What the World Really Thinks of Americans

We sure do! And if it's so terrible here, then why do people from countries all over the word come here for a fresh start? We have our faults, but we have many things that intrigue people to come here!

You're right, and people have been coming here from foreign lands ever since America was established. We are still the best thing going in a world of flawed govts. and human beings who long for freedom and a fighting chance. Karen

That is true, and we stand behind what we do as people, although most of the politicians cannot say the same. LOL

Very interesting! And not too far off, as I would defintiely say that Americans really don't know (and some really don't care) what is going on in the rest of the world. America is definitely a "me" nation, meaning you have to work and earn for yourself, and very little comes to you unless you do so. People here are often times selfish, but that could be the case anywhere in the world I would imagine. Americans have to work very hard to survive though, I can tell you that for sure.

Yes, one of the good things about living in America seems to be that if you are willing to work hard that you can really achieve anything. The same goes in New Zealand. However we often take for granted here how lucky we are.. free health care, education, really cheap and subsidised university fees. It wasn't untill I started to travel that my eyes opened and I really became greatful.

However of course I still love loving in New Zealand and like you think I am lucky enough to live in one of the best countries in the world. Theres nothing wrong with being proud. :-)

You know, that is good point-it could really mean that they are jealous. We may be considered arrogant and self-absorbed, but serioudly with how much goes on here within our own "four walls" who can blame us for not having much of an idea what's going on in other places? We have so much cultural diversity and SO many people here, it's really insane! LOL

Princess, that sort of national navel gazing would be fine if your government did not have it's fingers in so many pies all over the world. Given that the government need the support of the people, (it is supposed to be a democracy after all) then the people need to understand what is going on in other parts of the world and so to be able to understand why the government is doing what it is doing. Public ignorance of events outside of the USA, ignorance which is created by the American news media in the first place by either ignoring events or reporting events with a heavy American slant, (failure to report news in an impartial manner) gives the American public a distorted and inaccurate view of events outside of the USA which allows the government to act pretty much as it pleases outside of the USA. There's nothing new about this though. This has been the case at least since the days of the Vietnam war in the 60's when the American government used misinformation about the threat posed by the North Vietnamese to justify the intervention into Vietnam. And again in the 2nd Gulf war when disinformation (the non - existant WMD's) was used to justify the invasion of Iraq.

i guess people from iraq and afghanistan will not agree with your views. it all depends on which side of the story you are.

I do agree with you that American's are wasters, and that is not the first I have heard this either. And another point you made, we don't seem to care about what else is going on in the world and that is true too. And I am not really sure why either of those statements are true.

i guess power corrupts. and when one is in power he thinks he is always right and rejects any view that he does not fancy. unfortunately history has shown repeatedly that such cases do not have a happy ending.

Well, that depends really on what part of the country you live really. In the warmer parts of the country, you can usually find them out in the garage. In the colder parts of the country, you can often times find them in the basemsnt. (Do you have basements in your countries?) Some homes have laundry rooms specifically made for a washer and dryer, along with having cabinets to store other cleaning supplies. I have seen washers kept in the bathroom, but not too often.

Hi polo_princess, we keep ours in the bathroomswhere do Americans keep theirs.

We dont have basements here unless you live in a really big "old" house, and we dont have special wash rooms either unless again you live in a really big house. I honestly thought everyone kept their washing machine in the kitchen until i had that conversation. Sorry ive deviated your discussion a little

You said you have lived here for the last four years-where are you orignally from? Is this the second country you have lived in? And finally, what brought you to the States?

My home country is Bulgaria. I originaly went to America because my father had to work there. I was very young and I don't remember a lot but all that I am sure of is that in my school there there were people from all over the world which I got to meet. I have also spent some time in Asia but that is a different story. Thanks for your interest in my life. Cheers!

Thanks for the response.It is a kind of enlightening.Will you be my friend?

Many Americans are in fact as you say-happy go lucky people. I do consider myself born into the greatest nation in the world because my country is strong and the culture mixes define the whole cutlure as accepting so many different things. We wouldn't be America without! Well, perceptions through movies can be misleading, because we don't all live like that-but like Erin Brokovich-she fought to prove the wrongs of corporations, which is an honorable thing to do. We are a free country, but sometimes I think that is why we have so many problems as well.

Well thank you for the compliment in regards to America! Yes, we are trying to live, but surely that is the case anywhere. Where have you been in America?

That seems to be true-we really do only hear of the worst of what is going on in other countries, other national figure fatalities or what not. I think that is because America eats itself up for it's own news purposes-there is so much going on here, there really isn't a lot of room for other bits of news from elsewhere! Although, there are world news programa that really don't have anything to do with America, unless it is public relations.

Well, thank you for being honest and sharing your first impression of Americans. LOL I am sorry they tainted you from the get, but I am glad to know that you met some good ones who abolished that first thought about us. Although-there are many Americans who are rude and just as you described. If I were to first experince some citizens of another country the way you did, I would imagine it would leave a bad taste in my mouth for their country as a whole too.

Don't worry princess, there are plenty of stories about 'loud mouth' Aussies around also. I just hope I never fall into that category.

I am proud to be american too, no matter what is said or believed about this country. We as citizens know that they bad remarks don't target us personally, but the towards theleaders and the politicians of this nation. Rock on, America!

Well, I have seen many people scoffing the past tense president for many things, and undoubtedly he got our country in some trouble. The lead singer of the country trio Dixie Chicks had said at one point she was ashamed that she was from the same state (Texas) as the President (Bush), which raised some HUGE controversy in the media.

Interesrting that the culture we have is referred to as a trash culture. I can see where that stems from though. I see that the last few decades America has really gotten out of control. And what exactly happened? That varies from the different views of politics, people, historical events, presidential bloops, etc. One thing that America lacks that many other countries have is the actualy care and compassion for its people. America is a fend for yourself type of nation. There are no royalties to be paid here, no free education, high poverty and such.

I agree with you Druid. But I would like to add that the trash culture that you speak of was done intentionally. The quality of our culture is not important to our elites. Profits drive everything and you are seeing the results.

yes the comminication is the life of the love betwine peaple... this is the civilisation how to improving our world

I had definitely not thought of America as being terrorist, but it's pretty true if you look at what we are doing to others. And you're right again-we are fed lies and have had lots of truth kept from us anyway, can you really blame us (the common people) for what we do and what really don't know? I live here, I just live-I have the right to choose sides of the politics, but I choose not to, mainly because no matter what happens in this country, I truly believe my little voice won't be heard anyway.