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America Bashing seems to be everywhere

Last posted Dec 21, 2014 at 08:56PM EST. Added Dec 20, 2014 at 02:56AM EST
22 posts from 18 users

There certainly is quite a lot of America bashing these days, and here's my guess as to why:
The main reason for this is America is known as one of the greatest countries in the world, but we still have our major problems, and quite frankly, some of them can seem rather silly:

• We have such major obesity problems that some states are being forced to pass laws in an effort to make people keep watch of what they're eating.
• For the second most wealthy country on Earth, our education system is still far worse than most other major countries of this time.
• Our very own president and leader of our country is pretty much unable to pass any laws at all due to the American government system.

I mean, the US has some far better qualities, but all the America bashing is probably mainly caused by facts like these.

Last edited Dec 20, 2014 at 04:30AM EST

I think it's also due to the fact that American culture is so pervasive in other countries. It makes it a lot easier to point out a countries flaws if you see it everywhere, not to mention people probably get fed up with seeing American culture invading their own.

America is like the worlds Pop Celebrity.

Tons of exposure, tons of popularity. So many countries are inspired why what America does and want's to be just as big and powerful.

But with that fame and fortune comes lots of people talking behind it's back, gossiping about it, scrutinizing every move. Scandals become big news. Flaws become overblown.

This is the sort of thing that happens when all the worlds spotlights are on you

Well, I will always love this country, but here are some of the reasons that, like BSoD said, people bash America and bring these flaws to light:
1. We have very well-intentioned Presidents who can never do shit because Congress is always shoving their thumbs up their asses and wondering how to line their own pockets.
2. The idiotic parts of the country are too goddamn noticeable. The majority can be pretty decent and they can be laughed out of another country because of the actions of the stupid minority.
3. Educational system is way too subpar. None of the classes enrich creativity or imagination and instead encourage you to just grow up and become a typical American citizen; always working.
4. The culture itself is fucked up. Double Standards, extremism for dumb reasons, people trying to justify bullying and cyberbullying, and overall shortsightedness. Not to mention half the time we're half-asleep and just keep doing whatever we're told expecting something to change. Vaas had a point.

On the fatness, while we are one of the "leading countries" in obesity, it isn't really how it sounds if you actually take a moment to look around. In fact, a major reason so many people are found obese is because of the broken system that labels people as legally obese. You could look totally normal or even have like a belly that sticks out like an inch or two and be considered legally obese. When the government aays obese, you think people who have too many rolls to count or need a scooter to get around. These people are actually pretty rare, and while there are more here than in other places, if you just look you see that most people are at a pretty healthy weight level. In fact, if you work out a lot and have big muscles along with a bit of fat, you can be considered obese due to the system which shows how broken it is. Most of the "Amerifat" shit is hyperbole based off of bullshit statistics. Still pretty funny to joke about though, just saying this for anyone who's serious about bashing the US for this.

Here's some reasons why we're one of the most hated countries in the world.

America: Mmm, I can't wait to eat these big macs despite being 300 lbs.
World: Why do you need to eat that? There are starving people in other countries.

America: I got a science diploma despite thinking that evolution is a lie because I fucking love the Bible.
World: Are you kidding us? Science and evolution are what keeps this world going. How did you graduate if you're so ignorant.

America: Our main story today is that Kim Kardashian has a nice ass.
World: Who cares about your celebrities? People are dying, the economy is plummeting, and wars are brewing.

America: I love to play some football and baseball.
World: Why would you call a game in which you use your hands instead of your feet "football?" Also, baseball is a more simplified version of cricket. You just can't steal our sport names and claim it as your own.

America: I'm going to vote for the same politicians no matter how much shit they do to our country.
World: If you're government is terrible, then why are you voting for the same corrupt individuals. We kinda like Obama, but he needs to grow some balls and balance out the three branches of government in order to pass some good laws, a bad Congress will only make things worse for him.

America: I got a science diploma despite thinking that evolution is a lie because I fucking love the Bible.
World: Are you kidding us? Science and evolution are what keeps this world going. How did you graduate if you’re so ignorant.

I could argue on that one. I figure that in America a lot of people still believe that science and religion are conflicting to each other, somethin' that here pretty much no one believes anymore. Or at least I can't name one person like that.

America: Our main story today is that Kim Kardashian has a nice ass.
World: Who cares about your celebrities? People are dying, the economy is plummeting and wars are brewing.
America: I’m going to vote for the same politicians no matter how much shit they do to our country.
World: If your government is terrible, then why are you voting for the same corrupt individuals. We kinda like Obama, but he needs to grow some balls and balance out the three branches of government in order to pass some good laws, a bad Congress will only make things worse for him.

…and you believe that's only America? You know, that's another thing. It's said here Americans are very ignorant of anything that exists outside USA, as if there was absolutely nothing outside it. It is said, for example, that most Americans can hardly speak any language other than English.

Not to mention, they're the last First World country that STILL uses Imperial units. Kek.
Actually, at our university, quite often we learn about various systems of doing things that "everyone except for USA" uses. Might not be a big deal, but doesn't really show'em in a good light, either.
Then I guess there's also that. America's simply completely different from the rest, yet we have no choice but to accept it since we're rubbed in face with it every day.

