Who loves America?

[Pekka]

And furthermore I don't like being asked if I love a country or not. No I don't love countries. I mean, how should I love it, why? Is this a question that asks me what is my opinion about this country, how the heck am I supposed to have this opinion? It's such a super question, you can't answer that if you really think about it. Just the feeling you get, and say yes or no?

These polls are stupid IMO. Because these questions are super questions and can't be answered by rational people who think more than just 'Uh it make me feel good! Me like it!'.

Does it ask if I love Americans? How am I supposed to know that, I don't know them all. Some of them are nice and some are not nice. Impossible to answer.

These polls are based on feelings, not facts, and as they are like this, they are all BS and crap and piss and poo.

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Pekka
DD, well it's like this. Americans loves the US. Other nationalities loves their countries. But I think often times Americans assume that others loves the US too. Why should they love it? The whole setting of this situation is so different, most often foreigners don't give a crap about other countries in a way that they'd love them at all. No one cares that much.

Perhaps you Finns are just content not caring about what goes on in the world, but I would hardly say that "most foreigners don't give a crap about other countries"

[Pekka]

Well, I don't mean they wouldn't care AT ALL, but in this way, I bet majority just don't have a formed opinion. It is based on maybe the latest action of this country, or what ever movie they saw last. YOu know, it's not possible to answer if you think about it.

Let's put it like this then: let's ask 10 million Americans what they think of Finland. 9.9 million don't know anything about it. They most likely say 'sure yeah they're ok', because they don't know anything and Americans in general are polite like that and tend to give positive views if they are not sure. You see what I mean?

Sure the US is known in foreign countries, but how the hell would they form their opinions? " Yeah me likes coca cola"? "American movie good"? "American weapon kill peepl is bad!" you know? BS polls.

[Yiff_Yiff_Yaoi]

Yeah, America needs to mind its own damn business, just ask the African-American former slaves(who would be aboue 170 years old now) Don't ask 40's era France and Briton though, and you probably shouldn't ask Japan either. Definately ask Vietnam and North Korea (but don't ask South Korea) and just ask the Muslim Extremests (but don't ask the fundamentalists or pacifists) and you will get a unanimous vote! "AMERICANS ARE BIASED, RACISTS PIG-DOG IMPERIALIST OPPRESSORS WHO NEED TO MIND THEIR OWN BUSINESS, GIVE MORE FOREIGN AID, AND STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT THE TOTALLY JUSTIFIED SUICIDE BOMBINGS"

Thusly Americans == Fagorts, Q.E.D.

[-Jrabbit]

Originally posted by child of Thor
Do Americans care how the world views them, or thinks of them? I get the impression that they are mostly nice well mannerd people who might be alarmed at the thought of such world wide opinion?

I might be totaly wrong about this - which might make these kind of polls more depressing.

I care about how the world views Americans because I'm an individual, not a politican or a policymaker. I just want a world in which I am free to travel and enjoy/learn about other cultures first-hand.

It's a pain to be hated or despised for the actions of my government. Obviously, I would prefer that it wasn't like that. It's also a pain being hated or despised because I live in a rich country and have disposable income. That doesn't make me a bad guy! Negaitve perceptions of Americans based on our government's policies, world economics, Hollywood imagery, etc., is a prejudice I'll always have to deal with.

That said, my travel experiences have generally been good ones. I find when you meet people halfway -- learn a few words of their language, respect their culture, ask instead of order -- most are ready to ignore their distaste for Americans and treat you as the individual you are.

But it sure would be nice to feel safe when I travel. (sigh)

[Nubclear]

Originally posted by Pekka
Well, I don't mean they wouldn't care AT ALL, but in this way, I bet majority just don't have a formed opinion. It is based on maybe the latest action of this country, or what ever movie they saw last. YOu know, it's not possible to answer if you think about it.

