Why is it OK to bash the US?

[Petros]

There are many places in this forum--since a majority of the users are from the U.K.-- where the U.S. gets bashed, despite what is stated in the forum guidelines. I'm not talking about friendly jibes (as neighboring nations often do), I'm talking about hardcore, worse-than-New-Kids-on-the-Block-and-Backstreet-Boys-put-together U.S. hating. Why is there so much negative sentiment toward the country I was born in and love? Are we exterminating people by the millions? Do we keep slaves? Are we just jerks in general? Does the country smell funny?

Maybe the people here aren't as familiar with other countries as those in Europe are, but we have a big enough country and enough things to learn about as it is. We have fifty states that are equal or greater in landmass and population than many European nations, each with its own history and distinctions.

Not having desire (or time) to learn about other countries may be perceived as arrogance, but it's just that we have fifty states of history and knowledge to soak up. How many European nations have those from Europe visited (I'm sure there are a lot of hardcore European travelers that will jump on that and go "All of them!")? I've been to thirty two of the United States, and they don't all have the same culture. Ask anyone from the west coast who's been to Georgia (like me! ), and they'll tell you it's different.

A Swiss exchange student told me this: "What really surprises me about the U.S. is that you can drive two thousand miles (4,023 km) and everyone still speaks the same language. Think of our "states" as the sovereign nations in the E.U. The only difference is that we have a federal government that unites us all.

This is what goes on in my head when I see U.S. bashing, and I really want to know--why perfectly ok to make backhanded comments about the U.S.? Or should the forum guidelines just change and say "Nationality - Members at this forum represent countries from around the globe. Political propaganda will not be tolerated. Deliberate and/or malicious "country bashing" UNLESS IT'S THE US will result in action up to and including user ban depending on severity." ?

 

[Perris Calderon]

it's because America has a controlling hand of some in sort every country we think has value....this is necessary isn't it, as we want to be the economic hub, the military hub, and the social hub of the planet

in other words, it's a position we choose for our selfs...and I'm happy we make that choice.

that's the general reason.

the recent reason is that our leaders lie and forge and cheat so they can have a war, because they think they not will get re elected otherwise.

this leader was correct in that assumption, so his strategy might actually work.

most people that aren't from America sort of don't like that

 

[Grandmaster]

The world hates your government, your leaders - not the American people.

The world hates the fact that the US can do anything, and get away with it, even though World opinion is against it.

 

[Tabula Rasa]

As long as the US continues to be the biggest cultural and geopolitical influence it will be hated, guess its a side effect you can't get rid off.

 

[Petros]

Originally posted by dealer
it's because america has a contoilling hand of some sort every country....this is neccessary, as we are the econimic hub, the military hub, the social hub

in other words, it's a position we choose for ourselfs

You make a very good point. Being in the Air Force myself, I see a lot of that. No other country would ever be able to plant military bases in other countries, and that doesn't make all the locals happy. We have sent our people to fight and die for the freedoms of other countries for hundreds of years. I'm sure the leaders from both countries also wanted the extra trade it generated (maybe even joining wars only for that reason) but in spite of any underhanded motives, there are many countries that can attribute their freedom, at least in part, to the United States.

Btw...since North Korea started saber-rattling recently, the South Koreans have appreciated us a lot more

 

[Petros]

I pretty much understand why it is ok for the world to bash the U.S., but why is it OK at NTFS.org? Why do the mods do nothing to stifle it?

 

[Tabula Rasa]

Originally posted by HandyBuddy
We have sent our people to fight and die for the freedoms of other countries for hundreds of years.

Oh god please make it stop

 

[Petros]

Already made a retort in my second post.

 

[Tabula Rasa]

Originally posted by HandyBuddy
And have we treated any nation better than we've treated Israel?

That treatment has nothing to do with "freedoms of other countries"
I don't like it when people are responding well to brainwash,
I've survived communist Russia, surviving Jewish Israel and hopefully will survive narcissist USA.

 

[Perris Calderon]

we let people vent here if they want...this website is international, not national

as far as fighting for other peoples rights...this is noble indeed

I agree with these motives...if that was the motive of this war, I agree with it...we all know it was not though don't we.

we were tricked into this war, and now that the trick shows it's deception, our leaders scramble to find a differant reason that is just not there.

these people hate us and don't want our help, and what we call "help, they call oppression....dos anyone remember the way they danced in the street the day in the middle of september?

not one american life will I sacrifice to people that danced in the street when my country was attacked...not one

we need to keep our forces where they belong...for instance, finnishing the job in afghanistan, like for instance, the true nuquewlar threats that exist in n korea.

stuff like this is where the patriots of America need to send their children...not somewhere at the whim of one man who wants to ahve his war where he wants to have it

sthe real stuff needs no deception to get us to agree with it.

