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phs-lala
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what do you think of americans?
April 25, 2006 - 08:47 AM
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I wonder what forienigers think of americans. I remember when i went to Europe, a lot of people didn't like the americans for stuff that we were doing to iraq. In Europe they tried to stop buying stuff from america like for example,ciggerates.
Im not an American, but i do live in the United States and i was born here, but i dont see any harm in Americans at all. I would like to know what your opinions are about liking Americans. I would like to hear from you soon... 
<lucile>
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Axel Van Goud
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On how Americans are viewed in the world
April 25, 2006 - 02:30 AM
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Hi Lucile,
Going by my own experiences, Americans are a fairly controversial tourist group. That owes a lot the current administration's foreign policy but also to a set of preconceived notions that are in circulation about Americans ( viz. their imperialism as a people, arrogance, ignorance, etc.) Now, the extent to which this applies in Europe varies greatly from country to country. Eastern Europeans for instance, generally admire America and are quite happy to play host to them. The same applies in W Europe also, really, except for more radical fringe groups and those times when people will proclaim the superiority of their lifestyle over that of the Americans out of a blend of patriotism, personal pride, etc.
I leave the other parts of the world to others who are better informed!
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womenindevelopemnt
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WHAT DO YOU THINK OF AMERICANS
April 25, 2006 - 09:51 AM
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An educated and informed people who ask a lot of questions. When you come froma suppressed country, you will find most Americans very irritating to deal with, but let me assure you....they are sweet...especially their men.
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namesteshanti
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Re: what do you think of americans?
May 7, 2006 - 07:01 AM
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I'm from america, and let me tell you it's not all it's cracked up to be. We are sssssssssooooooooo watful and spoiled, a lot of people I know have no idea whats going on, but they don't need to, America has become so isolated and so rich that we forget about everyone else! Even though we are the richest country we have the biggest divide of rich and poor poeple! We use so much oil and we think that we are so great and we're the best and we're so arrogant, and ignorant and, and, ooohhhhh it's just so frustrating that we have so much but don't share and waste so much!!!!!!
Ican't stand it!
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Becky
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Re: what do you think of americans?
May 10, 2006 - 07:59 AM
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I, too, am from the US and I could probably talk on this topic for quite a long time but I will try to keep it short. First, there are many times that I have been ashamed to be part of this country. Our current government is embarrassing; its narrow-vision, focus on cultural world domination, perputual lack of responsibility, etc. is shameful.
Second, having been a tourist and also being American I think I can speak on this a bit. I have seen many very annoying American tourists but also some very respectful ones. The annoying ones tend to assume that everyone else should speak English, tramp around the world in complete disregard for local customs, but think they are culturally superior to others. Certainly, not everyone is like this and I am sure you can find similar tourists from other countries but perhaps just the American ones "stick out."
Third, I think that the US is so very misrepresented around the world. Too often in movies, music and the media only a select view of the US is offered. People from other countries don't often see the real people of the US but simply an idealized representation. I think that this can lead to stereotypes, that even I sometimes slip into accepting. There is poverty, homelessness, lack of access to health care and education here as in other parts of the world.
Lastly, I guess, my point is that to base an idea about a whole group of people on the actions of a few is wrong, no matter who we are talking about.
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Luke Lieberman
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Re: what do you think of americans?
May 11, 2006 - 01:05 AM
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There are 300,000,000 American roughly - stereotyping them is the same as stereotyping anyone else -
We come from a variety of cultures, continents, religions, races, class.
there are exceptional people and exceptionally stupid ones.
namasteshanti - I am sorry you feel so negatively about the people around you -
I feel differently - I know brilliant, moral, thoughtful people in this country - alot of them - and I bet if you think about it - you do too.
I think Perhaps you are focusing on the negative.
As for traveling - a found a few bigots in Europe who didn't like me because I was American, and for no other reason.
I had a French train usher wake me up, take one look at my passport and, seeing I was American, promptly threw me out at the next stop at 4am.
But for the MOST part people take you as an individuel, and if YOU are not ignorant, or YOU are not obnoxious - then they will treat you with respect.
It will only be a petty person who will judge you for the country you come from instead of the person you are - and petty people aren't worth nowing.
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Cherrie
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Re: what do you think of americans?
May 11, 2006 - 01:28 AM
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luke, that is AWEFUL about the train! That is unbelievable! I hope it was an isolated incident?
rschack, nicely put!
