How does the rest of the world see The U.S.A.

[sabongero]

Are we seen both in a positive light and a negative light by each country in this planet ?

What do you think ? Explain. Thanks.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Are we seen both in a positive light and a negative light by each country in this planet ?

What do you think ? Explain. Thanks.

Of course were seen in a positive light. Why wouldn't we be ? I mean yes there have been a few problems but look at our track record. The doubters will always say we ruin a country and makes things worse with what we've done in Iraq....but think about this for a moment.

Iraq really wasn't that stylized. I heard they didn't even have a McDonalds . NO MCDONALDS ! Those damn evil dictator bastards . Can you imagine waking up over in Iraq at 9am and not having a Big Breakfast Platter of pancakes ?

Those countries need to think for a moment. We blew some old shit up. Yeah we destroyed a lotta old priceless relics , but were rebuilding and teaching the Iraq people to bulldoze that old worthless crap and build Mini-Malls and some Starbucks. This way ...they learn that good ole Western Commercialism is the way to go !

With our help , the Iraq people will learn that freedom means awesome shopping ! I recommend that other countries follow our example and if they destroy a country make sure you rebuild it in your image.

















;)

[TheLazy]

Of course were seen in a positive light. Why wouldn't we be ? I mean yes there have been a few problems but look at our track record. The doubters will always say we ruin a country and makes things worse with what we've done in Iraq....but think about this for a moment.

Iraq really wasn't that stylized. I heard they didn't even have a McDonalds . NO MCDONALDS ! Those damn evil dictator bastards . Can you imagine waking up over in Iraq at 9am and not having a Big Breakfast Platter of pancakes ?

Those countries need to think for a moment. We blew some old shit up. Yeah we destroyed a lotta old priceless relics , but were rebuilding and teaching the Iraq people to bulldoze that old worthless crap and build Mini-Malls and some Starbucks. This way ...they learn that good ole Western Commercialism is the way to go !

With our help , the Iraq people will learn that freedom means awesome shopping ! I recommend that other countries follow our example and if they destroy a country make sure you rebuild it in your image.

















;)

Heh, I was halfway through that before I realized you were taking the piss.

A recent survey in Germany found that more people found the US more of a threat to world peace than Iran, that says it all doesn't it.

[Samurai]

It depends upon the views of individual people, not entire nations. Any country in the world you can find at least 1 person who hates America and another who loves it and wants to come here to live.

[Chris Nowlin]

It depends upon the views of individual people, not entire nations. Any country in the world you can find at least 1 person who hates America and another who loves it and wants to come here to live.

You can also probably find somebody who hates it and wants to live here

[J. Robb]

A recent survey in Germany found that more people found the US more of a threat to world peace than Iran, that says it all doesn't it.
Why do they even need a poll? One country's an aggresive invader, the other isn't.

[Matt]

In short, the USA is led by an idiot who hails from a family of idiots. Your religious folk are generally crackpots and fundamentalists every bit as insane as those that are claimed to be terrorists.

The health care system is a joke.
The education system is no better. Seriously, 'No child left behind' ... who could possibly think that's a good policy?

[TheLazy]

You can also probably find somebody who hates it and wants to live here

That's not an option, because the media has polarized it so you either hate them or love them. I wouldn't mind living over there TBH, but not under the current administration.

[Solaris]

That's not an option, because the media has polarized it so you either hate them or love them. I wouldn't mind living over there TBH, but not under the current administration.


Wanna buy a President? I can sell you a used model... only 7 years old, driven by a white-haired little old lady to church every Sunday (her name's Barbara, if you wanna check on that). It's perpetually full of gas (so you incur no fuel costs), tends to backfire a lot (but hey, it scares away the terrorists---what, you don't have those? Lucky you!). Have to admit that while it cuts some wide donuts, there's not a lot of power under the hood, and the onboard computer's a bit cracked (scrambles the grammar of the voice system, tends to randomly shout out "WMDs! WMDs! Katrina, for Jesus's sake!"). Don't bother getting Onstar navigation packages for this model---they haven't yet invented a satellite telescope that's strong enough to interface with the onboard computer properly---it thinks Texas is Viet Nam, and the entire world is the U.S. of A.

Mileage, you say? Well, it's gone right around the bend, so I guess it's got some hefty mileage on it---but we can give you a discount for that. This model has steel wheels (never been known to wear a rubber), so you may find the ride a bit bumpy. However, it's got some massive shock-absorbers.

Oh, don't feed it any alcohol---disagrees with the system. Kinda embarassing that: only model of this type I've ever seen that drops its fenders when you juice it up.

The giant Jesus fish on the windshield? Sorry, that's a permanent part; can't be removed---we tried. Yeah, I know it gets in the way of seeing the road, but what can you do?

Make you a laughingstock? What? Oh, c'mon, buddy---we gotta unload this thing. You what? *sigh* Oh, all right---how much have we gotta pay you to take it off our hands?

:D

[beetheb]

Well, speaking as one who does live here, I can assure you that even though there are religious crackpots and neo-cons in the country, they're not skittering around on every corner throwing bibles at you or anything.

I'm pretty sure just about every country have what some would call "religious crackpots", the only difference being America's religious crackpots don't blow themselves up in the middle of a marketplace with 50 pounds of explosives strapped to their chest, they just dress in suits and ties and hand out fliers....I can live with that. ;)

I agree that the Health Care system is completely out of whack, and the pharmaceutical companies have gone in a rage releasing all these new, utterly useless drugs onto the markets, flooding the TV with commercials, desperately trying to get people hooked on these things.
Something must be done, and I daresay we need to follow both Britain and Canada's examples. Neither have foolproof HealthCare systems either, but they're a damn sight better than ours. Ours is basically capitalism run amok.

But I have to say, although I have problems with the country as anyone else does, people have to understand that you can't judge the individual American based on the acts of their Gov't, because as with any other Democracy, more than likely 50% of the population voted against those candidates, are pissed off they won the office, and never wanted them there in the first place.

I can't say I'd judge every Venezuelan based on the acts of Hugo Chavez, and I wouldn't judge every Brit based on the acts of Tony Blair -- That would be horribly generalizing the situation. I guess I don't really like that argument. "Your country is bad because of the politicians". In my view, the People make the country, not the politicians.

[Wesley Dodds]

Honestly?

America is Cartman. Dumb, greedy, racist and spoiled. Oh, and in homosexual denial.




Nah, just kidding.

Or am I?

[Matt]

Wanna buy a President? ...

That. Was. Awesome.

[Spike-X]

Wanna buy a President? I can sell you a used model... only 7 years old, driven by a white-haired little old lady to church every Sunday (her name's Barbara, if you wanna check on that). It's perpetually full of gas (so you incur no fuel costs), tends to backfire a lot (but hey, it scares away the terrorists---what, you don't have those? Lucky you!). Have to admit that while it cuts some wide donuts, there's not a lot of power under the hood, and the onboard computer's a bit cracked (scrambles the grammar of the voice system, tends to randomly shout out "WMDs! WMDs! Katrina, for Jesus's sake!"). Don't bother getting Onstar navigation packages for this model---they haven't yet invented a satellite telescope that's strong enough to interface with the onboard computer properly---it thinks Texas is Viet Nam, and the entire world is the U.S. of A.

Mileage, you say? Well, it's gone right around the bend, so I guess it's got some hefty mileage on it---but we can give you a discount for that. This model has steel wheels (never been known to wear a rubber), so you may find the ride a bit bumpy. However, it's got some massive shock-absorbers.

Oh, don't feed it any alcohol---disagrees with the system. Kinda embarassing that: only model of this type I've ever seen that drops its fenders when you juice it up.

The giant Jesus fish on the windshield? Sorry, that's a permanent part; can't be removed---we tried. Yeah, I know it gets in the way of seeing the road, but what can you do?

Make you a laughingstock? What? Oh, c'mon, buddy---we gotta unload this thing. You what? *sigh* Oh, all right---how much have we gotta pay you to take it off our hands?

:D

http://blogs.smh.com.au/mashup/images/applause.gif

[Solaris]

Honestly?

America is Cartman. Dumb, greedy, racist and spoiled. Oh, and in homosexual denial.




Nah, just kidding.

Or am I?

Okay, I'll DOUBLE the offer... just take it, PLEASE!

Oh, and for a slight reduction in price, I can throw in the controller package for the steering system: a V.P. model called "Cheney."

What? You want EXTRA for that? Look, buddy, that Cheney component is supposed to equal a *deduction* in what I pay YOU!

What? No deduction? Added fees and tariffs?

Oh, forget the whole thing---this model's due to break down in another year or so, anyway.

[Solaris]

Thank kew, Thank kew. :D

Seriously, guys, glad you had as much fun reading that as I did writing it. :D Hope I gave you a good laugh for the day over there! ;)

[_Iron Man_]

They hate us, but they fear us too. We have nuked before, and we'll do it again. Especially since we have more nuclear weaponry than the rest of the world combined, enough to destroy two Earths. Yay.

Too bad we don't have the balls to use it.

[Solaris]

They hate us, but they fear us too. We have nuked before, and we'll do it again. Especially since we have more nuclear weaponry than the rest of the world combined, enough to destroy two Earths. Yay.

Too bad we don't have the balls to use it.

Who gave Darkseid permission to post here?

:eek:

[Spike-X]

They hate us, but they fear us too. We have nuked before, and we'll do it again. Especially since we have more nuclear weaponry than the rest of the world combined, enough to destroy two Earths. Yay.

Too bad we don't have the balls to use it.
You wanna beat your chest a little harder there, Tarzan? I don't think I'm quite as intimidated as you want me to be yet.

[twilight]

They hate us, but they fear us too. We have nuked before, and we'll do it again. Especially since we have more nuclear weaponry than the rest of the world combined, enough to destroy two Earths. Yay.

Too bad we don't have the balls to use it.

Are you really suggesting the U.S. start a nuclear pissing contest?

[_Iron Man_]

Are you really suggesting the U.S. start a nuclear pissing contest?

If we would start it, we would finish it.

We turned Japan from a violent country to the videogaming, meek, and polite people of today. We nuked them into submission, took away their weapons, and occupied their land. We still have that power, but instead of using it straight-up to end conflicts, we occupy and die on the ground.

Trust me, if we would have nuked Afghanistan instead of lobbing a few missiles from the air and invading the land, the war on terror would be over.

We would be the terror, the harbingers of death.

Death to Tony Stark.

[Spike-X]

If we would start it, we would finish it.

We turned Japan from a violent country to the videogaming, meek, and polite people of today. We nuked them into submission, took away their weapons, and occupied their land. We still have that power, but instead of using it straight-up to end conflicts, we occupy and die on the ground.

Trust me, if we would have nuked Afghanistan instead of lobbing a few missiles from the air and invading the land, the war on terror would be over.

We would be the terror, the harbingers of death.


I love America, because they're so big and strong!

*swoons*

[rick]

I love America, because they're so big and strong!

*swoons*


And we've got a great tan and a fast car too.

[Solaris]

Toto... I think we're not in Kansas anymore.

[Ivan Isaacs]

One of our cabaret artists made following statement: "America ist not that bad. Just the people living there."


[Then again, the same goes for the area of Bavaria. All hail prejudices! :D )

[Solaris]

I love America, because they're so big and strong!

*swoons*

And they have really big NUCLEAR balls!

Wow!

[_Iron Man_]

To be clear:

-I would love nothing more than no war, and absolute peace.

-I think people hate America now more than ever is because of Bush.

-France will always hate us, I have accepted that. But we will always save them when they are helpless, because we're softies, and they gave use the Statue of Liberty, and we like pastries.

-I state the facts of the arsenal we have because it's fact, not a scare tactic.

-I respect other countries and cultures, and love to visit and experience other cultures.

-Power and Money=Hate......do the math.


Death to Iron Man.

[Spike-X]

We would be the terror, the harbingers of death.


I bet you have an enormous penis.

































Can I touch it?

[Solaris]

Owww. Meds, please.

[_Iron Man_]

If we are on Bizarroworld, than yes, it is small.

And, no, you may not touch the arsenal.

[Spike-X]

If we would start it, we would finish it.

We turned Japan from a violent country to the videogaming, meek, and polite people of today. We nuked them into submission, took away their weapons, and occupied their land. We still have that power, but instead of using it straight-up to end conflicts, we occupy and die on the ground.

Trust me, if we would have nuked Afghanistan instead of lobbing a few missiles from the air and invading the land, the war on terror would be over.

We would be the terror, the harbingers of death.


Okay, to be serious for a minute...

Macho, dick-waving bullshit like this is the reason why so much of the rest of the world hates America.

[Solaris]

Damn. Somehow, all the fun has gone out of this thread.

*sigh*

EDIT: And no mate, I wasn't talking about you, Spike.

[Spike-X]

And, no, you may not touch the arsenal.

I understand.

I...I'm not worthy.





*snif*

[_Iron Man_]

The truth hurts is why they hate us.


I love you guys. I want to stop arguing.

WORLD PEACE, MAN.

[_Iron Man_]

So, uh, how is the hiking in Tasmania?

[Spike-X]

I don't know, I've never hiked in Tasmania.

Or anywhere else.

They do have some lovely forests down there, though.

[Wesley Dodds]

We turned Japan from a violent country to the videogaming, meek, and polite people of today.

And don't forget, General Douglas MacArthur and his little buddy "Inky" personally introduced the Japanese to the world of tentacle rape porn. Their world was never quite the same.

Death to Tony Stark

On that, we agree.

[Solaris]

I don't know, I've never hiked in Tasmania.

Or anywhere else.

They do have some lovely forests down there, though.

And some lucky "devils," too!

Get it? "Tasmanian" devils?

Haw haw haw! ***crickets*** Uhhh, ahem.

Nevermind. Nothing to see here---move along, move along.

[Wesley Dodds]

The truth hurts is why they hate us.


I love you guys. I want to stop arguing.

WORLD PEACE, MAN.

OK.

But, just one question.

When you fuck Iron Man, is it going to be shell on or shell off?

[Solaris]

And don't forget, General Douglas MacArthur and his little buddy "Inky" personally introduced the Japanese to the world of tentacle rape porn. Their world was never quite the same.

Isn't he the one who said, "I came, I saw, I got a corncob pipe up my ass?"

:D ;)



On that, we agree.

Well, I don't read the comics... but in the Marvel animated feature, the guy who did Tony's voice had a very *sexy* voice! Very good voice acting for the part. :)

[Wesley Dodds]

And some lucky "devils," too!

Get it? "Tasmanian" devils?

Haw haw haw! ***crickets*** Uhhh, ahem.

Nevermind. Nothing to see here---move along, move along.

Oh, no, Solaris is giddy, quick, somebody notify a relative!

[Solaris]

OK.

But, just one question.

When you fuck Iron Man, is it going to be shell on or shell off?

Damn you... I almost woke up my husband, I laughed so loud.

:D

[_Iron Man_]

I think that the dark side of Japan was violence,and has been replaced with tentacle rape porn.


THERE'S A BLACK MAMBA BEHIND YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!!! TASMANIAN DEVILS ARE SCURRYING ABOUT!!!!!!

DEATH TO TONY STARK!!!

MAY THE JOKER KILL ROBIN AGAIN.

[_Iron Man_]

I shall fuck Iron Man with tentacle rape porn from Japan. Shell off.

[Wesley Dodds]

DEATH TO TONY STARK!!!

MAY THE JOKER KILL ROBIN AGAIN.

You know, I like the cut of your jib.

I'm going to end every post with "Death to Tony Stark!", too.

Death to Tony Stark!

[Solaris]

I shall fuck Iron Man with tentacle rape porn from Japan. Shell off.


Dude, seriously: go take your meds, and try to get some sleep. Tomorrow the sun will come up, and it'll be a bright, pretty day... and all this nasty talk about nuclear wipe-outs and tentacle rape will seem like just a bad dream, banished by the clear loving light of fresh morning sunshine, and you'll remember that we all have to care about each other, not blow each other up.

[Spike-X]

I shall fuck Iron Man with tentacle rape porn from Japan.

Somebody needs a hug.

[Solaris]

You know, I like the cut of your jib.

I'm going to end every post with "Death to Tony Stark!", too.

Death to Tony Stark!


*psst*

Ixnay on the eedingfay!

[TheLazy]

Wanna buy a President? I can sell you a used model... only 7 years old, driven by a white-haired little old lady to church every Sunday (her name's Barbara, if you wanna check on that). It's perpetually full of gas (so you incur no fuel costs), tends to backfire a lot (but hey, it scares away the terrorists---what, you don't have those? Lucky you!). Have to admit that while it cuts some wide donuts, there's not a lot of power under the hood, and the onboard computer's a bit cracked (scrambles the grammar of the voice system, tends to randomly shout out "WMDs! WMDs! Katrina, for Jesus's sake!"). Don't bother getting Onstar navigation packages for this model---they haven't yet invented a satellite telescope that's strong enough to interface with the onboard computer properly---it thinks Texas is Viet Nam, and the entire world is the U.S. of A.

Mileage, you say? Well, it's gone right around the bend, so I guess it's got some hefty mileage on it---but we can give you a discount for that. This model has steel wheels (never been known to wear a rubber), so you may find the ride a bit bumpy. However, it's got some massive shock-absorbers.

Oh, don't feed it any alcohol---disagrees with the system. Kinda embarassing that: only model of this type I've ever seen that drops its fenders when you juice it up.

The giant Jesus fish on the windshield? Sorry, that's a permanent part; can't be removed---we tried. Yeah, I know it gets in the way of seeing the road, but what can you do?

Make you a laughingstock? What? Oh, c'mon, buddy---we gotta unload this thing. You what? *sigh* Oh, all right---how much have we gotta pay you to take it off our hands?

:D

:D

Seriously, all those guns and you telling me no one has solved the problem:rolleyes: .

[_Iron Man_]

You know, I like the cut of your jib.

I'm going to end every post with "Death to Tony Stark!", too.

Death to Tony Stark!


An American assimilating a foreigner.

History repeats itself.

We are the human Phalanx.

Bankruptcy to Stark Industries.

The Vodkas were ordered by Mr. Stark.

[Wesley Dodds]

*psst*

Ixnay on the eedingfay!

OKay.

.............

[Spike-X]

An American assimilating a foreigner.

History repeats itself.

We are the human Phalanx.

Bankruptcy to Stark Industries.

The Vodkas were ordered by Mr. Stark.
Okay, who set this 'bot to 'Random'?

[_Iron Man_]

Dude, seriously: go take your meds, and try to get some sleep. Tomorrow the sun will come up, and it'll be a bright, pretty day... and all this nasty talk about nuclear wipe-outs and tentacle rape will seem like just a bad dream, banished by the clear loving light of fresh morning sunshine, and you'll remember that we all have to care about each other, not blow each other up.


I have noticed that you live in what would have been the nation's capital if the Slave side would have won.

Congrats.

Also Chris Benoit murdered his family in that city.

Congrats.

May Tony Stark share Benoit's fate.

