[budster101]

Ponder then answer, you have little choice in the matter.

[TETENAL]

Originally posted by budster101:
Why so much anti-American-isms in these boards?

Because Bush equals America.

[John Q. Smith]

Because over time, the virtues of America become vices. People like things that are different from what they are used to. People get bored of the same old thing and start to speculate about how nice it would be if America would just go away. That's why in the 80s there was a lot of talk about Germany and Japan overtaking the US, and now these days, people dream of a day when China is the major superpower. People just like the novelty of opposing the United States.

[malvolio]

Originally posted by TETENAL:
Because Bush equals America.

Thankfully, this is not (yet) a true statement.

[Spliff]

Originally posted by budster101:
Ponder then answer, you have little choice in the matter.

If you took the time to read all the posts in the War Lounge, you'd see that there are many MacNN members that give America hand jobs all the time. Don't worry, there's lots of love for American in here.

[Krusty]

"Dissent is the highest form of Patriotism"
- Thomas Jefferson

"This country, with its institutions, belongs to the people who inhabit it. Whenever they shall grow weary of the existing government, they can exercise their constitutional right of amending it, or exercise their revolutionary right to overthrow it."
- President Abraham Lincoln

"I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually."
- James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
- Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly as necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."
- President Theodore Roosevelt, 1912

[RAILhead]

[roberto blanco]

because some people are too stupid to differentiate between anti-americanism and anti-conservativism/imperialism/religio-fascism. that's why.

[Randman]

Because it's easier for people to make snippy comments than actually think and offer potential solutions.

Because the US, for better or worse, is a big target no matter where you are in the world. Look at the recent election. Name one other country where the election of a leader generates so much interest.

Because with the proliferation of Americana abroad, good and bad, many people have a feel, they think, for America by watching American movies and TV shows, shopping in American-created stores and being bombarded by American advertising, again for good or bad.

Because bitching about someone else, something else helps takes one's mind off the problems in one's own backyard/country.

Because some childish people think it's trendy and counter-culture to bash something and what better to bash than the most influential and powerful and richest nation, good and bad, the world has ever seen, including the Roman and British empires.

Because of geography, fewer Americans truly experience different cultures in their native habitats. America has many immigrants but all are adapting to the USA. People in Europe, for example, have more experience with different countries, different cultures, different languages. So, many Americans have a tunnel vision that alters their perception of the rest of the world in the reverse manner that the rest of the world perceives America. The bottomline: Many Americans abroad act like idiots because they don't know better, or because the all-mighty dollar leads to inflated wealth abroad which leads to inflated egos.

[Athens]

Originally posted by budster101:
Ponder then answer, you have little choice in the matter.

Some times comments that arnt Anti American are took that way and it becomes a bash each others country flame war.

Other times its in direct relations to stupid anti (insert country here) comments that set it off. I myself usally respond to Anti Canadian comments with Anti American, or stupid Canadian comments with Stupid American comments.

Some are jeolous

Others are to put some ppl in there place.

Overall I think most of it is misinterpiting posts that are against something the US is doing as being Anti American. Americans seem too sensitive some times. I can bash PM Martin with out other Canadians saying im Anti Canadian but when ppl Bash Bush they are Anti American.

[Taliesin]

I for one am not anti-american, I'm anti-US-foreign-policy and anti-US-terrorism, but why common people in certain regions don't make that distinction, might have to do something with this:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6947745/

Taliesin

[Agent69]

In a word: arrogance.

[ebuddy]

For the same reason a criminal may hate a cop.

A student may hate his teacher.

Your girlfriend sees another really hot girl walk into the bar and thinks to herself; "beeotch".

It's a heavy crown. Often times it's easier to drag someone else down rather than pick yourself up. It's easier to criticize every facet of someone else's policy while offering none of your own.

Other times it's because they have no idea what makes this nation successful, only seeing the travesties and injustices committed by her, while ignoring anything of our more redeeming qualities. Others still are simply being disingenuous and if offered a plane ticket to come here and live, would leap at the opportunity.

I call it the cubicle mentality. Anyone who works in an office environment may know what I mean. Sometimes drama is just more fun and makes for a shorter clock. No better way to shorten the day than to create an adversary. Someone mentioned 'boredom'. I believe they're correct on that.

As Taliesin pointed out; American soldiers and our foreign policies have left much to be desired. We are far from perfect and often times our imperialistic intentions have been exposed. That said, what many fail to realize is they too live in an imperialistic society. We live on a globe of eat or be eaten as evidenced by the one who illustrated the desire for someone else to rule the roost for a while; China.

China is in fact the next in line to attempt America's de-throne. I'm no fortune-teller and I can't tell you whether or not they're army amassed over 2 million strong will come marching through to topple us. What I can say is that I'm surprised they'd believe that China's system of governing is more desireable than democracy. Hopefully, your boredom will not be satisfied by religious persecution and intolerance, homophobia the likes of which no nation can equal, gender persecution, abusive child-labor, the most severe dichotomy of rich to poor, totalitarianism, human rights abuses the likes of which no other nation can equal, unpaid wages, no judicial system for the people, no employer standards, etc... Interesting to me how many would gladly sacrifice all it is they claim to believe is progressive, good, and fair in this world for nothing more than to see the "beeotch" gone. The largest fish or the fattest cat will always be the one to beat. America is no stranger to this prison mentality and we've prospered none the less. We will be the last empire on earth. After this, there is only international strife of Biblical proportion. Imagining a globe without America in it, I wonder if some even realize how bad this would be.

[CD Hanks]

Originally posted by ebuddy:
Imagining a globe without America in it, I wonder if some even realize how bad this would be.

An interesting point. At first mental glance, I think that while this tickles the fancy of a lot of people, the reality of such a hypothetical world would be less than desirable.

[spacefreak]

Originally posted by Agent69:
In a word: arrogance.

Confidence.

[Athens]

Originally posted by ebuddy:
Imagining a globe without America in it, I wonder if some even realize how bad this would be.

Typical American ignorance yet again. A world with out America would be very different indead, but I doubt it would be any worse then things are now. If anything I see it being a bit better.

[John Q. Smith]

Originally posted by Athens:
Typical American ignorance yet again. A world with out America would be very different indead, but I doubt it would be any worse then things are now. If anything I see it being a bit better.

the world became really quite crappy after the british empire collapsed in the 20th century. two world wars, decolonization disasters, the spread of communism into eastern europe, etc.. do you really want to see something like that happen all over again in the 21st century if america fell off?

[TETENAL]

I wouldn't call spread of communism "crappy" per se.

[charon]

Originally posted by Agent69:
In a word: arrogance.

that, and people don't know how good they have it. Just imagine living somewhere where you have NO rights.

[Timo]

Anti-americanism is very fashionable these days -- outside of the U.S., but also within certain groups in the U.S.

[thunderous_funker]

Originally posted by Timo:
Anti-americanism is very fashionable these days -- outside of the U.S., but also within certain groups in the U.S.

Yessir. Ever since I saw J-Lo wearing anti-americanism to this year's Grammy's, I knew I'd have to buy some.

[ebuddy]

Originally posted by Athens:
Typical American ignorance yet again. A world with out America would be very different indead, but I doubt it would be any worse then things are now. If anything I see it being a bit better.

Spoken like a true Canadian working for an American business.

[nredman]

people dislike american politicans - including alot of americans. they group regular americans with the politicans. they hate america but whenever they need something done for them its "where is the usa?"

just my 2 cents

[Athens]

Originally posted by John Q. Smith:
the world became really quite crappy after the british empire collapsed in the 20th century. two world wars, decolonization disasters, the spread of communism into eastern europe, etc.. do you really want to see something like that happen all over again in the 21st century if america fell off?

thats the ignorance im talking about, to think that if America fell tommorrow that the world would to to hell.

[Athens]

Originally posted by charon:
that, and people don't know how good they have it. Just imagine living somewhere where you have NO rights.

I dont have to I live in a country that I do have rights and freedoms and guess what it isnt the United States of America. I am guessing you are trying to say that any one living in a Country other then the United States have no freedoms. Well perhaps you should visit Australia, New Zealand, Canada, England, France, Germany, Netherlands to name a few.

[Athens]

Originally posted by ebuddy:
Spoken like a true Canadian working for an American business.

Actually the company I work for is owned by a Hong Kong rich dude

[Spliff]

Originally posted by Athens:
Actually the company I work for is owned by a Hong Kong rich dude

Everything in Vancouver is owned by a rich dude from Hong Kong. That's why it's sometimes called Hong Kouver.

[ThinkInsane]

Originally posted by Athens:
I dont have to I live in a country that I do have rights and freedoms and guess what it isnt the United States of America. I am guessing you are trying to say that any one living in a Country other then the United States have no freedoms. Well perhaps you should visit Australia, New Zealand, Canada, England, France, Germany, Netherlands to name a few.

Or he could be referring to the many nations in the world where you have no rights. There are plenty of them out there. It doesn't necessarily mean he was referring to every country except the US.

I could argue that you making such an ignorant assumption fits well into the 'anti-American' thing. Why else would you make such an assumption? You think all Americans are equal parts arrogant and ignorant. My granny used to say "When yo assume, you make an ass out of you and me".

[malvolio]

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
You think all Americans are equal parts arrogant and ignorant.

No, just 99.99% of the right-wingers.

[Athens]

Originally posted by Spliff:
Everything in Vancouver is owned by a rich dude from Hong Kong. That's why it's sometimes called Hong Kouver.

No its called Hong Kouver because almost 40% of the entire population is Asian

[Athens]

Originally posted by ThinkInsane:
Or he could be referring to the many nations in the world where you have no rights. There are plenty of them out there. It doesn't necessarily mean he was referring to every country except the US.

I could argue that you making such an ignorant assumption fits well into the 'anti-American' thing. Why else would you make such an assumption? You think all Americans are equal parts arrogant and ignorant. My granny used to say "When yo assume, you make an ass out of you and me".

Then I made a ass out of you and me LOL no but really most of the Anti American crap comes from posters on these bords that live in countries with freedom. Canadians, Aussies, Brits, to name a few. I don't see many people from poor third world countries posting here being Anti American well maybe mexicans but other then that almost all of it is from people who are in free countries.

[Randman]

Originally posted by malvolio:
No, just 99.99% of the right-wingers.

Right-wingers can be found everywhere.

[Athens]

Originally posted by Randman:
Right-wingers can be found everywhere.

im not a right-winger, im mixed on left and right depending on the issue. Basically a middle man.

[malvolio]

Originally posted by Randman:
Right-wingers can be found everywhere.

And no matter what their nationality, 99.99% of them are arrogant and ignorant.

[Athens]

Originally posted by malvolio:
And no matter what their nationality, 99.99% of them are arrogant and ignorant.

Just like all the lefties

[chalk_outline]

Originally posted by thunderous_funker:
Yessir. Ever since I saw J-Lo wearing anti-americanism to this year's Grammy's, I knew I'd have to buy some.

It looks very good when coupled with the iPod shuffle. And it goes over great at http://zupans.com/ assuming you are near NW 23rd.

[Sven G]

When the American - and also European, for that matter, but to a lesser extent - populace will distance itself from their current government, probably there won't be any "anti-Americanism" anymore - or, at least, it will be much less evident.

There are some problems that must be solved - problems that are causing your founding fathers to roll in their graves, probably. Most of them - but not all - government-related (see Bush & Co., for example); and, sadly, becoming worse and worse in the last decades...

What problems?

[Randman]

The thing is that so many non-Americans bitch about American foreign policy but you (almost) never see anyone starting threads bitching about another country's foreign policy, or their own country.

[Athens]

Originally posted by Randman:
The thing is that so many non-Americans bitch about American foreign policy but you (almost) never see anyone starting threads bitching about another country's foreign policy, or their own country.

I can safly say Canada dosent invade other countries. I can safly say Canada dosent attempt to install other governments that will be more friendly to Canada. I can safly say Canada dosent arm rebels to over throw governments we don't like. I can safly say the Canadian Government dosent attempt to kill other leaders. I can safly say when Canada helps other countries its not because its only in our interest to do so, we do it cuz we care. I have no reason to bitch about my governments actions around the world except for maybe we could do a little more peace keeping like we did in the 70's and 80's.

[Busemann]

Originally posted by roberto blanco:
because some people are too stupid to differentiate between anti-americanism and anti-conservativism/imperialism/religio-fascism. that's why.

Like many people, I love america, but I disagree with Bush's policies. I guess that's just too complex for some to understand?

I also think France is a terrific country, but that doesn't mean I agree with everything its current government stands for, for example.

[budster101]

Originally posted by roberto blanco:
because some people are too stupid to differentiate between anti-americanism and anti-conservativism/imperialism/religio-fascism. that's why.

This was my favorite reply so far. At least this person made it easy enough to differentiate between a thoughtful reply to a post, and a personal attack. Gosh, thanks.

[finboy]

Originally posted by TETENAL:
I wouldn't call spread of communism "crappy" per se.

And therein lies the rub.

