For Those Outside The United States. I Have A Question.

I was born and raised in the Philippines but have been living in the United States for more than ten years now. I, too, have noticed that there is so much hatred directed against the United States and Americans from other countries. There is a notion out there that the US wants to exploit every other nation in the world for its own glory. Americans are viewed as spoiled and greedy while the rest of the world suffer from poverty. Most Moslem and Communist countries especially resent the US' efforts to impose their beliefs of Christianity and democracy. Discrimination goes both ways, though. Most Americans regard other nationalities to be inferior and so the cycle goes on. It's a matter of not being able to tolerate the differences and wanting to change the other.

I am Canadian and as you know we are your friendly neighbours to the north. I have relatives who are American and I have traveled in the states. The people I meet are mostly pretty much the same as the people in Canada. I think that the reason we think Americans are rude is when they come hear to Canada as tourists, they can be pushy and rude and intolerant to our customs and such. I don't think all Americans are rude, in fact I know that is not the case, but due to a few, I have had the misfortune of meeting, the tendency to lump them all into one ball and call all Americans rude is something I do. I know it is wrong but I do. I really don't mean it because I know that there are rude people all over the world and some people are just like that no matter what country they are from. Aside from that I don't agree with the American politics and view the American government as war mongering. I think George W. Bush is true evil. I think that he is the worst thing since his dad was in power. I think that the only thing the American government cares about is controlling oil. Blood for oil! I wonder how long before they run low on natural resources such as water. When they run out of water will they attack us for ours? So as an outsider I have no problem with the people of the USA it is the Government I have a problem with. I think people are people and deep down it really doesn't matter where we are from. No more blood for oil!

What a thought provoking, well written question you have here! I was born and raised here in the US, but I do a bit of traveling abroad and get plenty of chances to talk to the people I meet. Just from the impressions I've gotten over the years from my students in Russia, it seems that (as others have mentioned) it's not the people of the US, but the government that they have issue with. Of course, most people who don't know any better think we all like our government and agree with everything our leaders do. I've diffused a few sticky conversations by simply asking them if they agree with everything Putin has done, and the answer is usually no. Then the light bulb goes on and they realize that deep down, we're just like them. Another part of the equation seems to be our isolation. Because we're such a large country and we only share borders with two other nations, many Americans never get the chance to travel abroad, and people from most other nations never get the chance to visit our country. Since most of the world has probably never encountered an American face to face, there's bound to be some misconceptions. When you add to that the the ones they see in the news and such are either spoiled rich people (like Paris Hilton)or politicians, I can totally understand why they'd think poorly of us. This is why it's so important, in my mind, to meet and correspond with people of other cultures, whether it be in person, online, or as pen pals. It's easy to say "All French are snobs" (just an example folks) if you don't know any. I've gotten to know quite a few of them though, and I say they're just people like us who happen to live in France. Anyway, hope all that makes sense -- I'm a bit out of it today, and wasn't planning on writing much of anything until my head clears, but I couldn't resist your question. Can't wait to see the answers that will come after me, the ones you've already gotten are fabulous!

i don't hate the US. in fact, i have sisters who are immigrants there, one has just become a citizen. i have nieces here who are studying nursing hoping to go there a few years from now. good and bad people are everywhere. i also met a few Americans who are friendly, but, of course, i never got the chance to know them well.

I have quite a few american frineds on the internet. I find that me being an aussie makes them a bit rude towards me as they think that we are all onvicts or something. but I just get over it. For me it's not where you come from but who you are.

I'm from the Philippines, I personally don't think that United States is a bad country and that Americans are rude or what somehow. Although, I can't and won't generalize. I know that not ALL americans are good, but not all americans are bad either. Just like in a school, not all students are bullies, nerds, geeks, geniuses, nice, etc. Some American Tourists that I've seen here seem pretty nice and are really respectful. :)

l think this happens to be an instinct with we humans ; we tend to use 'a part to judge the whole ,or use the whole to judge a part' - why to me - is just not right and fair. How about in a case where someone calls Nigerians fraudsters ,when is only a very few elements here that actually gives us that bad image across our shores , yet so many people categorize it to be a absolute phenomenom with natives of Nigeria . ls just not fair at all using the sin of one or few to hook on others for the consequences thereof.

I have read some of it also but i just dont mind it, i think they have read it on some books on differnt jokes of different countries and it is not really true.

Maybe some incidents really happen and it travels by mouth which is some incidents have been added and some are omitted it was how stories usually ends, and i dont think i will think much about it, since i know that some of it are far from the truth.

I don't think I have come across any discussions yet where people are bashing the USA but if I did I think I would add a comment asking them what they are doing on a US website making American dollars for?

hi! i'm from the philippines and i have been working in contact centers here catering to americans as our clients. i have spoken to more than 100,000 americans in more or less 4 years. generally, i have observed that americans who work in large businesses or big corporations are not that bad. those who didn't go to school or has little education are the hardest to deal with, its like rudeness is already a part of their daily lives. i can't say that food is bad either as my life as a contact center agent revolves around mcdonalds and other fast food joints which are also part of the american life. for me, i thank the US for giving people like me great job opportunities and a chance to earn big in our country, even if our job is soooo stressful! ;-)

A Canadian here, while I don't have an issue with Americans I am guilty of making rude american comments, though in my defence usually in jest. Though your foreign politics annoy me. Which doesn't say much because politics anoys me in any given situation. Far as I'm concerned the food there is fine, an opinion based on the fact that I've been to the country and eaten there.

i think their opinions are just based on the stories and news and gossip they've heard about USA.i havent seen any of those posts though.my opinions towards americans are fun-loving,creative,witty,proud of urselves,and talkative.i have many american friends and we get on well.so i see you guys as nice persons:)

In every country there are all types of people.Americans have a lot of money,freedom from childhood & less control.So they become abusive .Instead they should try and enjoy their life mix with people & thats the only way to change the opinion of others

my negative opinion about the US is based on their external affairs policies. they poke their nose too much into others' affairs and want to take control of almost every country some way or ther other. recent war-mongering attitude of the US has made me too averse to that country. but i do appreciate the courage and morale of the US citizens, pioneering technological advancement.

i wouldn't say americans are rude (i live an hour from the us and have been there many times....) in my opinion, americans are just self absorbed...most don't have a clue about canada, the people, the places etc...i bet over half have NO idea what the capital of canada is and we are your closest neighbour and largest trading parter!

The world has become a tiny village, thanks to the internet, the telephone, the cable TV and transportation ease. One does not have to be in a place before you know what happens there. Does one have to be in the US to comment on the activities of the US in Iran or Iraq, or to know the influence she wields on international organizations like the UNO, IMF and the World Bank? You might be interested to know that I got to know first from myLot about the bombing attempt on the electoral body's office here in Nigeria. Similarly, it was my friend who is based in Italy that first informed me of the latest result of the Nigerian presidential elections. Times have changed, and things have changed with them.

i think its because of many people dont like the foreign policy of the US, and project this on the average american people, who actually have nothing to do with foreign politics. Especially many islamic countries have concerns about the USA because many politicians in the US like to play with words like good countries and bad countries. even if somebody is not a friend of its own government, he doesnt want that somebody calls his homecountry a bad country. The second factor i think is the power the US have. Its simply the most powerful country in the moment. I think this will change sooner or later (to china for example), but who is strong and powerful has also enemies. third is that the americans always take care whats going on in the world. they are always involved in politics of other countries, for good and bad. Its true, therefore many hate them and they made many mistakes (remember the cia and bin laden training and many other), but on the other side, if the americans did not do something, who else would do? nobody! without the americans saddam hussein would still kill innocents children, without US-help Germany, the country where my husband is from, would never get to the leading country of europe with a wonderful democracy after the second world war, but a communistic satelite state. Also i dont know any other country people came for all over the world, and if they had the will to work, they get success, no matter where they are from. Arnold Schwarzenegger, an austrian bodyboulder now governador of california, where is this possible? only in the US! Ronald Reagan, hollywood actor, get president? in which country would this be possible? only in the US thats just great! Also many people are just jealous. I like America, its a great country after all, incredible nature, and also after september 11th, you still feel the freedom to do what you want, if you dont hurt somebody else, like in no other country. The food is really not the best, on my travel there many times i agree that many US citizens really eat mcdonalds and coca cola and fries and eggs all the time and much too much of it, but this is not a question of good and bad, but of culture. in general they are also very friendly and opened and helpful.

Thats a shame if its true that so many people feel that way. I bet there are just as many who like the USA who have not mentioned it. So here goes, I like the USA!

Well, I am from the U.S. and I must say that this is a two headed coin because be from the city of brotherly love (why they call it that is beyond me) I could agree with people outside the U.S. Yet when I go to other states I found that there are some wonderful, warmheart loving people out there. I believe that they base their opinions on isolated incidents because the U.S. is not as bad as a whole. Just look at how nice people are on this mylot site.