It seems to me that everyone else has taken the "TV" american as gospel and feel the need to bash america so that we will know we arent superior to them, then we feel the need to defend our country and fit right into that stereotype.
I love the USA. Who doesnt love thier country?
There is a lot wrong with it but there is also a lot to be proud of.

Most of the problem is the way our school system and media teach us. More americans do need to travel out side of the US.
:2 cents:

rickholio:

AH! That's the name!! :1orglaugh

Yea.. Jim Baker was the "perp" :-)

When he was "cuffed" - it was Tammy who did the weeping and "stand by your man" shit...

Then they found out within 14 days she was off with Jim's # 2!! :1orglaugh

"Significant" and "depend" are not synonymous.

There it is, that wonderful arrogance everybody loves so much.

And I'm saying that's incorrect. If tourism makes up 5% of a countries GDP, yet only 1/5th of the tourists are American, then American tourists are contributing only 1% and that's insignificant.

You must balance both sides of the equation. American tourists pour money into other countires, and foreign tourists also pour money into the USA. If everyone in the world stopped traveling outside their own country, the USA would lose the most income.

And Americans are poorly travelled.
What % of Americans have been out of north america? (Hawaii doesn't count) - versus the % of (for example) Australians who have visited the northen hemisphere? or Japanese who have visited the USA?

The ignorance of most americans about life outside their homeland is sad; and a quality not shared by citizens of other wealthy nations whose news networks are much better about covering important events elsewhere. Public education here is a joke with regard to world history and global current events. Never once did any teacher even mention the conflict (and potential nuclear standoff) between India and Pakistan. Or the China/Taiwan dispute. Or the history of Israel and the Middle East. Forget the problems in Africa. Nah, none of that is as important as memorizing every date and detail of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. :Oh crap :disgust

Zerof8:

Frankly... in the context I think you may mean, I can't say "I love my country" any more than I like a load of countries.

Almost every country has "baggage" and often, it sure ain't the govt that makes countries "appealing" :-)

I'm not into what may be descibed as "blind patriotism" and "my country good or bad" - that is just.. plain stupid. If my country comes up with bullshit - I will give the same back. If it does good stuff - yea, give it credit.

I'll support any country that conducts itself in an honorable manner - and blast utter crap that comes from some countries.

Crap is "known" - it's not a "matter of opinion" else it would not be worth even mentioning it.

Hey bud, hit me up on ICQ: 4435025 when you have some time to chat. I'd love to pick your brain about an insiders view to Costa Rica. I've been reading up about it and it sounds pretty sweet! :thumbsup

I agree with that 500%.

That goes for everyone though. Too many ignorant people who only know about the culture, customs and country of their own area.

Actually Americans can pretty much travel abroad at will, no passports needed. It's even an ammendment in the constitution, here's the link http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...abrams0002.jpg

Great post!

:thumbsup

50% of americas are nice people.. the other 50% I merely tolerate, because they support Bush. Even Bush supporters, however, are generally fine people, and I get along with them okay until the topic of politics comes up.

And I couldn't agree more about the government being fucking out of control insane crazy fucked fascists. :)

Ironhorse:

:1orglaugh

Well yea... I noticed this "preffered method of travel" - they are "known" for it.

They are also known for a lot of killings before they leave/extradict/run from the "tourist areas".... Saigon, Somalia, Iraq, ad nausea....

It's a pity they never learn - with some tho, this is hard because they would never comprehend a lump of shit in the steet... so what hope?

I'm an Australian. I think american's can be at times egotistical and rude. They think they have authority over the rest of the world. I wish my country didn't have such an American influence.

On the positive side there are a lot of good US bands ;)

rickholio:


OK Rick! Will do! :thumbsup

the price of liquor on the bottles at all the duty free stores, and any other place that sells boozy goodness.

