Exploring Anti-Americanism
POSTED BY: Khyron
UPDATED: Monday, April 30, 2007 03:01
VIEWED: 18266
PAGE 13 of 23
I just saw "Jesus Camp" a documentary about evangelical (I think thats how its spelled)christians in the US. An interesting movie, and rather scary. But it is yet another documentary focusing on the negative sides of american culture and politics. We europeans love this ofcourse, its comforting to have a nation in the western world that we can blame evereything on, and laugh at.
I think that a lot of the critisism of the US is justified and right, but hating the US isnt going to solve any problems. The politics of the Bush administration might serve as a symbol of what is wrong with western civilization, and the war in Irak has certainly not helped matters. But a more thourough and balanced analysis of the state of things is needed if one wants to understand whats going on and maybe do something about it.
Constance
"What the....?!"
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Hi Causal,
"With all due respect Rue, asking other questions isn't the same as answering the initial ones. I do think that corporations can be evil and exploitative (which is why I never ever shop at Wal-Mart), and that they shouldn't be. But how's about you answer the questions, instead of dodging them?"
I was curious as to your stance.
I thought about it and realized I should have posted 'response' (R) rather than 'answer' (A), but if you look at the time (I was doing laundry at stupid o'clock) I hope you'll understand why I didn't go back and correct my post.
The current US structure in unduly inhumane. What about the women who spends all her life working then goes into deep debt to treat her cancer? What about the families with an autisitic child who have to decide between services for one or education for the other? There are circumstances far beyond an individual's control and therefore beyond their responsibility.
I don't think people here are looking for a lifetime free of work and responsibility. But recent US policy is to promote the extreme opposite. I don't think that should be the goal either.
Oh, and I wanted to reply to this: "I think you should take some philosophy courses!" I don't subscribe to the Platonic notion that everything in reality is some corrupted version of an 'ideal' reality and that words refer to that 'ideal'. I tend to go with the mathematical model of what seems to happen biologically, which is fuzzy logic.
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Lots of flame-baiting here.
Quote:
Originally posted by Geezer:Quote:
Originally posted by rue:
Geezer,
"Notice" isn't the thread" - and you apparently don't understand ironic understatement.
Ironic understatement, like humor, doesn't type well. Just say what you mean.Quote:
"you do actually consider Americans ugly and hateful" - just the ugly and hateful ones.
Which is still, in your opinion, all of us.Quote:What Causal said. Also, is this an accepted theory, or out on the fringe? Are these sociologists, anthropologists and economists French, by any chance? (See. That last sentence is a joke, but without verbal cues might be taken for a serious statement.)
"the US, '...has an essentially sociopathic economy/culture.'" That argument has been made by sociologists, anthropologists and economists. I can't take credit for it.Quote:
"an irrational prejudice against Americans" I have some well-founded criticisms, while you seem to think ANY criticism is unjustified.
Well I call bullshit on that. I've criticized American homophobia and interference in reproductive rights. I've noted than changes need to be made in financial laws and development of a mental health system. I've expressed displeasure of politicians of both parties.
You, on the other hand, have never had one positive thing to say about America. You provide unending criticism, often in bigoted and insulting language. You ignore any positives, and give any potential negatives the worst possible interpretation.
"Keep the Shiny side up"
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Conservaties love America/Liberals hate America doesn't fly anymore, peeps. We all know it's not that simple. It's too easy to say that wanting to address terrorism is a hawk mentality, and disagreeing with the Iraq War is a give-up mentality.
Right? Chrisisall
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You America-hating liberaloid with your nuance ! (That's supposed to be funny ... 
Well, at least I'm trying ... ba-dum PShhhh)
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And now for the nuanced conservative approach:
Conservatives and liberals approach almost every issue with completely different philosophies, underlying assumptions, and methods. That's why it's so hard to find genuine compromise between conservatism and liberalism -- because not only are liberals almost always wrong, their solutions almost always make things worse.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/JohnHawkins/2007/04/27/10_differenc
es_between_conservatives_and_liberals
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Chrisoidisall
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Quote:
Originally posted by ClarKent913:
As an "American" living in Canada, which someone here referred to as being similar in culture (and they would be right,
On mass we are *very* different. But, if you're living in BC or Alberta, I can understand if you're confused. Just look below the superficial and you'll see that.
But then you're saying that Canadians are outside the box, when it comes to generalizations. Granted Quebec is 'very' different than BC or Alberta, but I could say the same thing about Massachusetts and Texas, to varying degrees.
And I've lived here now, for quite a while, so I'm beyond the 'superficial'. And I can say, without a doubt, that Canadians feel they are better than Americans, I've been told as much from many different Canadians. (Which is funny, to me, cuz Canadians deal with this same issue, in their own microcosm, with different parts of Canada thinking they're above other areas.) One of my good friends here lived in the states for a few years, Michigan and then Alaska and we've talked, at length about how little difference there is between our countries, there are some, but they are 'very' subtle, with Quebec being the exception, of course, but then many of them don't consider themselves Canadians anyway
.Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to attack Canadians, or even say they're identical to Americans. In many respects I think Canada is more the country that American intended to be than America is. (freedom of religion, open mindedness, all that.)
And you're right. Canada wasn't part of the coalition of the willing (really hate that term :P ) They did, originally have troops in Iraq but, wisely, pulled them out. Though they do still have troops in Afghanistan (which is what we were talking about)
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Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:
Since when is a military installation anything but a projection of military power? :shakes head: It may be welcome, it may be unwelcome, it may start out being welcome but wind up being resented, but no matter how the government or the population respond to it, it IS a projeciton of military power. In and of itself.
So? Was the projection of military power that kept the Soviets from flooding through Fulda Gap into West Germany a bad thing? Or the projection that keeps Kim Jung Il north of the DMZ? Military power is a tool, and can be used for purposes good and ill.
Quote:
So, afa examples of when a government asked us to leave and we didn't? Well- do invasions count? "cause then I can list a whole BUNCH!
Okay. Name me a country we currently have a base in, established by treaty, invasion, whatever, where the current government wants us to leave.
"Keep the Shiny side up"
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Quote:
Originally posted by ClarKent913:
The thing is...If Americans think they're better than everyone else, and everyone else thinks they're better than Americans...is anyone really the better for it?
You're missing the point. We are _not_ saying that we're better than you. We're saying that you're _not_ better than us. There's a difference. Also, we're just pointing out when the US does horrible things. It isn't our fault that it's been a long constant ride lately.
Quote:
Originally posted by Causal:
But that's just it, I don't think I've read any American here say they were better than anyone else, it's all just been implied.
I've certainly never said it, never heard it said, except, as I've said, by Canadians. I don't judge all Canadians by those few, that have expressed their belief. But I've been judged, by Canadians, by the few Americans that stumble through Canada, as tourists, making fools of themselves, or the news they read or watch. And then, I don't get upset with them, because they usually have no idea I'm American, and are quite surprised when they find out.
I don't know how to resolve this, how can we all come together on this topic? What can 'we' do?NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME