[ Poll ] How do people really feel about America

Do you like America?

It's great, we're all free		18.5%	[ 29 ]
It's horrible.		21.0%	[ 33 ]
I'm indifferent		26.1%	[ 41 ]
Really? Do i need to answer this?		16.6%	[ 26 ]
Mmm...pie		17.8%	[ 28 ]

Total Votes: 157

[Shady Person]

It's okay.

But on the other hand every country is great from one's point of view and amazing in an other.

[aermo]

I don't really have a good image from the USA as a country.

[Saraii in White]

I'm from the U.S. I have to say, our foreign policy and view of environmental issues during the last administration was s**t.

Now that that's out of the way: I genuinely like my country. I like the ideas it was founded on, even if it can be argued that the American Revolution had some very shady points, just like each side in just about every other war in the world. I like the idea of a flexible system that allows for change as viewpoint changes, and although I'm well aware that many other countries have political systems that are just as good or better nowadays, I know that there are also other countries who are much worse off. That being said, there are some things I detest: The fact that we funded dictators' takeovers in third world countries, the education system, the media, and the ignorant "AMERICA IS AWSUM!!!11" attitude among some people (I think the last three are linked). I don't like our racist history, but I am extremely proud of the people who fought to overcome that and so many other issues.

These are all mostly political opinions, not thoughts about the people themselves. It always makes me sad to see the image of us as stupid, lazy bullies. In the end, people are people are people, no matter where you go.

[Antthony]

Quote:

America scares me! An alaming amount of people don't seem to have any understanding of the world around them...

I blame the school system...

About that... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4pN-aiofw
I found this documentary quiet enlightening.

[xMisaMisa]

I, personally, like USA.
Well, I guess the thing I like is the americans.
I don't know why. I just do.

Here in Sweden, most people think americans are stupid, violent and.. well, unfair.
The rich are REALLY rich and the poor are REALLY poor.
Which is not quite the case here in Sweden.

The fact that you don't get medical care without insurance is outrageous to the population of Sweden.
Then again, we probably have the best medical care in Europe. At least that's what the swedes think.

And of course, we think their school system is s**t. Which, in some cases, it kinda is. A lot of schools don't focus on the religion, geography and history of other countries than their own.
Some adult americans can't even point out their own country on a globe. Nor the countries in which they are in a war with.

We also think that americans think that our country is filled with slutty blondes and that polar bears walk the streets.
Haha, oh the stereotypes. <3

My personal opionon though...
I love your super-sized cokes.
I love your stores and malls.
I love your variety of accents, and I love your TV-shows.
And your people amuse me. In many different ways. biggrin

[ColdheartedPsyko]

Antthony

Quote:

America scares me! An alaming amount of people don't seem to have any understanding of the world around them...

I blame the school system...

About that... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bx4pN-aiofw
I found this documentary quiet enlightening.

It's a little outdated, but still surprisingly accurate. The things that need change are materials, teaching, and the inner structure of the schools. I also think that school years should be lengthened to increase the learning potential of American students.

[Qlox]

I love my country. And I'm not a politician. smile

...But I don't think it's possible to like a country as a whole. I've adored my life spent here so far. I love the area I live in. But I couldn't live anywhere in the US, and I certainly couldn't say I love everyone. Every country has its pros and its cons. I love my country because of what I've seen, and I don't dwell on the bad because I'm not old enough or willing to leave. I'll admit that as a liberal, I like the concept of Canada, but I can't imagine not living near my friends and family and New York City! Silly, isn't it? And I admire other countries for certain aspects of culture, their rights, etc.

I hate that gay marriage is illegal and I hate that everyone's expecting Obama to be a superhero. That is all I will say about politics.

I don't agree with the statement that the rich are rich and the poor are poor - America is predominantly middle class. I know plenty of lower middle class people who don't have it great - small houses, have to get free school lunches, etc. But real poverty, ie don't always eat and don't always have a house, I've never seen. I've also never met a real "rich" person - just upper middle class people who have earned every cent. Maybe not by saintly means, but they didn't have to count on "old money" and an inheritance, and they don't live in mansions and drive limos everywhere.

Anyways, I think the world needs to bully some other country now. I'm very tired of being told how awful my country is by people who have never been there, or just saw one side of it, or who made up their minds before giving the US a chance to prove itself. Better yet, let's just love each other. Seriously.

[Qlox]

About the educational system: my school's pretty good. And I like that America's schools are separated by ability. My AP classes make me feel like a slave, but at least the work is challenging and the last of the idiots have been weeded out.

And the system gradually enhances itself; my mother never had geography, but I have had to memorize colonial maps of Africa and modern maps of western Europe. My little brother is learning things now in elementary school that I never learned until junior high.

Also, it's not up to the teachers to force a kid to learn. Either a kid can understand, they don't want to, or they just can't.

[Arasay]

Are US universities really that looked down upon? I thought that some of the private ones were okay. o__o

[NekoNillaAoi]

Arasay

Are US universities really that looked down upon? I thought that some of the private ones were okay. o__o

What I found interseting is how on TV you hear about people coming from third world countries going to the US and getting an education and then going to an Ivy league school. Those kids started with less than a lot of people in America and end up going to the best schools. I think US children tend to be a little too lazy...