How the Rest of the World Views the United States

[YSSMAN]

I'm currently in the process of constructing a research paper for a writing class here at Aquinas College, and I need some help. I have to attempt to define a myth about America, and I have chosen to talk about how the rest of the world views the United States and the citizens that live in it. I'm hoping to appeal to Europeans, Australians, Asians, etc. in this situation, as your input would greatly help my paper with some first hand expirience.

- When you think of Americans, what do you picture in your mind?
- Why do you think of Americans that way?
- The phrase "I like Americans, but not the American Government" is said a lot. Does that still apply in your situation?
- Any other comments about America/Americans in general?

Be as positive or as negative as you like. I may not use all of the opinions, but I would love to get your imput.

Thank you,
YSSMAN

 

[Keef]

Wouldn't it be helpful if everyone told where they were from, their age, even their ethnicity? I think ethnicity has more influence on foreign peoples' opinions than anything else. Many times, especially in America, the media is also a big influence on the publics' opinions. Sometimes the government directly or indirectly tells people what to believe.
Be serious, truthful, and explain yourselves. Real quotes look fancy in research papers. I'm also very interested in this idea, and I wouldn't mind some real opinions, rather than what is said on the news.
With that said, I'm plenty American, so my thoughts are irrelevant.

 

[Div is back]

I'm from Quebec, Canada.

I speak french, and I think that most American tourists, which are rather...rich, are arrogant and ...very proud.

Personnaly, when I go to another country, I atleast try to learn a few key sentences, but no, the Americans just come here, speak only english.

They can't even say , Merci, Bonjour, Au revoir.

It's what irritates me the most, it's a rather general judgement and I know not all americans are like that, but most american rich tourists are like that.

These people give the USA a bad image in many countries, they are the ambassadors of USA in some sort and they don't send the right message to other nations.

 

[Keef]

American might as well be a religion or a race, because most of us think about the world quite differently than people that are actually from "the world". See, I did it right there. You can't argue that English it the language of business, though. That's just the way that works, sort of how the American Dollar is the most common money used in international business and government transactions.
You will hear all the time in America "If they live here, they better speak English!" I think if anyone lives anywhere they should have a good hold on the native language. America is large and fairly self-sufficient, so we never really have to go to other countries, and only so many people want to. So we never learn foreign languages. I didn't start German until 9th grade, but you, Div, probably started English classes in elementary school. Why? Why can't we Americans take Francais, Espanol, Deustch (the three most common), or, err, #####(Chinese ) as a child for use as a second language? I don't know. It's some psychological thing--I think it's Uber-Military Syndrome. Seriously.
The only country I really have a desire to go to, besides Canada (I've been to Windsor a few times, crappy place), is Germany. Mainly because I've had experience with the language. I'd feel bad taking advantage of others' ability to speak my language and my ignorance of theirs. I understand perfectly why tourists would annoy anybody, we get it too, but I don't understand why Americans, including me and YSSMAN, are so stubborn when it comes to foreign language.

 

[Delirious]

America just like any other country has its pros and cons...

I don't believe there can be a utopia until something extremely drastic occurs...

Who says one country is better than another, and what do they base it on?

I like America, I think it's a great country, but it is still far from perfect...

But if you live in America and hate it...move out I say. Go somewhere you can be happy doing what you want. I don't like the idea of a person who hates a country changing it to what they want it to be when the majority of the people in that country like it the way it is...(generally speaking, even if I disagree on some of the things)

Some people just aren't suited for America...or America can't suit them.

 

[Keef]

Daaaaaamn, brah! Look at that babumpabump!
Come on you foreign people, we got a paper to write. Quite pussing out.

 

[Swift]

As an American, this might sound arrogant, but I don't care at all what the rest of the world thinks of us. Why? Two reasons:

1. They don't pay my taxes
2. Almost every other country in the world takes our money(trade or aid) with no problem what so ever.

So, I'm not worried about the worlds opinion.

 

[Boundary Layer]

I look down to the United States ...bad geographical joke...lets move on

I would say that by and large, on the world stage the US has to be one of the least liked contries on this earth. I don't say this to be smug about my Canadianism or anything like that - but what other reason would American tourists have for sewing maple leaf's on their luggage to recieve favourable treatment in foreign lands?

