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...Why isn't there an "Anti-America" sticky already? I swear. Every other day this question is asked. Oddly by Americans for the most part. It's just asking for trouble and hurt feelings.
Judging from the number of threads, plus random individual comments on C-D made by Americans, this topic amounts to a virtual obsession on the part of Americans themselves.
I've lived in Europe for fifteen years amongst a variety of nationalities, and liking or not liking the United States is not a major topic of discussion, in fact, it is a rare topic. The Europeans I have met by the thousands at this point are not preoccupied with thoughts about the U.S.
Having grown up in the reasonably self-confident U.S. of pre-1980, I find this a disturbing change in the American psyche. The past thirty years have seen vast changes in the world - the entire world, and these have impacted, often negatively, upon the U.S.; and, of course, there have been numerous domestic difficulties during these decades as well. America's place in the world is not what it was forty or fifty years ago, but it is a different world. I wonder if some of this perceived "anti-Americanism" isn't Americans' self-doubt projected onto the other guy.
Finland is a small and insignificant country on the fringe of Europe, and we are totally obsessed with how other nations view us, especially the big players in Europe; Germany, UK, France and Italy. We are also obsessed with trying to beat our neighbours Sweden and Norway in anything, and losing to these hurts more than to anybody else. Sweden is the country we copy, and Denmark is the country we want to become. Russia is the country we don't understand and don't want to become. Estonia is finally someone we can feel superior towards, and Poland is someone we want to get melancholic being drunk at 5am. Spain is something we love, but far away and not really that important.
America? Not on our daily radar. Everybody has an opinion of the US, but few have ever been there. In daily conversations, hardly anyone speaks about it. If the Italian PM bashes our food it's a national crisis, but if George Bush the elder is the last president of the US who visited Finland, no big deal.
Anti-Americanism is very rare except for commies, pacifists, russophiles and other hippies. Due to popular culture America is all around us, but people seldom have strong opinons one way or the other.
You didn't have the most obvious place...the Middle East by a long shot. Of your choices, I voted Europe and I've worked in Asia, South America, and Europe as well as the Middle East.
the Near East or as you like to call the "Middle East" is located in Asia
Finland is a small and insignificant country on the fringe of Europe, and we are totally obsessed with how other nations view us, especially the big players in Europe; Germany, UK, France and Italy. We are also obsessed with trying to beat our neighbours Sweden and Norway in anything, and losing to these hurts more than to anybody else. Sweden is the country we copy, and Denmark is the country we want to become. Russia is the country we don't understand and don't want to become. Estonia is finally someone we can feel superior towards, and Poland is someone we want to get melancholic being drunk at 5am. Spain is something we love, but far away and not really that important.
America? Not on our daily radar. Everybody has an opinion of the US, but few have ever been there. In daily conversations, hardly anyone speaks about it. If the Italian PM bashes our food it's a national crisis, but if George Bush the elder is the last president of the US who visited Finland, no big deal.
Anti-Americanism is very rare except for commies, pacifists, russophiles and other hippies. Due to popular culture America is all around us, but people seldom have strong opinons one way or the other.
I don't know about this. It is mentioned every single day in the news and I know several people who have visited America
Actually their president visiting Finland is a big deal because it is used as a sign of good or bad relations. And finnish politicians constantly try to get an invitation to the white house.
I don't know about this. It is mentioned every single day in the news and I know several people who have visited America
Actually their president visiting Finland is a big deal because it is used as a sign of good or bad relations. And finnish politicians constantly try to get an invitation to the white house.
Of course it is mentioned, as the US is the biggest player out there. But if they ignore us, it's just another day at the office. If Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden would ignore and badmouth us, the suicide numbers would double and it would be a national disaster in the tabloids.
Of course it is mentioned, as the US is the biggest player out there. But if they ignore us, it's just another day at the office. If Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden would ignore and badmouth us, the suicide numbers would double and it would be a national disaster in the tabloids.
Maybe that way yes. But if they would stop ignoring then it would be even bigger.
I would say fellow some US citizens are the most anti American I have met personally.
Your list is pretty stereotypical and ridiculous. Most of what you said isn't remotely true...
Heard of Roe V Wade? We have abortion.
Cactus cutting, what are you talking about?
Every state allows gay dating....
Education could use improvement, but the US is the most popular education destination in the world and we are famous for our universities.
Police corruption and brutality are very rare, that's why it makes the news, if it was common place single events across the nation wouldn't get months of coverage.
Christians read Harry Potter like everyone else, don't throw all Christianity together because a few hundred think it's from satan... But yes Christianity it is a force, just like in Europe, S America, and Africa.
Racism exists some, but considering where the US was 60 years ago we have come a long ways.
You just need to accept that the US isn't that different from other places in the world, we have our qualities and faults like anyone.
Forget cactus cutting I don't know what was I thinking but anyways
Yo got a good point and if we start educating people around the country it could improve even better.
Ps.i know grammar I just love saying more bigger or stuff like that.jaja you made me laugh when you said stereotypical and ridiculous but seriously some of it is true.alright I will challenge myself to handle lifestyle in the us.especially the prudishness and homophobicness
BTW do you even have a permit to live there? I'm sure things can look different if you are living unlawfully.
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