Once Upon a Time, the world Liked the USA

[Mari333]

and the Bush administration has squandered every drop of goodwill these past images portray....this is really depressing....


http://www.privilogic.com/wordsfail/

[glarius]

1. We still love you.....we know the difference between the American people

and their mentally challenged president....We Canadians are praying along with you that he'll be booted out of office in your next election...There are better days ahead!!!!:pals:

[sistersofmercy]

3. Thanks ! You made me feel better.

[uptohere]

2. when ?

I can not think of a time when "the world" liked us.

There have been periods where greater or lesser parts of "the world" liked us and I'll conceed that a little less of it likes us right now.

However, I can not accept this premise.

[StandWatie]

4. We were pretty popular in the 50's

Post WWII when we were seen as an anti-colonial force against Europe was probably our high point.

Of course we blew that by becoming the neo-imperialist power that took over in the vaccuum.

[whirlygigspin]

5. your only hope is Leiberman!

help make Israel safe again!

[norrinr]

18. That is a joke ....

...surely ?

[uptohere]

7. I don't think USSR et al or China all that happy with us

and I think that if you asked Africa or South America they might object as well. We were stirring the pot with those guys austensively over communism.

Try again.

[karlschneider]

6. You have a point. I've been to 52 countries (not in the military) since

the late 60s. And seen way too much 'ugly American' behavior. Enough,
actually, to make a small book. But I must say this - I do not recall any animosity directed to -me- personally. I hope that was and is because I have always tried to extend as much courtesy as possible to the people and culture of places I've visited...even the small gesture of learning some basic phrases of their language has a HUGE effect in gaining the trust and good-will of indigenous folks.

I've witnessed "fellow" Americans belittle and ridicule foreigners in their own country because they didn't speak perfect English (as if the idiots doing the complaining were much better.)

[uptohere]

8. people will respect those who respect them but its not about that

the question was nation to nation.

[karlschneider]

9. Yes, I realize that

But it seems to me that the disconnect between a nation's "leaders" and its citizens is fairly minimal to a lot of people who are somewhat far away...that's all I'm saying. Everyone is an ambassador to some extent.

[SoCalDem]

10. Only 7% of Americans even have a passport

so other than the military or the "noveau riche", most Americans have never even been off the north american continent...

The ones who do/did travel, are/were very likely to be/have been the worst ones to represent "real" America..

"Some" Americans travel abroad and have no contact with the "locals" unless they are the cab driver, the maid, the waitress, or the concierge..

I have lived abroad, and from MY OWN experiences, we were never really "loved" as much as we were envied by a whole world, jealous of our lifestyle, and at the same time eager to emigrate to BE one of us :(

In other words, more of a love-hate relationship..

[norrinr]

11. Nope - The US is disliked more now than at any other time.

Your Foreign Policy has always been highly suspect if not disgraceful but at least it hid under the sham of righteousness.
The Bush admin have come out in the open - power, oil, votes and money are all it cares about and says as much.
Do you think no-one has noticed?

People do still distinguish between the american people and their government but if, after seeing what he is willing to do and risk, the people re-elect him you'll have no respect whatsoever.

Can you guys not amend your constitution and make sure only people with IQs in double figures are allowed to be president?

"I believe Arial Sharon is a man of peace" - George Bush junior

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

13. First we would have to amend the Constitution and make sure

only people with IQ's in the double figures are allowed to amend the Constitution.

[baldguy]

12. Yea - it was just two years ago.

After 911, everyone lent their suppport. Hell, even Khaddafi condemmed the attacks.

But that was before Bushco decided to make a concerted effort to piss off our closest allies and make the billion Muslims that DIDN'T hate us change thier minds.

[norrinr]

14. well said

That does about sum it up.

[EDT]

15. No- we have been hated for years- makes me think though...

Years before Bushco (during Clinton) our troops needed fire truck escorts in Italy
incase molotov cocktails were thrown at them.

A few years ago I was in business in Norway, the people I worked with were
very friendly and I got to know them well, but I remember running into one drunk
Norwegian girl who, when she discovered I was from America, proclaimed "All Americans
are fat and stupid!"

This thread does make me think though- why are we so hated? Is it envy as another
poster indicated?

My personal feeling is that it is resentment by smaller countries assumptions that we
think we are "so great" and think of them as insignificant compared to us.

[SoCalDem]

16. Resentment is a part of it, to be sure..

Lots of foreigners resent the hell out of us for just BEING us..

Most of the rest of the world (except Australia) actually have borders with other countries that sometimes have VERY differnt ideas and governments.. I think that their history has taught them to be wary of their neighbors.. We, on the other hand, only have two neighbors, and except for their language difference, they are both friendly neighbors who are totally under our influence.. The rest of the world has no such luck..

I think they resent us because we (our foreign policy) tries to tell them how to live and run their countries, when , other than 9-11, we have never shared their fear of invasion or cross-border- terrorism..


I think this is why, even though they all professed sorrow, lots of other countries were paobably saying under their collective breaths..."Finally, America has had a taste of the "real world"...

The need us, and yet they resent and envy us all at the same time..

It reminds me of a time in my childhood, when my impoverished mother needed help financially from her older and way richer sister.. The furnace quit, and we needed a whole new system and we needed it "now".. She had to grovel to get the money and , knowing that she could never really afford to repay it, my aunt said " you don't have to pay this back, I know you need the furnace and cannot afford it"..

But... for YEARS afterwards, my mother was reminded of my aunt's largesse, and often chided when she bought ANYTHING.. along the lines of .."no wonder you did not have the money for a furnace a while back... you waste too much money of your kids"..

Countries do the same sort of things,appear generous, but then try to take a more controlling stance after the fact..

[norrinr]

17. It's the Foreign Policy.....

Foreign Policy
Sums it up.

Most americans have no idea that SINCE the Second World War the world's self-appointed peace keeper - the US - has bombed over 40 countries.

It doesn't entice love.