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Jon Sato
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Re: what do you think of americans?
May 12, 2006 - 02:00 AM
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Originally posted by luke
namasteshanti - I am sorry you feel so negatively about the people around you -
I think Perhaps you are focusing on the negative.
That's an interesting statement. I think that some tend to disregard negatives of their own country, but are happy to talk about the negatives of other countries. You may find some examples on these discussion boards.
What do you think?
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Ajay Kamalakaran
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Re: what do you think of americans?
May 13, 2006 - 02:01 AM
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Originally posted by jsato
[that's an interesting statement. I think that some tend to disregard negatives of their own country, but are happy to talk about the negatives of other countries. You may find some examples on these discussion boards.
What do you think?[/B]
That was Absolutely priceless!
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Janelle
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Re: what do you think of americans?
May 13, 2006 - 02:12 AM
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Well, I'm from "North America", or so we are called. Canada, anyway..
I don't judge the U.S. or anything and I'm generally OK with your country, but when I went to visit family down there, I stepped out of the car and immediately 3 people 'flipped me off'. :S I was wearing a 'Canada, EH?" shirt... does America not take kindly to us or something?
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A. Tsang
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Re: what do you think of americans?
May 20, 2006 - 11:35 PM
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boyleprep2-phs-lala wrote:
I wonder what forienigers think of americans. I remember when i went to Europe, a lot of people didn't like the americans for stuff that we were doing to iraq. In Europe they tried to stop buying stuff from america like for example,ciggerates.
Im not an American, but i do live in the United States and i was born here, but i dont see any harm in Americans at all. I would like to know what your opinions are about liking Americans. I would like to hear from you soon...
<lucile>
May b u should go to Asia cos a lot of Asian admire & obsess with American's life style & freedom.
At some stage, Chinese love Americans because they nuke the Japanese.
Many Asian oso dislike the War on Iraq but I don't think they will give u a smack on ur face because of that.
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A. Tsang
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Re: what do you think of americans?
May 20, 2006 - 11:38 PM
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luke wrote:
There are 300,000,000 American roughly - stereotyping them is the same as stereotyping anyone else...
V r not alone, even Chinese r being stereotype
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A. Tsang
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Re: what do you think of americans?
May 21, 2006 - 06:43 AM
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boyleprep2-phs-lala wrote:
I wonder what forienigers think of americans. I remember when i went to Europe, a lot of people didn't like the americans for stuff that we were doing to iraq. In Europe they tried to stop buying stuff from america like for example,ciggerates.
Im not an American, but i do live in the United States and i was born here, but i dont see any harm in Americans at all. I would like to know what your opinions are about liking Americans. I would like to hear from you soon...
<lucile>
I heard a joke in NZ, as follows:
How would u call a person who knows 3 languages? Trilingual
How would u call a person who knows 2 languages? Bilingual
How would u call a person who knows only 1 language? American
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Becky
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Re: what do you think of americans?
May 21, 2006 - 10:17 PM
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Unfortunately, cheetiah's stereotypic joke is probably mostly correct. As a US citizen, I don't make any claim to speak as a representative of my country but I can at least give my thoughts. I think that this joke highlights a large weakness in our US social system. Obviously US citizens are not born with inclination towards cultural isolation/superiority, as the lack of multilingual Americans might attest. However, this idea is fostered in many aspects of the society, starting with the education system. Working as school social worker for a small school district I can report that schools, at least in Michigan where I live, are so inadquately underfunded that many are forced to eliminate foreign language instruction to be able to afford basic instruction in reading, math, science and writing. Without teaching of foreign language in schools, few people are going to be able to learn another language with their own resources or initiative. Unlike educational systems in many other countries around the world where children start learning a second language quite early (and subsequently learn they are part of a greater world community), even in well-funded districts language instruction may not begin until high school if at all. When I studied in France, my American friends and I noticed that even the homeless people we met spoke more languages than the average educated American. It was a laughable point in its pathetic commentary on the US educational system.
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noor said
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un fair
June 22, 2006 - 11:33 AM
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it's not about where u come from it's about who you are and what do you feel. so we can't say that we hate or love americans coz people are different and they'll always be. you can hate a person but you can't hate a population coz that just judging with ur eyes closed. that's what I think. and u can't hate americans just because of their presedent. it's unfair.
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