 

[paul2-0-0-2]

Yes

 

[Geffy]

My dislike of the US stems from their seeming need to force their culture everywhere else, its capitalism gone to far imo.
Also I have major disagreements with the US over things like the Kyoto agreement, their invasion of Iraq on WOMD grounds when they refused to sign either SALT1 or SALT2 and their refusal to join the International Crimial Court just so that Americans couldnt be tried in non US judicial system. Their refusal to pay their UN dues until they actually needed support from the UN.

I agree that NTFS.org should not be influenced by any of this, but as it influences everyone on a day to day basis it is hard to police the major anti-us sentiment, but we do try and prevent the major slinging matches which fall under the flaming regulations. Also the Moderators as a whole are all different and hold different views as well.

 

[kitct]

I would not worry too much what the world thinks of the us HandyBuddy.The big kid on the block as well as the guy at the top of the totem pole always gets bashed.Its perfectly natural.After all he has no where else to go but down.

And there are other reasons too.Many other nations in the world are socialist or communist based and they dont enjoy the wealth and freedom that we do precisely because of the form of government that they choose.

Others have no choice and are ruled by familys or dictators or whoever the meanest sob on the block happens to be and are kinda stuck in the "dark ages".And they have been here thousands of years.While we have only been here a couple of hundred years.

And because of our freedoms and tolerance there are many in this country (and our congress) too who prefer socialism or communism and would take great pleasure in bringing down america a notch or two.

We are the most powerful and benevolent and giving nation to ever exist on the planet.Still I think you would be hard pressed to find many people who are grateful.

With so many people who would love to see our demise (incl. the ones in this country) and the incredible lack of backbone demonstrated by those in power who seem more interested in their own power than in the good of the country (democrat and republican) I would not be surprised if this is the beginning of the end for the US.

 

[Tabula Rasa]

(Resistance is futile)

 

[Geffy]

Oh yeah and US arrogance, I dont like that either, it seems like they think everything is perfect and lovely, but really it isnt.
Tolerance and Freedom, there is an awful lot of racial hatred in the US for a tolerant country, and dont get me started on freedom, most of that seems to be more of a false sense of freedom, or the freedoms are heavily monitored, should freedom come before privacy??
Personally feel that the US is the arrogant and hormonal teenager of the world stage, ready to pick a fight with anyone who disagrees with them.
The US should fix their internal problems before pointing the finger at other peoples problems.

sorry I had to say all of that, if you have any responses to that then feel free to PM me

 

[SPeedY_B]

WooHoo *does the flame bait dance*

 

[j79zlr]

Hey Geffy, didn't Britain try and Imperialize almost every nation over the last 300 or so years? They are just not nearly as strong as the US is now, nor were they as compassionate.

 

[thebear]

Hey Geffy, didn't Britain try and Imperialize almost every nation over the last 300 or so years? They are just not nearly as strong as the US is now, nor were they as compassionate.

didn't the United Sates try to annex Canada? Didn't the United States have a bout of Imperialism (Puerto Rico, USVI, Alaska)? You also apparently don't know much about the British Empire to say that they were not "compassionate" - Canadians, South Africans, and Australians were just as well off (if not more so) than the Americans of their time. The only reason why Britain no longer has an empire but a Common Wealth is because the said countries felt that we could finally govern ourselves after many years of being "nursed" to strength by Britain.

And Geffy - you are so damn right

 

[Petros]

The bigger it is, the easier the target, I suppose. People find reasons to dislike the US in the same manner that they find reasons to dislike N'Sync. No country stays on top forever. Egypt, Rome, England, and the United States have all had their turn.

I've come to a personal conclusion that this is the case, and I don't take it personally one bit. It bothered me for a while, but I am fine with it now. Even if the U.S. isn't the best at everything in the world, it won't ever disappear. Italy is till around, England is still around, Egypt is still around...

 

[Geffy]

Originally posted by HandyBuddy
dislike N'Sync

no N'Sync was just crap, the US is not crap, it just has some issues about it which really irritate me and many other people

btw a good read into the reasons a lot of people hate ameria is "Why Do People Hate America" as seen in Series 2 of Spooks