Well I have to say I think you have a wonderful country over there, why you don't choose to KEEP it wonderful and peaceful and free... is beyond me. But the latest progressions have made me hopeful about the future. This election speaks volumes that the Americans are pissed off with the direction their country is going in, and it hasn't gone unnoticed by the rest of us.
I've only been to New York and West Hollywood but I had a fab time, everybody we met were great. I was in NY when yas bombed Iraq and, while some people severely pissed me off with their gung ho cheering and clapping as the bombs dropped, many begged me to come home and tell people that they're not all in support of the war, others who WERE in support of the war were very open to discussion and were interested in my opinion. There's a lot more of your country I want to and plan to see but for now, I just want to thank you all for showing the rest of us that you DO care... however briefly it may be. There's a lot of hope in the air
The Astoria??? Orgazmic!
Verona??? it's all surmountable
Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
Wembley? We all believe!
Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
Chicago 07? And love
What a different life
Had I not found this love with you
why should i care what the rest of the worlds thinks of me?
Is this highschool or something.
are you america??? i thought the question was along the lines of how does the rest of the worlds view america.... not americans
oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
exactly if you worry what the world thinks about you the terrorists have won. .
On the flipside... if you don't care about what the world thinks about you, you CREATE terrorists.... :rolleyes: we all live on this planet we need to work together, not in isolation, that is the frightening perception of the US right now...
Astoria Crew
Troubled souls unite, we got ourselves tonight...
Astoria, Dublin, Reading 06
Katowice, Wembley 07
SBE, Manchester, O2 09
Hyde Park 10
Manchester 1&2 12
This is just g'bye for now...
Firstly let me say that I am not the rest of the world and I can never have a generalizing opinion on America, because a country is made up of many different parts that make up the whole. And America has some beautiful parts!!!!
The main problem I have with America is its politics, its very paternalizing! Doesn't matter if we are talking about dropping bombs on a country or providing development aid. I always feel that "america" thinks it knows best and that there are no other ways of living life besides "democratic", "liberal" and "free". There are other ways of 'managing' your life that work perfectly for other people. Often social bands are forgotten about when meddling in foreign affairs and people should become like us...o sooo individual and...alone!
Also often "help" is provided with preconceived ideas that dont harmonize with the local culture or without thinking about social consequences. Now I must say that that isnt only an American problem, but we "westerners" all seem to suffer from it.
Of course, there are things going on in countries that I absolutely resent and I feel that other countries should intervene, but the goal nowadays is more selfish than altruistic!!!
Now I would like to say million things about mister Bush and I cannot believe he was elected for the SECOND time??????....but hee, we got Balkenende, so I am just going to keep quiet about that slip-up
All in all, I am more scared about the tension that the American Politics are raising in the world than I have fear for terrorism...I am truly serious here!
But heee, I love you guys! A *free hug* from a Dutchie.
Why not be mediocre and be the best at it that you can be?
your country is much too heterogenous to really assess some kind of general opinion about America, except for the fact that is a huge and beautiful country with lots of great different landscapes.
I agree. There are places and people in America that may aswell be a million miles away from the East and West coasts. I got chatting to some chicken-kicker in Florida last year who hailed out of Mississipi, and he mentioned New York during the conversation, and it occured to me that he'd have been just as lost and out of place in New York as he would have been in Tehran.
America is too big and broad a place to be easily summed up. And that's part of it's attraction.
As for it's politics, and especially foreign policy, and the understanding that many Americans have of the wider world; in my experience, it's pretty fucked up.
why should i care what the rest of the worlds thinks of me?
Is this highschool or something.
Highschool? Why do so many Republicans have issues with highschool? Anyone would get the impression that they were all bullied at school, or something!
Hey man, you said Nazis, and yet your signature is a quote from Mark Twain, and your favourite band is Pearl Jam. Therefore, I assume that was a tongue in cheek comment?
America needs a government as good as the people it serves. Its as simple as that! I have met some American assholes, but must i meet are great, genuine and good people.
I think that Americans who say that the rest of the world hates them, need to realize that most people in the world like Americans, but its the actions of the government that they loathe.
And the rest of the world must not fall into the "I hate America" trap. "I dislike the actions and policies of the American Government" is the response should be said instead.
This sidewalk is for regular walking, not for fancy walking!
I like this thread. I'm American so I can't offer any outside perspective, but I have traveled abroad and I was amazed at how worldly their news is, not just about their country's politics and celebrities and weather. And then people would even ask me what I thought of the X issue in Y country, about Israel and Palestine, and did I support the US and it's sole support of Israel. I was speechless, literally. I felt so uninformed, and I watched the news here!
It's a great barometer for just how isolated we are. I think it goes hand in hand, with the narcisism and nationalism we all suffer from here. Go America, definitely. But let's be realistic, in the end we all live on the same ball of dirt.
"Winded is the sailor, drifting by the storm, wounded is the organ he left all bloodied on the shore...the smallest oceans still get Big Big waves..."
Postive thinking is the key, Postive doing is the door...
Sorry man this is a little naive. It is safe to say that other than Britain, I dont think the great majority of the world 'appreciates' the US. I have seen many Americans travelling who purposely put Canadian flags on their backpacks because they dont want anyone knowing they are American, of course this isnt true for all Americans by any means. Too bad 51% screwed it for the other 49%
why is it naive to ask others' opinions?
to me, that is simply looking for more understanding from a broader perspective...a good thing.
and i have *heard* of americans doing as you say...but where exactly have you seen americans doing such? i wouldn't even see the purpose anywhere in NA...although personally i see no *purpose* in it whatsoever. then again, i have no shame of my heritage or where i come from, and would never try and *hide* who i am. in fact, i far prefer others know during my travels...and see we americans are not all the pervasive stereotypes. anyway, in all my travels, in all the different countries i have visited...happily...i have never seen a fellow american 'pretend' to be canadian or anything else. sure, i've seen some americans make arses out of themselves abroad...but then again, i've seen many a nationality do the same.
anyway, yes, this is NOT a high point for a love of americans by any stretch. i DO hope that with the current election more of the world realizes that most of america feels as they do, completely dissatisified with our current administration and thus hope for change. hopefully it is on the horzion...and for the better.
Hey man, you said Nazis, and yet your signature is a quote from Mark Twain, and your favourite band is Pearl Jam. Therefore, I assume that was a tongue in cheek comment?
lol, pseudo-nazis?
Nazism is just a general idea of American Imperialism. Obviously Pearl Jam doesn't fit that mold
I necessarily have the passion for writing this, and you have the passion for condemning me; both of us are equally fools, equally the toys of destiny. Your nature is to do harm, mine is to love truth, and to make it public in spite of you. - Voltaire
Believe me, when I was growin up, I thought the worst thing you could turn out to be was normal, So I say freaks in the most complementary way. Here's a song by a fellow freak - E.V
why should i care what the rest of the worlds thinks of me?
Is this highschool or something.
Im afraid its this insular, self satisfied attitude that makes the rest of you guys look like half-wits to the rest of the world. U just seem to have so many miller8966's over there.
Theres nothing wrong with being proud of your country, i would die for England, and on a wider scale my argumentative little brothers in Wales, Scotland and Ireland -) hehe, but theres a big difference between being proud of ur decorating, and breaking into next door and redecorating for them! thats called fascism.
"if u can read this, thank ur school teacher.
if u can read this in English thank an American GI! "
What?
Maybe better like this:
" if u can read this while standing in the richest country in the world, thank the ability to manufacture and sell arms, while turning the other cheek on your friends hardship untill the wars all but over"
I just feel so censored. I don't believe what our news channels say, god knows I don't believe our politicians, and am concerned that we are writting our own history. I mean we did win Vitantam, didin't we? I don't know anyone out of the country, so I thought this would be the perfect place to see how other average normal people felt about America.
A friend of mine has just moved to New York from Britain and she says the news is wierd there - apparently news from "other countries" is actually just news from other states. Apparently they don't really cover news from other countries like in Britain. Over here we get news stories from Europe, middle east, asia and everywhere.
"We have to change the concept of patriotism to one of “matriotism” — love of humanity that transcends war. A matriarch would never send her own children off to wars that kill other people’s children." Cindy Sheehan --- London, Brixton, 14 July 1993 London, Wembley, 1996 London, Wembley, 18 June 2007 London, O2, 18 August 2009 London, Hammersmith Apollo (Ed solo), 31 July 2012 Milton Keynes Bowl, 11 July 2014
London, Hammersmith Apollo (Ed solo), 06 June 2017
America your head's too big
Because America
Your belly is too big.
And I love you
I just wish you'd stay where you is
In America
The land of the free, they said
And of opportunity
In a just and a truthful way.
But where the president
is never black, female or gay
And until that day
you've got nothing to say to me
to help me believe
In America
it brought you the hamburger
Well America you know where
you can shove your hamburger
And don't you wonder
why in Estonia they say
Hey you
you big fat pig
you fat pig
you fat pig
Steely blue eyes with no love in them
scam the World
And a humourless smile
with no warmth within
greets the world.
And I
I have got nothing
to offer you
No-no-no-no-no
just this heart deep and true
which you say you don't need
See with your eyes
touch with your hands
please
hear through your ears
know in your soul
please
For haven't you me with you now?
And I love you
I love you
I love you
And I love you
I love you
I love you.
Where have all the fascists gone? not letting this one drop so easy!
Huh? Not sure if I understand what you are saying, but we could invite jlew24asu to this thread. I am sure he would have some interesting stuff to say about this subject...
Why not be mediocre and be the best at it that you can be?
Huh? Not sure if I understand what you are saying, but we could invite jlew24asu to this thread. I am sure he would have some interesting stuff to say about this subject...
Huh? Not sure if I understand what you are saying, but we could invite jlew24asu to this thread. I am sure he would have some interesting stuff to say about this subject...
Oh yeah, and i just meant where are all the tub-thumping, holier than thou, zenophobic answers to the current debate, it seems to have gone quiet and i didnt wanna let it lie u know!
I've been lucky enough to have visited the States over 20 times over the years and the people i've met have been nothing but fantastic. The women over there actually talk to me and love the English accent!!!
London 1996 Cardiff 2000 Paris 2006 and London 2007.
The United States is huge and I have only seen a small part viz. New York, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts and a very small part of Pennsylvania. It’s one of the most gorgeous countries I have ever seen, the parts I visited were so beautiful and there is so much more to see, I can’t wait to go back again. The people I met were all very, very friendly and hospitable but that’s logical because I hitchhiked and bastards and assholes just don’t pick up hitchhikers, nevertheless, I was surprised by how friendly Americans in general were even in NYC, supposedly a cold-hearted city, the people were willing to help us out.
Unfortunately, the US also harbours ignorant people. People who have no idea what life is like in Europe and seem to think the US is the only civilized country in the world. People who claim to know more about my country and continent than I do. People who think people in Europe can’t get rich, we live in small houses, and we don’t have malls… You can tell they have never left the US, they have no idea what the world is like beyond the American borders… The Americans I met who did travel and had travelled were not like this, though. It’s sad to think that the cliché “the US is the greatest country in the world” is really some people’s mindset, well, it’s sad if they never visited Europe, Asia or Australia if they have and still think that than that’s just an honest opinion, other than that it’s very ignorant. These people give the US a bad name… that stereotype extreme patriotism and pride is just ridiculous and sad.
But as I said even these people were very friendly and hospitable.
I don’t agree with US politics but that won’t keep me from coming and visiting (well it might, who knows…) your lovely country. It was a bit weird, though; there was a completely different vibe, the general mindset, the cars, the stores, the roads, the buildings (nothing’s old!) … sometimes it felt very shallow and at other times I just wanted to buy a house there a live there…
Being a very unpatriotic UKer, I've got few problems with individuals from the USA. But I do think one thing is weird, that collectivist spirit you guys have.
The original poster demonstrated it: 'What do you guys think of the USA?' you said, as if the answer is immensely important to you as an individual. Why does it worry you guys what individuals think about a country?
I think it's weird that you speak of loving America (or the opposite).
I think it's weird that I saw an episode of Nanny 911 on Sky, and there was a family with three American flags attached to their house and one in their backyard. Their oldest kid wore a T Shirt with an American flag on it most days, and they had framed pictures on their walls with flags on them.
I love certain USAers. Everyone on the Pit is awesome, but I find this pretty weird. If someone said they thought the UK is a crock of shit, I wouldn't be personally offended. It's only a slab of land surrounded by some water. It certainly isn't my choicest holiday destination.
My 2p.
'We're learning songs for baby Jesus' birthday. His mum and dad were Merry and Joseph. He had a bed made of clay and the three kings bought him Gold, Frankenstein and Merv as presents.'
Being a very unpatriotic UKer, I've got few problems with individuals from the USA. But I do think one thing is weird, that collectivist spirit you guys have.
The original poster demonstrated it: 'What do you guys think of the USA?' you said, as if the answer is immensely important to you as an individual. Why does it worry you guys what individuals think about a country?
I think it's weird that you speak of loving America (or the opposite).
I think it's weird that I saw an episode of Nanny 911 on Sky, and there was a family with three American flags attached to their house and one in their backyard. Their oldest kid wore a T Shirt with an American flag on it most days, and they had framed pictures on their walls with flags on them.
I love certain USAers. Everyone on the Pit is awesome, but I find this pretty weird. If someone said they thought the UK is a crock of shit, I wouldn't be personally offended. It's only a slab of land surrounded by some water. It certainly isn't my choicest holiday destination.
My 2p.
Quality! I agree 100%. The flag business is something I never understood. Most houses in the states have a flag flying outside. What the fuck is that about?
Comments
I've only been to New York and West Hollywood but I had a fab time, everybody we met were great. I was in NY when yas bombed Iraq and, while some people severely pissed me off with their gung ho cheering and clapping as the bombs dropped, many begged me to come home and tell people that they're not all in support of the war, others who WERE in support of the war were very open to discussion and were interested in my opinion. There's a lot more of your country I want to and plan to see but for now, I just want to thank you all for showing the rest of us that you DO care... however briefly it may be. There's a lot of hope in the air
Verona??? it's all surmountable
Dublin 23.08.06 "The beauty of Ireland, right there!"
Wembley? We all believe!
Copenhagen?? your light made us stars
Chicago 07? And love
What a different life
Had I not found this love with you
Columbus ran a better lobbying campaign.
are you america??? i thought the question was along the lines of how does the rest of the worlds view america.... not americans
On the flipside... if you don't care about what the world thinks about you, you CREATE terrorists.... :rolleyes: we all live on this planet we need to work together, not in isolation, that is the frightening perception of the US right now...
Troubled souls unite, we got ourselves tonight...
Astoria, Dublin, Reading 06
Katowice, Wembley 07
SBE, Manchester, O2 09
Hyde Park 10
Manchester 1&2 12
This is just g'bye for now...
The main problem I have with America is its politics, its very paternalizing! Doesn't matter if we are talking about dropping bombs on a country or providing development aid. I always feel that "america" thinks it knows best and that there are no other ways of living life besides "democratic", "liberal" and "free". There are other ways of 'managing' your life that work perfectly for other people. Often social bands are forgotten about when meddling in foreign affairs and people should become like us...o sooo individual and...alone!
Also often "help" is provided with preconceived ideas that dont harmonize with the local culture or without thinking about social consequences. Now I must say that that isnt only an American problem, but we "westerners" all seem to suffer from it.
Of course, there are things going on in countries that I absolutely resent and I feel that other countries should intervene, but the goal nowadays is more selfish than altruistic!!!
Now I would like to say million things about mister Bush and I cannot believe he was elected for the SECOND time??????....but hee, we got Balkenende, so I am just going to keep quiet about that slip-up
All in all, I am more scared about the tension that the American Politics are raising in the world than I have fear for terrorism...I am truly serious here!
But heee, I love you guys! A *free hug* from a Dutchie.
I agree. There are places and people in America that may aswell be a million miles away from the East and West coasts. I got chatting to some chicken-kicker in Florida last year who hailed out of Mississipi, and he mentioned New York during the conversation, and it occured to me that he'd have been just as lost and out of place in New York as he would have been in Tehran.
America is too big and broad a place to be easily summed up. And that's part of it's attraction.
As for it's politics, and especially foreign policy, and the understanding that many Americans have of the wider world; in my experience, it's pretty fucked up.
Highschool? Why do so many Republicans have issues with highschool? Anyone would get the impression that they were all bullied at school, or something!
Hey man, you said Nazis, and yet your signature is a quote from Mark Twain, and your favourite band is Pearl Jam. Therefore, I assume that was a tongue in cheek comment?
I think that Americans who say that the rest of the world hates them, need to realize that most people in the world like Americans, but its the actions of the government that they loathe.
And the rest of the world must not fall into the "I hate America" trap. "I dislike the actions and policies of the American Government" is the response should be said instead.
It's a great barometer for just how isolated we are. I think it goes hand in hand, with the narcisism and nationalism we all suffer from here. Go America, definitely. But let's be realistic, in the end we all live on the same ball of dirt.
Postive thinking is the key, Postive doing is the door...
why is it naive to ask others' opinions?
to me, that is simply looking for more understanding from a broader perspective...a good thing.
and i have *heard* of americans doing as you say...but where exactly have you seen americans doing such? i wouldn't even see the purpose anywhere in NA...although personally i see no *purpose* in it whatsoever. then again, i have no shame of my heritage or where i come from, and would never try and *hide* who i am. in fact, i far prefer others know during my travels...and see we americans are not all the pervasive stereotypes. anyway, in all my travels, in all the different countries i have visited...happily...i have never seen a fellow american 'pretend' to be canadian or anything else. sure, i've seen some americans make arses out of themselves abroad...but then again, i've seen many a nationality do the same.
anyway, yes, this is NOT a high point for a love of americans by any stretch. i DO hope that with the current election more of the world realizes that most of america feels as they do, completely dissatisified with our current administration and thus hope for change. hopefully it is on the horzion...and for the better.
Let's just breathe...
I am myself like you somehow
lol, pseudo-nazis?
Nazism is just a general idea of American Imperialism. Obviously Pearl Jam doesn't fit that mold
new rule...you can't make up definitions to existing terms.
Haha, I feel the same way.
Im afraid its this insular, self satisfied attitude that makes the rest of you guys look like half-wits to the rest of the world. U just seem to have so many miller8966's over there.
Theres nothing wrong with being proud of your country, i would die for England, and on a wider scale my argumentative little brothers in Wales, Scotland and Ireland -) hehe, but theres a big difference between being proud of ur decorating, and breaking into next door and redecorating for them! thats called fascism.
vision oOnly Greyyy
"if u can read this, thank ur school teacher.
if u can read this in English thank an American GI! "
What?
Maybe better like this:
" if u can read this while standing in the richest country in the world, thank the ability to manufacture and sell arms, while turning the other cheek on your friends hardship untill the wars all but over"
maybe a bit more humble and honest.
But who needs humility man, this is the U-S-A!!
vision oOnly Greyyy
That is exactly the kind of shit that makes America the most hated country in the world.