I believe your nation is percieved this way due to the foreign policies your government has adopted [not just in recent times, but in past administrations as well] - and not because the bulk of the population acts like slack jawed, beer guzzling, ignorant fools. I've known plenty of Americans [both in person and over the internet] that certainly would not fit this description.
It's the way the US interacts with the rest of the world that does it in. Basically, the US does as it pleases in the global market - and anywhere that they don't get there way is quickly visited by a few battleships and warplanes. We've all hear the term 'oil wars' before...
Similar holds true for important global issues. Take the Kyoto agreement for example...

Which brings me to the next bit: I also feel that industrial practices within your country relect negatively upon the population as a whole. The US is an overdeveloped nation - it consists of roughly 4% of the global population, but produces 25% of all harmful emissions and toxins in this world. If the entire human population consumed resources and polluted at the same rate as the US does, the world would be exhausted of the resources necessary for basic human existence within 9 months.
[this is one area where I cannot put Canada up on a pedastal - per capita we use even more energy than Americans]


That's my take on it

 

[YSSMAN]

Thanks for your help so far, I will try to incorporate it as best as possible!

If I may add something for a moment, do you think that the way Americans are portrayed on television or in your country's media has an effect on how you think, or possibly how your fellow countrymen/countrywomen think?

I know that President Bush is often refered to as a Cowboy in different parts of the world, drawing on his Texan background and general "We will do whatever the hell we want" attitude. I would presume for Canadians its a bit different (since you live just a few miles north of here), but I'm interested in how Europeans and Australians feel as well, as they are our biggest Allies (no offense Canada) in the War on Terror.

 

[Keef]

We have allies in the War on Terror? Huh. I thought they were just fighting at the same time as us, not necessarily with or along side us.

 

[Zardoz]

Two Canadian contributions so far.

Hello? I thought the Internet extended beyond North America. Guess I was wrong.

Are you afraid you might piss us off or something? Come on, you furriners, don't be afraid. We're way too busy bringing The American Way to Iraq to come and teach you all about democracy and freedom. It'll be a long time until we can get around to you.

Let us have it! Come on! We can take it!

 

[Wolfe]

Let us have it! Come on! We can take it!

Actually, a typical american can't take it. Criticism is not taken very well in this country, with the obligatory "if you don't like it then get the #$*^ out!" responses to native critics, and "why the #$*% do you care how we do things?" responses to foreign ones.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is how distrusting americans are -- for both legitimate and completely asinine reasons -- and how distrusting we are in our foreign relations...

- We lock the doors to our houses 24/7
- We build cars that automatically lock themselves every two seconds (my parents' Oldsmobile annoys the hell outta me with that)
- We feel the need to have X number of guns in our houses
- The ever-ubiquitous post-9/11 security checks at important buildings and airports waste a lot of time and effort, yet are still flawed anyway
- Minorities and poor people make us feel threatened

- When Iraq told us they didn't have any WMDs, we stormed on in anyway, and have yet to find them.

 

[Casio]

Hey look! It's a non North American/European poster! *shock horror*. I'm even an ally in the war on Iraq, sorry, I mean terror!

I view America as a very complex nation. I mean, the level of security seems to be enormous. The President can not go anywhere without a convoy of 17 armored vehicles and his own army of guards. As opposed to Australia, where our Prime Minister goes out for a walk around the block every morning....

This security is probably brought on by that ancient document giving every the right to pocess a lethal firearm. I have no idea what reason you need to have a gun in your house. For protection? Please.

We lock the doors to our houses 24/7

Stangely enough. My front door is unlocked right now. I feel more then safe, my house has never, ever been broken into in 16 years, nor has anyone elses in my street.

We build cars that automatically lock themselves every two seconds

At my work, everybody leaves their cars unlocked with the windows open. The reason? As we don't have any shade at work, so leaving a car locked with the windows locked just heats the car up to about 600C. Head to any parking lot around here? And you'll see a convertible parked with the roof down. I heard that if you do this in America, your car will be gone in about 6 minutes.

Maybe it's just Americans are highly strung? React to anything in a heartbeat, assume it's all about them? I don't know.

 

[Wolfe]

I heard that if you do this in America, your car will be gone in about 6 minutes.

That's precisely it -- that may be true for certain areas (and you'll probably be able to tell whether you're in one just by looking around ), but for many places, it's just an unfounded fear.

That isn't to say that I'm not guilty of it myself -- whenever I'm not in my car, it's locked and closed... Oh well.....

 

[Zrow]

Maybe it's just Americans are highly strung? React to anything in a heartbeat, assume it's all about them? I don't know.

I lock my doors. It's all about me.

 

[niky]

I've been thinking about whether or not to answer this, considering I am an American, by nationality. Then again, I've been living outside for over twenty five years now, so I guess I'm foreign-ized enough.

- When you think of Americans, what do you picture in your mind?

Whites. No kidding. White, middle class, two or three cars in the garage. Republican, distrustful of foreigners but not necessarily racist.

- Why do you think of Americans that way?

TV, newspapers, American programming... as it seems most US TV shows are aimed at this demographic (excluding the youth/hip-hop culture... which in some cases, is homogenized for a white audience, anyway). Internet conversations on a number of forum boards, where a lot of mainlanders I meet are at the least, mildly conservative.

- The phrase "I like Americans, but not the American Government" is said a lot. Does that still apply in your situation?

Sometimes. I do like myself. I don't really trust any government... but then that's an American trait.

But realistically, I have mixed views about "Americans" in general. It often shocks me how little grasp of international politics and outside cultures some have (from TV programming, convos on the internet and from meeting first time travellers from the mainland)... I.E.: "heck, if it's that way in America, why shouldn't it be that way here?!?" (wherever here is).

But Americans who travel tend to have a more liberal view once they've been outside for a while, and come to accept that the whole world ISN'T America, or doesn't revolve around it. That's why I always say that travel is good for you. The more of the world you can see, the wider your perspective.

I can't honestly respond to the "American Government" thing, as no two presidencies are ever the same. But if we're talking this one. Yes, I don't like it.

- Any other comments about America/Americans in general?

I think there are too many stereotypes about "Americans". So much so that some become bristly and defensive when you mention them. The so-called "culture of paranoia" does have some truth to it, and that contributes to the problem, as once you're critical of some part of America, you suddenly become "them" (US vs. Them, the enemy) in an American's eyes.

As Wolfe said:

Actually, a typical american can't take it. Criticism is not taken very well in this country, with the obligatory "if you don't like it then get the #$*^ out!" responses to native critics, and "why the #$*% do you care how we do things?" responses to foreign ones.

I've got an aunt whom it's taboo to discuss politics with...

This kind of attitude isn't always true of Americans whom I meet outside the country... like I said, well-traveled ones tend to be more liberal and more tolerant of other cultures. This also holds true of many Americans on the net... or at least, I like to think so.

America is the last remaining homogenous superpower with cultural, economic and military influence over its neighbors. Obviously, the world puts America under the microscope, and things that happen in America affect everyone.

...US foreign policy and military action can no longer be controlled or mitigated by the UN. On the one hand, the US can react more quickly to threats, on the other hand, diplomacy goes straight out the window if the US doesn't want to play ball...

...US Movies, TV Shows and Music influence culture and language, they deprive local entertainment industries of revenue, but they spread the use of English, helping make it the language of communication and business...

...The US consumer market is the biggest source of revenue for many exporters... the whims of US consumers can make or break a fledgling export business...

...US farm subsidies help keep international crop prices too low for indigenous farmers in other countries to make a profit...

...The US job market often attracts the best minds from other countries, this weakens the brain pool of the source countries, but pays dividends in remittances...

...US Companies invest billions in foreign countries, often uplifting the level of industry and the quality of life in countries with strong US investments...

...some US companies make some pretty shady deals, and there have been quite a number of cases where they collude with a corrupt local government in a not-so-nice way... or influence US foreign policy for short term financial gain (look up "Banana Republic" and the source of that term)...

All of these things, plus many more... make people feel they should have a say on what goes on in America, whether they actually have it or not.

 

[Wolfe]

But Americans who travel tend to have a more liberal view once they've been outside for a while, and come to accept that the whole world ISN'T America, or doesn't revolve around it. That's why I always say that travel is good for you. The more of the world you can see, the wider your perspective.

In my opinion, it isn't that travel educates people, or makes them more liberal -- it's that liberals are more willing and more likely to travel to foreign countries than conservatives...

America is the last remaining homogenous superpower with cultural, economic and military influence over its neighbors. Obviously, the world puts America under the microscope, and things that happen in America affect everyone.

...US foreign policy and military action can no longer be controlled or mitigated by the UN. On the one hand, the US can react more quickly to threats, on the other hand, diplomacy goes straight out the window if the US doesn't want to play ball...

...US Movies, TV Shows and Music influence culture and language, they deprive local entertainment industries of revenue, but they spread the use of English, helping make it the language of communication and business...

...The US consumer market is the biggest source of revenue for many exporters... the whims of US consumers can make or break a fledgling export business...