[TheLazy]

Honestly?

America is Cartman. Dumb, greedy, racist and spoiled. Oh, and in homosexual denial.




Nah, just kidding.

Or am I?

So America put Iraqi's dick in it's mouth and took a picture, but now is reluctant to show it to the world, wow, great analogy.;)

[Solaris]

:D

Seriously, all those guns and you telling me no one has solved the problem:rolleyes: .

Well, we tried to trade it in on a newer model... but the recycling lobby said, "No can do, baby---you own it for another four years."

And man... those tire treadmarks are HELL on the environment! They keep cutting ditches EVERYWHERE! We're gonna be twenty years at least, fixing up the soil erosion problem.

[Wesley Dodds]

Congrats.

May Tony Stark share Benoit's fate.

Hey, F**k Iron Man, how come you hate Tony Stark so much? Is it because of his politics? Or were you just a really big Captain America fan?

[_Iron Man_]

I understand the Aussies bashing us, but another American?


Traitor. Scum. You remind me of Iron Man.

[TheLazy]

If we would start it, we would finish it.

We turned Japan from a violent country to the videogaming, meek, and polite people of today. We nuked them into submission, took away their weapons, and occupied their land. We still have that power, but instead of using it straight-up to end conflicts, we occupy and die on the ground.

Trust me, if we would have nuked Afghanistan instead of lobbing a few missiles from the air and invading the land, the war on terror would be over.

We would be the terror, the harbingers of death.

Death to Tony Stark.

Hahaha, if you'd have nuked Afghanistan the world would have dropped all economic trade with you and you'd have fallen into a depression within 12 months. You never read about why china is going to be kicking your ass in 20 years, here's a clue, it aint cause they have more nukes.

[_Iron Man_]

Hey, F**k Iron Man, how come you hate Tony Stark so much? Is it because of his politics? Or were you just a really big Captain America fan?

Captain America. :( :( :( :(


You have found my weakness. I have been defeated.

Death to Stark. May his alcoholism consume him.

[Wesley Dodds]

Captain America. :( :( :( :(


You have found my weakness. I have been defeated.

Death to Stark. May his alcoholism consume him.

Hey, remember the time Reagan turned into a lizardman, and Cap punched him?

Good times.

[_Iron Man_]

Hahaha, if you'd have nuked Afghanistan the world would have dropped all economic trade with you and you'd have fallen into a depression within 12 months. You never read about why china is going to be kicking your ass in 20 years, here's a clue, it aint cause they have more nukes.


Things change. Just because you are commies and your people have more sex than rabbits doesn't translate into overthrowing the modern Rome.

[_Iron Man_]

Hey, remember the time Reagan turned into a lizardman, and Cap punched him?

Good times.



Good times will be when the Iron Man movie bombs, and Marvel will kill him off and turn him into a Skrull like Elektra.

Death to Registration.

[TheLazy]

Well, we tried to trade it in on a newer model... but the recycling lobby said, "No can do, baby---you own it for another four years."

And man... those tire treadmarks are HELL on the environment! They keep cutting ditches EVERYWHERE! We're gonna be twenty years at least, fixing up the soil erosion problem.

George bush = ......
.
.
.
.
http://www.pisymbol.com/images/general_lee.jpg

Features-

Out of date paint job, southern roots symbol, and doors locked in a position that lets only the smallest of items through those windows.

[TheLazy]

Things change. Just because you are commies and your people have more sex than rabbits doesn't translate into overthrowing the modern Rome.

I'm not a commie, I'm probably more rightwing that Dubya B.

[Spike-X]

Things change. Just because you are commies and your people have more sex than rabbits doesn't translate into overthrowing the modern Rome.
This one's fun!

I hope he doesn't get banned too soon.

[Wesley Dodds]

Good times will be when the Iron Man movie bombs, and Marvel will kill him off and turn him into a Skrull like Elektra.

Death to Registration.

The sad thing is, that's probably how they're going to retcon it. "Tony Stark was a Skrull!"

I hope the Iron Man movie does well because I like Robert Downey Jr.

Maybe The Mandarin will take away his armour and drop him in a tank to battle a giant squid? You'd pay to see that. A naked Tony Stark fighting a giant squid.

The Mandarin's evil plan will be to have so many babies that... uh, something.

[_Iron Man_]

Good night, all.

I shall lay my body down to sleep and rest my tortured soul.

Death to Tony Stark.

Fight the Registration Act.

Support the Hulk and his Revenge.

May the JSA continue to be the light in DC's dark kitchen.

May the American Mushroom Cloud not be too large in China's cities in two decades.

America defeated commies twice, history will repeat itself.

I don't see us losing to a bunch of 5 foot nothing dirty, smelly Chinamen.

Death to Stark. Death to Communism. One in the same.

[_Iron Man_]

All apologies to those offended.

I do it out of fun, not seriousness.

Good night guys! :D

[TheLazy]

This one's fun!

I hope he doesn't get banned too soon.

Can't breathe help *struggles to stay afloat* help don't know how to swim *kicks hard* too much sarcasm

[Spike-X]

Good night, all.

I shall lay my body down to sleep and rest my tortured soul.

Death to Tony Stark.

Fight the Registration Act.

Support the Hulk and his Revenge.

May the JSA continue to be the light in DC's dark kitchen.

May the American Mushroom Cloud not be too large in China's cities in two decades.

America defeated commies twice, history will repeat itself.

I don't see us losing to a bunch of 5 foot nothing dirty, smelly Chinamen.

Death to Stark. Death to Communism. One in the same.
'k, bored now. Bye!

[_Iron Man_]

I do hate Iron Man though.:evilangry

[king mob]

All apologies to those offended.

I do it out of fun, not seriousness.

Good night guys! :D


Ur crazee. i fink ur gr8/.

[TheLazy]

Ur crazee. i fink ur gr8/.

teH c8z33!

[Wesley Dodds]

'k, bored now. Bye!

Christ, I can't wait for this week's avatar contest to be over -- everytime Spike posts something, I feel lust.

Seven of Nine who?

[Drew Van T.]

It depends upon the views of individual people, not entire nations. Any country in the world you can find at least 1 person who hates America and another who loves it and wants to come here to live.

You can come live in America while continuing to hate its government at the same time. I have met plenty of European immigrants who thought that way (not necessarily "hate", but they definitely took their home-grown political opinions with them when they immigrated).

Immigrants are generally good at separating the people and the land from the government. Americans, less so, because of the virulent nationalism.

[Aubergine~!]

Generally?

Culture = Good

Government = Poop

[BlairH]

Are we seen both in a positive light and a negative light by each country in this planet ?

What do you think ? Explain. Thanks.

Each person (let alone each country) views the US in a different light. I -personally- admire the US, it's culture and it's system of government. It has it's flaws, and sometimes it betrays it's own libertarian principles (the US constitution is almost perfect, so why do politicians of all stripes want to wipe their ass with it?). Overall? The nation is probably more ideologically sound than the UK as far as I'm concerned.

That said, I know some people who just plain hate America and it's people (vowing to beat up an American if they ever saw/heard one on the street) Thankfully, these people are few and far between.

Most people I know are somewhere in between. Gaz, a friend of mine who no longer posts here, once said that he had a "love/hate relationship" with America. He liked the whole pop-culture, hollywood, broadway thing (The US being the capitol of entertainment), but hated it's politics.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

I have noticed that you live in what would have been the nation's capital if the Slave side would have won.

Yeah I kinda doubt Solaris has the power to really change world history as much as we all wish now. Plus the Confederate Capitol was moved to Richmond , VA during the War.

Congrats.

Also Chris Benoit murdered his family in that city.

Yeah but one evil sick son of a bitch doesn't mean all of Atlanta is like that. Plus as proof Atlanta has this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQQ3XZNeiLk

"BBBBBADDDDSRRREEEETTT ATLANTA GA !!!

[Roquefort Raider]

I love the U.S. and they deserve better than their current government.

I see America as a cross-section of humanity, with all the good it can bring and all the bonehead things it can do.

America is the country where separation of church and state allows everyone to practice their faith (or lack thereof) in peace, but where many religious groups will also have the freedom to try and take the upper hand.

America is the place where education, science and technology will be encouraged enough to put people on the moon, but where bronze-age myths will also be promoted at the expense of real science.

America is the place where the concept of individual freedom and dignity has long been promoted, but where there is still a lot of racism, sexism and homophobia.

America is the place where you'll probably find the best athletes in the world, but also a high level of couch potatoes.

America a country morally devoted to peaceful ideals, honest business and environmental preservation, but where we find war-mongering politicians, powerful corrupt business people and tremendous pollution.

America can be a very generous country, ready to give away fortunes and sacrifice lots and lots of its sons and daughters for other people, just because it is the right thing to do; but it can also be greedy and jingoistic and act like a bully.

As I said, to me America is basically humanity, warts and all. And despite how irrational it can be sometimes, I have great faith in humanity... and therefore in America. In the long run I am convinced that America will be seen as a major force for progress in the history of humanity, despite the occasional hiccups.

[Spike-X]

America is a land of contradictions. It's the home of mainstream pornography, yet the whole country has a seizure when a nipple is seen on TV.

[Pinnacle]

I love the U.S. and they deserve better than their current government.

I see America as a cross-section of humanity, with all the good it can bring and all the bonehead things it can do.

America is the country where separation of church and state allows everyone to practice their faith (or lack thereof) in peace, but where many religious groups will also have the freedom to try and take the upper hand.

America is the place where education, science and technology will be encouraged enough to put people on the moon, but where bronze-age myths will also be promoted at the expense of real science.

America is the place where the concept of individual freedom and dignity has long promoted it, but where there is still a lot of racism, sexism and homophobia.

America is the place where you'll probably find the best athletes in the world, but also a high level of couch potatoes.

America a country morally devoted to peaceful ideals, honest business and environmental preservation, but where we find war-mongering politicians, powerful corrupt business people and tremendous pollution.

America can be a very generous country, ready to give away fortunes and sacrifice lots and lots of its sons and daughters for other people, just because it is the right thing to do; but it can also be greedy and jingoistic and act like a bully.

As I said, to me America is basically humanity, warts and all. And despite how irrational it can be sometimes, I have great faith in humanity... and therefore in America. In the long run I am convinced that America will be seen as a major force for progress in the history of humanity, despite the occasional hiccups.

More articulate than I would be able to manage but my sentiments none the less. Thank you, neighbor. May our countries be friends forever.

[mattx110]

America is a land of contradictions. It's the home of mainstream pornography, yet the whole country has a seizure when a nipple is seen on TV.

this really sounds like kris kristofferon philosophy.

[king mob]

America is a land of contradictions. It's the home of mainstream pornography, yet the whole country has a seizure when a nipple is seen on TV.

This gets me all puzzled as well. The American culture seems oddly puritanical over sex one minute, then the next you have people becoming millionaires from hardcore porn.

[TheLazy]

This gets me all puzzled as well. The American culture seems oddly puritanical over sex one minute, then the next you have people becoming millionaires from hardcore porn.

Everything has its place, breast really shouldn't be on TV before a watershed. You can't argue that parents should take responsibility for what their children see then show unsuitable stuff on TV during what is normally perceived to be a "family time". I'm assuming this is about the Janet Jackson thing here.

[Spike-X]

Yes it is, and no it was not something that was suitable for "family viewing", but my God, you would have thought Justin Timberlake had pulled out and gun and shot Janet in the head the way some people carried on.

[TheLazy]

Yes it is, and no it was not something that was suitable for "family viewing", but my God, you would have thought Justin Timberlake had pulled out and gun and shot Janet in the head the way some people carried on.

Actually I don't they'd have been too bothered with that (http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/02/12/cheney/);)

[BlairH]

This gets me all puzzled as well. The American culture seems oddly puritanical over sex one minute, then the next you have people becoming millionaires from hardcore porn.

I don't think it's a result of the American culture as such. Rather, it's just the result of the diversity of opinion within the US. Some folks get antsy at the slightest display of "sex", some folks love it and make their living from it.

[Alex]

Ok, non american's, im going to explain this confusing porn thing to you, because it's pretty simple and you shouldn't stress over it.
We like porn, we produce a lot of porn, we buy a lot of porn.
We have these groups, which have a lot of money, and get themselves in newspapers and on tv shows. They talk about how Americans hate this stuff, we dislike nudity and sex, and find it offensive.
While this is true for some people, i guess, it isn't true for all of us, it just so happens that we don't have a lot of huge Pro Porn groups with funding.
We do, however, have a lot of sex on tv shows, and a whole lot of joking about sex, and these are popular shows.

All i can assume is, news stories about this stuff in your countries begans "American's beleive...." when that isn't actually true, most polls say most americans aren't super liberal or super conservative, we are moderate, we fall int he middle.
So, someone may think porn is fine and dandy, but they may not think it should be on network tv, during primetime. Poll numbers can change "I don't want to see pentration on The Office" too "I feel nudity shouldn't be shown on television".

You are getting impressions from that vocal and rich minority. If america is one thing, it's a country with a giant, diverse set of opinions on just about every topic.

[king mob]

Everything has its place, breast really shouldn't be on TV before a watershed. You can't argue that parents should take responsibility for what their children see then show unsuitable stuff on TV during what is normally perceived to be a "family time". I'm assuming this is about the Janet Jackson thing here.

A ban on nudity (depending on the context) before a watershed (here in the UK it's 9pm) is fine. What puzzles me is (and I appreciate America is a diversity of opinion) how it's always the more puritanical opinion that has the loudest voice.

I'm not saying American telly should be like somewhere like France and have hardcore porn on during the day but the prissiness of this attitude is best summed up by Stephen Fry in his novel, 'The Hippopotomous'.

“I’m not saying hex itself is unnecessary…” Margaret Purdom is one of those ghastly upper-middle class people who can’t quite bring themselves to pronounce the ‘s’ in sex. “I just mean the endless talking about it and showing it on television and rubbing our noses in it.”
“Does it shock you, Mrs. Purdom?” asked Oliver.
“Of course not… it’s just so uncalled for. There was a thing on the other day…”
”What about tea-drinking?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Tea-drinking,” said Oliver. “Do you object to that on television?”
“Well, of course not. I don’t see…”
“Nobody calls for tea-drinking though, do they? I mean, in television dramas, the camera could easily show the kettle boiling on the hob and then cut discreetly away. But no, they have to show the whole thing. The warming of the tea-pot, the pouring-out, the plopping of the sugar-cube and the slow sipping of the cup. Isn’t that ‘unnecessary’ too? Isn’t that completely uncalled-for?”
“Hardly the same thing, Oliver,” said Max.
“No, of course not! Because no one is shocked by tea-drinking, are they? They are shocked by sex but they can’t admit it. I could respect that Mary Whitehouse creature and her moral minority if they had the Betty Balls to admit that they were in fact frankly and deeply shocked by the spectacle of naked coupling on a public screen. Shocked to their winceyette knicky-knicks. But, instead, they think it’s more impressive to give off a tiresome worldly air. “I’m not shocked”, they say, “oh good heavens no. I just find it all rather boring,” as if Tessa Tedium were the Chrissie Crime.”

[Winslow]

. . . . but the prissiness of this attitude is best summed up by Stephen Fry in his novel, 'The Hippopotomous'.

That's a massive strawman.

So no that doesn't sum up the attitude at all.

[TheLazy]

A ban on nudity (depending on the context) before a watershed (here in the UK it's 9pm) is fine. What puzzles me is (and I appreciate America is a diversity of opinion) how it's always the more puritanical opinion that has the loudest voice.

I'm not saying American telly should be like somewhere like France and have hardcore porn on during the day but the prissiness of this attitude is best summed up by Stephen Fry in his novel, 'The Hippopotomous'.

HeHe, reminds me a Fry and Laurie sketch I saw which was basically that with the punch line, "I believe they call it...tea bagging????" LOL:D

[king mob]

That's a massive strawman.

So no that doesn't sum up the attitude at all.

It does from an outsider looking in.

[king mob]

HeHe, reminds me a Fry and Laurie sketch I say which was basically that with the punch line, "I believe they call it...tea bagging????" LOL:D

I love the old Fry & Laurie programmes and seriously need to pick them up on DVD now they're stupidly cheap.

[Spike-X]

this really sounds like kris kristofferon philosophy.
I don't know what you mean by that.

[Drew Van T.]

So, someone may think porn is fine and dandy, but they may not think it should be on network tv, during primetime. Poll numbers can change "I don't want to see pentration on The Office" too "I feel nudity shouldn't be shown on television".

In a word, that's puritanism. Love sex, but it must at all times stay in its strictly designated areas (the bedroom, the strip club, the porn shoppe, etc.). An attitude directly derived from your settling forefathers.

[Loren]

The education system is no better. Seriously, 'No child left behind' ... who could possibly think that's a good policy?

These 384 people (http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2001/roll145.xml), for starters.

Plus these 91 folks (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00192).

Oh, and this guy (http://www.whitehouse.gov/president/).

[Dreadstar]

Ah yes, it took less than 10 posts before the generalities and disdain began flowing.

Lovely.

[Fenris]

A ban on nudity (depending on the context) before a watershed (here in the UK it's 9pm) is fine. What puzzles me is (and I appreciate America is a diversity of opinion) how it's always the more puritanical opinion that has the loudest voice.

I think it's just that the puritanical voice is the only one you're hearing; partly because the non-puritans have won. They don't need to go around seeking the right to show sex on television, because they've already got it.

The status quo is usually silent; which is why it seems so normal. Protests are usually loud.


I'm not saying American telly should be like somewhere like France and have hardcore porn on during the day but the prissiness of this attitude is best summed up by Stephen Fry in his novel, 'The Hippopotomous'.

This puzzled me a bit, so I'm going to requote it and have a look at it:

“I’m not saying hex itself is unnecessary…” Margaret Purdom is one of those ghastly upper-middle class people who can’t quite bring themselves to pronounce the ‘s’ in sex. “I just mean the endless talking about it and showing it on television and rubbing our noses in it.”
“Does it shock you, Mrs. Purdom?” asked Oliver.
“Of course not… it’s just so uncalled for. There was a thing on the other day…”
”What about tea-drinking?”
“I beg your pardon?”
“Tea-drinking,” said Oliver. “Do you object to that on television?”
“Well, of course not. I don’t see…”
“Nobody calls for tea-drinking though, do they? I mean, in television dramas, the camera could easily show the kettle boiling on the hob and then cut discreetly away. But no, they have to show the whole thing. The warming of the tea-pot, the pouring-out, the plopping of the sugar-cube and the slow sipping of the cup. Isn’t that ‘unnecessary’ too? Isn’t that completely uncalled-for?”
“Hardly the same thing, Oliver,” said Max.
“No, of course not! Because no one is shocked by tea-drinking, are they? They are shocked by sex but they can’t admit it. I could respect that Mary Whitehouse creature and her moral minority if they had the Betty Balls to admit that they were in fact frankly and deeply shocked by the spectacle of naked coupling on a public screen. Shocked to their winceyette knicky-knicks. But, instead, they think it’s more impressive to give off a tiresome worldly air. “I’m not shocked”, they say, “oh good heavens no. I just find it all rather boring,” as if Tessa Tedium were the Chrissie Crime.”

