Anti-Americanism on NationStates

[Xlanar]

I think you just answered you own question.
As a fellow American, I have to warn you, writing a whole post about why the US is better then everyone else does not go very well with others.

It is possible to love your country without putting down other's.

In reading the OP, did I miss something? I never saw him insult another country. He just generally noted some of America's finest moments internationally.

I think its very much implied in the OP.

[North Calaveras]

In reading the OP, did I miss something? I never saw him insult another country. He just generally noted some of America's finest moments internationally.

I think its very much implied in the OP.

implied doesn't really count, solid evidence is required. Else I could say that all the anti-israeli threads are just people hating jews. Not saying you believe that, just saying.

[Socialdemokraterne]

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

American Exceptionalism is very, very irritating. Imagine someone in your workplace who insists that they're better than you at everything, and that you should try as hard as you can to be as much like them as possible. Would you like that person? Now imagine that the workplace is the world, and every person in it is a country. What's the difference in your opinion of that person now that they're a country?

Most other free nations based their constitutions off ours

...do the words Magna Carta ring a bell? That was part of the inspiration for the US federal constitution.

...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's the way the US tells the story, anyway. The US was an important participant in the second world war, and especially in the Pacific theater, but it's not like Uncle Sam flew in on a Pegasus and slew the Axis with one swing of his almighty blade. As it turns out, as far as the European theater is concerned the CCCP and Britain kinda...sorta...helped defeat Italy and Germany. A lot. By which I mean a whole hell of a lot, especially the Red Army.

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

Finland seems to disagree that it owes a debt of gratitude for the Marshall Plan. As a matter of fact, a historically-inclined Finn might be quick to point out that not only did their country not benefit from the Marshall Plan, but the CCCP extracted reparations from them because of their co-belligerent status with Germany. And may I remind you that they entered that co-belligerent status primarily because the Soviets invaded them in 1939?!!!

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

...what led up to that conflict? Why were there two Koreas in the first place? Do you know? Hmmm?

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

This one's so wrong it's not even worth correcting.

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.

No, actually that's not true. The US gives the most in absolute terms, but not as a percentage of its gross national income. Here, I'll prove it with figures from 2011:

Top for Total Developmental Aid: USA (30,745 million USD)
Top for Developmental Aid as % of Gross National Income: Sweden (1.02%)
USA Developmental Aid as % of Gross National Income: 0.2%

http://webnet.oecd.org/oda2011/

Luke 21:1-4 feels relevant somehow:

As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

We have the third largest population, third largest land area, largest economy, and the most powerful military.

So I should respect the Russian Federation more because it has a larger land area? Didn't we abandon the notion of land holdings as markers of wealth and status as feudalism went out the door? And favoring guns over butter isn't universally considered a proper way to run an economy.

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?

Frankly I think the US is great and worth having around despite its flaws. You've just made a very bad case for it here. Ignoring historical context (and in some places outright revising it) and declaring the US to be the de facto "greatest country on the planet" isn't exactly the way to win friends.

[French West Indies]

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?

the american constitution was actually based on the british constitution and the way political voting is done is based on the Australian way. conflicts that have been started by america has always ended terribly and most aren't needed (i.e Iraq. all they wanted was oil but claimed they were looking for WMDs. America, you have stuffed up. you were never and never will be the best country in the world. your freedom is corrupted. your healthcare is terrible. and your politics are terrible. you have failed.

[North Calaveras]

French West where are you from?

[Ui Failghe]

I hate America

[Verus Pondera]

I appologize in advance for posting perhaps one too many quotes from the same author & graphic novel, but I couldn't help revisit The Watchmen after reading these posts...

That's not anybodies mentality you don't kill people to save them you kill them to save other people. "Kill the bad guys" is a surprisingly versatile solution.

“Nothing's that simple, not even things that are simply awful.”

But who are the bad guys? Should we wipe out humanity to keep it from wiping out parts of humanity?

“They say we have we created the man to end all wars; I say we have created a man to end all worlds.”


“It is the oldest ironies that are still the most satisfying: man, when preparing for bloody war, will orate loudly and most eloquently in the name of peace.”

[Socialdemokraterne]

I hate America

Want to give a why, maybe? I just launched quite a bit of criticism at the US, but I'm far from hating it.

[Jetan]

Americans like the OP are what causes the anti-Americanism. Americans like Nansurium

I'm very proud to be an American citizen. And I do believe that I come from an exceptional country. But that doesn't mean I look down my nose at everyone else. I try to respect the unique culture and heritage of other people and other places. I also understand that my country does have some flaws. The tendency to involve ourselves in the affairs of other nations that has developed over the past 100 years is one notable example.

are what mends it.

Keeping in mind that the Europe and only Europe is responsible for the present state of Africa? They imperialized it they can fix it.

Hogwash. Europeans certainly did the ground work for Africa's current plight, but people like Mugabe are who built on that foundation.

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

(idk about Austria, Norway, Finland and Britain, actually; might be).

Finland never received Marshall-aid. It was offered, but couldn't be accepted due to Soviet pressure. Edit: Socialdemokraterne beat me to it.

[Xlanar]

I think its very much implied in the OP.

implied doesn't really count, solid evidence is required. Else I could say that all the anti-israeli threads are just people hating jews. Not saying you believe that, just saying.

I agree, but I see what Wombats is getting at. But saying that America is the single reason why WWII wasn't won by the axis is sure to get peoples goats.Not exactly a direct insult, but claiming the other countries had no role in it is kind of offensive. It was a group effort, if one of the Allies wasn't there it very well could have been a defeat.

[New Rogernomics]

I hate America

Why hate any nation?

[North Calaveras]

implied doesn't really count, solid evidence is required. Else I could say that all the anti-israeli threads are just people hating jews. Not saying you believe that, just saying.

I agree, but I see what Wombats is getting at. But saying that America is the single reason why WWII wasn't won by the axis is sure to get peoples goats.Not exactly a direct insult, but claiming the other countries had no role in it is kind of offensive. It was a group effort, if one of the Allies wasn't there it very well could have been a defeat.

agreed, but I will say a lot of criticism is bullshit and this whole idea that americans are super patriotic is not true whatsoever.

[Ifreann]

I hate America

Why hate any nation?

Jealousy over their Freedom™. Pay attention.

[New Rogernomics]

Why hate any nation?

Jealousy over their Freedom™. Pay attention.

But New Zealand is more free than America:

Political and economic rankings

New Zealand is one of the least corrupt countries, according to Transparency International
Ease Of Doing Business Index, ranked 2nd overall in 2008 out of 181 countries, 1st in the sub-category of Starting A Business.[1]
Political freedom ratings – Free; political rights and civil liberties both rated 1 (the highest score available)
Press freedom – Ranked 8th for press freedom at 1.50.[2]
Global Peace Index – 2nd at 1.279[4]
Corruption – Least corrupt, at 9.4 on Corruption Perceptions Index[5]
Economic Freedom – 4th freest, at 82.1 on Index of Economic Freedom, and 3rd, at 8.28 on Economic Freedom of the World index
Failed States Index, 172/177, being one of the few "sustainable" states in the world.[6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internatio ... ew_Zealand

[French West Indies]

French West where are you from?

I'm from Australia and I'm not going to go around favouring Australia. its just that america is a failure to themselves and to the world.

[Ifreann]

Jealousy over their Freedom™. Pay attention.

But New Zealand is more free than America:

Political and economic rankings

New Zealand is one of the least corrupt countries, according to Transparency International
Ease Of Doing Business Index, ranked 2nd overall in 2008 out of 181 countries, 1st in the sub-category of Starting A Business.[1]
Political freedom ratings – Free; political rights and civil liberties both rated 1 (the highest score available)
Press freedom – Ranked 8th for press freedom at 1.50.[2]
Global Peace Index – 2nd at 1.279[4]
Corruption – Least corrupt, at 9.4 on Corruption Perceptions Index[5]
Economic Freedom – 4th freest, at 82.1 on Index of Economic Freedom, and 3rd, at 8.28 on Economic Freedom of the World index
Failed States Index, 172/177, being one of the few "sustainable" states in the world.[6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internatio ... ew_Zealand

But they don't have Freedom™, a product available exclusively to Real Americans™ in America.

[New Rogernomics]

But New Zealand is more free than America:

Political and economic rankings

New Zealand is one of the least corrupt countries, according to Transparency International
Ease Of Doing Business Index, ranked 2nd overall in 2008 out of 181 countries, 1st in the sub-category of Starting A Business.[1]
Political freedom ratings – Free; political rights and civil liberties both rated 1 (the highest score available)
Press freedom – Ranked 8th for press freedom at 1.50.[2]
Global Peace Index – 2nd at 1.279[4]
Corruption – Least corrupt, at 9.4 on Corruption Perceptions Index[5]
Economic Freedom – 4th freest, at 82.1 on Index of Economic Freedom, and 3rd, at 8.28 on Economic Freedom of the World index
Failed States Index, 172/177, being one of the few "sustainable" states in the world.[6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internatio ... ew_Zealand

But they don't have Freedom™, a product available exclusively to Real Americans™ in America.

I see, that explains everything.

[The Nuclear Fist]

But they don't have Freedom™, a product available exclusively to Real Americans™ in America.

I prefer Freedom Light™. It has less cholesterol.

[Samuraikoku]

But they don't have Freedom™, a product available exclusively to Real Americans™ in America.

New Zealand doesn't have Real Americans™, but they have the Bushwhackers.

[New Rogernomics]

But they don't have Freedom™, a product available exclusively to Real Americans™ in America.

New Zealand doesn't have Real Americans™, but they have the Bushwhackers.

Actually we do, many call themselves political refugees from the Bush Era.

American New Zealanders are people who have migrated from the United States to New Zealand, and their descendants, if they choose to identify as such. American New Zealanders constitute a small minority of New Zealand's population. In the 2006 census in New Zealand, when asked to indicate their ethnic identity, 10,806 New Zealanders described themselves as "American", and 17,751 stated they were born in the United States.[1] This marks a sizeable increase, in proportional terms, from the 8,451 US-born New Zealanders in 1991.[2] In 2006, there were also 489 persons born in American Samoa and living in New Zealand.[3]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_New_Zealander

[Stychia]

Americans have done a lot of good for Europe, and that's why Europe thinks of America as a friend. First the US helped in defeating Germany in the First World War, and when the Brits and French made a horribly bad peace treaty ultimately leading to a second war, the Americans helped out again securing that the Soviet forces wouldn't advance beyond East Germany. US even gave money for rebuilding, too. Then, additionally the Americans fought in Korea to prevent millions of South Koreans from sharing the same fate as millions of their northern neighbours.

There's so much to be grateful for that you would think every European thinks America is the greatest country in the world.

So I think that it really does say something about USA's past actions that America hating is such a common trend in Europe.

[Kandorith]

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.

Erm no... most likely Soviet rule.... It's not "Just you" who beat Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.
Japan never had the intention of Attacking the European mainland, they achieved a large part of their goal; freeing the pacific of colonial powers. Because almost every colony collapsed during and immediately after the Second World War.

Most of the "Anti-Americanism" comes exactly from such words, "WE SAVED EUROPE KK?!" because it's only half true, if not for only 25% as the Brits fending off the invasion is what saved Europe ultimately, if Britain had surrendered... Europe would have been done for.

"Anti-Americanism" as you call it is because the US is -everywhere- especially in Europe... the papers: US this, US that, BUT THE US.... People are growing tired of it, it's not anti-Americanism as you call it, it's just annoyance.

And people who go "OMG I HATE EMERIKUH SO MUCH" on forums like this, are just attention seekers, trying to lure reactions.


I myself am not a great fan of the USA, especially not when I look at my family history and what happened to them... but that's another topic...
I would still like to visit the USA, meet the local people, because bashing people you don't know is just plain ignorance... and there's arseholes everywhere, not just in the USA.

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.

Ooh really? If you don't understand where Anti-Americanism comes from now.... I have no more faith in you... because that statement is just.... laughable.

[Suel]

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?

because of ignorant american who start thread like this. Makes us forget about the eloquent well read ones on here

[Zaras]

Most of the "Anti-Americanism" comes exactly from such words, "WE SAVED EUROPE KK?!" because it's only half true, if not for only 25% as the Brits fending off the invasion is what saved Europe ultimately, if Britain had surrendered... Europe would have been done for.

Funny how you're raking OP over the coals for fucking up WW2 but forgetting that the Soviet Union played a bloody huge role in the victory.

[Kandorith]

Most of the "Anti-Americanism" comes exactly from such words, "WE SAVED EUROPE KK?!" because it's only half true, if not for only 25% as the Brits fending off the invasion is what saved Europe ultimately, if Britain had surrendered... Europe would have been done for.

Funny how you're raking OP over the coals for fucking up WW2 but forgetting that the Soviet Union played a bloody huge role in the victory.

Obviously you didn't read my post, as it does credit the Soviets....