...US farm subsidies help keep international crop prices too low for indigenous farmers in other countries to make a profit...

...The US job market often attracts the best minds from other countries, this weakens the brain pool of the source countries, but pays dividends in remittances...

...US Companies invest billions in foreign countries, often uplifting the level of industry and the quality of life in countries with strong US investments...

...some US companies make some pretty shady deals, and there have been quite a number of cases where they collude with a corrupt local government in a not-so-nice way... or influence US foreign policy for short term financial gain (look up "Banana Republic" and the source of that term)...

All of these things, plus many more... make people feel they should have a say on what goes on in America, whether they actually have it or not.

👍 👍

It's scary how much power the U.S. possesses...

 

[a6m5]

I'm a Japanese citizen, but has been living in Oregon for over 18 years. Since Japan is one of the closest ally to the U.S., and on top of that, I've living here forever, my take on America is definitely biased.

- When you think of Americans, what do you picture in your mind?

Average white family, living in a suburb. Pretty much exactly what niky posted.

- Why do you think of Americans that way?

TV's, other medias. I think it's typically presented that way.

- The phrase "I like Americans, but not the American Government" is said a lot. Does that still apply in your situation?

The U.S. Government is nowhere near perfect by any means. While I'd still pick Bush over Kerry, I think Bush is screwing up, left and right. Having said those things, I still have a lot of respect for this government. You can pretty much nitpick and find things to criticize the U.S. Government all day long, but I wouldn't start comparing it to another goverment. As the only Super Power in the world, sometimes, I think it's too unique for any kind of comparison.

- Any other comments about America/Americans in general?

I do, bit more on the government. Internationally, they might not always make the popular choices, but with countries like China, Russia, N. Korea, etc. plotting against the U.S. everyday, I will be pulling for the United States on almost every time.

 

[Zardoz]

Two Canadians, Japanese citizen who's lived in the U.S. for 18 years, American national in the Phillipines, and one Aussie.

That's it so far.

Is anybody else really surprised by the lack of response? Brits at least? Hello? Do none of you have anything to say?

I don't get it.

 

[Keef]

Someone get Famine in here. Once the foreign people see that Famine posted in here last, they'll come running to see the fight.

 

[Famine]

I... don't really care. I live in the 51st State anyway - as someone once said, we try to copy the US, but make everything smaller.

How do my countrymen view the US? Well, the aggregate view is the Bush is an idiot and that anybody who voted for him is, similarly, an idiot - but we have Tony Blair, so any charges on that front are tempered by our own heinous stupidity (okay, Blair may be more erudite and could probably name the Pakistani leader before being asked it, but not knowing who Pervez Musharraf is isn't exactly an impeachable offense). It's well publicised that films occasionally have their titles changed because American preview audiences "don't understand" them (specifics are "The Madness of King George III" - where audiences asked what the first two films were like - and "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" - where audiences indicated they had no clue what a philosopher was). But for a country effectively 160 years old and looking mainly forwards you can't expect the same average level of cultural awareness of one 1,000 years old and stuck firmly in the past (though most British audiences wouldn't know what a philosopher was either, but it wouldn't occur to them). Perhaps.

There's a view that the population are fat. Again, we're not really in a position to comment on that front either. Statistics indicate that this is true, but they also indicate that we are gaining fast.

There's a view that you're a terribly insular people - but again... Hello? We actually DO live on an island and distrust most of the world - specifically the French, Germans and Scots despite living on an island WITH one of them and having not actively fought proper wars with any of them in the past 60 years. And think - just as we say of the Americans - that we are better than the rest of the world because we aren't them.


At worst I'd say that the average American citizen - as the perception is presented to me - isn't too well informed of world matters, is a little overweight, owns more than one gun, enjoys NASCAR and drives a car which gets no better than 20mpg. Then again, the average English citizen is a chav... Perhaps most of the Americans I meet (or encounter in other ways) are not the average ones..?


We tend to think of you all as being Sheriff J.W. Pepper, really. We're probably aware, having watched Friends, Seinfeld, Frasier, Cheers and so on that you aren't all like that, but whenever we think of Americans on TV we somehow zone in on Jerry Springer and Married (With Children). Hey Al...


Wow. For not caring I wrote an awful lot.

 

[niky]

👍 true Famine form.

 

[McLaren]

America just like any other country has its pros and cons...

I don't believe there can be a utopia until something extremely drastic occurs...

Who says one country is better than another, and what do they base it on?

I like America, I think it's a great country, but it is still far from perfect...