Last edited Dec 20, 2014 at 06:12PM EST

The best one I saw was the Youtube black friday video that had a British commentator decry America's horrid consumerism and violent and animistic citizens--and the video was of a Tesco (a British store).

America bashing--and really, country bashing in general--is just another form of nationalism. My country's better than your country because x y z.

Last edited Dec 20, 2014 at 06:55PM EST

I love America. I hate most of the people that run America, however. A lot of the time, they take the principles this country was founded on and shit all over them. Since I live in the South, call me a hick if you want, but I keep a copy of the Constitution in my end table drawer.

Last edited Dec 20, 2014 at 07:36PM EST

I think most of the hate comes after WW2, as USA became the most powerful country in the world and was able to tell other countries what to do and what not do, Hollywood begun the golden age of "murica" where almost every action movie was about americans saving the day and sometimes the annoying patriotism bullcrap speech.

Also how hypocritical sometimes they were, saying usa is the best place to live and trying to hide under the rug tons of internal problems.

I think that some reasons like internal politics or obesity are not that important. I for example dont know nothing about usa politics or obesity and I don't care either.

tl dr: post ww2 USA acting as mr. perfect savior of the world and being abusive against other countries generated a lot of hate that still exist today.

Last edited Dec 20, 2014 at 08:07PM EST

other reason I forgot:

Ist world problems: US is probably one of the most vocal about stupid things, for example a teen cursing his parents on twitter because they gift him a white iphone not the black one. If people from 1st country get mad imagine how mad will get people from a 3rd country.

My two cents: on the Internet, (some) Americans are more ignorant and egocentric than they are in real life, and (some) non-Americans are much more hateful than they are in real life. I'd love to have a civilized, face to face discussion with someone from, say, Russia, and hear in what ways they think we're good or bad and vice versa. But online, it's only a matter of time until a conversation devolves into "get ur fucking commie hands off muh freedoms" vs "go eat a hamburger you fat ignorant americunt". I use Russia as a convenient example, but you can apply this to any country. If people had conversations on the Internet like they do in real life…well, that just wouldn't be the Internet, now would it? I guess some people enjoy hurling mindless insults from behind a computer all day. Being anonymous is a great way to make ridiculously inflammatory remarks, get lots of attention, and deal with zero consequences.

Not to say this country doesn't have its faults, because it does. So does every other country. Mainly with governments, because in almost every case, I look better upon a country's citizens than a country's government. Of course, all it takes is a few very vocal assholes to make an entire population look bad.

America bashing--and really, country bashing in general--is just another form of nationalism. My country’s better than your country because x y z.

While I don't think it's entirely all because of nationalism, I do agree that a large chunk of it is.

Plenty of people love to say America is shit just so they can be proud of their own country and act like it is better. They might not think that, but in the back of their mind, that is what they are doing.

Nationalism shouldn't even be a thing.


I think most of the hate comes after WW2

Any war will generate a ton of hate for america.

I can speak for New Zealand here. Public opinion of the US was extremely low in this country during the War on Iraq

Before the war on Iraq, nobody would really say anything about the US. It was just another nation.

9/11 and the war on Afghanistan generated some sympathy, even

But then the War on Iraq happened and everyone in NZ started chanting "AMERICAN IDIOT". Nobody here supported that war. As far as NZ was concerned, Iraq had no WMD's and Bush was a warmongering asshole

And then Bush got voted in for a second term and now NZ was pretty fairly convinced that all Americans were idiots just like Bush

Being a US immigrant during that time was tough for me. I got heckled in school for it. Thanks Bush!

the united states always had a super anti-communist and anti-socialist doctrine, people calling obama a communist because he wanted compulsatory healthcare is really ridiculous to just about everyone who lives in a country that already has a working healthcare system.
the united states also stand for capitalism like no other country, bashing the USA is a very popular leftist circlejerk topic, also because of the incredibely deep-seated fear of left ideology.
though, in seattle for example 15$ minimum wage was approved, and kshama sawant is the first socialist to be elected into the seattle city council, so there is some progress in that regard.
financial crisis did certaily leave some marks.

then there's the hypocrisy of being a nation consisting almost entirely of immigrants, but still having massive problems with racism and restrictive immigration policies. but just about any first world country has those now. just look at australia and their contracts with cambodia, or the past EU contracts with north-african regimes or FRONTEX.

as for the US' "world police"-image ("I don't see why we need to stand by and watch a country go communist due to the irresponsibility of its own people."), i think any country starting proxy wars would get bashed for good reason, and the conflicts in the near past and today are mosty just the aftermath of those proxy wars in the cold war. but tht image is in it's death throes, at least if the next most likely republican president won't invade syria or something, because of his need to compensate for weakening economy, to hide the fact that the status of a superpower doesn't mean shit anymore, or just because of a sudden fit of unnecessary interventionism.

"superpower" is a good point too, some bash the US out of sheer penis envy.

Skeletor-sm

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