Thursday, September 9, 1999: Incoherence

[Muninn]

I know for a fact that the world has always hated us, no matter who our President is.

I have no idea why this thought is so prevalent on the internet because I've only ever met maybe one person who "hates" America. Why do some Americans believe this?

[Arloest]

From what a lot of Europeans tell me or just generally say, they like to poke fun at America's flaws, yes. But they also think Americans are interesting, and if they find one visiting Europe they like to flock around them to talk to them and stuff.

Basically, they recognize that America isn't a haven of goodwill and prosperity like Americans like to think it is (because it isn't), but they also recognize our positive qualities.

At the very least that's how they do it in Denmark.

[Arloest]

Also, Finland is the best country.

[nickspoon]

As a non-American I'd like to point out that I harbour no personal animosity towards America and would quite like to visit one day, although not for too long.

[Muninn]

Also, Finland is the best country.

But Finland is always drunk and peeking into sister Sweden's room.

[Tom_Radigan]

I know for a fact that the world has always hated us, no matter who our President is.

I have no idea why this thought is so prevalent on the internet because I've only ever met maybe one person who "hates" America. Why do some Americans believe this?

Why wouldn't they? Anti-Americanism is more prevalent than you realize. Also so many non-Americans, if they don't specifically say they hate us, believe some very bigoted stereotypes about us, such as that the country is violent (which it is in the slums and the Mexico/USA border area, a magnet for criminal scum of all types), or that we're a bunch of ignoramuses (never mind that I've found a lot of non-Americans who are hardly more sophisticated than we are.)

[Tom_Radigan]

Also, Finland is the best country.

Except Finland ended up in a shambles both after the end of WW2 and at the end of the Cold War. Fortunately Nokia came to the rescue in the latter case.

[nickspoon]

Why wouldn't they? Anti-Americanism is more prevalent than you realize. Also so many non-Americans, if they don't specifically say they hate us, believe some very bigoted stereotypes about us, such as that the country is violent (which it is in the slums and the Mexico/USA border area, a magnet for criminal scum of all types), or that we're a bunch of ignoramuses (never mind that I've found a lot of non-Americans who are hardly more sophisticated than we are.)

If you keep this up, we might have to add "persecution complex" to that list. Every nation, every ethnicity and social group has stereotypes. Those just happen to be the stereotypes for America; people believe that the French are lazy, that the Irish are drunk and the Italians are angry. People in the USA have stereotypes about Europe as a whole, even, but we don't complain that America is "anti-European". Stereotypes are at best inappropriate generalisations, and at worst wholly inaccurate, but you can't claim that they are taken particularly seriously, and certainly not that they apply only to America.

[Arloest]

Also, Finland is the best country.

But Finland is always drunk and peeking into sister Sweden's room.

I'm pretty sure I love you.

[Tom_Radigan]

If you keep this up, we might have to add "persecution complex" to that list. Every nation, every ethnicity and social group has stereotypes. Those just happen to be the stereotypes for America; people believe that the French are lazy, that the Irish are drunk and the Italians are angry. People in the USA have stereotypes about Europe as a whole, even, but we don't complain that America is "anti-European". Stereotypes are at best inappropriate generalisations, and at worst wholly inaccurate, but you can't claim that they are taken particularly seriously, and certainly not that they apply only to America.

Oh, trust me, I've known people who do take negative stereotypes of American very seriously, and when I try to tell them how things really are, they stick to their views anyway. And this had nothing to do with whoever was President at the time. And after 9/11/01, we have far more reason to fear the outside world than ever. The world is not a global village. It is a global ghetto.

[Trance]

Anyone else get a headache when reading a Tom Radigan-brand post like that one?

[Tom_Radigan]

Anyone else get a headache when reading a Tom Radigan-brand post like that one?

Sorry, I just happen to know the world is not a nice place.

[nickspoon]

And after 9/11/01, we have far more reason to fear the outside world than ever.

People like you are the reason that America has such a poor image.

[Tom_Radigan]

And after 9/11/01, we have far more reason to fear the outside world than ever.

People like you are the reason that America has such a poor image.

It's wrong for us to be frightened and angry when we received an unprovoked attack claiming thousands of innocent lives?

Incidentally, an Irish man on another forum I visit, much more sophisticated and brilliant than I am, has posted the fact that the unexpected side effect of the attacks was to destroy Irish-American popular and financial support for the Irish Republican Army, and that cause the IRA to finally make peace. This man, BTW, himself despises the IRA-and he dislikes Obama as well.

[Bocaj Claw]

You guys are totally making this commentary post a mood whiplash. I hope you're happy.

Sigh. I was destined to expend so much energy over the coming eight years making fun of George W. Bush.

It may have been a little out of place, here, but it's fun inventing nonsense words.