Is America, Really as bad as people say? Options

[CrazayChristian]

I know, I'm an American, why am I asking this?

Well, I've heard both sides of the story, and I still don't see why people dislike America.

I came across this topic:

Click

And I realized that there must be some sort of prejudice involved.

In my opinion, we are doing alot already. We actually have more troups in the yugoslavian area than Iraq, and I think we lose more people there than Iraq. We have troups there to help stifle the fighting.
We have troups in Iraq so that we can help them to defend themselves.
We are the big brother of Isreal.

And yes we've had some bad moments, such as the bikini Islands. But, you're expected to make mistakes. Look at how the European powers did hundreds of years ago.

Some people blame the president for the problems, but put yourself in his shoes, to control the most powerful country in the world and try to make everyone happy. It just doesn't always work out.

So, I'm wondering, why do certain people (almost entire countries) dislike America?

(I'm curious about my facts, and I figured debate would be the best way to discuss diffrent sides)

[medic]

I have one way of looking at it, if you think America is a bad country - I will put you on a plane and send you to Somalia for a while. Then we will see how you feel about America after that.

[*mipadi*]

I have one way of looking at it, if you think America is a bad country - I will put you on a plane and send you to Somalia for a while. Then we will see how you feel about America after that.

That's the kind of attitude that keeps America from improving.

I love America, but it's not perfect; the US does act irresponsibly in some world affairs (Iraq, the environment, etc.). I, for example, don't criticize the US because I hate it; I criticize it because I love it, and I want to see it improve, to be the best it can be, and be an example for the rest of the world. America gets nowhere when people just label critics as unpatriotic and offer to ship them somewhere else in the world.

[Spirited Away]

That's the kind of attitude that keeps America from improving.

I love America, but it's not perfect; the US does act irresponsibly in some world affairs (Iraq, the environment, etc.). I, for example, don't criticize the US because I hate it; I criticize it because I love it, and I want to see it improve, to be the best it can be, and be an example for the rest of the world. America gets nowhere when people just label critics as unpatriotic and offer to ship them somewhere else in the world.

It may be just the kind of attitude that keeps America from improving, but that's the attitude has shaped America to be what it is today. The majority of immigrants came to America because they believed America to be a better place than their own country. To hear people rant about this and that about America just doesn't make sense to us [immigrants] most of the time unless those same folks really know what they're saying. And the only way for them to know what they're saying is if they've seen what we've seen for their own eyes, lived as we lived... etc.

Seriously, I would totally understand those kinds of comments if it came from someone who traveled outside of the States before or understands politics and culture, but if the person hasn't done or know any of that, it sounds like just another unhappy brat trying to make everyone else unhappy.

Yes, I completely understand and agree that criticism is a great way to improve things. However, I'm sure you know about constructive criticism--from those who really know, and plain criticism--from those who don't know what the heck they're rambling about. Most of the time, people don't give constructive criticism. I love constructive criticism, but I can do without the unconstructive ones, and I'm sure the same goes for America.

Edit.. i just realize i went off ranting myself... sorry.

This post has been edited by uninspiredfae: Jul 7 2005, 11:54 PM