But if you live in America and hate it...move out I say. Go somewhere you can be happy doing what you want. I don't like the idea of a person who hates a country changing it to what they want it to be when the majority of the people in that country like it the way it is...(generally speaking, even if I disagree on some of the things)

Some people just aren't suited for America...or America can't suit them.

You pretty much just summed up the past acts of Muslims here in Texas.

Anyways, as an American citizen, I do NOT like to consider myself as one. I do get crap when I go to Monaco (but that's typical).
As a descendent of a Monaco family, I can give you their view on America.

They hate it...Many there feel that the Tourists there are stupid and ask many insulting questions. Many are also glad they live in a country where the average American has no chance of living, many probably never having the chance to visit.
Then again, 60% of my family there despise Americans because of the Media (which I blame partially) that shows us.
It's pretty much fact our Media sucks as showing news. It's pretty much anything bad...and rarely anything heartwarming. Any time something happens to an official, ex. Dick's accident, the media will give hell until no one cares.

But the French in Monaco are typically tolerant of Americans because 1 reason. Money. They got it, they'll want it.

The sterotype of Americans as fat***es is very true there as well. I, thankfully, have the chance to disprove it, but then again, they don't care.
The sad truth is, they love their money too much to go out and see the truth about America. They don't want to leave their riches for fear of actually being shot, fat, or anything else that America is thought of.

And of course, a "fat" American is pretty much never going to go to a Province like Monaco. The only Americans they like are rich, handsome, and fit. And that's the only type that pretty much comes.

It's hard to explain, but I'll see if I can sum it up.

They're not willing to go to see the truth, but they aren't willing to have them come to them either.

 

[Boundary Layer]

At worst I'd say that the average American citizen - as the perception is presented to me - isn't too well informed of world matters, is a little overweight, owns more than one gun, enjoys NASCAR and drives a car which gets no better than 20mpg.

That sounds about right to me.

I... don't really care. I live in the 51st State anyway - as someone once said, we try to copy the US, but make everything smaller.

That's odd, I much more commonly hear of Canada being the 51st state... 70% of our population lives within 350km of the border. And the border isnt even guarded - customs workers on the Canadian side of the border are not even armed with guns [though this may change soon, it's been a hot topic in the news this last year or two]. For the majority of that 6400km stretch there isnt even a fence erected - just a 6m clearing through the trees to separate us from them.

We're kinda like the friendly neighbour next door that is always being taken advantage of, and talks just a little funny - a Ned Flanders if you will...

 

[YSSMAN]

Well, I think its more that we "trust" Canadians than Mexicans. We dont have millions of Canadians pouring over our borders every year living in our country illegally, hence the lack of a fence. The only thing we have to worry about crossing the border from Canada is pot from British Columbia and high-flow toilets (yes, thats a BIG problem here in Michigan) from Ontario.

 

[Canadian Speed]

Well, I think its more that we "trust" Canadians than Mexicans. We dont have millions of Canadians pouring over our borders every year living in our country illegally, hence the lack of a fence. The only thing we have to worry about crossing the border from Canada is pot from British Columbia and high-flow toilets (yes, thats a BIG problem here in Michigan) from Ontario.

Well why leave health care, and apparently killer bud, for hand guns? . Okay... maybe the snow...

 

[Poverty]

When I think of america I think of big houses, cheap prices, mostly overwight people that drive chelsea tractors or yank tanks. I also think of great opportunitys that their education system. I also get a image of big class divisions.

However I find many americans pompous in the way that some of them think everything they do or have is the best and that they dont care about anyone else, or that if it doesnt apply to america they dont care and its irrelevant.

 

[el flexo]

good points about america and americans: its cheaper than the uk!
your government is alot more generous than ours, we have like the fewest holidays in the world, you have alot!
you have the best god damn names for stuff! e.g: mustang, viper, firebird magnum, charger, los angeles and so on!

bad points: your just a weeeny bit to proud! theres nout wrong with havin ur national flag outside your home but, all this ' im a god damn american' and stuff like that!

but america is cool, they gave the worlds alot o stuff

 

[Keef]

Yeah, if we Americans never went to the moon, you people wouldn't have Velcro to fiddle with!

 

[Canadian Speed]

Yeah, if we Americans never went to the moon, you people wouldn't have Velcro to fiddle with!

Actuely velcro was made by a man from Switzerland... Your welcome, I'm sure he doesn't mind if you guys clame it though...

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

Canadians made the zipper...