Let's put it like this then: let's ask 10 million Americans what they think of Finland. 9.9 million don't know anything about it. They most likely say 'sure yeah they're ok', because they don't know anything and Americans in general are polite like that and tend to give positive views if they are not sure. You see what I mean?

Sure the US is known in foreign countries, but how the hell would they form their opinions? " Yeah me likes coca cola"? "American movie good"? "American weapon kill peepl is bad!" you know? BS polls.

Poly crashed as I tried posting, so heres a summary of my post:
-Americans probably dont have too many opinions about foreign nations save what CNN/Fox/etc tells them
-Perhaps Finns don't care what happens but during my travels, most people I've met do have formed opinions about issues
-I think you need to get out of your ignorant country more

[Arrian]

Personally, it's not so much that I want other people to love my country, but rather that I'd prefer they didn't hate it so much that they: a) are willing to blow up our citizens; b) are willing to actively support those in a; or c) are willing to condone a & b.

By the way, I've a pretty good idea as to why people hate the U.S., and I'm not trying to get into that particular discussion. I just want to point out the difference between:

"Why do they hate us?"
and
"Hey, why don't you love us!? We rock!"

-Arrian

[child of Thor]

Well it is a simple heading, kinda disguising the true complexity of the issue(for me anyway ).

In our globaly aware world - i think is reasonable to ask such questions as they impact on all our lives.

In a way America is the world, its a huge melting pot of all people from all over the world that have at some point in the past when America was founded - decided to make a better place.

Thats what i look for in America - i want to see that ideal realised, because at the end of the day the only way we as human beings will last longer than the dinosaurs(even less will do!), is if we really all become as America is supposed to be.

I'm saddend that its not working out like that - saddend for us all

Its a rather pitiful dream maybe, definately idealised, but at the end of the day thats what America is supposed to be all about - fighting for freedom, justice, the benifit of mankind?

Make it so - its in your hands to do it, in fact its in all our hands to help in what ever way we can. Lets not live in a world of fear and darkness - it will be our doom.

God bless America, cause it blo*dy needs all the help it can get

In a Nutshell : as a liberalish person with tendancy to the left and right

when i think of America it is with sad trepidition.

when i think of Finland it is with friendly drink shareing.

just so you can see what i mean pekka

[Whaleboy]

Those of us who actually live in the country can.

Hence patriotism...

[DanS]

Definately ask Vietnam and North Korea

Believe it or not, the same survey shows that the US has an 80% positive image in Vietnam.

My friend is married to a bolivian girl, who utterly hates America. She blames America for meddling in her countries affairs, and forcing the governments hand by threatening to pull out of investment etc .. The perception is, America uses its wealth to oppress the poor.

That's Bolivia, but the US seems most popular in those countries in Latin America where we have taken military action. Counterintuitive.

[DanS]

That's why I find these polls stupid.

Well, I think this is at least moderately helpful as a political weapon. For instance, as recently as 2 years ago, the US enjoyed an 80% favorable image in Venezuela. So when Chavez rails against the US, it's probably reflecting more poorly on him than on the US.

A poll came out a couple of years ago saying that the US enjoyed some 70% favorable ratings in Iran. The pollsters received a death sentence, but the lie that the Iranian gov't's "death to the US" mantra and flag burning of the last 20 years had any negative impact on our image in Iran was exposed.

[centrifuge]

Originally posted by GePap


Americans think the world should love them all, and are angry the world does not-so in that sense they do not care.

Please do not speak for all Americans, there are around 300 million you realize...and they are not a bunch of sheep that think the same way.

[Japher]

I think you need to get out of your ignorant country more

Those who think this country is ignorant is ignorant; heck, we all hate the French

I love America...

[Pekka]

Tass, ignorant? I think you should get over yourself! I get out a lot, seen most countries you can't even spell I just don't see the point with these polls.

[Pekka]

I just wanted to say I hate you all, I think your puny little countries sucks and I can't wait to control them so I can have you all SHOT.