Anti-Americanism on NationStates

[All of the good names are taken]

One of the things I have noticed on the NS forums is that anti-americanism seems to be very rampant. I have seen a lot of posters post things like "I hate America" and "Americans are crazy". And in addition to that I saw a poll on a thread about what people think the worst thing about America is and most people selected the option that the problem is the Americans. I don't understand why there is all of this America bashing here. The United States is the greatest country there is. Most other free nations based their constitutions off ours, if it wasn't for us then it is very likely that most or all of Europe and Asia would be under the control of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan. It was American humanitarian aid that helped put Europe back on it's feet after the war. We are also the ones that thwarted North Koreas attempt to conquer South Korea. We are the ones who led the free world to victory in the Cold War. When it comes to giving aid to other countries in need it is America that is the most generous. We give several times more humanitarian aid and money to poor nations than any other country. We have the third largest population, third largest land area, largest economy, and the most powerful military. I admit that America does have it's flaws but as President William Clinton said "there is nothing wrong in America that can't be fixed with what is right in America". Every country has it's flaws and home countries of these anti-americans atre surely no exception. So tell me this. Why is anti-americanism so rampant here?

[Genivaria]

Paragraphs are your friend.

[Farnhamia]

One of the things I have noticed on the NS forums is that anti-americanism seems to be very rampant. I have seen a lot of posters post things like "I hate America" and "Americans are crazy". And in addition to that I saw a poll on a thread about what people think the worst thing about America is and most people selected the option that the problem is the Americans. I don't understand why there is all of this America bashing here. The United States is the greatest country there is. Most other free nations based their constitutions off ours, if it wasn't for us then it is very likely that most or all of Europe and Asia would be under the control of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan. It was American humanitarian aid that helped put Europe back on it's feet after the war. We are also the ones that thwarted North Koreas attempt to conquer South Korea. We are the ones who led the free world to victory in the Cold War. When it comes to giving aid to other countries in need it is America that is the most generous. We give several times more humanitarian aid and money to poor nations than any other country. We have the third largest population, third largest land area, largest economy, and the most powerful military. I admit that America does have it's flaws but as President William Clinton said "there is nothing wrong in America that can't be fixed with what is right in America". Every country has it's flaws and home countries of these anti-americans atre surely no exception. So tell me this. Why is anti-americanism so rampant here?

And it's posts like this that throw fuel on the anti-American fire you complain of. Yeah, our brothers and sisters in NSG can sometimes be a bit down on the US and yeah, it gets annoying. When that happens, you type up a big long rant with no paragraphs or anything and then you don't post it, because doing so serves nothing.

A word to the wise is sufficient, and yes, I am an American.

[Blazedtown]

The Anti-American sentiment here is probably what turned me into such a frothing Nationalist in the first place.

[Ovisterra]

The one thing that annoys me more than America bashing is America bashing bashing. *sigh*

I'm now going to sift through the OP and highlight the bits that annoy me. If I ignore something, it's because I don't have a problem with it.

The United States is the greatest country there is

This is the kind of pretentious attitude that pisses people off. Being proud of your country is fair enough. Claiming to be better than everyone else is going to annoy people, and quite rightly.

Most other free nations based their constitutions off ours,

Source?

Also, define "free nation".

We are also the ones that thwarted North Koreas attempt to conquer South Korea.

No, you were part of it.

We are the ones who led the free world to victory in the Cold War.

Free world? Victory? Don't try to pretend it was some sort of glorious win. You sat there until a broken system imploded.

When it comes to giving aid to other countries in need it is America that is the most generous. We give several times more humanitarian aid and money to poor nations than any other country.

Source?

We have the third largest population, third largest land area,

Neither of those are things you can legitimately be proud of.

largest economy,

In terms of GDP? Maybe, but that's because you're big. In terms of GDP per capita? Not even slightly.

and the most powerful military.

ITG alert.

Also, define "most powerful".

[Samuraikoku]

Who is Anti-American?

I am a Real American (TM).

[Blazedtown]

Who is Anti-American?

I am a Real American (TM).

That just became my new theme song. Thank you.

[Priory Academy USSR]

One of the things I have noticed on the NS forums is that anti-americanism seems to be very rampant. I have seen a lot of posters post things like "I hate America" and "Americans are crazy". And in addition to that I saw a poll on a thread about what people think the worst thing about America is and most people selected the option that the problem is the Americans. I don't understand why there is all of this America bashing here. The United States is the greatest country there is. Most other free nations based their constitutions off ours, if it wasn't for us then it is very likely that most or all of Europe and Asia would be under the control of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan. It was American humanitarian aid that helped put Europe back on it's feet after the war. We are also the ones that thwarted North Koreas attempt to conquer South Korea. We are the ones who led the free world to victory in the Cold War. When it comes to giving aid to other countries in need it is America that is the most generous. We give several times more humanitarian aid and money to poor nations than any other country. We have the third largest population, third largest land area, largest economy, and the most powerful military. I admit that America does have it's flaws but as President William Clinton said "there is nothing wrong in America that can't be fixed with what is right in America". Every country has it's flaws and home countries of these anti-americans atre surely no exception. So tell me this. Why is anti-americanism so rampant here?

America is the greatest nation at the moment, not ever.
America based their Constitution on England's laws like the Magna Carta, so basically most constitutions are based off the English one.
You don't pay back humanitarian aid. America wanted us to have money so we could spend it on their products. Clever, but not particularly great.
America is the most generous to charity because it has the biggest economy. Obvious, really. If they didn't, I'd be shocked.
Just because America is powerful doesn't mean people can't criticise it.

[Norsklow]

Who is Anti-American?

I am a Real American (TM).

I think I recall the Hulkster doing that in Wrestlemania 3. Still alive? Unlike Andre the Giant? Oh well. Hope for me yet.

[Samuraikoku]

Who is Anti-American?

I am a Real American (TM).

That just became my new theme song. Thank you.

I like WCW one better - even if it's a ripoff, but still.

[Des-Bal]

Haters gonna hate.

[Nadkor]

I don't understand why there is all of this America bashing here. The United States is the greatest country there is.

The latter sentence neatly illustrates one of the answers to the former.

When it comes to giving aid to other countries in need it is America that is the most generous. We give several times more humanitarian aid and money to poor nations than any other country.

The UN recommends that countries give 0.7% of their GNI in foreign aid. The US gives 0.21%. Several countries (18, 16 of which are European with the other two being Australia and New Zealand) are more generous than the United States.



In absolute terms the aid given by European countries dwarfs that given by the US.

Even just taking Germany, France, and the UK (the top three European countries in absolute terms) their combined development aid in 2009 came to $35.91 billion (for a population of around 209 million). The US aid for the same year was $28.67 billion (for a population of around 314 million).

Let's look solely at, say, France.

France has a population of about 65 million. In 2009 it gave $12.43 billion in foreign aid. This works out at around $191 per person.

The same figure for the US is around $91.

The combined total for the EU countries listed in the top 23 is around $67 billion, for a population of around 400 million. Compared with $35.91 billion for the USA, population around 314 million.

Your claim is false. In no measurable way is the US more generous than any other country. In fact, it is significantly less generous than many countries.

[New Rogernomics]

Actually you'll find that the most Anti-Americans are in fact American: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noam_Chomsky

Chomsky has received death threats because of his criticisms of U.S. foreign policy.[60] He was also on a list of planned targets created by Theodore Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber; during the period that Kaczynski was at large, Chomsky had all of his mail checked for explosives.[60] He states that he often receives undercover police protection, in particular while on the MIT campus, although he does not agree with the police protection.[60]

As for the rest, there is legitimate criticism of the government and then there is Anti-Americanism driven to the point of paranoia i.e.like Alex Jones.

Then this style of Anti-Americanism: http://www.cs.princeton.edu/~chazelle/p ... ntiam.html

Paul Johnson got it partly right; a quarter right to be precise. Anti-Americanism is, indeed, a disease that targets neurotic intellectuals and Europeans wary of US lifestyle. But it is also an immune reaction—if sometimes overblown—to a US foreign policy that too often confuses self-interest with benevolence; subservience with democracy; meaning well with doing good. It is, too, a growing skepticism toward the image—burnished in the Bush years—of a shallow, violent society projecting its insecurities onto the world. The fourth part of the anti-American edifice is its imaginary wing. Henry James once observed that Americans are "the most addicted to the belief that the other nations of the earth are in a conspiracy to under-value them." Once the last anti-American has departed this earth (don't hold your breath), rest assured that anti-Americanism of the imaginary sort will still thrive; for it is, courtesy of the paranoid style, a self-sustaining life form.

The life form acts as a multiplier: paranoia that influences policy that fuels anti-Americanism. It has been rumored that Evangelical Christians—many of them devout followers of the commandment Thou shalt be paranoid with Jesus —have guided President Bush in our hour of darkness. On the face of it, a flashlight might have worked better. The insufferable self-righteousness oozing out of every pore of the Bush White House has had a way of translating into disastrous policy. It will be the main challenge for future presidents to reverse this course. As Raymond Aron once remarked to a German friend, "The 20th century could have been your century." Collective paranoia helping, it was not to be. A hundred years from now, will we Americans hear from our friends, "This could have been your century"? If we do, at least we'll know why.

So there are lots of influences of it here, most of it in good humour, the small minority conspiracy and the rest genuine America bashing.

[The Stormcloak Rebels]

Doesn't matter.

I would've messed everything up no matter WHICH country I was born in.

[Goodclark]

I am an American, but I don't think I'm better or superior to anybody else. It's just annoying on how people generalize about Americans, I don't generalize about any other country.

[San Leggera]

I wouldn't say people are anti-american here. One of the things you said people here do (saying all Americans are crazy) would get them warned for trolling, and as such is against the site's rules.

Who is Anti-American?

I am a Real American (TM).

De-de-de-doo-DE-DE-DE-DOO

[Acro]

yes, im an american and i cant stand us, we are racist(generalization their are many non-racist people here) arrogant (usually) and war hungry(usually)

[Balkan Communities]

The main reason is that there is a lot of non-Americans on the forum, and a huge number of non-Americans damn well has a right to be pissed off at the US.

[Samuraikoku]

The main reason is that there is a lot of non-Americans on the forum, and a huge number of non-Americans damn well has a right to be pissed off at the US.

I'm not American (Argentina). I'm not pissed at the U.S.

Why would I? They've done nothing to me.

[Balkan Communities]

The main reason is that there is a lot of non-Americans on the forum, and a huge number of non-Americans damn well has a right to be pissed off at the US.

I'm not American (Argentina). I'm not pissed at the U.S.

Why would I? They've done nothing to me.

To you, they haven't. To some, they have. I never said that all non-Americans have a reason to hate the US.

[Goodclark]

When the United States butts in on somebodies business all of the other countries are like "OMG! AMERICA NEEDS TO BUTT OUT!". But when America minds their own business other countries are like " WHY ISN'T AMERICA DOING ANYTHING? GEEZ THEY AREN'T A VERY GOOD WORLD POWER!!!". It is impossible for us to please people.

[Risottia]

I don't understand why there is all of this America bashing here.

Let's see, taking your post as the stereotypical American rant.
Yes, I'm aware that not all Americans are like AOTGNAT.

The United States is the greatest country there is.

Why? Answer 1. Pride and arrogance.

Most other free nations based their constitutions off ours,

Way to forget Britain and France. And, taking a peep at post Cold-War Europe, Italy also.

if it wasn't for us then it is very likely that most or all of Europe and Asia would be under the control of Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan.

That, of course, if the largest empire ever (Britain) and the largest single country ever (CCCP) had nothing to object, actually.

It was American humanitarian aid that helped put Europe back on it's feet after the war.

True that: for France, Italy, BeNeLux, Denmark, Greece and Western Germany (idk about Austria, Norway, Finland and Britain, actually; might be).
As for Spain and Portugal, the US sided quite happily with the local fascist dictators Franco and Salazar - just like the US had no objection in the former Fascist and Nazi generals taking back their places in the armies of Italy and BRD. As for Yugoslavia, DDR, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Albania... sadly the ERP had the de facto condition of joining US and UK in their anti-Soviet stance.
So, basically, the US "humanitarian" aid was repaid by most of Western Europe becoming basically subservient to the US.

We are also the ones that thwarted North Koreas attempt to conquer South Korea.

Funny, I thought it was the United Nations.

We are the ones who led the free world to victory in the Cold War.

Funny, I thought it was the mostly the citizens of the DDR, Poland, Czechoslovakia and Soviet Union who made their own bloc collapse because they were fed with it - with the help of unknown people like Gorbachev, Kohl, the Hungarian CP, Havel, Walesa...

So, answer 2. "Forgetting" things and trying to rewrite history might be another reason.

When it comes to giving aid to other countries in need it is America that is the most generous. We give several times more humanitarian aid and money to poor nations than any other country. We have the third largest population, third largest land area, largest economy, and the most powerful military.

May that being the biggest economy and the third most populated country allows the US to give more? Although I'd love to see
a) sources for figures
b) sources for figures about the aid given per capita, adjusted by PPP.
Also, little price to pay to stay permanently in the Security Council, with veto power.

So, reason #3 may be feigning "humanitarian" purposes, when they look quite more like means to an end.

I admit that America does have it's flaws but as President William Clinton said "there is nothing wrong in America that can't be fixed with what is right in America".

Then do so. We'll wait until you have and then we'll discuss again about US being the best country around.

Every country has it's flaws and home countries of these anti-americans atre surely no exception.

"It's"? "Atre"?
And by the way you're assuming that "anti-American" = "pro-some other country". Which is quite an unwarranted assumption.

So tell me this. Why is anti-americanism so rampant here?

Because of trolls like you, who give America and Americans a bad reputation.

[Priory Academy USSR]

When the United States butts in on somebodies business all of the other countries are like "OMG! AMERICA NEEDS TO BUTT OUT!". But when America minds their own business other countries are like " WHY ISN'T AMERICA DOING ANYTHING? GEEZ THEY AREN'T A VERY GOOD WORLD POWER!!!". It is impossible for us to please people.

Give me one example of people wanting America to do something in a foreign country (Other than give humanitarian aid).

[Nadkor]

When the United States butts in on somebodies business all of the other countries are like "OMG! AMERICA NEEDS TO BUTT OUT!". But when America minds their own business other countries are like " WHY ISN'T AMERICA DOING ANYTHING? GEEZ THEY AREN'T A VERY GOOD WORLD POWER!!!". It is impossible for us to please people.

It's just annoying on how people generalize about Americans, I don't generalize about any other country.

Hmm

[Vareiln]

When the United States butts in on somebodies business all of the other countries are like "OMG! AMERICA NEEDS TO BUTT OUT!". But when America minds their own business other countries are like " WHY ISN'T AMERICA DOING ANYTHING? GEEZ THEY AREN'T A VERY GOOD WORLD POWER!!!". It is impossible for us to please people.

You know, I think I'm starting to see why there's anti-Americanism. Because some Americans apparently can't tell the difference between recklessly invading a country and, say, giving foreign aid, or stopping genocide, or something like that.