Sure hope Oleg gets with the program

[Avimimus]

Originally Posted by nearmiss

As an American I hate it that people in other countries speak against my country. America is a rich country, but there are other rich countries as well. America gives more financial and charitable aid to troubled nations than all the rest of the world's countries combined. That should speak to people about putting our money where our mouth is. Yet, we are constantly maligned and no one speaks of the facts... what their own country doesn't do.

I think I should explain this: Many people do say hostile things about the United States. But for them the United States means many things other than what you might expect.

Most people in other countries, including most people who have "anti-American" views, actually welcome and like Americans who they meet and are often very sympathetic to the American people (eg. the sympathy rallies throughout Iran after 9/11).

In my country:

- It is often directed at a specific American government. This is especially true when members of the said governments meddle in the internal politics of other countries (example ordering a foreign government to fire a senior bureaucrat, meeting with opposition elements instead of the whole government, making threats).

- In countries that export a lot to the United States the local economic elites become invariably associated with the United States. This is in part because they tend to be owned by American companies or at least identify with them (and thus often advocate policies like the dismantling of Canada), but also because the United States government often takes their side against the local regimes. The problem is that any crimes, disasters or damages done by any of these companies are also linked in our minds with our vision of the United States.

- The term "Anti-American" is used as a political slur to tar anyone from terrorists to people who want to support their traditional cultures, or become like other societies (than the United States). Anyone who wants to have their own government, make their own decisions, be different in any way from the United States is regularly called Anti-American in some parts of the world.

- In part because people sometimes identify with the successes of the United States and in part because of "the American dream", many people associate the United States with cultural imports, or things that are wrong in their own society (eg. fast food).

In Canada it is regularly published in newspapers that the country will eventually become a part of the United States, that we should join now while we can still negotiate, where we are told that if we were ever to disagree in a significant way the result would indeed be invasion.

This may seem somewhat hard to believe, but all these things are true and do happen. Some are day to day facts of life, others only take place once every five years. But we remember them - we have no choice.

The point is people often love Americans while disliking America. If you just see it from our perspective, you will see how both things are not only possible, but necessary. Sometimes it isn't rational, sometimes it is the only logical thing (to disagree with any element of US police is termed "Anti-American" if you remember).

(If this isn't coherent and backed up by examples, I am in a hurry right now. If anyone would like to help gather examples from around the world - send me a private message).

Anyway, I hope this makes sense,