What is our problem?

[lpdsag]

You are always against anything that goes against your beliefs. We are a country with choices. We can go anywhere and do anything. Women have the same opportunities as men and in alot of countries this is totally unacceptable. So right there you are going to have enemies. If everyone hates us so much then why are so many trying to come here?

[macmeal]

I don't detect hatred from most of the world. Disillusionment and disgust and disappointment, for sure, but I wouln't call it "hate". Part of it is our collossally clueless world outlook. The "natives", we feel, should learn English (and be thankful to do it) in order to do business with us. Shortsighted, perhaps, but I don't think it inspires so much hate as a sort of disdain. We still have a lot of friends on the street out there- South America, East Asia, E. Europe...some parts of Africa. We still have some capital in these places among the "real people", if we don't succeed in screwing it up. We need to begin taking things more seriously there.
There's another part of the world I'm reluctant to mention by name. In that area, I agree, we are hated. I don't see much we can do about it, for I believe that group also hates just about everyone else, as well. They aren't a group who's interested in negotiations or a lot of compromises, it seems to me, and I doubt there's any way to get into their good graces short of our mass demise by next week; and that's not acceptable to me. This group, I believe, is angry at the entire world, but a special fury is reserved for us; it's not hard to understand. We are the world's last superpower (for now), and a natural target for any resentments out there, deserved or not.
Think of it this way- "gangbangers" resent just about anyone who crosses their path; old, young, black or white- but they don't resent ANYONE quite as fervently as they resent the "Cops". We've been playing the role of "Cops" out there- maybe it's time to share the responsibilty.
As I've said before, I also sincerely believe that our historical cultural roots (Western European Christianity) has bestowed upon us a very well-developed sense of self-recrimination or guilt. Others sense this and are eager to exploit it. We listen to criticism, internalize it, and react to it. Plenty of nations over the centuries have committed atrocities and outrages upon others- the example are endless. But almost none of them wallow in the guilt, self-doubt, and soul-searching that we do. We are truly a unique society.

[CBB]

Originally Posted by macmeal

Plenty of nations over the centuries have committed atrocities and outrages upon others- the example are endless. But almost none of them wallow in the guilt, self-doubt, and soul-searching that we do. We are truly a unique society.

Germany does as well, with a good reason. We must never forget.

But what is YOUR problem? You are the most powerful country in the world, a democracy, a nation many people in the Western world have learned to see as a role model, as a “good” country. You helped to free Europe from one of the world’s most evil dictators ever and we can't thank you enough for that. In the wake of WWII we adopted a lot of cultural stuff from America (good and bad, I have to say), we watch your movies, know your Hollywood stars, we simply grew up, one eye looking at America, the other looking at Western Europe. But some years ago this “good Uncle Sam” started to behave nasty. That’s why we are disillusioned and disappointed.
Who’s to blame? First and foremost your president. The president who promised to be a president for ALL Americans. And turned out to be anything but. The world, like many U.S. citizens, is eagerly awaiting a new one. Some parts of the Islamic world will still hate you (and continue to do so), but those people hate everybody, probably even themselves.

So, the world does NOT hate you. Could you do better? YES!

First: stop bragging.
Jean Cocteau once said: “Good manners include hiding how [positive] you think of yourself and how [negative] you think of others.” That’s something the U.S. media and many of its people could work upon. You may be convinced that the United States are the best country in the world, but the truth is: there are many good countries, i.e. places to live, in the world, and one of them is the U.S. Yes, you are the most powerful nation with the strongest economy (so far), but that alone doesn’t make a country “the best”.

Second: be honest.
When pointing at others as “evil doers” your own behavior has to be above standard.
Starting a war by lying about weapons of mass destruction, humiliating and torturing prisoners, or holding “terrorist suspects” in Guantanamo since years without proof of their guilt, cut off from Human Rights the Western world is based upon, is way below standard, imo. What kind of democracy did the U.S. want to spread, btw? Praying one thing and doing the other doesn’t support one’s credibility.

Third: respect the others.
Not everyone throughout the world wants to live like the Americans. Not every country wants to become a democracy, nor are there any chances to push that from outside. Many societies have tribal leaders since thousands of years and no structures a democracy could be built upon. At least someone in the Bush administration should have known that.

And yes: I know that Europe is far from being flawless. But that’s not what this discussion is about.

Connie

[macmeal]

CBB, your reasoning is flawless. If the world were made up of people like you (and me, I hope), there'd be no war. Please understand that some of us Americans are reasonable people, too. I am totally fed-up and disgusted by much of what passes for modern "popular culture" here. If you think it's "infecting" and influencing your society in Europe, imagine what it's doing to OUR society here! In my darkest moments, I find myself wondering about Osama bin Ladin- is it possible that maybe he............naaah, let's not go there. (just joking).
Your points are all valid. Glad to hear that you do see some historical affection for us (we don't hear that very often). As for the "Man from Crawford" who now lives in that "big white bunkhouse" in Washington, yes, he's bitterly disapointed many of us. His position on "open borders" is based not on a concern for poor immigrants, but on a ploy to attract a never-ending supply of cheap, exploitable labor. He is, after all, a businessman. I think the guy's intentions were good, but he's apparently unwilling, or unable, to heed the advice of others. That's been his downfall, and we have turned against him in great numbers and are now (as he himself might phrase it), "Givin' him a Thumpin' "...
Thanks for your interesting insights- I enjoyed your comments.