In terms of straightforward argument, this is... really weird. He's saying that he would respect them (nicely showing that he doesn't) if they were the type of people who fainted dead away at the first sight of cleavage.

Do you believe him?

I don't. I think it's almost impossible to respect someone who's much less sophisticated about sex than you are; certainly, almost impossible for a fellow like the one speaking here. So why is he saying this?

Because it's an argument from contempt, and this is another way of being contemptuous?

õ
Hex indeed!

[Chris Nowlin]

...Your religious folk are generally crackpots...

You make an excellent and beautifully stated point. I appreciate your not resorting to stereotypes and generalities.

What's the solution, though? I say shoot them all, but some would suggest that's unethical.

Maybe if we just politely explain how crazy and stupid they are, they'll finally understand.

[nervmeister]

Let me just say that America is the prime paradigm from which other countries ought to follow. We have the greatest system of government, health care, and law enforcement the world has ever known. We bring job opportunities and food to other nations in need, and we invented the most practical form of democracy in use today. There are no limits to the capabilities of the United States, which is why the other superpowers envy us (England especially) and why third world nations strive to be like us. Our foreign policies are extremely effective as well. Any criticism that comes our way is the product of unenlightened simpletons looking for their fifteen minutes of fame. And that's the cold hard truth.

[Paul McEnery]

Because it's an argument from contempt, and this is another way of being contemptuous?

õ
Hex indeed!

Since it's Stephen Fry, I'm going with contempt.

[Paul McEnery]

It does from an outsider looking in.

And not just from the outside.

[Slam_Bradley]

My question is: who cares?

[Drew Van T.]

Our foreign policies are extremely effective as well.

If you enjoy being a target, then they are indeed.

[Shellhead]

Let me just say that America is the prime paradigm from which other countries ought to follow. We have the greatest system of government, health care, and law enforcement the world has ever known. We bring job opportunities and food to other nations in need, and we invented the most practical form of democracy in use today. There are no limits to the capabilities of the United States, which is why the other superpowers envy us (England especially) and why third world nations strive to be like us. Our foreign policies are extremely effective as well. Any criticism that comes our way is the product of unenlightened simpletons looking for their fifteen minutes of fame. And that's the cold hard truth.

The cold hard truth is that you are completely unwilling to find any fault in America. While America is a great country, in many ways, it isn't perfect, and some of the more obvious shortcomings ended up in your list of greatness. Your shameless cheerleading is a poor substitute for intelligent analysis.

Greatest system of government? I wasted several hours today trying to get a simple tax form (8109-B) from the IRS. I tried to download the form on the internet, but the real form uses magnetic ink, so the download would be useless. I tried to call the local office of the IRS, but the best that I could do would be to request a return phone call for sometime in the next two days. So I drove over to that office, and they told me that I couldn't get that form without meeting with a tax specialist. To meet with a tax specialist usually requires an appointment, but if I waited around long enough, they might be able to see me today. Unfortunately, that form needed to be turned in at our bank by 3:00 PM today. This experience is not unique to the IRS, there all kinds of incompetent, uncooperative and even corrupt people working at various levels of our government, regardless of who gets elected in a given year.

Healthcare? Forget about seeing Sicko. You don't have to be Michael Moore to notice that the US has an embarrassing infant mortality rate for such a wealthy society. And the HMOs simply need to fight as many health insurance claims as possible to protect their profit margins.

The limits of our military capabilities have been revealed before the whole world, with our inability to occupy and rebuild just one country in the Mideast. That is a stone-cold fact that you will hear from anybody who has anything to do with Iraq right now. Even our President Bush has admitted that things haven't gone as well as he hoped, which is a gigantic understatement.

As for the rest of our foreign policy, tell me about the good stuff. Is it our strained relationships with Russia and China? Our impotent threats against North Korea and Iran? Our failure to join global efforts to combat the threat of global warming? Our sagging dollar? Our outsourced jobs? Our grotesque dependence on foreign oil? Our inability to control our own borders?

[Michael P]

I just wanted to post this.

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/5839/tryandstopuspr0.jpg

[Fenris]

In a word, that's puritanism. Love sex, but it must at all times stay in its strictly designated areas (the bedroom, the strip club, the porn shoppe, etc.). An attitude directly derived from your settling forefathers.

Every culture makes up rules and mores about sex. That isn't Puritan, that's human. We make up mores because sex is a super-powerful mind-bending instinctive social force that no one really controls, in themselves or others. There's a lot of potential for destructive social chaos there.


To the extent that American sexual mores are Puritan, it's because people use the tools they have. If we were Chinese, our sexual restraints would doubtless be Confucian; but we're not.

More to the point: we draw on religious restraints for sexuality because moden secularism has proven pretty much incapable of creating them. (Certain branches of feminism excepted: but feminism's new sexual mores were articulated very badly, and carried too much baggage to be widely accepted.)

Given a situation like Solaris' dislike of nudity on public billboards, and the problems it creates with raising her children, modernity says... what? Words like "fundamentalist" and "Puritan," which are pretty absurd when applied to Chris, are basically labels saying You're bad for feeling that way. Be quiet.

Which isn't an answer, and everyone knows it. That's a large part of why fundamentalism does well here: it's a tool, as I said, and people use the tools they've got.

õ
For better or for worse!

[Paul McEnery]

Every culture makes up rules and mores about sex. That isn't Puritan, that's human. We make up mores because sex is a super-powerful mind-bending instinctive social force that no one really controls, in themselves or others. There's a lot of potential for destructive social chaos there.


To the extent that American sexual mores are Puritan, it's because people use the tools they have. If we were Chinese, our sexual restraints would doubtless be Confucian; but we're not.

More to the point: we draw on religious restraints for sexuality because moden secularism has proven pretty much incapable of creating them. (Certain branches of feminism excepted: but feminism's new sexual mores were articulated very badly, and carried too much baggage to be widely accepted.)

Given a situation like Solaris' dislike of nudity on public billboards, and the problems it creates with raising her children, modernity says... what? Words like "fundamentalist" and "Puritan," which are pretty absurd when applied to Chris, are basically labels saying You're bad for feeling that way. Be quiet.

Which isn't an answer, and everyone knows it. That's a large part of why fundamentalism does well here: it's a tool, as I said, and people use the tools they've got.

õ
For better or for worse!

It's an interesting paradox, isn't it?

Around the world, America is the sexy rule-breaker, the paragon of desire. And yet America is also the finger-wagging school ma'am with a fistful of thou shalt nots.

I figure it's like France. My opinion of France was shaped by surrealism etc. What a great country! Mad painters, writers and philsophers, cineastes and all round sophisticates! Of course, those are the rare ones, the ones in revolt against stodgy French bourgeois convention.

And the same goes for sexy and desire filled Americans. James T. Kirk is not representative of the Federation. The ways in which Elvis was a typical American are not happy ones. And poor old Marilyn -- sooner or later, the life of desire must be punished.

Around the world, people love the glamour of America. But as we've seen, that glamour is double-edged, and comes from a dark place America really doesn't want to acknowledge.

[Valmore]

My question is: who cares?

My only hope is they see us for all the stereotypes like I see everyone else!

Like how Australians all have funny hats and hang out with kangaroos and live in the desert while drinking Foster's beer.

Or how all Brits have rotten teeth from eating bangers and mash while watching the telly in the local pub, planning soccer riots all the while.

Or how all Brazillian chicks are hot.

[Paul McEnery]

My only hope is they see us for all the stereotypes like I see everyone else!

Like how Australians all have funny hats and hang out with kangaroos and live in the desert while drinking Foster's beer.

Or how all Brits have rotten teeth from eating bangers and mash while watching the telly in the local pub, planning soccer riots all the while.

Or how all Brazillian chicks are hot.

You are a big fat lady in an applique t-shirt and hot pink sweat pants.

[Thorlief]

Let me just say that America is the prime paradigm from which other countries ought to follow. We have the greatest system of government, health care, and law enforcement the world has ever known. We bring job opportunities and food to other nations in need, and we invented the most practical form of democracy in use today. There are no limits to the capabilities of the United States, which is why the other superpowers envy us (England especially) and why third world nations strive to be like us. Our foreign policies are extremely effective as well. Any criticism that comes our way is the product of unenlightened simpletons looking for their fifteen minutes of fame. And that's the cold hard truth.


dude, not even Captain America could be so serious about his country. A little more objective, want you? At least about foreign policies.

Let me tell you, this is exactly what makes people think Americans are all pompous, arrogant, with no sense of humour about themselves and unable to find a single bad thing about their country (I'm not saying you are doing this, but you get the point)

on topic: every country is seen differently from the point of view of another, and some prejudices have really gotten old. Italians are all mobsters, French are all cowards with big genitals, Iraqui are all terrorists, Germans are all racists, Japanese are all nerds, Americans are all fat, warmongers and they make up their personal wars just because they need oil/ more power/ insert random goal

and now thanks to Bush everyone thinks all the Americans are ignorants. Well, not everyone maybe.,.but people's guessing "if he's a idiot the people who voted him are a bunch of cretins"

[Guapo Méndez]

I see it below Canada and above Mexico.

[Paul McEnery]

I see it below Canada and above Mexico.

And yet also cunningly above Canada and alongside Mexico.

[Guapo Méndez]

And yet also cunningly above Canada and alongside Mexico.

Uncanny!

I bow to your wisdom, master.

