Lately I have been interested in relations in the world between countries and it seems that the US is hated widely by many different countries around the world, so I would just like to see opinions (not hate speeches) of why the US is disliked seeming how I live in the US and don't know why people hate us. I have been doing some research and came up with these few reasons that people have stated for hating the United States:

- War Ex. the nuking of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
- Crime rate
- overseas policy

being that I'm young and just now gaining an interest in world relations and things like that I would like to learn more about things like this, also seeming how gaia is a very diverse community I believe I will hopefully get opinions from people not just in the US.

PLEASE READ- I understand that this topic probably has been repeated about a million times, but I would just like to know for myself, hopefully without a whole lot of biased replies. Also I do not dislike the US, I would just like to know why others do.

For the record, I'm Canadian. Personally I do not have a problem with the US. I can say for certain that I would never choose to live in the United States. While it does not seem like there would be a big difference, there is a huge difference culturally between my country and the US. From my various visits to the states I have noticed that there seems to be one major defining factor which explains the difference between Canadians and Americans.

It seems to me that in the US there is a greater sense of self. Things are done for the individual, there is a more competitive social Darwinism mentality. In my country there is more import placed on a sense of the society as a whole, things to benefit everyone, a cohesive whole.

I do know of many people who hate the US. The reasons vary. Some think of Americans are arrogant and foolhardy. Others are upset with the involvements in the politic realm. Whatever the reason, there is a lot of resentment in the world right now.

I don't really hate the U.S I don't particularly like George Bush but I don't hate the U.S.
This is mainly because I do know a lot of people on the internet and a few irl that are Americans and they are nice people. It's like when people used to hate Germany there was nothing wrong with the people just that Hitler was in control and he manadged to convince a whole nation that they where mistreated (which they were in my oppinion though the reaction was a little to extreme). With Americans it's a similar thing (not the whole convincing thing) the whole country is just about generalised under their President and government.
Oh also I have never been to the U.S so all I can really base this off is what I see on t.v so my oppinion is only really media related.

Well. Lemme give you the skinny on some U.S. History! -Rolls up sleeves.-

Check the facts! The United States initiated the War in Vietnam. It was, in fact, not the other way around! We did it, not them. That entire war was our fault. We felt threatened. We wanted to remove the threat.

This has has happened dozens of times. The.. Government lies to the American Public about political issues. Whereas outside countries know the truth about the matter because their news is generally less biased than the news in the United States ( where people lose their jobs over investigating our major corporations i.e. Monsanto and others like it for foul play ). So, the American public believes one truth ( which is usually about 95% lie ) and blindly accepts it, while there rest of the world knows it isn't true.

Because of this blind following and lack of questioning en-masse by the general population of the country to the government, people remain very ignorant over the issues.

Just so we can clear this up - We had an idea that Pearl Harbor would happen. We were also irresponsible in dropping the nukes on Hiro/Naga because children are still being born with birth defects due to the radiation of those bombs some decades later.

We were -also- aware that the Lustitania ( which sparked our involvement in WWII ) would be sunk before they decided to sink it. It was published in the newspapers. :D We did it anyway.

So, if you want to know why people have such poor views on the United States, really. It's because we do a lot of really dirty, nasty, underhanded things to other countries.

We shut down farmers in Mexico and South America and sue them for all they've got and then take their land when companies like Monsanto cross-pollinate natural corn with their hybrid corn without telling the farmers in that particular area, and then sue them for stealing the hybrid corn seeds. Isn't that adorable?

We.. Do it to ourselves admittedly. So all of our bullying we do to others, lying, stealing, cheating, et cetera.. The government does to our own people and farmers, to our own teachers, everyone. They just lie about that more.

Really, just read an American History book and only believe 15% of it. The dates are usually right.

Personally, I think the main reason that a lot of people might dislike the USA is because of your President. Yes, I know our previous Australian Prime Minister liked to kiss Bush's arse, but that doesn't mean the whole country agreed. It could just be media spin, but the impression I get of George Bush is that not only doesn't he have two brain cells to rub together, but he is stuck with the attitude that because he has 'the most powerful country in the world' it gives him a god given right to interfere in other cultures 'for their own good'. This sort of attitude is guaranteed to get up peoples noses and make them lose respect for the person who follows this theory. Unfortunately, I think this dislike translates to the American people through the simple fact that YOU VOTED FOR HIM, which is unfair, but sadly true.

Also, the stereotypical images of Americans that are filtered through the media aren't going to help. What we see overseas is: evil blonde bimbette cheerleaders, promiscuous dumb jocks, hicks with broad drawling accents, power-hungry businessmen, gang-happy gun-toting dark skinned boys from 'da hood', barbie-like california fitness freaks etc. These typecast images aren't the sort to instill faith in a people. Though I am fully aware that not all Americans will correspond to one of these dubious stereotypes, a lot of people will believe what they see and not bother to look deeper. Sadly, the attitude that 'if TV says so it must be true' is all to prevalent in the world today, and as many programs in the western world do originate in the USA, I can't see this changing any time soon.

I don't hate the US.
I'm from Australia.
And I don't want to sound offensive so please don't get upset anybody.
Some of the things your country has done makes me laugh, not talking about anything serious but...Yeah.
Like when our current prime minister was introduced as Kevin Rude instead of Kevin Rudd.
I snorted milk everywhere when I saw that on Sunrise.
x3
I guess it all depends of your perspective.
Deja Vu.
Just typed the whole perspective thing in another thread.
xDDD

And for anyone who likes Kevin Rudd.
I don't.
-.-
Or at least I don't like that red-head lady whose name always escapes me.
She's like a vulture waiting to swoop down and steal his job.
D:

I don't hate the US. I kind of pity where I live, because I know we could be doing so much better...


It's just this war thats dragging up all the prices and worsening everything.

Originally Posted by Allura Minelle

I don't hate the US. I kind of pity where I live, because I know we could be doing so much better...


It's just this war thats dragging up all the prices and worsening everything.

Exactly.
D:

I don't hate the United States exactly..
I just think that a lot of us asshole american's are messing it up..I think people don't like america because of the image the media/tv/books whatever send's out to them..Not all american's are that bad. D; Also, by Bush being the president I really don't think that's helping the USA..He's destroying the damn country.

I know VERY LITTLE to NOTHING about American politics but what exactly is President Bush doing wrong?
D:
Forgive my ignorance!

hehe I will never cease to find that question amusing. Especially as that's one of the main reasons that country is so despised. But it's not one thing, although the "American Attitude" is probably the biggest reason America is a laughing stock. And that probably means nothing to someone who doesn't already know why America is hated. So I'll go through it step by step.

• The American attitude is that America is better than everyone else and is never a bad guy. Heaven forbid any media should ever portray anything bad about the wonderful country of Milk and Honey *gag*
  Ever noticed how pretty much every other country admits their faults? And yet America has none.
  Ever noticed how you can watch a film from another country and it shows things for real, the good, the bad and the ugly. American films don't. They have clear cut good and bad. Which is synominous with the American thinking.
• The violence America seems to approve of. It's actually quite sickening.
  You have gun crime off the scale. I mean I can't think of anywhere except the ganglands of Africa where gun violence is such a problem.
  You have a car chase and your way of solving it is to run the driver off of the road, potentially injuring him and innocent bystanders, if not killing them. When all you need is four cars, or three and a central divide and you can stop a car dead without more than a scratch to each cars.
• No respect for anyone else. And by anyone, I am talking countries. And you may think you respect England, but you really don't. Practically everything I hear from Americans about other countries is really rather insulting.
• Level of education. To sum it up. SUCKS!
  A typical 14 year old here knows the equivalent of what it takes to finish American highschool. And yes, my sister and her kid both grew up in America and we have compared schoolwork.
  Which just brings me to the insane percentage of Americans in highschool who can't even find America on the world map. Yep, that's pretty hillarious. Not earning very many cudos points for that one.
• Your government I don't really need to go into detail about that one do I? Pretty much every American I know has already sussed that out.

