Yojimbo: I guess you were right. It is pretty simple to distinguish between constructive criticism from meaningless balther.
“…and meaningless blather”.
Must be contageous.
Yes Dogface you’ve found me out. I hate you, your country and everything about you. Now go away and play with somebody else. I really couldn’t be arsed trying anymore with you.
I think I’ve explained myself but why does it matter? I’m not American and you think that
I really don’t see any point in further talking to somebody who holds such a simple, close minded view of the world.
Oh and cheers John. Told ya 
Yes Dogface you’ve found me out. I hate you, your country and everything about you. Now go away and play with somebody else. I really couldn’t be arsed trying anymore with you.
I think I’ve explained myself but why does it matter? I’m not American and you think that
I really don’t see any point in further talking to somebody who holds such a simple, close minded view of the world.
Oh and cheers John. Told ya
If this is the kind of attitude that many have, then who cares what various ignoramuses around the globe believes ? There are those who support, respect and like the USA and there are those who criticize, whine and lie. We do not need to pander to the latter group, obviously.
And just who exactly is the whole world ? Europe ? We have countless allies there. France is insignificant on the world stage, and we don’t need their support. If they want to help us fine, if they don’t, then that’s fine also. They seem to be more busy in actively working against us. France is like a 90 year old prostitute, who’s glory days have long vanished. The Muslim world ? We certainly don’t need to accomodate them in any way, shape or form. Many of those people don’t even believe Muslims/Arabs were behind 9-11, so there is no use in wasting any time with ignorant, brainwashed peoples. Their ignorance and bigotry will lead to more misery for them. They should worry about the terrorist maniacs that their society breeds, instead of blaming the USA and the “sons of pigs and monkees” for every problem in their incompetant, backwards countries.
We have a war to win, which is quite a bit more important than having a decent reputation amongst various peoples who’s false opinions hardly matters in the big scheme of things.
IMO, a more appropriate and realistic OP would be what can various countries around the world do inorder to regain their reputation with the USA ? Perhaps somebody will raise this question in a seperate OP, because I’m not a terrorist thread hijacker, like certain other people are.
If you think hate is as pervasive and regular as the movement of the sun then you surely live in a hateful environment… no wonder you guys wanna walk around full of guns !
Now if you have a president like Bush, invade countries using weak excuses, then your generals talk about idolatry, you defend free trade by putting up tariffs, renounce treaties and your people don’t understand other countries… I suppose we should love you guys ?
The US has been hated as have other countries... normal part of life. Its been since 1990 than the extra effort into being hated or ignoring sensibilities and good sense that have changed the volume you so disregard. Bush has from the beggining come across as ignorant and aggressive.
Cowboys are american icons… not european or Brazilian. Especially when they are sitting in the Oval Office. President’s should be more level headed and smart. So the cowboy thing was a negative reference as I was speaking of non-US people.
As for the “Gaucho”… its a brazilian thing too… not only Argentina. The people of the southernmost state are atributed some of the same hardiness and toughness of cowboys… but its a bit different “icon.” Our cowboy country now is further up.
There were worries before the election about Lula becoming an outcast leader due to his lack of finesse and formal education... many here said he would make us look like country bumpkins. So yes it was influencing my vote and many middle class. Soon after this he made a visit to Europe and did a great job of talking to and meeting european leaders. This disproved he couldn't do politics outside Brazil... in fact he has been doing too well outside. He has been criticized for travelling too much. The difference is that he has been involved in politics roughly a quarter of a century... not Bush from what I understand.Heh Heh. I admire your audacity. Reminds me of that famous headline in a British newspaper back when we still had an empire: “Fog in Channel - Continent Cut Off”
The simple and close-minded view is the one held by the USA-haters. They make it very plain that no matter what we do, we will be hated. Since they have made it plain that we are the “Great Satan”, that we are all gun-toting murderers, every one of us, then why bother worrying about their opinion? We will be hated no matter what we do.
And you call that an open-minded view of the people who don’t agree with US policies, then?
I second Latro’s question… I don’t dare imagine what the close-minded US view is…