Americans know nothing about world events

I'm from the UK. I can only say that, in general, that is the feeling one has of Americans here. I'm glad to say that some of my dearest friends (and family) are a few of the exceptions.

I'm American also and find that statement disturbing at the least. Where do these people get the information? If we're so selfish and self-centered then how come our tax dollars go all over the world? My husband and I, my family work very hard 5, sometimes 6 days a week to fund projects we will never see in countries we will never visit. This person - where did this person come from? Does this person work and their government give their money to different countries? The answer could be yes, but how much? Probably not nearly as much as we do!

i am canadian and i find that americans know incredibly little about us, which is pretty sad considering we are the US's biggest trading partner. quick, what is the capital of canada?

Actually, politicians in the States usually like to be involved in the foreign affairs, so they know much about the areas outside the U.S. As for the personality of Americans, it's true they are usually arrogant and self-centered, which, I think, is a result of the greatness of their country. They are all proud of themselves, sometimes too much. There is an American guy in my lab, and every time he talks about himself, he will finish it with his so-called glories and trophies. That is really annoying. Therefore, I don't like to chat with him at all. BTW, maybe Americans are self-centered, but they are kind of frank and direct, which I love much. U don't always need to guess what they are really thinking about.

i am chinese.i knew someone who are American here.some of them are self-centered i think.he got pain his leg here,but he didn't trust China medicine here.what a funny thing was he trust now,cause his leg feels better cause he went to see a good doctor here. i think it is important to dispel prejudices about one thing.that is a mind should to be poeple all over the world.

I am American. I disagree with what that person said, we are sending billions of dollars to iraq right now to fix up their country and help them be prosperous, while we are in an economic rut, if anything I'd say that the U.S. needs to be more selfish and worry more about helping us before helping others, after a few years of us not supporting others maybe they will see the light.

Can this someone tell me a country where there is no selfish, greedy, and self-centered people are living.America is in hate list because if many reasons.People are jealous,ignorant,primitive and very close minded I think.You just cannot judge any country that simply for that matter without any through knowledge.I am from India.

I'm a Singaporean, that is a Singapore citizen, and a Chinese Singaporean at that. I think this statement was made probably because most Americans do not have a good understanding of the oriental culture, which is largely represented by China. However it doesn't mean Asia is only China and nothing else, which I always have the impression of the Americans. There's also Hong Kong, Thailand, Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Macau. There ARE chinese people in these countries, and there're sub-cultures and behaviours, and are definitely not the same type of Chinese you see in China. That's the uniqueness of Asia's culture. I believe when we try to understand more about another country's culture, we'd become more embracing and less self-centred, after all no man is an island.

I am so beyond sick of the bigoted behavior from people like that. I'm an American and dam proud of it. This country gives more to the rest of the world than ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. George W. Bush, who they love to hate, gave more money and aid to African nations than ANY WORLD LEADER IN HISTORY. Here's another funny stat. We give more money to Palestinians than anyone else. The European Union comes in a distant second followed by Kuwait. Of course since we also give significant aid to Israel they spit on us and cheered during 9-11. Somehow that didn't stop them from accepting our money, nor did it stop our government from giving it. Every nation is self-centered to some degree. Europeans are that way as well. They just don't acknowledge it because they are so close together that the center gets blurred. Being self-centered in this country is a bit more noticeable since we only border 2 other nations, both of whose politics and economic standing we follow rather closely. If we don't care what happens anywhere else, perhaps they could explain why Americans were marching in protest of the atrocities committed by the Taliban all through the 90s? Maybe they could explain why in the last few months there have been so many marches over what is happening between the Israelis and Palestinians? Maybe they could explain why Americans have taken such an interest in Somalia, Rwanda, and Darfur over the last few decades? The Free Tibet movement is quite popular here as well. See, the people you spoke to are both bigoted and ignorant. They watch BBC, read a few articles online, and assume they know everything that happens in our country. It takes 5 seconds to find info about a presidential election. If they think knowing who Obama and McCain are makes them informed, then they need a serious reality check.