I am not going to take the time to look up percentages...for any country...but the numbers of 20% and 25% have been presented in this thread as being the number of current passport holders in the US. If there are currently 20-25% that currently have passports then I would assume that there are a minimum of 20-25% that do not currently hold valid passports and the number that do not currently hold valid passports that once had valid passports could be much higher...but using the 20-25% that would mean that at least 40-50% have gone abroad using a passport and add to that the tens of millions that have gone abroad via the military without the use of a passport and given the size of the population...as I have stated...in raw numbers that would mean that somewhere around a 120 million or more Americans have travelled abroad if the 20-25% of currentl valid passports represents the total population (which it may or maynot).

I am Australian... My opinion of the USA, hmmmm. Well having not been there yet, I've got a complete outsider opinion. Like how your nation is portraid.

I think the USA is a fucking crazy, backward place, LOL. In every house there's 3 guns... 1 under the couch, one under the bed, and one in the booze cabinet. Americans come across as if they are ignorant of the rest of the world, like the whole world is based around them, LOL.
Why is it that your neighbor (Canada) had just as many guns (population:firearms) and there are 10 times less murders in Canada?? Well, that's what they tell us anyway, haha.

I think you're all trigger happy, and jump at any opportunity to use your weapons, or start a war. Haha. Your people are portraid as having no respect for anyone, like you all look down on the rest of the world, and are very poorly travelled, or are not interested in the other 95% of the planet.

I think that, your generally pretty cool people, very strange, but pretty cool. Like we see shows like Jerry Springer, and Rikki Lake, WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT!! Crazy Yanks, LOL

Your laws seem very fucked up to me, but I geuss it's strange to me coz I wasn't brought up with them. In saying that, I geuss our way of life is very strange to Americans too.

This all sounds bad huh, LOL. But hey, when I come over in February, I'll get to see your true colors, not what is portraid, hehe.

Hell, I'd love to know what the rest of the world thinks about the Ozzies, LOL..... Or maybe I don't, LOL :winkwink:

Truth be known, we (USA & Oz) are probably very similar...er... without the guns, LOL:thumbsup

Wow. You seriously believe that 50% of Americans have been out of north america? Remember that a lot of americans think they need a passport to go to Hawaii. :winkwink: No ... most of those passports are obtained for trips to Canada and Mexico; whether or not they are necessary. I would be surprised if the actual number of Americans to leave north-america (excluding trips to US-owned islands) was higher than 15%.

Concidering that USA makes up about....... what... 2% of the world. I can clearly see how the other 98% of the globe totally relies on the USA, hahahaha... come on, look out the window, there's a big world out there.

my country over your country has become a boring debate that keeps appearing here all the time.

Some amazingly ignorant stereotypes in this thread. I see Hollywood has done well.

Lived in the US 30 years now, and I'd be quite happy to leave. Especially given the current political climate.

toddler:

It's the sterotypes that are the "killers" - so damned .. hell.. just so damned incredibly arrogant, ignorant and full of mouth. They would safely put any country to shame :-)

I've never actually met anyone in the US who remotely resembled some of the idiots here. I think .. in fact... I know they would be ashamed of em!

I know one lady from your State who would "just terminate" them, blow the smoke off the barrel and ask, who's next?? :1orglaugh

Hm. I don't post a lot on GFY - but this is an interesting thread.

I'm an American, and I've travelled all over the world. I've been to Canada, South America, Europe, India, The Netherlands, Japan, and other places. I'll give my 2 cents for what it's worth:

People everywhere are pretty much the same. Most are essentially trying to live their lives, provide for themselves and their family, and do the right thing.

Most people in the world are not 'well travelled'. This is not an American trait. Most people are born and die in the same place.

And almost all free countries think they have the best deal going as a country, have national pride, and on some level, are convinced of their superiority. In America, we think we're the best. The Japanese think they are. The French think they are. Etc, etc. Nationalism and feeling superior to other countries in a free society is not an American trait - it's a human trait. Notice I say 'free countries' - in the old days of the Soviet Union, people defected. But in a free country, the average person has pride about and loyalty to their country.

