2011-2012 BBC World Service Poll, 47% of people across 22 countries have a mainly positive opinion of America’s global influence, versus 33% holding a mainly negative opinion. The EU, per the same poll, had a minimally higher 48% approval rating. Gallup’s 2011 Leadership Poll shows that 46% of people in 136 countries approve of the leadership role of the U.S., with 26% disapproving. In that poll, only Germany surpassed the U.S., with a 47% approval rating. Pictured above is a crowd listening to Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein Berliner” speech in (you guessed) Berlin, as a reminder of how constructive the relationship between the U.S. and other countries can be given the proper leadership – and how responsive people can be to this.
On the other hand: I don’t need to remind you that the approval ratings of the United States five or six years ago were, in fact, abysmal – and I do mean, abysmal. And regardless of the man in charge, Anti-Americanism is a widespread phenomenon, make no mistake. But the next time you hear someone say “that’s why everyone hates [you] Americans,” just remember that, fortunately, the world isn’t as stubbornly hateful a place as it’s made out to be.
United States
War on Terror
World Affairs
Edited >1 y ago
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 41
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs Remember this letter, Colonel:
America: The Good Neighbor.
"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth.
Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.
When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars! into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes?
Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles.
You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon -! not once, but several times - and safely home again.
You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.
When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those."
America: The Good Neighbor.
"This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least appreciated people on all the earth.
Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of these countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.
When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.
When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59 American communities were flattened by tornadoes. Nobody helped.
The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped billions of dollars! into discouraged countries. Now newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent, warmongering Americans.
I'd like to see just one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplane. Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all the International lines except Russia fly American Planes?
Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy, and you get automobiles.
You talk about American technocracy, and you find men on the moon -! not once, but several times - and safely home again.
You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everybody to look at. Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.
When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke.
I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.
Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I'm one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is not one of those."
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SCPO Carl Wayne Boss
SN Wright; It's a damn shame so many in the world have such short memories.
And it says a lot more that we don't hold a grudge, we're still Johnny-on-the-spot where ever there is a need in the world... that speaks volumes, not only about America, but about every other country as well... does it not?
And it says a lot more that we don't hold a grudge, we're still Johnny-on-the-spot where ever there is a need in the world... that speaks volumes, not only about America, but about every other country as well... does it not?
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With all due respect to you and everyone else on RP, the ONLY approvals or "likes" I care about come from three places:
1. God
2. My mother being she is my world and who brought me here
3. the 1% of this nation that has served in some capacity in our armed forces.
This might sound egotistical or arrogant; it might even play into why others don't like us, but to them I'd say "who cares"? Are you a productive member of your home country? Are you working to better the lives of your countrymen? Are you interested in being an American and adopt our way of life? If not, you should do more to occupy your time than worrying about what the US is doing unless you directly see our influence in your country. There are going to be people who are never going to "like" us, share our values as Americans, or care about us. So they will forever be jaded against us. Others are confused with their opinions due to television and social media's take on various issues we have here and they're more than likely misgiven or straight up false.
On the flip side of that, If you have the time to talk about me, then I must be doing something right and you're taking notice.
1. God
2. My mother being she is my world and who brought me here
3. the 1% of this nation that has served in some capacity in our armed forces.
This might sound egotistical or arrogant; it might even play into why others don't like us, but to them I'd say "who cares"? Are you a productive member of your home country? Are you working to better the lives of your countrymen? Are you interested in being an American and adopt our way of life? If not, you should do more to occupy your time than worrying about what the US is doing unless you directly see our influence in your country. There are going to be people who are never going to "like" us, share our values as Americans, or care about us. So they will forever be jaded against us. Others are confused with their opinions due to television and social media's take on various issues we have here and they're more than likely misgiven or straight up false.
On the flip side of that, If you have the time to talk about me, then I must be doing something right and you're taking notice.
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SCPO Carl Wayne Boss
A fantastic list of valid points SSG Swan to the extreme;.. especially the parts about peoples minds and psyches being warped by TV and so called "social media"... In my view the majority of stuff on social media has little more credence, than what one reads on the walls of outhouses and public restrooms... And further Sir... there's nothing either egotistical nor arrogant about a thing you've said/written!
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In most places those who have the wealth got it by stealing from others. Those who have power use it to intimidate those without. Is it hard to then understand why when they look towards America where we have so much wealth and so much power that they assume we have stolen it? Isn't this why many of the new generation of aliens, especially those who enter the country illegally, feel it is there right to steal it back? Sadly, they cannot conceive of the concept that it is possible to create wealth and that is how America became wealthy. Furthermore, we have a growing segment, bordering on a majority, who have lost sight of that vision. They speak of "fairness" as though America's wealth is a finite supply and that it should be shared equally. Never, it seems, will it occur to them to go and create their own wealth. They feel compelled to take it from others. If others hate America it is because We the People who still believe in it are failing to make our case...
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SCPO Carl Wayne Boss
Oh I think we're making our case just fine Capt... The problem is there are just too many both from within and without that are content to wander around with the Gimme, Gimme, Gimmes... instead of getting up and going to work and "earning" their living... for some mistaken reason(s) they believe the rest of us owe them something, which we do not. Americans don't mind giving someone a "leg-up" and never have, but we do mind a "leech", someone who doesn't carry their own weight or shoulder a portion of the load or their burden in life or other wise contribute to the community at large!
America got where it is because those that came before us knuckled down and worked and worked hard, they dreamed, they innovated, they invented and built things and took our scarce resources and made things others in this country and all over the world needed wanted, desired and could use... many things the world had never dreamt of before.
Look back through history, particularly since what was called the "industrial revolution" at the list of things that were invented in this country, from the mechanized loom that was run on hydro-power, to the steam engine and literally thousands of other things that are taken for granted the world over today... like the airplane that was mentioned earlier and the semi-conductor that is the basis for every electronic thing there is in the world today.
America got where it is because those that came before us knuckled down and worked and worked hard, they dreamed, they innovated, they invented and built things and took our scarce resources and made things others in this country and all over the world needed wanted, desired and could use... many things the world had never dreamt of before.
Look back through history, particularly since what was called the "industrial revolution" at the list of things that were invented in this country, from the mechanized loom that was run on hydro-power, to the steam engine and literally thousands of other things that are taken for granted the world over today... like the airplane that was mentioned earlier and the semi-conductor that is the basis for every electronic thing there is in the world today.
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