[Valmore]

You are a big fat lady in an applique t-shirt and hot pink sweat pants.

Totally wrong.

They're magenta stretch pants. REALLY stretched.

[Slam_Bradley]

And yet also cunningly above Canada and alongside Mexico.


And yet alongside Canada and below Mexico.

[Guapo Méndez]

So much wisdom on a monday afternoon...!

[Chris Nowlin]

The cold hard truth is that you are completely unwilling to find any fault in America. While America is a great country, in many ways, it isn't perfect, and some of the more obvious shortcomings ended up in your list of greatness. Your shameless cheerleading is a poor substitute for intelligent analysis.

Greatest system of government? I wasted several hours today trying to get a simple tax form (8109-B) from the IRS. I tried to download the form on the internet, but the real form uses magnetic ink, so the download would be useless. I tried to call the local office of the IRS, but the best that I could do would be to request a return phone call for sometime in the next two days. So I drove over to that office, and they told me that I couldn't get that form without meeting with a tax specialist. To meet with a tax specialist usually requires an appointment, but if I waited around long enough, they might be able to see me today. Unfortunately, that form needed to be turned in at our bank by 3:00 PM today. This experience is not unique to the IRS, there all kinds of incompetent, uncooperative and even corrupt people working at various levels of our government, regardless of who gets elected in a given year.

Healthcare? Forget about seeing Sicko. You don't have to be Michael Moore to notice that the US has an embarrassing infant mortality rate for such a wealthy society. And the HMOs simply need to fight as many health insurance claims as possible to protect their profit margins.

The limits of our military capabilities have been revealed before the whole world, with our inability to occupy and rebuild just one country in the Mideast. That is a stone-cold fact that you will hear from anybody who has anything to do with Iraq right now. Even our President Bush has admitted that things haven't gone as well as he hoped, which is a gigantic understatement.

As for the rest of our foreign policy, tell me about the good stuff. Is it our strained relationships with Russia and China? Our impotent threats against North Korea and Iran? Our failure to join global efforts to combat the threat of global warming? Our sagging dollar? Our outsourced jobs? Our grotesque dependence on foreign oil? Our inability to control our own borders?

dude, not even Captain America could be so serious about his country. A little more objective, want you? At least about foreign policies.

Let me tell you, this is exactly what makes people think Americans are all pompous, arrogant, with no sense of humour about themselves and unable to find a single bad thing about their country (I'm not saying you are doing this, but you get the point)


Valid points, all.

You may want to get your sarcasm detectors checked.

[OzBat!]

George bush = ......
.
.
.
.
http://www.pisymbol.com/images/general_lee.jpgNo way. The General Lee had CLASS, and guts!Features-

Out of date paint job, southern roots symbol, and doors locked in a position that lets only the smallest of items through those windows.More confirmation your thesis is incorrect. I'm pretty certain Daisy Duke got into that thing a few times, and the only thing small on her was those shorts... yowza!

[rick]

Let me just say that America is the prime paradigm from which other countries ought to follow. We have the greatest system of government, health care, and law enforcement the world has ever known. We bring job opportunities and food to other nations in need, and we invented the most practical form of democracy in use today. There are no limits to the capabilities of the United States, which is why the other superpowers envy us (England especially) and why third world nations strive to be like us. Our foreign policies are extremely effective as well. Any criticism that comes our way is the product of unenlightened simpletons looking for their fifteen minutes of fame. And that's the cold hard truth.


I was once as absolutely certain about the innate superiority of the USA too.

And Hell, even now I completely agree with a bunch of what you are writing.

But.

And you knew there would be a but.

Over the last 50 years our foreign policy has been at best half-assed and undisciplined and at worst, such as our current experiment in conquering and colonialism, murderous and criminal.

For a nation that really is one of the best places on the planet to live, with one of the best forms of government in existence, it is a shame to see America continually act on the international stage just like any other invader in history.

[rick]

French are all cowards with big genitals

Trust me, the last part of that stereotype doesn't get mentioned much here in the USA.

[Fish Sauce]

Trust me, the last part of that stereotype doesn't get mentioned much here in the USA.

I have never even heard of the latter half of that stereotype.

[Fenris]

It's an interesting paradox, isn't it?

Around the world, America is the sexy rule-breaker, the paragon of desire. And yet America is also the finger-wagging school ma'am with a fistful of thou shalt nots.

I figure it's like France. My opinion of France was shaped by surrealism etc. What a great country! Mad painters, writers and philosophers, cineastes and all round sophisticates! Of course, those are the rare ones, the ones in revolt against stodgy French bourgeois convention.

And the same goes for sexy and desire filled Americans. James T. Kirk is not representative of the Federation. The ways in which Elvis was a typical American are not happy ones. And poor old Marilyn -- sooner or later, the life of desire must be punished.

Around the world, people love the glamour of America. But as we've seen, that glamour is double-edged, and comes from a dark place America really doesn't want to acknowledge.

All glamour does, I suspect. After all, the word originally meant "illusion" or "enchantment" (in the bad sense of the word) and that is not an accident of language.

Hm. Now that I read your post over again, I'm not sure if we're in agreement, or on completely opposite sides. Do you think that the extravagant brilliance of France rises out of its stodgy Frenchness- like a foundation that its eccentrics can productively react against- or is its stodginess merely destructive and sterile?

õ
Or is that the wrong question?

[Chris Nowlin]

Hm. Now that I read your post over again, I'm not sure if we're in agreement, or on completely opposite sides.

Happens to me a lot.

[Fenris]

Happens to me a lot.

Yeah, but you know what you're talking about.

õ
That's a considerable handicap!

[Paul McEnery]

Yeah, but you know what you're talking about.

õ
That's a considerable handicap!

No shit. To not know what you're talking about is the true tao.

[Paul McEnery]

All glamour does, I suspect. After all, the word originally meant "illusion" or "enchantment" (in the bad sense of the word) and that is not an accident of language.

Hm. Now that I read your post over again, I'm not sure if we're in agreement, or on completely opposite sides. Do you think that the extravagant brilliance of France rises out of its stodgy Frenchness- like a foundation that its eccentrics can productively react against- or is its stodginess merely destructive and sterile?

õ
Or is that the wrong question?

I know what I want to think. Which leads me to think that you're right about the productivity. What Flaubert said: be bourgeois in the life to be creative in the work.

However, when it comes to America, I think we've come to a sticky patch where our life-affirming side is being very, very stifled.

The glamour of America is what the world needed in the 21st Century. We needed to defeat totalitarianism, and we needed to struggle out of the sexless conformity of the old empires. And America literally gave our bright hopes somewhere to take refuge and create. But the cost to America was great. For a while, the bright hopes who took refuge gave back the light that America had had to stifle in the war against totalitarianism. But those lights are gone now, and their example, too.

[TheLazy]

Let me just say that America is the prime paradigm from which other countries ought to follow. We have the greatest system of government, health care, and law enforcement the world has ever known. We bring job opportunities and food to other nations in need, and we invented the most practical form of democracy in use today. There are no limits to the capabilities of the United States, which is why the other superpowers envy us (England especially) and why third world nations strive to be like us. Our foreign policies are extremely effective as well. Any criticism that comes our way is the product of unenlightened simpletons looking for their fifteen minutes of fame. And that's the cold hard truth.

The first part is true, the second part makes the first part void. You have a good political system, great pop-culture, a rich history, which is all swindled away by a crappy administration raping the idea of a "foreign policy". Can you imagine if bush was in charge during the cold war?

"Shoot, shoot, shoot!"


Or how all Brits have rotten teeth from eating bangers and mash while watching the telly in the local pub, planning soccer riots all the while.


I know this was meant to be cute, but it's actually true

No way. The General Lee had CLASS, and guts!More confirmation your thesis is incorrect. I'm pretty certain Daisy Duke got into that thing a few times, and the only thing small on her was those shorts... yowza!

Are you trying to suggest daisy duke had sex with Dubya B?:confused:

[Drew Van T.]

Every culture makes up rules and mores about sex. That isn't Puritan, that's human. We make up mores because sex is a super-powerful mind-bending instinctive social force that no one really controls, in themselves or others. There's a lot of potential for destructive social chaos there.

Well, sure. But some approaches to sexuality are distinctly associated with some religions, and every text on the subject that I have read ends up pointing at the christian-puritan roots. It neatly explains why the porn industry was able to grow so much: in cultures that are more open about sexuality, even just a little, that could never have happened. Puritans are very much fascinated with sex, perhaps moreso than anyone else, while also being the most dishonest about their fascination (in public and, to a lesser extent, to themselves). That dishonesty created the opening for the industry as conveyers of sanitized, discretely packaged sex. (A good metaphor is giving the heavy drinker that liquor-bottle wrapped in a brown paper bag: the bag makes no real difference, but it does put on a veneer that at least formally denies the reality. Pro forma.)

Besides puritanism, there were other secondary factors influencing the attitude (like the particulars of the local capitalist system, which also helped along the porn industry).

To the extent that American sexual mores are Puritan, it's because people use the tools they have. If we were Chinese, our sexual restraints would doubtless be Confucian; but we're not.

More to the point: we draw on religious restraints for sexuality because moden secularism has proven pretty much incapable of creating them. (Certain branches of feminism excepted: but feminism's new sexual mores were articulated very badly, and carried too much baggage to be widely accepted.)

I never said that the attitude itself was distinctly religious; just that the origin of the attitude lies inside Puritanism. Just because an idea was shaped in religious circles doesn't mean it can't be adopted secularly. (I myself am an atheist but I'm perfectly aware that a great deal of my ideologies have catholic roots.)

[king mob]

I think it's just that the puritanical voice is the only one you're hearing; partly because the non-puritans have won. They don't need to go around seeking the right to show sex on television, because they've already got it.

The status quo is usually silent; which is why it seems so normal. Protests are usually loud.

Indeed but it appears that those making the noise tend to be the ones (in this situation) who batter the status quo into submission.




I don't. I think it's almost impossible to respect someone who's much less sophisticated about sex than you are

I don't think it is as everyone has different levels of sophistication when it comes to sex.
Because it's an argument from contempt, and this is another way of being contemptuous?


Very much so. It's very much how most of the objections that I saw to something like the Superbowl incident seem to go.

[king mob]

Can you imagine if bush was in charge during the cold war?


''Hey Dick, what does this button do?''

[Valmore]

I know this was meant to be cute, but it's actually true

You guys plan soccer riots?

[TheLazy]

You guys plan soccer riots?

;)

onetwostep

[Nikita]

Are we seen both in a positive light and a negative light by each country in this planet ?

What do you think ? Explain. Thanks.



Considering we have an entire country south of us, crossing our border to live here....I'd say yeah, we're seen in a pretty positive light.

[Paul McEnery]

Considering we have an entire country south of us, crossing our border to live here....I'd say yeah, we're seen in a pretty positive light.

And an entire country to the north...

Oh, you saw where I was going with that, huh.

[Nikita]

And an entire country to the north...

Oh, you saw where I was going with that, huh.



I'm just a bitter, bitter American.


:D

[Pól Rua]

Ah yes, it took less than 10 posts before the generalities and disdain began flowing.

Lovely.

How can you discuss 'What do you think of America?' without generality?
The only other option is to go through each and every individual and catalogue your thoughts on them personally.
As for disdain, well, frankly, any country whose government which holds people in secret prisons without trial, without access to legal representation, uses torture, makes up bullshit lies about WMDs to fool its people into waging a pointless war... well...
I'm not saying I'm perfect, but shit, man.
The topic not only invites generalization, it REQUIRES it. Otherwise, we're back to the phone book talking about individuals.

In general, I think America's diversity is a double-edged sword. When the population is so large and so diverse, and governmental power is so caught up in a single individual, the natural result is mediocrity at best and an approach which relies on the Lowest Common Denominator at worst.

[Pól Rua]

IIn terms of straightforward argument, this is... really weird. He's saying that he would respect them (nicely showing that he doesn't) if they were the type of people who fainted dead away at the first sight of cleavage.

No, he's saying he'd respect them more if they were honest, rather than trying to skirt around the opinion with a bunch of meaningless buzzphrases.

[gary bolt]

Ah yes, it took less than 10 posts before the generalities and disdain began flowing.

Lovely.

Why is that I wonder? Nothing to do with the U.S.A. surely.

[Chris Nowlin]

The only other option is to go through each and every individual and catalogue your thoughts on them personally.

Me first. Me first.









Freedom hater.

[howyadoin]

No, he's saying he'd respect them more if they were honest, rather than trying to skirt around the opinion with a bunch of meaningless buzzphrases.I like tits.

[Pól Rua]

Me first. Me first.









Freedom hater.
Curse you! I wish I could respond, but my puny Australianness is powerless before your huge American death phallus!
*drinks beer*
*rides off on kangaroo*

[Pól Rua]

I like tits.

They're pretty good. I, too, approve.

[beetheb]

They're pretty good. I, too, approve.Yup, if this is a petition, sign me up.

Tits are a gas.

[rick]

Yup, if this is a petition, sign me up.

Tits are a gas.


Count me in, tits are great fun.

[Spike-X]

Another vote in the affirmative here!

[Chris Nowlin]

Some people in the USA have tits.

And some have rather nice ones.

So we're not all bad here...

[howyadoin]

Some people in the USA have tits.

And some have rather nice ones.Men don't count.

[morna]

I say they're highly overrated

[morna]

... tits that is

[Jack Zodiac]

You're obviously crazy. There's no other explanation.

[beetheb]

Men don't count.Hey, I actually think Moobs are slowly becoming trendy.

[Nikita]

The USA has some of the best breasts in all the world. Take that Canada!

[howyadoin]

Hey, I actually think Moobs are slowly becoming trendy.If that happens around the time I turn 60, it'll be good for me, at least.

[beetheb]

The USA has some of the best breasts in all the world. Take that Canada!True, but silicone jelly isn't really a "breast" per se...

Honestly, from what I've seen, Polish girls have the best hooters. I mean, I dont know if it's the sausage or what, but I'm telling you Poland is the land of large breasticles.

You know, I hear.

[Jack Zodiac]

It's all the horomones in the milk and the meat and the blah blah blah who gives a damn? It could be radiation, evolution, or a fuckin' wizard, I don't care, I just love tits, man.

[howyadoin]

It's all the horomones in the milk and the meat and the blah blah blah who gives a damn? It could be radiation, evolution, or a fuckin' wizard, I don't care, I just love tits, man.Your face loves tits!

[Jack Zodiac]

It sure does! Brrrrrrrrrrr!

[beetheb]

It sure does! Brrrrrrrrrrr!Actually, rubbing a cold face against breasts is liable to cause a nipple laceration.

[rick]

Actually, rubbing a cold face against breasts is liable to cause a nipple laceration.


Not if you do it right.

[Alex]

Not if you do it right.

It can cause men lacerations if you take your cold cheaks and and randomly rub them on strangers boobs.

[TheLazy]

Actually, rubbing a cold face against breasts is liable to cause a nipple laceration.

That's half the fun

[HomerJay]

*knock knock*

I'm here for the tits discussion?


Honestly, from what I've seen, Polish girls have the best hooters. I mean, I dont know if it's the sausage or what, but I'm telling you Poland is the land of large breasticles.
Do a search for a Polish model named Ewa Sonnet.
Trust me.
It could be radiation, evolution, or a fuckin' wizard, I don't care, I just love tits, man.
As I've said before, I think Chernobyl may have caused a mutant race of large-breasted eastern European & Russian women. It just seems like most of the large-breasted "models" I come across are from that region.

[TheLazy]

Radiation can only lead to one thing

http://www.worldsstrongestman.net/images/pic1.jpg
"Don't make me angry..."

[Michael P]

Do a search for a Polish model named Ewa Sonnet.
Trust me.


Great googly-moogly, them's some great googly-mooglies.

[Guapo Méndez]

Best thing about tits?

"Always two there are; no more, no less: a master and an apprentice."

[Calybos]

The USA has some of the best breasts in all the world.
Many of them on women!

[Drew Van T.]

Many of them on women!

Indeed: from factors such as the average male weight and average male girth size, we can logically infer that there are also a greater number of male breasts than anywhere else in the world.

Holland may have the world's tallest average male, but America has infinitely more guy-tits! Suck on that, you Dutch height-freaks!

[Gilda Dent]

In response to the original topic:

I've visited the Philippines with my mom on several occasions. Americans and all things American tend to be very highly regarded there, especially once you get away from the big cities. This was, in part, a product of my mom having left and then come back as a successful American, successful in this instance meaning having children and having a job that enables her to send money home to her family.

Part of this high regard for the US is the result of historical issues. Americans are seen as heroes for kicking out the Spanish oppressors in the late 1800's (a deeply flawed, but widely held view of the aftermath of the Spanish-American war) and later on the Japanese. During the occupation in the intervening 50 some years, the Americans occupying the Philippines set up American-style schools, established a national language, incorporated the teaching of English as a standard school subject, and upgraded much of the infrastructure of the country. It was pure imperialism and ethnocentrism, but because the Filipinos were treated better in general by the Americans than by the Spanish or the Japanese (at least, that's the perception) they're more highly regarded.

The American military base there was seen in both a positive and a negative light. In a positive sense, it brought a lot of American dollars into the economy. Entire industries sprang up around the base and in resort areas of the country to provide for the needs of American servicemen. On the negative side, prostitution was probably the single biggest one of these industries, and overlapped with young girls trolling the areas Americans frequented hoping to land an American husband.

This attitude still exists among many poor families, that landing a foreign husband from a desirable country (United States, Canada, Australia, most of Western Europe, Japan to a lesser extent) is one of the highest goals a young woman can aim for.

American pop culture exists almost on even footing with Filipino pop culture in some areas. There are nationwide American style fast food chains, and you can switch on cable TV and find current American theatrical releases playing. Their popular TV shows are often clones or variants of popular American shows.

On the other hand, Americans are all assumed to be rich, especially white Americans. This is in part because a typical middle class income in the US is considered to be "rich" in the Philippines. As a result, Americans get very aggressively friendly treatment, and are likely to be targeted by thieves and con artists, especially in the big cities, and by kidnappers in certain rural areas. Prices outside of malls go up considerably for anyone with fair skin or an American/European/Australian accent.

The ideal of feminine beauty is the white American (or European) look. American cosmetic corporations aggressively promote this ideal and market to it. In particular, skin lightening creams of various forms, none of which work, are very competetive. Lighter skin and less prominent Asian features (in particular, a "long nose," thin lips, and "round eyes" are all considered more attractive than classical Asian features.

The Philippines is a southeast Asian country that is still searching for some kind of national identity, and is a very young country (officially 60 years old as of July 4th), so it tends to look outwards for cues as to how to define itself, with the United States being one of those places that it looks most closely.

[gary bolt]

http://www.goclipless.com/images/2007/04/03/fat_american_walking_dog_from_car.jpg

http://www.pubfoto.com/albums/gioxx-comics/difference_european_vs_american_girls.sized.jpg

[Spike-X]

The ideal of feminine beauty is the white American (or European) look. American cosmetic corporations aggressively promote this ideal and market to it. In particular, skin lightening creams of various forms, none of which work, are very competetive.

The Filipino ladies at work were telling me about this.

Brown girls wanna be white, and white girls wanna be brown. Just goes to show that no matter what women have got, they're never happy.

[Spike-X]

Oh, and because this wasn't really appropriate for the Avatar thread:

I think what I love most about America is the way it's so secure about its place in the world, and doesn't need to be constantly reassured how great it is.

But if I made an avatar of a really, really big dick, I would have been banned.

[Bear]

It stands to reason that the rest of the world views the United States as being very hypocritical.

We preach democracy, but we certainly don't live it.

Which is why I say: if we impeach the President and Vice President, the world might actually take us seriously.

"Look at those Americans--they hold their elected officials accountable for lack of progress."

The last time the citizens of a whole nation held their leadership accountable, heads were coming off.

Not that I think it will come to that. Impeach is fine with me.

[Paul McEnery]

Oh, and because this wasn't really appropriate for the Avatar thread:

I think what I love most about America is the way it's so secure about its place in the world, and doesn't need to be constantly reassured how great it is.

But if I made an avatar of a really, really big dick, I would have been banned.

I am amused that, to you, one inch square is really really big.

[Samurai]

It stands to reason that the rest of the world views the United States as being very hypocritical.

We preach democracy, but we certainly don't live it.

Which is why I say: if we impeach the President and Vice President, the world might actually take us seriously.

"Look at those Americans--they hold their elected officials accountable for lack of progress."

The last time the citizens of a whole nation held their leadership accountable, heads were coming off.

Not that I think it will come to that. Impeach is fine with me.

We are a Republic, not a Democracy. That means we elect people to lead us, and periodically re-elect them or choose new leaders. That's what we did in 2004, and what we'll do again in 2008. Impeaching someone a year before their term in office expires anyway is not proving "democracy" to the world.

[Bear]

We are a Republic, not a Democracy. That means we elect people to lead us, and periodically re-elect them or choose new leaders.

Yes--but you'd think we'd invented democracy for as much as we talk about spreading it.

That's what we did in 2004, and what we'll do again in 2008. Impeaching someone a year before their term in office expires anyway is not proving "democracy" to the world.

The hell it doesn't. I liken it ostracising via black balling the president through a intermediary (namely the house and senate).

This bastard has done too much damage to be allowed to walk away. I don't care if he's got 1 second left to his term: they need to pay the consequences of their actions, just as we need to pay the consequences of supporting this man. I'm speaking to you as someone that (reluctantly) that voted for him in 2004 (because of the abortion issue). But there is hardly anything right to life about getting ourselves killed by fighting a war against an invisible, super mobile enemy.

Some people say we lost Viet Nam for the same reason: because the Viet Cong were merely the front for the Russians--who neither wanted to go to war with openly, for fear of mutual assured destruction.

[SOGG]

I was going to join the world view discussion and then the tits discussion came up and I started composing a defence of the b-cup. (as in b minus as opposed to just b)

But this was tough to pass up.

In response to the original topic:
I've visited the Philippines with my mom on several occasions. Americans and all things American tend to be very highly regarded there, especially once you get away from the big cities. <snipped for space>

Mostly true. But you'll see a vast difference in opinions depending on where you go. Mindanao for example, which was buggered by the US early on, does not view the US in a very good light. Negros , on the other hand where the US presence was mostly ww2 and post ww2, has a very high opinion of the US. Further, in areas where the fighting of the Philippine-American war was heaviest -- well, you can probably guess what comes next.

As for the love for Americana.... well, that's got facets too. And it depends heavily where you are in the social ladder. (not necessarily income ladder). American English is what is mostly spoken, much of the US chains aren't in want of customers, 'Made in the USA' stuff (mostly taken to mean US brands are popular, American comic books are fairly popular (though Superman and Tintin are equals in popularity with those that can afford it), etc. etc.

But this is all on the surface. If you look deeper, you'll find that all this stuff had to be adapted in order to be accepted. McAdobo? Yeah. Like that.


Part of this high regard for the US is the result of historical issues. Americans are seen as heroes for kicking out the Spanish oppressors in the late 1800's (a deeply flawed, but widely held view of the aftermath of the Spanish-American war) and later on the Japanese.

Again, this is largely geographic. I doubt this belief is held widely at all in Luzon or Mindanao. (2/3 of the country). Most Filipinos who are from places where the war (Philippine-American War) was fought remember the Americans as traitors who lied to Aguinaldo. You're right on the Japanese thing though -- although history sort of had to choose which places the US could recruit allies from.


... established a national language, incorporated the teaching of English as a standard school subject, and upgraded much of the infrastructure of the country.

We already had a national language priour to either the Americans or the Spanish. It was old Tagalog which was very close to Bahasa. The Spanish even allowed us to keep it (mostly because they didn't want us learning how to read the Bible). The Americans burned almost all the literature that contained the old alphabet and replaced it with the alibata -- an alphabet that was woefully inadequate. This gave them a pretext to introduce English as a more 'complete' language. In a way this has been good for the Philippines as it allows us to more easily migrate. In other ways it's been bad as it gives people an easy out.


The American military base there was seen in both a positive and a negative light. In a positive sense, it brought a lot of American dollars into the economy. Entire industries sprang up around the base and in resort areas of the country to provide for the needs of American servicemen. On the negative side, prostitution was probably the single biggest one of these industries, and overlapped with young girls trolling the areas Americans frequented hoping to land an American husband.


Again, this depends on who you ask, and no one holds both views. When the American bases were finally removed from the Philippines, it was because of a very, very popular movement. As in... people were launching rpgs at the bases.

Their popular TV shows are often clones or variants of popular American shows.

Too true. A pity because people like Kidlat Tahimik and Lino Brocka have produced very, very good films. Colonial mentality is strong in some areas.


The ideal of feminine beauty is the white American (or European) look. American cosmetic corporations aggressively promote this ideal and market to it. In particular, skin lightening creams of various forms, none of which work, are very competetive. Lighter skin and less prominent Asian features (in particular, a "long nose," thin lips, and "round eyes" are all considered more attractive than classical Asian features.

I think this is overstated. Yes the marketing is there, yes some people exist who bleach their skin. But there is a very distinct idea of what a beautiful Filipina is -- and she isn't a non-Asian. Even the skin bleaching is sometimes done to look Chinese. And speaking of Chinese (who comprise a huge part of the population) -- you'd be hard pressed to find someone of Chinese-Filipino descent who finds western-style beauty in favour over Asian-style beauty.
Further, if you take away the money perception, you'll find that most people -- in ceteris paribus -- will prefer marrying someone with classic Filipino features.


The Philippines is a southeast Asian country that is still searching for some kind of national identity, and is a very young country (officially 60 years old as of July 4th), so it tends to look outwards for cues as to how to define itself, with the United States being one of those places that it looks most closely.

No offense Gilda, but this looks very much like a tourist's view of the Philippines. No one who has actually lived there would make this sort of statement. We were a country long before the Americans came (late 1700s). Of course, if you only start counting when the US 'granted' us independence, then yeah -- 60 years.

Oh, and Phil Independence day falls on June 12.

[Gilda Dent]

No offense Gilda, but this looks very much like a tourist's view of the Philippines.

I'm half Filipino myself. My post was based in part on my own observations as someone who is partly an outsider, but also in large part on interacting much of my life with my mother, who is herself a Filipino native, from just outside of General Santos City, and other members of her family, both in the United States and in the Philippines.

The subject of the thread is the perception of Americans by the rest of the world, and the perceptions I describe are those I've observed. I probably should have been more clear about that.

[Reverend Smooth]

Let me just say that America is the prime paradigm from which other countries ought to follow. We have the greatest system of government, health care,Wrong on that last one, it's just about the worst among all of the industrialised nations. Government's about as good as anyone else's. Probably less than a few, since it seems really good at wasting fabulous amounts of money and messing with people's civil liberties lately.

[Spike-X]

Wrong on that last one, it's just about the worst among all of the industrialised nations. Government's about as good as anyone else's. Probably less than a few, since it seems really good at wasting fabulous amounts of money and messing with people's civil liberties lately.
*pssst*

He was being sarcastic.

[Winslow]

I enjoyed the exchange SOGG and Gilda. It's interesting to hear differing POVs.

The college I attended, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, had some sort of arrangement with the Philippines, and several students were from there. They returned to the Filipino/a Navy when they graduated. So it's always interesting for me to read about the culture.

[Reverend Smooth]

*pssst*

He was being sarcastic.
It's hard to tell sometimes when satire is verbatim what a lot of people say on a regular basis. I read serious opinions like that all the time.

Ou peut-etre que c'est juste que mon anglais est tres mauvais, or something.

[Paul McEnery]

It's hard to tell sometimes when satire is verbatim what a lot of people say on a regular basis. I read serious opinions like that all the time.

Ou peut-etre que c'est juste que mon anglais est tres mauvais, or something.

Tout les Anglais sont tres mauvais.

Or something.

[Reverend Smooth]

Tout les Anglais sont tres mauvais.

Or something.

Nah. I like anglos.

[SOGG]

I'm half Filipino myself. My post was based in part on my own observations as someone who is partly an outsider, but also in large part on interacting much of my life with my mother, who is herself a Filipino native, from just outside of General Santos City, and other members of her family, both in the United States and in the Philippines.

The subject of the thread is the perception of Americans by the rest of the world, and the perceptions I describe are those I've observed. I probably should have been more clear about that.

I r