I could go on, but I can already see a lynch mob after me, so I'm going to call it a day. But remember, you asked.

I live in the U.S. (unfortunately) And I've met a lot of citizens who are too gung-ho patriots for my comfort. It's horrifying to them if you don't agree with what the U.S. is doing, or even worse, aren't Christian or have any religion.

You get verbally lynched that way, I've had personal experience with that. The U.S. rather likes to instill fear in others, and they're like a bully in that sense, and because of that, a lot of people hate us.

And I totally agree with Jayms on every point they made.

because it just sucks except for alaska, alaska rules

Originally Posted by Arkeyla

Personally, I think the main reason that a lot of people might dislike the USA is because of your President. Yes, I know our previous Australian Prime Minister liked to kiss Bush's arse, but that doesn't mean the whole country agreed. It could just be media spin, but the impression I get of George Bush is that not only doesn't he have two brain cells to rub together, but he is stuck with the attitude that because he has 'the most powerful country in the world' it gives him a god given right to interfere in other cultures 'for their own good'. This sort of attitude is guaranteed to get up peoples noses and make them lose respect for the person who follows this theory. Unfortunately, I think this dislike translates to the American people through the simple fact that YOU VOTED FOR HIM, which is unfair, but sadly true.

Also, the stereotypical images of Americans that are filtered through the media aren't going to help. What we see overseas is: evil blonde bimbette cheerleaders, promiscuous dumb jocks, hicks with broad drawling accents, power-hungry businessmen, gang-happy gun-toting dark skinned boys from 'da hood', barbie-like california fitness freaks etc. These typecast images aren't the sort to instill faith in a people. Though I am fully aware that not all Americans will correspond to one of these dubious stereotypes, a lot of people will believe what they see and not bother to look deeper. Sadly, the attitude that 'if TV says so it must be true' is all to prevalent in the world today, and as many programs in the western world do originate in the USA, I can't see this changing any time soon.

I totally agree with you there in my opinion John Howard and George Bush are gay. They seem like male dogs sniffing each others asses. if i didn't know they had wifes i'd think they'd be married.

Because its the richest. America is, without a doubt, the richest country in the world, and thus is the most talked-about, and thus its the most you hear hate about. That's all.

Currently, I'm really disliking the war in Iraq...which, if I'm not mistaken, was declared "over" a few years ago. Which we all know it's not. >.>; We're not pulling out - why the hell not? We've done enough damage and suffered enough losses. It wasn't our business to intrude in the first place. I'd like to see this end in my lifetime.

I'm really disliking the fact that nearly half the women of voting age that I know would vote for Hilary Clinton purely because she's a woman. I'm serious. Doesn't matter where she stands on everything - only the fact that she has something different in her pants than all presidents before means anything.

Even if I were voting for her, I'd hate this fact.

I'm not a fan of the fact that an education doesn't REALLY mean anything; that you can just cheat through medical school, or graduate high school without being able to read at better than a third grade level. That my hard work and good grades only put me in the SAME position as the guy who ate crayons up until high school, and now cheats through college and just BARELY squeaks by. I hate that teachers in this country are so goddamn afraid of losing money that they won't flunk ANYONE.

You know how most people tend to freeze when they're put on the spot to answer a question? Well, only in America have I EVER seen someone freeze to the point that they'd think a triangle only has two sides.

I hate the fact that 90% of our population is either obese or anorexic. I've seen so much in the media to TRY and help, at least with the obesity epidemic...but then as soon as I turn around, I ALSO see people calling some random celebrity or another fat because she's toward the higher end of perfectly healthy. Yeah, you know. That's totally not gonna make anyone stress over their own appearance too much to realize they're overeating, and it's DEFINITELY not going to make anyone hate on their own non-celebrity-perfect body enough to harm themselves over it. Right.

What the hell is so wrong with making healthy food readily available? I'd really love to have a Subway in my town, myself.

I hate how we feel the need to label everything inherently "good" and "bad." And of course, we're ALWAYS the "good and perfect." I can think of other countries that try to hide their faults and only show their good sides, but not to the extent that we do.

And I hate how we rarely do anything to SOLVE the problems facing society. We blame the media even when it's not to blame at all, and then we don't even bother to DO ANYTHING about the media, let alone the REAL causes! What's wrong with this picture?

People here are violent beyond belief; I've even had attempts on my life made by classmates when I was in first grade...so we blame violent movies and video games. And yet violent movies and video games are still available to anyone. And no one bothers to tell parents to TALK to their kids about that kind of crap before the violence all around them begins to affect the way they VIEW violence...because that would just be too much work. >.>;

Now, the question...do I hate America? No. I don't. I don't mind living here, and I'm not planning on leaving any time soon. Maybe in the DISTANT future, but I'm fine with being here for now. But this place sure as hell isn't my favorite country in the world, I'll tell you that.

I constantly hear how much people hate us in other countries. And yet in my extensive travels, I haven't really found that many people who do hate us. In fact an awful lot of places love anything American and do their best to emulate us.

But people in the countries I've been to have been very warm and friendly and I have yet to meet with any animosity because I am an American. The key is simply to be respectful of people and their customs whether you're in this country or someone else's and perpetuate good will and show people that we aren't really "ugly Americans."

I've lived in the US my whole life and I must tell you right now this country sickens me. I can't even watch television anymore because it's always the same thing in these shows now days. Sure the story lines are original but after you get past the first season it begins to follow the same pattern as the others. Murder, deceiving and of course sex. Children see these things and yes they remember them growing up trying to mimic this pattern. Then our government sucks at the moment! Oh my god it's a circus! The infamous "I thought he was a quail!", the pointless war in Iraq, and our lack of interest in the education system. I'm thirteen and I'm outsmarting my parents and making valid political arguments with my dad's friends while my friends come over for doing our homework together and the first thing I hear is "Hey can I cheat off you?" I swear it's like people don't realize that WE'RE the future generation, WE'RE the ones who will be deciding the fate of this country when our generation is in control. Perhaps it's time we set up a system that makes that clear. I personally would love to move to England but I fear that if what some have said is true that I'll be far too behind to even hope of passing my first year there. I guess I'll just have to wait until I'm older and it is finally my decision where I want to live the rest of my life... For now though I guess I'll stick it out here praying to god that our next president isn't another Gorge W. Bush.

To be perfctly honest I have no problem with the american people or community I have a dislike of the presidency. I mean I'm not going to sit here and blindly state that the sun shines out of Gorden Brown's ass because it doesnt and I really really hate him with a vengence. but its like what Peacock_Bones has already stated I feel like the government has brought it onto themselves. I mean during the 1920's era and possibly before the government was constantly strikeing up the phrase 100% americanism when in the early eighteen hundreds they were getting as many people as possible to imigrate into america so they could take over the west of america and not just the east. Calling this manifest destiny and beleiveing or convinceing the people that it was God's will for America to take over the whole country.

Then of course you have the obvious hiroshima/nagasaki nuclear bomb droppings, the nuclear arms race, the quest for oil to keep up their vast economy because lets face it what would any country be without their economy?

Also even though I have outlined all of this I won't say that they are all bad because some of the things that the american government have done were understandable like protecting their national security, even though their space perception is decidedly off at times.

But yes thats my view on it...I'm sorry if some of my evidence is a little off some of this I have only just learnt. (I'm from England btw)Thanx

Someone said something a few posts back that I just.. Have to ( and I mean I HAVE TO ) point out.

The United States is not the richest country. We are in a RECESSION which will lead to a NATION WIDE DEPRESSION.

For the record : Being wealthy doesn't mean you're the Paris Hilton of the globe.

Additionally - we do not have the gold in this country to back all the bills we print. The American Dollar is dropping in value! Why? That's because, folks, we have billions of dollars in `` invisible money `` floating around our economy! Invisible money i.e. Credit Cards! And billions of 'em! Also, chalk it up to a lot of national debt for all the fun wars we like starting. Good times, good times. :/

Originally Posted by Jayms_fallen_angel

hehe I will never cease to find that question amusing. Especially as that's one of the main reasons that country is so despised. But it's not one thing, although the "American Attitude" is probably the biggest reason America is a laughing stock. And that probably means nothing to someone who doesn't already know why America is hated. So I'll go through it step by step.

• The American attitude is that America is better than everyone else and is never a bad guy. Heaven forbid any media should ever portray anything bad about the wonderful country of Milk and Honey *gag*
  Ever noticed how pretty much every other country admits their faults? And yet America has none.
  Ever noticed how you can watch a film from another country and it shows things for real, the good, the bad and the ugly. American films don't. They have clear cut good and bad. Which is synominous with the American thinking.
• The violence America seems to approve of. It's actually quite sickening.
  You have gun crime off the scale. I mean I can't think of anywhere except the ganglands of Africa where gun violence is such a problem.
  You have a car chase and your way of solving it is to run the driver off of the road, potentially injuring him and innocent bystanders, if not killing them. When all you need is four cars, or three and a central divide and you can stop a car dead without more than a scratch to each cars.
• No respect for anyone else. And by anyone, I am talking countries. And you may think you respect England, but you really don't. Practically everything I hear from Americans about other countries is really rather insulting.
• Level of education. To sum it up. SUCKS!
  A typical 14 year old here knows the equivalent of what it takes to finish American highschool. And yes, my sister and her kid both grew up in America and we have compared schoolwork.
  Which just brings me to the insane percentage of Americans in highschool who can't even find America on the world map. Yep, that's pretty hillarious. Not earning very many cudos points for that one.
• Your government I don't really need to go into detail about that one do I? Pretty much every American I know has already sussed that out.

I could go on, but I can already see a lynch mob after me, so I'm going to call it a day. But remember, you asked.

Wowzers.
O.o
THat's a lotta faults.
D:
Meh.
We have a lotta those here as well.
It sucks.
But at least we know where Australia is on the map.
xDDD

I don't hate the U.S (from norway btw)
I could never hate a country as a whole.
Any country can do stupid mistakes if it has poor leaders, and most countrys probably have at some point.
There are so many different people in a country, nice and not nice, as everywhere else..

I live in U.S. and I don't hate the country itself, I just hate the mistakes, the system, and how it's being run. I hate how everyone wants to always copy, copy, copy! I mean I work hard in school despite the fact that I get mostly A's and one or two B's. This is because I feel our education sucks so I should be making all A's :|[yeah it's kind of warped]. Patriotism is pretty much crap to me. I find it near impossible to love this country let alone support it.

Our president and our government, something that I could rant on for a while, but I won't. To sum it up, the war is something I feel should never have been started despite the 911. I agree with MusicPup, especially with the political argument thing. Something I also hate is how some people are voting for Barak because he's a different race candidate and Hilary for being a woman. I mean do these people agree on the points they try to make?

This doesn't mean that I'll want to move to another country, but I really hate how this country is turning out. I just *tears hair out*

I'm from the US and I can
say, truthfully, we're bullies. We are, and we're
headed by a man that isn't looking at (not only
what's best for us, the people of the US) but the
rest of the world, humanity as a whole.

The US is really hard to hate, since it is a country full of people. However, the US Government is normally what people focus all of their hate and rage at.

The government is a legit place to put your hate and anger, since politicians are just people with a fancy title. And people tend to do people things, like lie, make bad decisions, and fall short of expectations.

As a US Citizen, I can say I truly love my country. I know it's had its fuck ups and I will be the first to admit there is a fuck up when I see it. I honestly think that anyone who is interested in hating on the US would do well to hate the politicians who signed orders to war, lied to the american people and stole from the blue collar's wallet.

Judge people by the content of their character, not the nationality on their passport, that sort of thing.