This is another poll for a class assigment.

The latest Gallup Poll finds an increase in the percentage of Americans saying the United States rates favorably in the eyes of the world, from 54% about one month prior to the start of the war in Iraq to 61% on April14 - 16, after U.S. forces were in control of most parts of Iraq.

This is what my question is based on. I would like to know what America's Debate members think.

I voted "View Result (Null Vote)." I found your options to be too limiting.

What do you mean by "rates"? And do you honestly think that the ENTIRE world shares ONE view regarding the US on any issue?

I would also hope that you come join us in some other threads and debate with us. Otherwise, we may get sick of doing your homework for you

I too found the choices to be somewhat limiting, so I didn't vote at all. If you had added a "Don't care" option, I would have voted for that.

I think I'd like a word with your teacher. Mind inviting him/ her to the forum?

I, too, voted 'null'.

I nixed my vote as well.

I was going to try despite the limitations set forth in the poll, but I still couldn't decide. I didn't take the "don't know" option because I think it depends on whether we are talking about civilians abroad or if we are talking about international governments. Beyond that, I think it's kind of a catch-22. I think there are many countries (government and people alike) who view us unfavorably, or at least with apprehension, but who may not be as vocal about it due to benefits they receive.

I voted "Don't Know" because though I'm not uninformed about world opinion, there are too many variables for an answer to even be knowable when discussing the world as a whole. Or in other words, I don't think the question makes a lot of sense. If you asked how do the citizend of Liberia or San Marino view the U.S., then the question would at least be answerable though it'd make a lot more sense to ask a polling firm than the posters on a forum like this one.

San Marino loves us!!

I agree with you Izdaari.

Oh dear, exodus - it looks like you're gonna have to rephrase this one. I gave it a "null vote" as well. I'd agree with Jaime that it all depends on what you mean by "rates" - and "the world". Obviously, large sectors of "the world" would "rate" the US very differently as, say, a military power compared to a humanitarian power, as a place to live compared to a country with which to enter into policy negotiations.

I'm curious about the 3 members who voted "favorably" & the one who voted "unfavorably."

How were you able to arrive at your answer?

Mine's null, because of the reasons that have already been mentioned.

Are you going to come and debate with us in some of the other threads, exodus? We like having new members, but I'm not so keen on the idea of doing your homework for you.

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO VOTE

This is a bit ridiculous,

It seems simple enough to me. Basically, is the US popular or unpopular. If the question had asked the same thing about Libya, for instance, it wouldn't be so hard to answer. I assume it was asking about overall perception.

The World is *** NOTICE: THIS WORD IS AGAINST THE RULES. FAILURE TO REMOVE IT WILL RESULT IN A STRIKE. *** off at the U.S. and I dont blame them

If you travel extensively you can easily vote overall unfavorable. The Irish like us, the Brits 50/50, the Spanish were apathetic before this recent war, some countries dont care, a good part of the world gets real close to hate, and Im not talking only Arabs.
Canadians always wear a flag on some part of their gear so that noone mistakes them for US citizens, theyve been doing this for the last 20 years. I realize this view may seem abrasive, but its pretty real. Of course if you have money everyone will kiss your butt, then curse you behind your back.

Oh dear!!!.

One more poll that presumes the World IS America.

Or are you quantifying the way Americans think?.

Please explain.

Regards...Alan

Don't see many people eating Queensland Fried Kangaroo.

Ripper........love it, onya

Such a cultural gift to the World.
What a way to make a mark in history.....The inventors of fast trash food and purveyors of fast trash invasions.

Regards.......Alan

Hey, everyone's gotta have an image

BTW...Weren't you guys the criminals the Brits sent to heaven while they stayed in hell back home?

Oh, please everyone, stop hedging this.

I voted unfavorable. Nobody likes to be forced into anything. Everybody hates too much power over themselves.

Unless you happen to like to cowtow to some overbloated superpower. I would call that very perverse.

If you review some of my other posts, I go to the idea of will. Everyone exercises will--it is our means to survival, our means to production, and our means to success in the world.

The USA is now exercising its will enormously. Can the rest of the world trust our leadership to do this in the right way, however that is defined?

Would you trust, oh say the UK, to do so, as an American?

Is it just irony that our ancestors fought a revolution against another empire, and another George?

The point hugo is trying to make is that so many people say they hate America meanwhile they just contribute to its wealth by buying American products and going to American universities, what would they be doing without America? Hmmm.

Oh and by the way, what's onya, sorry I'm Italian, I don't speak Australian .

CP

How can you guys respond to this when the question is worded so vaguely? Are we discussing the United States government, the people, corporations...what? Additionally, "The world" is pretty vague, don't you think?

I need at least 12 more votes for the assigments.
Please take the time and vote. Thank you and remember it,s only a poll.

exodus

I voted unfavorably. Several factors figured into this vote and I'll list two.

1) Because of the view many foreigners have of US support of Israel. Our foreign policy was the key factor of 9/11. That doesn't mean that I don't agree with our policy toward Israel. I think on its face it's the right policy; we should support Israel, however we are not even handed with our expectation of Israeli and the Palestinian leaders.

2) Because of the war in Iraq.

I do believe that in the coming months we will begin to see a change. We already see changes happening in Germany where the minority party who supported the war in Iraq is becoming increasingly popular.

France, where the actions of Chirac leading up to the war, the unveiling of his cabinet's actions prior to this war, and the connections France has to Iraq are being exposed.

A new Europe is rising out of the ashes of totalitarianism. They have not forgotten their past. They respect the blood shed to free another country. They will keep spreading that message.

The ME roadmap is on the horizon and with it comes stability in that region. We wouldn't have seen a Prime Minister of the Palestinian people had it not been for this administration's resolve.

Iraqi citizens, scientists, former Baath Socialist Party members are beginning to come forward and disclose Iraqi secrets. The US and its coalition members are working to establish an interim government so we can sink back into the shadows and let liberty, freedom and democracy work for the Iraqi citizenry BY the Iraqi citizenry.

People throughout the world will see that our intentions are good, that our leaders say what they mean. Once again, the US will earn the respect of people around the world and be looked upon favorably.

I think. lol

CP.
There is a vast difference between HATING America and HATING Americans.
Please bear with me a little.

America was once the 'Gentle Giant'.
Sure it stuffed up sometimes messing around in the World, but then again which major power didn't?.
America gave us heaps of things, without force, our choice, we wanted them because..because we just did.

The 'Gentle Giant' got wealthy and powerful, not the people, mostly corporations and some lucky individuals.
It shucked off it's cloak and metamorphosised into the frightening 'Black Hole' we have now.

We out here are worried about what this 'black hole' of America will gobble next.We want our 'Gentle Giant" back.
In the meantime allow us to be disgusted with America and feel for Americans.

Thanks and be well....Alan

PS.......ONYA.

It's short for...Good on You/ Well done..../Good on Ya.
May I offer one more??..........G'Day.
OZ short for.......Hello/Good Day.......

exodus,

This information is a little outdated, but it may assist in your assignment.

http://people-press.org/reports/display.ph...p3?ReportID=175

I voted 'Unfavourably', because I think that many people, when it comes down to such a simple question, will think of the end of the cold war, the massive American military, America's disregard for the rest of the world (See; Kyoto, ICC, war in Iraq), trash food/ culture and most of all, George W Bush, and whether its fair or not, I don't think the majority would look upon all this with any gratitude.

America has done a lot of good for the world, but its currently acting in the worst possible manner.

Yes Moif.

If I didnt suffer from acute verbal diarrhoea I might have said it in as few words.

Take care..........Alan

WOW, this is perhaps one of the most exagerated myths in American culture, and worth its own debate.

1.) American products? America imports practically everthing, from the clothes you wear from Asia to the food you eat from Mexico and South America, the cars you drive from Germany, Japan, as well as other countries. What American products are you speaking of?Macdonalds?
I believe software might qualify, however you can get blackmarket software in Europe or Asia for 1/10th the price asked for in the US, also pharmaceuticals. Our trade deficeit is severely lacking. We industriously make little now in this country.
We do produce arms, like no other.

'What would they be doing without America?'

I am sorry, but this is...a joke? Laughable. Unbeknownst to many Americans much of the world has lived, loved and prospered without our benevolent hand in their lives, and will continue to do so, and WISH to do so.

Please remember, we are only 500 years old, a baby in the world. There have been many opportunities opened in the US, a program unknown, but NOT the solution to all, for all, or an end of all growth or change, nor a viable option to many cultured and intelligent comunities/countries on the globe who have a good 2000 years ahead of us.

