Why do so many people in the world loathe Americans?

[UNCLEagent]

Yes - it's a cheap, easy target... but I'm home sick today and BORED. (http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/showbiz/article-23430576-details/Britney+Spears+arrested+and+strapped+to+a+stretche r+after+holding+her+own+children+hostage/article.do)

[WhiteKnight]

I can't decide if Spears or Hilton is my favorite celebrity train wreck. I guess I've got to go with Hilton, because at least she is truly a detestable human being and I can genuinely hate her.

In all honesty I feel sorry for Brittany. The stuff she's going through could happen to just about anyone regardless of whether they have more money than God and get to sit in the national spotlight.

And what the fuck was with people calling her fat after the movie awards? I don't think I could leave the house without becoming sexually aroused if every woman in the world had a body like that.

[UNCLEagent]

I agree the fat comments were cruel and way out of line. Still, she is one mucked-up chick, money or not.

[Al-Dog]

I can't decide if Spears or Hilton is my favorite celebrity train wreck. I guess I've got to go with Hilton, because at least she is truly a detestable human being and I can genuinely hate her.

In all honesty I feel sorry for Brittany. The stuff she's going through could happen to just about anyone regardless of whether they have more money than God and get to sit in the national spotlight.Have you seen that show TMZ? That has got to be the worst show on television. It makes me feel sorry for those Britney and her fellow pop tarts. They can’t even go to a fast food restaurant without being hounded.

And what the fuck was with people calling her fat after the movie awards? I don't think I could leave the house without becoming sexually aroused if every woman in the world had a body like that.I think they are talking “celebrity” fat, not normal human being fat.

[tstone]

Actually, they don't. They loathe current American policy.

Why? Read a newspaper.

[Jakester]

I thought they loathed Americans because we were trying to become more arrogant than the French.

[WhiteKnight]

I have personally found the French to be excessively rude, obnoxious and snootier than hell.

Mainly in the larger cites, where the concept of service ( we're not talking the loud, obnoxious ugly-American tourist here) is nil. Ask a simple question, like "Could you please help me?" or "Are you still serving dinner?" and (my experience) was that you'd be get with a distainful glare and they walk off. And strangely - this predated Bush!!!!

Store clerks gave a shit less about answering questions, waiters would simply walk away when asked a very polite question. That has been my very honest and real experience with the French.

And yet, when I went back in 04 to the smaller villages - they were as warm and as inviting as could be. Their hospitality was second to none. Even if the warm milk they served with breakfast was lumpy and the chicken was pink.

[WhiteKnight]

I think they are talking “celebrity” fat, not normal human being fat.

Dude, she is a normal human being. She just happens to have gobs more money and fame than the rest. It's because we judge these people more harshly than we would the average joe that they're all fucked up in the head.

You almost have to be a sociopath not to feel at somewhat sorry for her. Paris Hilton, on the other hand, is still just a bitch.

[Sgt. Awesome]

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/01_01/britney1RETNA0401_468x333.jpg

This one looks like her forehead is being attacked by an alien octopus or something.

It's all normal... then BAM! Octopus!

[UNCLEagent]

I have personally found the French to be excessively rude, obnoxious and snootier than hell.

Mainly in the larger cites, where the concept of service ( we're not talking the loud, obnoxious ugly-American tourist here) is nil. Ask a simple question, like "Could you please help me?" or "Are you still serving dinner?" and (my experience) was that you'd be get with a distainful glare and they walk off. And strangely - this predated Bush!!!!

Store clerks gave a shit less about answering questions, waiters would simply walk away when asked a very polite question. That has been my very honest and real experience with the French.

And yet, when I went back in 04 to the smaller villages - they were as warm and as inviting as could be. Their hospitality was second to none. Even if the warm milk they served with breakfast was lumpy and the chicken was pink.


Okay. I fucked up here. I tried replying to WhiteKnights views on the French and it posted my response.

Give me a friggin break - I have a fever and strep throat here.

Those words are mine - not White Knights. I am sorry.

[UNCLEagent]

Actually, that octopus on Britney's head freaked me out and i hit the wrong button.

Blame Brittney.

[Al-Dog]

Dude, she is a normal human being. She just happens to have gobs more money and fame than the rest. It's because we judge these people more harshly than we would the average joe that they're all fucked up in the head.We are in agreement.

She’s in her mid 20’s and has had two kids. She looks fine. What she needs to do is move away from Hollywood, maybe buy a farm in Montana or someplace, get off the booze, drugs and cigarettes and spend a year or 2 getting her sanity back before she winds up like Anna Nicole Smith.

[RedKarma]

I figure the world gets two kinds of American tourists - not counting exchange students.

One type is the tourist that is on a once in a lifetime trip. Sometimes twice. Honeymoons, visiting relatives, you know. The average guy. Most of the people I know who've gone overseas return and say how lovely the people were, tell one or two stories about things that are really different over there, and end their story with "It cost a fortune but I had a really good time."

Then there is the other type - rich people. Jet setters. People that can go anywhere, all the time, and frequently do. Ugly, demanding, frequently stupid & screaming rich people. They are impossible to reason with, ignorant of culture, and disregarding of others all because they have a fat wallet. I know this is a generalization, but so far based on the half dozen millionaires and their families I've known I've found this to be pretty true. Most of the wealthy treat everyone who isn't on the same social strata as themselves (or the faint few above) as dirt that isn't performing to their expectations so scream at it louder if you aren't getting what you want. Coming from some out of town pile just makes it all the worse.


Great topic Unc, I hope you're feeling better soon.

[UNCLEagent]

Thanks, Red.

I know there is no broad brush with which to paint cultures, and nothing good comes from that.

My topic started upon seeing the Brittney story - and thinking - "Is this how the world sees us?"

Sure, I did see the story and my first thought was (as usual, with Brittney) "What a fucked up chick" Period. On one hand, I do agree with the posters here who ellicit sympathy for her, citing the pressures of celebrity. But that is only one small fraction of the equation - Brittney is just one pathetic, dumb fuck-up who goes out of her way to create drama and the spotlight.

Suuuuure - she wants a normal, quiet "leave me in peace to enjoy the American Dream" lifestyle. Which is of course why she goes out of her way to entertain the media whores. And we all suckle at the sideshow.

Bigger picture - which I do take exception to with Tstone's comment - it doesn't always boil down to Bush. Yep - we lost a TON of clout with our loose-cannon diplomacy and your comment is valid. But I think it goes deeper and to this extent, I do find merit in the words and accusations of - in this case - Muslim fundamentalists, for example - who find us to be a plague on the world.

How many Americans can find Pakistan on the map? vs. How many Americans can name all of Brittney's children?

Where there used to be village market places with fresh produce and home cooked meals - we are now exporting Burger Kings and Starbucks on every corner of the globe.

Our culture is defined by the likes of Wacko-Jacko, WWF, David Hasselhoff and Brittney. And now we've got franchises off of a child's name (Hannah Montanna???!!!)

We've got a sinking public education system, and economy that preys and feeds off of the poor and unwitting.

Just today, I listened to an analysis on Hilary's new strategy: she focused too hard on showing her strength and experience - it bombed. So now her handlers will seek the 'sympathy' vote by having her appear as 'softer', more a victim and last nights showing, where observers commented it looked as though she were about to burst in tears - this they say, is all part of her new image designed to WIN!

We are, bottom line - a plastic, decrepit culture which consumes all in its path. I don't condone jihad - but it wouldn't hurt if we stopped to listen to their concerns.

[Queen Mae]

How many Americans can find Pakistan on the map? vs. How many Americans can name all of Brittney's children?



OH!! Me! Me! Me!

However, I must confess that I kinda suck at American Geography... I get all confused about those states in the middle, but I rock at European & Middle Eastern Geography.

[UNCLEagent]

Don't sweat it.

All one needs to know about all those states in the middle is that they all begin with a vowel and end with a vowel.

[Woodwraith]

NOw what was that state that was Hi in the middle and round on 2 ends?

Oh yeah...

Ohio :D

ok, now where's my Fontana Montana tickets?



I forgot. They were taken away from me for thinking up this silly response. :ohwell:

[Jakester]

Wow. I make a joke about the French and we get into this philosophical discussion. I should learn take a big drink of shut-the-hell-up.

[Nostromo]

Never had much use for America bashers in my country. What happens in Washington can be infuriating sometimes, but it's no better on Parliament Hill in Canada. One thing I know about America is whenever there's a job that needs doing, look for the Stars and Stripes at the front of the line. The dirtier the work that needs to be done, the more likely America will be doing the heavy lifting.

There is a long history of America being abandoned by its allies, and Canada has been guilty on that score. One of those times was in the early 1970's. The appended text is a broadcast editorial written by a famous Canadian broadcast personality Gordon Sinclair. It needs a serious update but it remains timely.


N

The Americans

Gordon Sinclair
Radio Station CFBR 1010
2 St. Clair Avenue West
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

"LET'S BE PERSONAL"
Broadcast June 5, 1973
CFRB, Toronto, Ontario
Topic: "The Americans"

The United States dollar took another pounding on German, French and British exchanges this morning, hitting the lowest point ever known in West Germany. It has declined there by 41% since 1971 and this Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the Americans as the most generous and possibly the least-appreciated people in all the earth.

As long as sixty years ago, when I first started to read newspapers, I read of floods on the Yellow River and the Yangtse. Who rushed in with men and money to help? The Americans did.

They have helped control floods on the Nile, the Amazon, the Ganges and the Niger. Today, the rich bottom land of the Misssissippi is under water and no foreign land has sent a dollar to help. Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and Italy, were lifted out of the debris of war by the Americans who poured in billions of dollars and forgave other billions in debts. None of those countries is today paying even the interest on its remaining debts to the United States.

When the franc was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it was the Americans who propped it up and their reward was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of Paris. I was there. I saw it.

When distant cities are hit by earthquakes, it is the United States that hurries into help... Managua Nicaragua is one of the most recent examples. So far this spring, 59 American communities have been flattened by tornadoes. Nobody has helped.

The Marshall Plan .. the Truman Policy .. all pumped billions upon billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now, newspapers in those countries are writing about the decadent war-mongering Americans.

I'd like to see one of those countries that is gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar build its own airplanes.

Come on... let's hear it! Does any other country in the world have a plane to equal the Boeing Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tristar or the Douglas DC10? If so, why don't they fly them? Why do all international lines except Russia fly American planes? Why does no other land on earth even consider putting a man or women on the moon?

You talk about Japanese technocracy and you get radios. You talk about German technocracy and you get automobiles. You talk about American technocracy and you find men on the moon, not once, but several times ... and safely home again. You talk about scandals and the Americans put theirs right in the store window for everyone to look at. Even the draft dodgers are not pursued and hounded. They are here on our streets, most of them ... unless they are breaking Canadian laws .. are getting American dollars from Ma and Pa at home to spend here.

When the Americans get out of this bind ... as they will... who could blame them if they said 'the hell with the rest of the world'. Let someone else buy the Israel bonds, Let someone else build or repair foreign dams or design foreign buildings that won't shake apart in earthquakes.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were breaking down through age, it was the Americans who rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old caboose. Both are still broke. I can name to you 5,000 times when the Americans raced to the help of other people in trouble.

Can you name me even one time when someone else raced to the Americans in trouble? I don't think there was outside help even during the San Francisco earthquake.

Our neighbours have faced it alone and I am one Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them kicked around. They will come out of this thing with their flag high. And when they do, they are entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are gloating over their present troubles.

I hope Canada is not one of these. But there are many smug, self-righteous Canadians. And finally, the American Red Cross was told at its 48th Annual meeting in New Orleans this morning that it was broke.

This year's disasters .. with the year less than half-over… has taken it all and nobody...but nobody... has helped.
ORIGINAL SCRIPT
COURTESY STANDARD BROADCASTING CORPORATION LTD.
(c) 1973 BY GORDON SINCLAIR

PUBLISHED BY STAR QUALITY MUSIC (SOCAN)
A DIVISION OF UNIDISC MUSIC INC.
578 HYMUS BOULEVARD
POINTE-CLAIRE, QUEBEC,
CANADA, H9R 4T2

[Still Crazy]

Um yeah the US held a gun to the London media and made them run the story. The rest of the world Jones for our media BS just as much as we do. Supply and Demand, if the demand for cheap American sensationlism wasn't there the stories wouldn't be there. But its all America's fault.

And for the record I can't name any of Brits kids and know exactly where Pakistan is.

America is the Ron Jeremy of the world.

[Bill_the_Pony]

Um yeah the US held a gun to the London media and made them run the story. The rest of the world Jones for our media BS just as much as we do. Supply and Demand, if the demand for cheap American sensationlism wasn't there the stories wouldn't be there. But its all America's fault.

And for the record I can't name any of Brits kids and know exactly where Pakistan is.

America is the Ron Jeremy of the world.

You mean it was able to suck its own dick before it got fat(er) and ugly(er) :confused:

[Al-Dog]

Hey Nostromo, thanks for printing “The Americans” broadcast. I’d read it before, but it was nice seeing it again.