Foreigners, what problem(s) do you have with America (U.S.A.)?

[hanselthecaretaker]

We all hear the excuses thrown around in Gambino's expansive thread -
http://www.elitefitness.com/forum/chat-conversation/proud-american-thread-552754.html

but to gain an outsider's opinion, what specifically do you think our failings are and what could we do to improve relations with other countries?

Intelligent discussion only; check insults and emotions at the door.

 

[katdav]

I think we (our government) is hypocrytical.

 

[hanselthecaretaker]

I think we (our government) is hypocrytical.

You're not a foreigner, but that's a start.

 

[b0und]

I really don't have a problem with Americans, US citizens for those who want to be pedantic, as such at all. I think most Westerners, at least in the English speaking world would probably feel similar.

The current US government however has done a lot of very bad things throughout the world, and from what I have heard they haven't covered themselves in glory at home either, ie the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

Anti-Americanism I think has existed for a long time, at least since WWII, but the Bush administration has aggrevated it and made it much worse through its actions, like invading Iraq and other stuff.

The cause of Anti-Americanism is complex, you could write volumes about it, jeallousy, envy, feelings of disempowerment by those who feel they have been oppressed by the US, US foreign policy, especially unilateralism. What is clear is that although Anti-Americanism has existed for a long time, the actions of the US government since 9-11 have made it much, much worse.



b0und (I could go on and on...)

 

[wootoom]

Foreigner- Hot Blooded

 

[javaguru]

I'm an American but from what I gather it's the hypocrisy. We support the UN and all those great American values we espouse but we disregard them when our national interest is at stake. For example, we signed the 1984 accords against torture but we have tortured or allowed to be tortured prisoners and in the Republican debate torture was generally supported. In the 1984 accords, degrading a prisoner IS considered torture.

 

[Gambino]

Foreigner- Hot Blooded

i got a fever of a hundred and...

 

[wootoom]

i got a fever of a hundred and...

check it and see

 

[javaguru]

check it and see

Pick3 rectal thermometer style?

 

[wootoom]

Pick3 rectal thermometer style?

bwhahahaahaha

 

[SpyWizard]

I really don't have a problem with Americans, US citizens for those who want to be pedantic, as such at all. I think most Westerners, at least in the English speaking world would probably feel similar.

The current US government however has done a lot of very bad things throughout the world, and from what I have heard they haven't covered themselves in glory at home either, ie the aftermath of hurricane Katrina.

Anti-Americanism I think has existed for a long time, at least since WWII, but the Bush administration has aggrevated it and made it much worse through its actions, like invading Iraq and other stuff.

The cause of Anti-Americanism is complex, you could write volumes about it, jeallousy, envy, feelings of disempowerment by those who feel they have been oppressed by the US, US foreign policy, especially unilateralism. What is clear is that although Anti-Americanism has existed for a long time, the actions of the US government since 9-11 have made it much, much worse.



b0und (I could go on and on...)

well, at least there was 1 good response..

this is how i would see it, or rather how i perceive others view usa.

 

[mountain muscle]

I am surprised that no one has said they have a problem with the millions in foreign aid the US provides them, or the billions in sales with which the US provides their economies.

Who mentioned hypocrisy?

 

[javaguru]

I am surprised that no one has said they have a problem with the millions in foreign aid the US provides them, or the billions in sales with which the US provides their economies.

Who mentioned hypocrisy?

I mentioned a rectal thermometer for Wootoom? Good enough?

 

[mountain muscle]

I mentioned a rectal thermometer for Wootoom? Good enough?

Damn how many can he handle?

 

[perkele]

The earth can't handle the extra weight of those millions of obese Americans. It's not an earthquake, it's just them heading for the McDonalds.

 

[GoldenDelicious]

the trouble with america...is that its full of americans

 

[GoldenDelicious]

in all seriousness what personally gives me the shits is that the US as a nation proclaims itself to be a benevolent global entity, when really, it is utterly self serving.

now its cool that a nation is utterly self serving, since thats what nations are meant to be, but when the country in question is economically and militarily superior to other nations to such a degree that it effectively bullies/opresses smaller nations, it starts to give you the shits, because the human part of me feels for the citizens of those opressed countries.

normally, id shrug my shoulders and think that having winners and losers is part of the human condition, and that the tide will turn eventually, and thats that...but then you meet stereotypical loud, ignorant americans, who have bought into their own governments propaganda and do not have the slightest appreciation of the inequity between themselves, and the citizens of the countries that their government has opressed/bullied in their names

so yes, im peeved on a couple of levels - at the elitist pricks who care nothing for the lives of human beings in other countries, and at the ignorant idiot consumer sheeple who have more information at their fingertips than anyone on the planet, and yet are so irritatingly ignorant.

its like a bunch of fat guys in a library, reading tittie magazines - so much potential, but all you have is a bunch of fat ignorant wankers

cheerios

 

[jerkbox]

in all seriousness what personally gives me the shits is that the US as a nation proclaims itself to be a benevolent global entity, when really, it is utterly self serving.

now its cool that a nation is utterly self serving, since thats what nations are meant to be, but when the country in question is economically and militarily superior to other nations to such a degree that it effectively bullies/opresses smaller nations, it starts to give you the shits, because the human part of me feels for the citizens of those opressed countries.

normally, id shrug my shoulders and think that having winners and losers is part of the human condition, and that the tide will turn eventually, and thats that...but then you meet stereotypical loud, ignorant americans, who have bought into their own governments propaganda and do not have the slightest appreciation of the inequity between themselves, and the citizens of the countries that their government has opressed/bullied in their names

no different than any other state....with the exception of the fact that we currently have more power....and therefore we come under the scrutiny of the world. The funny thing is, compare our history to that of England or France.....and who has the history of being the oppressor?

 

[Gambino]

i do find it funny that those who point fingers conveniently forget their own past and history...everyone loves being the big dawg untill they are no longer the big dawg

 

[javaguru]

Damn how many can he handle?

Pick3 probably knows....I think he's experimented enough that he has an algorithm based on taint measurement.

 

[Bikini Mod]

The very wording of the title of this thread is why NON-AMERICANS are peeved w/the attitude of MOST AMERICANS.

"Foreigners"? What, like the United States is the center of the universe and every one else is somehow just "out there somewhere"?

This is the internet with board members from all over the world. This is not US EF... We are in cyberspace, remember?

You see, the prejuidice and sense of overwhelming superiority is so deep-rooted that most Americans are not even aware of it. Hansel, I am NOT riding your ass, just trying to point something out to you.

It is sort of akin to the lighter peach toned crayon in the crayola box being named "flesh". Ummmmm whose "flesh" matches the tone of that particular crayon? The implication is that caucasions are somehow superior because that is "the proper color of flesh" or skin.

That and this quote from GD I think sums it up best:

"so yes, im peeved on a couple of levels - at the elitist pricks who care nothing for the lives of human beings in other countries, and at the ignorant idiot consumer sheeple who have more information at their fingertips than anyone on the planet, and yet are so irritatingly ignorant.

its like a bunch of fat guys in a library, reading tittie magazines - so much potential, but all you have is a bunch of fat ignorant wankers."


I was born in the United States but was raised very European to the point where I learned English at the age of five. I summered many years in my native Magyar Orszag and lived 6 months in Paris. I also maintain dual citizenship as it is my right through my parent's citizenship. So what does that make me?

I, personally perscribe to this philosophy when it comes to defining "who I am".

If a cat climbs up into an open oven that has been turned off and gives birth to her kittens in there does that make her young muffins? No, they are still cats.

As I said before, I feel that I am first and foremost a member of the human race. As for citizenship? I consider myself a world citizen. I am a human being before I am Magyar OR American.

 

[Gambino]

sorry BM, this is an american site with mostly american members
EF is based in NYC, an american company

 

[Bikini Mod]

sorry BM, this is an american site with mostly american members
EF is based in NYC, an american company

I know that the majority of members are American. Heck, the site is in English so unless one is an anglofon (sp) or can speak English they really wouldn't stay here much, now would they as they couldn't understand what is being "said". Not to mention the fact that bodybuilding/powerlifting, etc is most popular in the United States... think about why they expanded the site: to cater to a larger audience. But still, there is the limitation of language.

The point is that elitefitness does not exist in the US. It exists in cyberspace where EVERYONE who follows the rules is welcome.

Now unless Al Gore really did invent the internet, I see your point but your arguement does not hold water.

 

[Gambino]

I know that the majority of members are American. Heck, the site is in English so unless one is an anglofon (sp) or can speak English they really wouldn't stay here much, now would they as they couldn't understand what is being "said". Not to mention the fact that bodybuilding/powerlifting, etc is most popular in the United States... think about why they expanded the site: to cater to a larger audience. But still, there is the limitation of language.

The point is that elitefitness does not exist in the US. It exists in cyberspace where EVERYONE who follows the rules is welcome.

Now unless Al Gore really did invent the internet, I see your point but your arguement does not hold water.

i know we are just arguing semantics, but EF truely does exist in the usa...BRR has a office and everything
and al gore never claimed to invent the internet, bullshit rhetoric

 

[Bikini Mod]

i know we are just arguing semantics, but EF truely does exist in the usa...BRR has a office and everything
and al gore never claimed to invent the internet, bullshit rhetoric

LOL

I know all about BRR, talked to him many times personally.

Come on now, you know damned well my comment about Al Gore was freaking funny...

But I reamin steadfast in my point of view. Regardless of where the corporate office is locate - hell, if the site got so hyuge and GS got so cheap that they decided to outsource to India would that automatically mean that EF would then be an Indian site and all the Americans would become the "foreigners"? If we used your arguement then by default, yes - the tables would be turned... C'est nes pas?

 

[Gambino]

LOL

I know all about BRR, talked to him many times personally.

Come on now, you know damned well my comment about Al Gore was freaking funny...

But I reamin steadfast in my point of view. Regardless of where the corporate office is locate - hell, if the site got so hyuge and GS got so cheap that they decided to outsource to India would that automatically mean that EF would then be an Indian site and all the Americans would become the "foreigners"? If we used your arguement then by default, yes - the tables would be turned... C'est nes pas?

yeah, that's the beauty of the internet, global networking
and i wasn't calling you "bullshit rhetoric" i was refferring to the often quoted diss against gore

 

[Bikini Mod]

yeah, that's the beauty of the internet, global networking
and i wasn't calling you "bullshit rhetoric" i was refferring to the often quoted diss against gore

Oh I know.... We cool.