[finboy]

Originally posted by Athens:
I can safly say Canada dosent invade other countries. I can safly say Canada dosent attempt to install other governments that will be more friendly to Canada. I can safly say Canada dosent arm rebels to over throw governments we don't like. I can safly say the Canadian Government dosent attempt to kill other leaders. I can safly say when Canada helps other countries its not because its only in our interest to do so, we do it cuz we care. I have no reason to bitch about my governments actions around the world except for maybe we could do a little more peace keeping like we did in the 70's and 80's.

And I can safely say that you've got your head in the sand.

[Kilbey]

Originally posted by Athens:
I can safly say Canada dosent invade other countries. I can safly say Canada dosent attempt to install other governments that will be more friendly to Canada. I can safly say Canada dosent arm rebels to over throw governments we don't like. I can safly say the Canadian Government dosent attempt to kill other leaders. I can safly say when Canada helps other countries its not because its only in our interest to do so, we do it cuz we care. I have no reason to bitch about my governments actions around the world except for maybe we could do a little more peace keeping like we did in the 70's and 80's.

And I can safely say that the Canadian Education system let you down.

When someone's grammar, punctuation, and spelling are as poor as yours Athens, it's difficult to take you seriously.

[Athens]

Originally posted by Kilbey:
And I can safely say that the Canadian Education system let you down.

When someone's grammar, punctuation, and spelling are as poor as yours Athens, it's difficult to take you seriously.

http://forums.macnn.com/showthread.p...95#post2443355

Education cant do much when there is a problem in the brain.

[roberto blanco]

Originally posted by budster101:
At least this person made it easy enough to differentiate between a thoughtful reply to a post, and a personal attack.

well, just as in the case of being anti-american and anti-conservative, one doesn't (neccessarily) exclude the other.

(just as one doesn't neccessarily include the other.)

[deej5871]

Originally posted by Athens:
thats the ignorance im talking about, to think that if America fell tommorrow that the world would to to hell.

What's wrong with the examples he posted? America played a large part in WWI and II. America is a large part of the global economy (among other things) now. You think that if either America wasn't around then or if it fell now that the world would be better off?

[christ]

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Criticism of **** is often interpreted as "anti-****-ism" by people that support ****, even when the criticism is warranted. The more blind the support, the more likely the (mis-)interpretation. (Refer to mac-vs-PC discussions). There are none so blind as will not see.

OTOH, there are also some anti-Americans, just enough to give credence to the fanatical reading of the situation.

Historical perspective will tell whether Bush was right or wrong - someone will eventually write Bush's "Hive Queen and the Hegemon", but until then we just draw lines in the sand representing our own beliefs, and filter all other comments through those beliefs.

By definition, people that agree with you are right, people that disagree with you are wrong.

If you believe that Bush has done, and can do, no wrong then criticism is always to be seen as anti-Americanism. If you believe that Bush is human and fallible, then criticism is simply that, and has nothing to do with pro- or anti- anything.

[ebuddy]

The "Anti American-isms" sentiment IMHO is fostered by growing communications (globalization) in general and International influence into our political ideology. In short, it comes from people who generally don't appreciate America. We've gone from constructive criticism with intent to build up and improve conditions, to destructive insults for a buck, some affluence, and some attention. You can usually tell the difference by the delivery. I'm thinking of that Colorado professor.

On one hand it's no different than when a gorgeous woman walks into the room, look at your wife's face and this will be an excellent idea of how many in the world view America. On the other hand, the problem in all this of course is that often times America conducts itself in a shameless manner abroad only giving fuel to the fire and illustrating that we are not perfect stewards of our fortune. Then again few are, but it's the one with the largest crown that will be judged most harshly.

[ebuddy]

Originally posted by Athens:
I can safly say Canada dosent invade other countries. I can safly say Canada dosent attempt to install other governments that will be more friendly to Canada. I can safly say Canada dosent arm rebels to over throw governments we don't like. I can safly say the Canadian Government dosent attempt to kill other leaders. I can safly say when Canada helps other countries its not because its only in our interest to do so, we do it cuz we care. I have no reason to bitch about my governments actions around the world except for maybe we could do a little more peace keeping like we did in the 70's and 80's.

There are ways of supporting a movement without suiting up soldiers. The fact that a country reaps benefits of imperialism without any of the sacrifice doesn't make that country more virtuous to me. This complacent government allows for the mass infiltration of terrorists in and throughout, convolutes culture, results in empty parliament, and lacks decent representation of it's people. This complacency is now increasingly evident in American policy as well which is unfortunate.