Thanks for that–yes, the NI accord was an example of cooperation among friends that is the American ideal, and I hope that the current bumps in the road can be smoothed over.
I just wish that the rest of the world would remember such things when criticizing America–for example, it’s like many in the Muslim world forget that the last few military interventions America did were to save Muslims–Kosovo, Bosnia, etc. It’s like the “thanks!” last a second, the recriminations last decades. But that’s human nature, I guess.
Who said anything about religion? Contrary to what some people may think, the US is not a “true Christian Nation”. Sure, the more fundamentalist Christians may like to believe that, but it’s patently not true.
The majority of the people may ostensibly be Christian, but there’s very little institutional support of any particular religion or lack thereof.
And back to my post… why should we care what the rest of the world thinks? This isn’t a popularity contest, you know.
The point is that many of us think a “negative image” just comes with the territory. What great power in history, or present times, had accolades thrown at it from the rest of the world? It’s very easy to be a critic. It would be interesting to see how the French, for example, would be viewed if they had the economic and military might of the US.
I agree that it would be silly to dismiss all criticism. There is some that I agree with, some that I don’t. I just don’t get all worked up about the volume of the criticism.
Yes it was covered.
As were all the anti war protests all over the globe, including the USA.
And these were covered in the Arab/Muslim world with the explicite message that this planned invasion of a Muslim nation was not about Chrsitianity versus Islam (Thank you Bush for the word CRUSADE here once again) and that there were indeed also US citizens who didn’t go along with their war sick government.
So they will hate the US anyway why care ? I would care how people view my country no matter how bad the odds… but when we get rabid posts like “fuck 'em and their opinion”… its bound to get worse rather than better.
Someone downgraded the issue of Bush being a major problem... he is a major problem. Maybe symbollically so... but after Bush things just got worse. He is widely seen as a gung-ho cowboy and very conservative... his tendency to use religion constantly in his speeches creates a certain discomfort too. Like our german friend said... what is said for "domestic consumption" comes across very badly sometimes. Even before 9-11 Bush was seen this way... his post 9-11 reaction only confirmed many of the prejudices against him.... trust me... Bush getting out HELPS alot in what people think of the USA... after all its a "dimwit" as your leader. How can't that not reflect badly ?
Well, just to throw out a hypothetical example, if you knew that most people in America thought that Lula was a wild-eyed socialist pandering moron, would you have let it influence your vote?
Rashak: You and others seem to forget that the “Cowboy” image is an American icon. He’s the hero in so many of our movies. Look at the popularity of the TV show 24. Wouldn’t you call Jack Bauer a “cowboy”? For many Americans that’s a compliment, not an insult.
Rashak: like John said, what’s so bad about cowboys? Even Americans know about the gauchos of Brazil, your own great cowboy tradition. I would say to most Americans it means somebody independent yet working within the system unless it’s unjust; resourceful, working with whatever’s at hand; brave in the face of physical danger; strong work ethic and tirelessness; gallant to ladies but not fussy about manners; hard-working and hard-playing, etc.
In fact, I started a thread back in February that didn’t really take off but asked the basic question about the image of cowboys in the rest of the world. But Brazilians are from the Americas too and we have a common cowboy heritage, so I’m
I don’t know anyone who seriously thinks Ireland is a part of the Coalition. Thanks for the permission to refuel in your general area, but it’s not exactly a contribution on the level of Australia or even Lithuania. Ireland’s position remains pretty clear.
Naturally my opinion on that is as meaningful as an Irish opinion of the US…just thought I’d throw it out there.
IMHO, in Europe, ‘cowboy’ conjures up the image of an uneducated, trigger-happy boorish ruffian with a ‘good guy - bad guy’ view of the world. One who will take the law into his own hands.
I think we would sooner have Clint Eastwood in mind than John Wayne.
This is an example of why Americans are seen with contempt (not hate) by the rest of the world. You are the strongest and you flaunt it.
Canada has been one of the greatest friends of US, but you treat this country with ridicule.
Given the achievements Americans attained in all fields, nobody could call them dumb, but you seem not to understand irony. Only Americans could take seriously the joke intended by Rashak Mani of killing Bush.
How many posts of his has you read in your time here? I don’t think he was making threats, but I don’t think he was exactly kidding either.
And who says Americans are the only ones who don’t get irony? In my view most of the American jokes about Canadians are based mainly on the fact that there is very little reason to make fun of Canada.
Damn straight it’s a “popularity contest” is you insist on using such a belittling term. Democracy is a popularity contest. It’s about having good as opposed to bad relations with our neighbors. It’s about garnering support as opposed to opposition. Yes, one has to filter out the resentment factor, but the fact that the US image abroad has been deteriorating so rapidly in recent years suggests something else is going on.
msmith537:
If they hate us it’s because we’re selfish and arrogant and these examples are part of a pattern which proves it.
It is my impression that the very people who insist up and down that we are a “Christian Nation” are those who advocate a most un-christian foreign policy. It is my belief that one need not be officially a Christian to embrace Christian ideals.
If it doesn’t matter AT ALL what we do, and people like you make it 100% clear that it doesn’t matter AT ALL, we will be hated, no matter what we do, no matter what, then only an idiot would waste time on trying not to be hated.
The sun will rise, no matter what you do.
A sign of stupidity is trying to keep the sun from rising.
I feel no need to gratuitously and intentionally bring up the IRA when I converse about Ireland. YOU found a need to gratuitously and needlessly bring up the KKK when speaking about the USA. That is what reveals how you really feal about the USA. Why did you feel the need to bring up the KKK OUT OF THE BLUE with NO ANTECEDENT, WHATSOEVER, unless you automatically associate the KKK with the USA…