America has a long history of thinking other people's customs are silly and/or barbaric. But again - this is a human trait. Ever try to order a dish using bad French while in France with a snotty waiter? Or talk to a German about who makes the best cars? National elitisim is a common, and international, illness. And refusing to be compassionate about a foriegner not understanding your customs is most definately something we share with just about everyone else in the civilized world.

The other trait shared by most human beings is believing what you see on Television or are fed by whoever your government happens to be. Someone said Canadians think Americans are idiots because that's the picture the media paints. Well - what do you think they see or hear over in Europe or other countries? The sheep are everywhere, and they're not sheep because they belong to a particular race or country - they're sheep because they're human, and the average human wants to belong and fit in with those around them.

The only solution is to actually meet other people from other countries. You have no idea how many times when I travelled I'd get to know someone, and they said at some point something along the lines of 'you know, I thought all Americans were idiots, but you're a nice guy.' I'd say 'I thought the same, and feel the same' and then we'd find whatever the local version of debauchery was and forget about who was from where.

codymc12:

Good post! :thumbsup

You hit that nail right on the head with the above comments! :-)

First off, your grammar is something like a 14 year old.

Secondly I would like to look at this comment:

--
Why is it that your neighbor (Canada) had just as many guns (population:firearms) and there are 10 times less murders in Canada?? Well, that's what they tell us anyway, haha
--

I didn't know we had the same ratio. I don't really know anyone with a gun here. Yet when I do go to the state and talk with many Americans, a lot seem to have firearms.

codymc12... That was a quality post...
:thumbsup

Ray,

Are we talking about americans, or New Yorker's, cuz anyone who doesn't like New Yorker's is just weird!

How did you travel? Did you go backpacking?

I agree with most of what you've said, however I must take exception to this:

We, as a whole, do not think you're idiots because of the media. We think you're ignorant because you drive your SUVs north in July with snowboards and skis attached to your roof-racks. We think you're idiots when you do that, while keeping a loaded .40s+w in the glove box while attempting to drive north. :winkwink:

Edit: It also doesn't help when you get gas at a little place just outside of Chicago, and when you mention that you're from Canada, the guy behind the counter asks "Canada? Is that up there by Alaskar?" My theory is that this guy was a recent arrival to the tri-state area. :1orglaugh

That's what I said "a lot seem to have firearms"!
Well, I have bad grammar, but you can't read, cock! This thread asked for opinions from outsiders. I'm an outsider and I told how USA is portrayed to us in our country.
Are you an English teacher or something? Either that or you spend time chatting up 14 year olds... Either way I didn't realize I would be graded on this 'essay'... Here is some grammar for ya, GET......FUKT!:321GFY

I hope the USA will understand the meaning of the word democracy some day.

maybe smth's wrong with American Education?

And why so many junk foodthat makes you fat? Hey America! It must be stopped...:helpme

as long as they keep talking about the US as a 1st world country i cant help but think that us 3rd worlders are always insignificant.

I like my view from up here...can only see you guys across the water if its a nice clear day.
:1orglaugh

Why lose respect for every fucking American? We can't force the other 50+% to vote for a particular candidate:winkwink:

I'm from the south and am none of those things. Besides, I'm a vegetarian:glugglug

Great Country & Cool People.. :thumbsup

But the president is a mofo ... If Ppl talking bad bout america they mean him and his politic

I've been to the USA about 18 times and I love the place. I like the people and their way of life. Sure you get assholes but we have them in Australia as well.

Smart man!! Every country has it's share of jerks, nice people, beautiful, not so beautiful people, smart, idiots...the lsit goes on and on....overall the U.S. is a very nice place, and I found that Americans are just like everyone else....nice, rude, friendly, mean, sweet....there's something there for everyone - as thei is in all parts of the world!:winkwink: