Difference of opinion

[TheBigDog]

On the stage of world politics the US is in a no win situation. Condemned for any action we take, and condemned for any action we don't take. All the world in the Monday Morning Quarterback of US policy. And from what I can see, this is a unique situation.

 

The nature of the question being asked here is a setup for negative feedback. And when you watch reports from around the world, and they constantly focus on the negative, it is no wonder that opinions are swinging the way they do.

 

When the Soviet Union was everyone's badguy, it gave the US a lightening rod for taking bad press. Since the US is now seen as the sole superpower, everyone else in the world is now a victim of US policy. This is now the nature of things, and it is a tricky position to turn around.

 

Bill

[CraigD]

On the stage of world politics the US is in a no win situation. Condemned for any action we take, and condemned for any action we don't take. All the world in the Monday Morning Quarterback of US policy.

I think this is an unduly pessimistic assessment – though an accurate description.

 

My assessment – which I believe is supported by statistical evidence, vague and hard to interpret as such data may be – it that there a significant portion of the world has an opinion of the US similar to the one Jay-qu articulated:

I am glad to be Australian, I would rather be Aussie and not american. And I most certainly dont hate americans, nor the idea/concept of americans, you guys are really trying to make a difference in the world, but sometimes I think you need to take a step back and listen a bit more.

I think that, if we can keep our political process healthy, express our good-hearted intentions in trade and foreign policy, and, following Jay-qu’s advice, listen more to what people in other countries have to say about us, the US and the world have a very substantial opportunity to “win”.

And from what I can see, this is a unique situation.

While there’s some historic precedent for it – the UK in the 19th century, for example – I agree. Though not unprecedented, with major factors (such as high-speed communication) changing all the time, every moment in history is effectively unique.

The nature of the question being asked here is a setup for negative feedback. And when you watch reports from around the world, and they constantly focus on the negative, it is no wonder that opinions are swinging the way they do.

Yes – “why do people make fun of” or “why do people hate the US?” is a solicitation for negative feedback about the US. Negative feedback, however, is considered by most accounts to be an important feature of the democratic process. While it can be emotionally trying to see and hear our country “bad mouthed” in public, I think such negativity is important for her, and the world’s, health.

Since the US is now seen as the sole superpower, everyone else in the world is now a victim of US policy. This is now the nature of things, and it is a tricky position to turn around.

”Tricky”, I think, is a bit of an understatement. At least there’s little chance of statesmen and public servants become bored anytime in the near future. :confused:

[pgrmdave]

I have found that the US is held to much stricter standards than the majority of nations. This is because we do expect more of ourselves, and in some ways, the negative feelings are because we don't live up to our own standards. It can be seen even as a bit of respect "America could be so much better, you have so much potential, but you waste it (sometimes)".

[InfiniteNow]

Heavy is the head that wears the crown... However, there are truly times when it is not a mutiny and the crew of the ship are correct...

[TheFaithfulStone]

This is why I think this is something that the rest of the world probably looks at us and shakes our heads about. THIS VERY CONVERSATION.

 

It isn't why people don't like us, or for what reasons they don't like us. There are some reasons not to like us, and there are some reasons to like. Like any country, we have our good points and our bad points.

 

What's funny about it is how concerned Americans seem to be about it. Seriously, do Norwegians engage in this amount of handwringing when the Poles aren't happy? Do the Australians get involved in internal debates of "We're so bad!" when the Congolese say something negative about them?

 

Americans seem to be obsessed with what everybody else thinks, and I agree with BigDog that it's an impossible position to be in. Some of the people all of the time, and all that.

 

But, I think that goes to what pgrmdave was saying, that we hold ourselves to higher standards. I remember reading some of the liberal press after 9-11, where the prevailing cry was "What did we do to deserve this?!" Like we would somehow be the country that even irrational thugs could somehow agree to love.

 

I think that a lot of the rest of the world doesn't really understand our obsession with being loved by everyone, and doesn't really understand our fascination with public opinion polls from Iraq.

 

The underlying assumption of any criticism leveled at the US from within the US is "if only we fix this, then everybody will love us" The underlying assumption of most of the response to those is "everyone already loves us, they're just jealous."

 

Why can't we all just get along? Because getting along just isn't something we do. Why can't we all just fly? The weird thing about Americans, is even though we know intellectually, that somebody will always hate us, even if we were poor, peaceful farmers, SOMEBODY would hate us, is that we're always shocked and hurt to learn that somebody doesn't think much of us.

 

TFS

 

addendum: Not that we shouldn't TRY to get along with everyone, it just seems to be something that we can get kinda obsessed with. Notice how most of the people still here are Americans. :)

[infamous]

Yes – “why do people make fun of” or “why do people hate the US?” is a solicitation for negative feedback about the US. Negative feedback, however, is considered by most accounts to be an important feature of the democratic process. While it can be emotionally trying to see and hear our country “bad mouthed” in public, I think such negativity is important for her, and the world’s, health.”

This is an excellent point Craig, and I agree that America needs to be forced to look herself in the mirror on occasion. However, when pushed to the extreme, this negativity has hurt us severely with our efforts within the UN. The greatest example I can think of involves the lack of proper co-operation we are getting with regard to the proliferation of nulcear weapons. Concerned more about their own agenda, Russia and China have been little help in this regard. Albeit China has been of some help with North Korea, Russia is casually looking the other way with regard to Iran.

 

I have on several occasions visited East Germany before the wall fell and Communist domination of this state came to an end. I've had the opportunity to speak directly with many East German citizens concerning their attitude about the US and why they dislike us. The most common answer to the question; "Why do you dislike the US" is the following: "Because the US controls the distribution of resources and consumes the majority of them". If that isn't an envious remark, I don't know what is?.................Infy

[Boerseun]

I have found that the US is held to much stricter standards than the majority of nations.

True.

This is because we do expect more of ourselves...

No. It has nothing to do with your own expectations of yourself. It has, however, all to do with the US having a gun pointed at the heads of all countries trying to make a living by themselves on their own terms, economically speaking. You WILL buy our crap, but only if your sell your crap to Steve. And if you DON'T open your markets, we'll tell our buddy Tony not to buy your crap, either.

 

This is not about you as an American. This is about your government. Hey... some of my best friends are Americans...

...and in some ways, the negative feelings are because we don't live up to our own standards.

Well put. Especially when you talk about economic exploitation and human rights.

It can be seen even as a bit of respect "America could be so much better, you have so much potential, but you waste it (sometimes)".

America is good as it is. Our gripe is not with Americans per se, but with American corporations.

[Spiked Blood]

I was born in Scotland. It’s where I’m from, it’s who I am. It’s not what I am. I am a human being, first and foremost. I do not care that a group of human beings born on another part of this planet think they have some privileged position because their country is “top dog”. If this were the case, I might as well be envious that people breathe air from 'the special place'.

 

On the stage of world politics the US is in a no win situation. Condemned for any action we take, and condemned for any action we don't take. All the world in the Monday Morning Quarterback of US policy. And from what I can see, this is a unique situation.

 

The nature of the question being asked here is a setup for negative feedback. And when you watch reports from around the world, and they constantly focus on the negative, it is no wonder that opinions are swinging the way they do.

 

When the Soviet Union was everyone's badguy, it gave the US a lightening rod for taking bad press. Since the US is now seen as the sole superpower, everyone else in the world is now a victim of US policy. This is now the nature of things, and it is a tricky position to turn around.

 

Bill

 

Out of the tragedy of 9/11 the world was given a real opportunity to unite, to stand together against these terrorist organisations and rogue nations, and for a brief time I believe a large part of the world was. We had an opportunity to progress together. 9/11 might have been an attack on American soil, but it was not only Americans that died. And it was not only Americans that were deeply affected by the deplorable scenes we all witnessed.

 

The international community was united, resolute that we would meet this horror head on, we would meet it together. When the U.S refused the assistance of the U.N with the invasion of Afghanistan I think some people were genuinely offended. 9/11 was an attack on us all, not just America.

This is now the nature of things, and it is a tricky position to turn around.

 

Bush found it easy to turn support into dismay and resentment. International relations start with diplomacy. Telling people (who are on your side)that you are not needed isn't the way to go. When T.B convinced Bush to go to the U.N about Iraq he did the exact same again.

[Zythryn]

America is good as it is. Our gripe is not with Americans per se, but with American corporations.

 

Well said. Unfortunately the corporations now run our country instead of the people.

[InfiniteNow]

Well said. Unfortunately the corporations now run our country instead of the people.

 

 

Speaking of getting out to vote on

 

Tuesday, November 7...