A friend of mine has just moved to New York from Britain and she says the news is wierd there - apparently news from "other countries" is actually just news from other states. Apparently they don't really cover news from other countries like in Britain. Over here we get news stories from Europe, middle east, asia and everywhere.
---
London, Brixton, 14 July 1993
London, Wembley, 1996
London, Wembley, 18 June 2007
London, O2, 18 August 2009
London, Hammersmith Apollo (Ed solo), 31 July 2012
Milton Keynes Bowl, 11 July 2014
Because America
Your belly is too big.
And I love you
I just wish you'd stay where you is
In America
The land of the free, they said
And of opportunity
In a just and a truthful way.
But where the president
is never black, female or gay
And until that day
you've got nothing to say to me
to help me believe
In America
it brought you the hamburger
Well America you know where
you can shove your hamburger
And don't you wonder
why in Estonia they say
Hey you
you big fat pig
you fat pig
you fat pig
Steely blue eyes with no love in them
scam the World
And a humourless smile
with no warmth within
greets the world.
And I
I have got nothing
to offer you
No-no-no-no-no
just this heart deep and true
which you say you don't need
See with your eyes
touch with your hands
please
hear through your ears
know in your soul
please
For haven't you me with you now?
And I love you
I love you
I love you
And I love you
I love you
I love you.
vision oOnly Greyyy
Huh? Not sure if I understand what you are saying, but we could invite jlew24asu to this thread. I am sure he would have some interesting stuff to say about this subject...
haha dont man i cant laugh anymore!!-)
vision oOnly Greyyy
Oh yeah, and i just meant where are all the tub-thumping, holier than thou, zenophobic answers to the current debate, it seems to have gone quiet and i didnt wanna let it lie u know!
vision oOnly Greyyy
Unfortunately, the US also harbours ignorant people. People who have no idea what life is like in Europe and seem to think the US is the only civilized country in the world. People who claim to know more about my country and continent than I do. People who think people in Europe can’t get rich, we live in small houses, and we don’t have malls… You can tell they have never left the US, they have no idea what the world is like beyond the American borders… The Americans I met who did travel and had travelled were not like this, though. It’s sad to think that the cliché “the US is the greatest country in the world” is really some people’s mindset, well, it’s sad if they never visited Europe, Asia or Australia if they have and still think that than that’s just an honest opinion, other than that it’s very ignorant. These people give the US a bad name… that stereotype extreme patriotism and pride is just ridiculous and sad.
But as I said even these people were very friendly and hospitable.
I don’t agree with US politics but that won’t keep me from coming and visiting (well it might, who knows…) your lovely country. It was a bit weird, though; there was a completely different vibe, the general mindset, the cars, the stores, the roads, the buildings (nothing’s old!) … sometimes it felt very shallow and at other times I just wanted to buy a house there a live there…
Damn, that’s quite a post, isn’t it?
naděje umírá poslední
The original poster demonstrated it: 'What do you guys think of the USA?' you said, as if the answer is immensely important to you as an individual. Why does it worry you guys what individuals think about a country?
I think it's weird that you speak of loving America (or the opposite).
I think it's weird that I saw an episode of Nanny 911 on Sky, and there was a family with three American flags attached to their house and one in their backyard. Their oldest kid wore a T Shirt with an American flag on it most days, and they had framed pictures on their walls with flags on them.
I love certain USAers. Everyone on the Pit is awesome, but I find this pretty weird. If someone said they thought the UK is a crock of shit, I wouldn't be personally offended. It's only a slab of land surrounded by some water. It certainly isn't my choicest holiday destination.
My 2p.
- the great Sir Leo Harrison
lol how about england...i mean thats a pretty shitty country.
You cant even make decisions for yourselfs, you just follow whatever we tell you to do.
True, to a large extent.
Quality! I agree 100%. The flag business is something I never understood. Most houses in the states have a flag flying outside. What the fuck is that about?