Might does not equal right, and the countries we are strong arming have seen many overthrows and colonizations. This is not new to them, only new to us, being naive and tantramic in our supreme ideology. It is WE who have much to learn.

unfavourably, but does it matter. we have what everybody else wants and the military to back our interests. in the new world where bilateralism rules over multilateralism, we have what it takes to survive and the Bush Administration knows it. that's why france and some other european countries shake fists at us behind our back, but will deal with us in the market place. that's all we need as long as we have a military strong enough to defend ourselves, and back all those beg our help.

Yes, it does matter. I'm sure historians of all the empires throughout history would be more than happy to correct your assessment of things.

Who is the second party in this "bilateralism" of which you speak? Or did you mean "unilateralism"?

He means whoever we are dealing with at the time. Take North Korea...they don't give a rat's rear end about the rest of the world, just what they can shake the US down for. No "multilateralism" needed, since only one party matters--us.

APOLOGIES Quote went wrong!!!!
He means whoever we are dealing with at the time. Take North Korea...they don't give a rat's rear end about the rest of the world, just what they can shake the US down for. No "multilateralism" needed, since only one party matters--us.
OOPS!!!.......Sorta blinked when I saw this

Korea...They don't give a rats rear end about the rest of the world....

Now I feel sure you dont want me to go into details about 'rats rear ends' and Security Councils, Iraq invasion and the rest of the World do you? because I am sure it is in enough bas-relief to be obvious.

As for shakeing down the US..........and perhaps I am asking a bit much here but if anyone has seen the Peter Sellers film 'The Mouse That Roared' they just may get an insight into the way it pans out.

Huh? You cant be serious. Please explain in more detail, lest it be necessary to explain that the US is not the only government/people on the planet who have a say in world affairs and particularily on the North Korean problem. I dont understand you here.

Within the subject, this is exactly WHY the world has a negative view. Its only 'WE' that matter?

What I meant was that only the US matters to North Korea. They want our money. No other government is so willing to give away money to appease dictators and keep the peace. I did not mean that in a boastful way. It was North Korea who asked for bi-lateral talks, rejecting the US's insistance on multi-lateral talks. Nothing came of the joint meeting between North Korea, the US, and China. North Korea did not seemed interested in negotiating with China at the table.

THAT is what I am talking about that bi-lateral negotiations will be the model of the future.

Sorta like Saddam Hussein?.
Nahh.......Just 'cos he was zapping US Mortal enemy No1..Iran at the time........nahh
But..............
You are right in saying that no other government is so willing to give away money to bribe ..........SORRY..SORRY I was thinking of Turkey...SORRY, appease dictators and keep the peace.

Such an Americanly simplified way of seeing things .

Regards....Alan

Like most people, with the intelligence of a 12 year old, you are good at using smileys.

I agree, stupid, wasn't it??

Tell me.........Am I supposed to reject the sort of idiot reply I posted, but accept the idiot reply you posted?.

Or should we just accept our differences and let me buy you a beer?.

No smilies.......

Regards.Alan

I'll take that beer.

Just to correct a bit, Turkey has a representative government, not a dictatorship. Sure, it's not perfect, it is repressive of minorities, but not a dictatorship.

I took it at face value, based on the number of nations that supported the war vs. the nations that didn't.

But the poll as it is phrased can't really tell you anything. So it was a day when the doves decided to take your poll. Tomorrow might be a good day for the hawks.

Some content might get you a better grade!

Mother made her living taking polls, counting inventory in stores to see which products were selling, and which were not. (The most dramatic failure that I recall was "Smoker's Cough Drops." The merchant that sold a box thought that perhaps they had been shoplifted, as he didn't recall selling the box.) Getting people to respond to a poll has always been difficult. A Time magazine I picked up at the store this morning says that only 5% of Americans are now willing to respond to a poll.

I am participating in this forum because I am willing to express an opinion. I find it odd that an active participant here would not be willing to pause long enough to say yea or nay. Our nation is advertising itself as "The Only Remaining Super-Power." I think the world at large is seeing us as a school-yard bully, but then I tend to go on-line and read the BBC rather than tune in Fox news.

I listen to the late night hosts mock the Canadians, the Germans, etc. Even the countries willing to join the "Coalition of the Coerced" were largely derided, because most did not actually have any military forces they could send.