Well as an American I say well so what. Countries need to stop holding their hands out the us for money and learn to take care of their own country themsleves. Also a lot of what goes on we know about but it is not our place to do anything about. What is going on in Darfur is sad and bad....but not our responsibility. All the violance going on in Mexico right now, that country is in choas. Sad once again. But we do not have the right to march into that country with our army and do something about it. WE ARE NOT THE WORLD POLICE. THE WHOLE WORLD IS NOT OUR RESPONSIBILITY. STOP WAITING FOR ANOTHER COUNTRY TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROBLEMS IN YOUR COUNTRY. TAKE CARE OF IT YOURSELF. Heck we are damned if we do and damned if we don't. If we do we are called bullies and hated....if we don't then we are selfish and uncaring and hated.

I know this might be wrong to say but I feel he might be somewhat right. i feel that we need to share more and care about people more than money and posseions. i live in the us and in ohio. I know there are good people out there no matter where there from but I feel that people have become very greedy and people are more imporant than things or cars or whatever. Nice discussion and happy mylotting.

I do not think it is wise to generalize one person's statement and impose it on the whole country. We cannot conclude the thinking of an entire nation by that statement. Even here in India there are so many people who would be busy in their work all the time and they would not know a thing about what is going on in the rest of the world. That does not mean all Indians are selfish and self centered, does it?

I am an American and I am self centered. But my Husband is also American and he is none of thise things. I have a friend in Iraq that cares very much about world events, and his greedy parents want him home but understand why he is gone. I think that anyone who wants to can make assumtions about another person, but it takes true arrogance to make a blanket statement and belive that it is true. If I were you I wouldn't let it get to me. worse things could happen today. You have a great one.

well i am from INDIA. i always heard that americans mostly hate we people. i never had such a feeling about any human being, and i dont understand why they have it so with us. i had a friend from states named sam. he always use to hate indians, hated me too dont know for what he use to talk to me, but always said that we lie and all. when we never do, as though in this world no one among us are pure truths.. i dont have any objections or comments over anyone but just want to say.. only love can change bad things in to good and wrong things into right...what say

I'm an American and sadly I would have to say that there is some truth to that statement. I've been trying to learn a little more about news events in other countries. I visit the BBC news site several times a week and that is helping a little bit. It least I now know the names of the Prime Minister of Canada and the President of Mexico. I'm ashamed to say I did not know those names six months ago. I think that part of the ignorance is due to the fact that we were long isolated from the rest of the world and learned to fend for ourselves. We also have a pretty interesting political setup here right now and one way or another we seem to be fascinated with it. Never before have so many of us voted, debated and followed the doings of our politics and politicians.

I find this fascinating, since I see endless comments right here in this very forum from outside the united states that demonstrate a complete lack of our understanding about political system, our constitution, our structure and function of government and our history. As for us being "greedy selfish and self centered" hmmmm, not even going to touch it, it's a laughable and pathetic statement at best.

Hi stacyv! I am from the Philippines and I do not think that way with Americans. I don't think you can make a general statement in judging one country's population just because you happen to know a few of them. I do think that there will always be certain people, maybe more or less in each country around the world who cares about nothing and I am sure that there will be more that who really cares of what is happening around the world. We can never pass judgment on the greater population just because one or two groups are considered as bad eggs. Just my thoughts dear! Take care and have a great day! lovelots..faith

Stacy, My opinion? What you need to do is get back on that poker chat room and tell this obvious fool: The next time his country has a disaster, call Russia, or Iran, or anyone but America. The next time some tyrant decides to take advantage of poor disadvantaged people and kill them just because they are of the wrong ethnic background, don't call us, we'll call you. America has always been there to defend the defenseless to feed the hungry and help the oppressed. OUR soldiers have shed their blood so other countries can have the opportunity to be free! So, if this person or persons believe America is selfish and greedy, let them call someone who is not so selfish and greedy the next time they need help! That was the nice version!