Our Congress has voted that "Freedom Fries" and "Freedom toast" will be served in the Congressional restaurants and aboard Air Force 1. People who already had French wines in their cellars were opening bottles and pouring them down the drain; thinking perhaps, that there would no longer be a profit to the French from the sale of those wines. My schools taught me that the French people too, fought a revolution. I suspect that they still see themselves as a Free Nation.

The phrase, "The Ugly American" has somehow slipped from American vocabulary, but I suspect that it still reflects how a major portion of the world sees us. This mornings Time suggested that the Democratic Party is incapable of using a short, memorable campaign message. Perhaps they could do a pre-empt on the "Carrier Campaign," by picturing George Bush in military uniform, on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Lincoln, a fighter jet in the background, and simply captioning the picture "The Ugly American."

Welcome curmudgeon.



I am afraid this is too close to the truth.

It has often been something of an anomaly to me that we, out here in 'never-never' land, appear to get the wrong and slanted news, according to some Americans.
I am afraid America has gone light years past the innocuous school-yard bully stage and is now bordering on it's own brand of terrorism.



Mr Rumsfeld himself is the epitomy of childishness with his insults to those who, for their own reasons, did not agree.
"I'm gonna get you for not playing my game".
Immature rich kids.
Even those who joined the "Coalition of the Coerced" are a non event in the eyes of the critically testoterone overloaded American bully mob.
America is paying us.......
BULLDUST.
Us in OZ have got to find a measly $367million over 3yrs with a 21million population.




No, we dont see America in that light any more.
We did see it as a friend, mate, pal and buddy.................NOT ANY MORE.

I suspect the majority of Americans really dont give a damm.

Regards.......Alan

Alan,

What reason did your PM give for joining the "Coalition of the Willing"?

Just curious why you would characterize him as "coerced".

I am sure he must have given some type of speech explaining his position and am curious as to what he told you.

Amlord.

Almost word for word the same 'Alice in Wonderland' type tales that GWB and Blaire gave.

Although the full truth will never be admitted a large majority of us are now asking why we took part when the reasons given were such transparent lies, and as time goes on are becoming even more transparent.
Close on 70% of our people didn't believe it then with 12% don't knows.
The belief that coersion was used on Johnny is becoming an increasing reality.

Our gripe is that 70% appears to be enough to well and truly elect a Government but not enough to stop it from doing something contra to the peoples wishes.
Once the invasion became an inevitability, a portion of the anti and don't knows swung over to support on the pretext of "well, our boys are there now so we might as well show them we care".
The resignation factor that government polls often omit.

Where are these WMD's that were such a clear and present threat to OUR society.
So clear and present that immediate invasion was the only option.

All fairy tales, and we know Rumsfeld loves them because he was a little concerned with 'Henny-Penny' and the sky problem.

Make no mistake, America is in the process of committing itself to World domination by coersion, economically or by force of arms.
The coalition of the coerced ( as curmudgeon so aptly put it ) are the first to become prostituted to America. More will follow now America controls a fair percentage of the Worlds oil.

Regards........Alan

i voted don't know because, the choices was bad. the question was bad too.
I think that in the eyes of world, the usa is a country of freedom.In the 18 19 & 20th century, usa represent the alternativ of the totalitarism in europe and in the rest of the world. USA represent a hope for a lot of people, this is The New World we can build together. I think it's always like that.


But today, a lot of people throughtout have the feeling that us government want to control the world with the média, the petrol and the free market. The world organization of the trade (OMC), the United Nation (UN), and a lot of internationnal instances serves the interests of us. In Europe and in a lot of country throughout the world, us government impose its point of view by the economic blackmail or the military force,(MGO(Monsanto), irak, treaty of kyoto, international penal court,...)



And i have the feeling that americans consider the 11 septembre like the beginning of the third world war. I'm not agree, this is a terrorism attack but not an act of war.

sorry for my bad english

Are we talking about the government or whole America? Well, if it's about the whole United States of America, then I think my vote which went to "Favorably" was not a wrong choice. I think that the world just disagrees with our government, not our American culture. You see, I have a friend who is from the United Kingdom and she told me that she doesn't like the U.S. government but she likes our stuff. And she also mentioned that her friends also don't hate the United States of America at all.