Hey, I'm just wondering how you would try to describe America to somebody that thought badly of us/fell victum to propaganda/was just wondering? (I again don't know if I'm even putting this under the right forum )

America has many lifestyles, beliefs, values, and cultures (or is a combination of all or some of them) and I'm just here wondering how you would describe American ways to somebody from somewhere else, based on the values, lifestyles, beliefs, and cultures you grew up in/with here in America. That includes the whole story, good and bad, and everybody, from those deep-rooted Americans to those whose parents/grandparents/great-grandparends moved here from a foreign land and know their share of American culture (yes, I'm pretty sure that was a run-on, but I just hope it makes sense )

Like me, I don't pretend to know everything about my country (hey, it's pretty big, ya know ) but I can say that the "gangsta" or "black" culture is really affecting a lot of American youths, exposing them to things once only known in the deep recesses of New York City. And sometimes, that old "I'm American, I have nothing to worry about in other countries because ours is the best, and I am ignorant to everything except my own dandy life in Nowheresville" can hold true, or at least parts of it, and this is probably not all of it (note, SOMETIMES, of course not everybody, there's always an exception to everything, even this ) There is much more, and I don't expect absolutely everything, just what you know or can think of off of the top of your head. Don't the movies/governments (I don't know about the gov'ts...) set a steotype for us (if you think about it, almost everything)? We aren't always gun-toting crimelords, not always farmers with no education, do we all really love football, not all men are womanizers, not every business-person is a shrewd greedy b*st$#d. Or are we? Maybe there's just too many people to categorize us?

So go ahead, what do you think of America? What is it in your eyes? How would you describe it to somebody else? What is there to be proud of? What should we be ashamed of? What should we disprove and/or prove? What would make us better? Why do we think all those other countries hate us? Do all those countries actually hate us (just an offshoot, I think )? For every positive, can you put a negative? How do you justify your reasons or views?

America is still the land of opportunity. There is more goodness
than badness. The media likes to make things look really dangerous
and evil, but most Americans just want to live a happy and peaceful life.

We should be proud that we have extended our home to every country,
allowing them to bring their culture with them. We give people the right
to express themselves. We can choose any religion without fear of punishment.

I think that all other countries do not hate us. But, any negative sentiment
may be partly attributed to a sense of complacency and superiority that people
may see in us. We are the super-power of the world (for the time being) and
some of us act in way that would make others feel that we think less of them.

Basically, America is like one big happy, albeit dysfunctional family.
We fight, we complain, we behave badly at times, but when push
comes to shove we are strong, compassionate and united.

Wow, talk about a complex question.

The United States was formed in a "New World" of vast resources, with a native population that was overwhelmed by the newcomers. It seems only natural that it would develop into a wealthy and powerful nation. Yet, the sheer vastness of the nation has tended to create subcultures, often in conflict. (The most extreme would be the Civil War, of course.) In addition to this, the wide variety of immigrants to the United States has led to a remarkable degree of diversity, usually adding to the richness of the nation's culture, but sometimes leading to internal conflict. The tragic history of institutionalized racism still casts a dark shadow over the nation.

How does the United States compare with other developed nations with representative governments? (Anything I might say is greatly oversimplified, of course.) I believe, in general, that Americans are generous, naive, religious, patriotic, self-satisfied, politically moderate, xenophobic, stubborn, optimistic, and so on.

You pretty much hit the nail on the head. It's really a funny contradiction how Americans are so friendly, and generous in person yet sometimes the foreign policy is so brutal and obviously prompted by fear and greed.

I think part of the reason is that most Americans are blissfully unaware of their own history and of America's place in the world. For example, how many people are aware that the US overthrew a democratic government in Iran to replace it with a dictatorial Monarch who would do our bidding? How many Americans, in the midsts of shouting down France when it opposed us on Iraq, remembered that we owe our independence from England to France at least in part?

When people come here from other countries they are usually loaded for bear, because they think that people here are representative of our foreign policy. When they leave, they are usually full of praise for the people who live here.

I still have a hard time understanding how it is possible for people who are so nice in person to be supporters of the death penalty, to disregard the fact that their clothes are made in sweat shops, etc. etc. It just doesn't make sense.

I always have to think of Rome. At some point, the empire just caves in on itself because the citizens become naive, decadent and so full of themselves that they can't see the forest for the trees.

There are some rather fundamental differences between Rome and the United States; so I don't really see the two meeting the same end.

What do I think of America? Five simple words:

Pride goeth before the fall.

America is a land of where the possibilities are endless. A college dropout can create a computer company with little money in his pocket and see it transform into a computer software empire (yes...i am talking of Bill Gates and Microsoft).

America's diverse cultures makes us a wonderful nation because all ethnic backgrounds and religions can blend together and co-exist.

But like other nations, we have a horrible past. Native American slaughters/relocations and slavery. But that is what makes us better. How? We learn from our past to stop it from happening in the future. Our horrible Foriegn Policy pasts are also something we learn from.


Bakalite:

Americans are friendly. The government doesn't represent the attitude of the American people. Sure...some screamed for nuking of Afghanistan after 9/11, but wouldn't that be the reaction of any nation's people after a vicious attack?

Schizophrenic. I think that one single word sums up what America is. Because I believe we have one of the most free, open and tolerant nations in the world I believe that allows for all things to be harbored...all things to be preached...all things to be practiced and all things to flourish.

The American gov may be aggressive and brutal to some and to others it is the most giving and nourishing...take Africa for example NO other nation currently gives and comes to the aid of African nations like America does under the direction of George Bush himself.




America has fallen before and pride is something she has always held fast to. In fact I would say that America's pride is it's comfort during it's falls....9/11 is a perfect example.
Pride and especially true..national pride..is the cornerstone of the American ideology. I don't think that quote of yours has any relevance to America's perception of itself or is at all helpful in trying to describe America in a truthful and accurate way. I would imagine that even if America did fall from it's superpower reign in the world it would still be a country very full of pride of itself...much like the United Kingdom today.

Oh goodness...

To describe American policy as a whole as brutal is more than a bit unfair. I sure if comparisons were made to other "major" nations many of us seem to share an occasional brutality or five...

So how would I describe America: home to a staggering amount of people with an even more staggering amounts of different opinions (some people even have two...). The countries foreign policy is not perfect it has it's ups and downs...

(Unfair backing of Israel [down],
recognizing Hamas as a terrorist group while the EU is frozen in denial [up])

But I for one enjoy living here, though I sure I'd like anywhere with a comparable standard of living. I like people.

If I wanted to help someone who has fallen victim to propaganda about America, I'd direct them to some decent news sources, that's more likely to be believed much more than anything coming from me. As for black culture affecting America that's definitely true and largely positive. America really is a melting pot, as much as some Americans complain about it sometimes...

There are so many myths about America it's hard to know where to start...

Amen to that

The Great Depression was another "fall" but we built ourselves back up to become the economic dominator. If we do fall, we take the pride we have in our nation and we rebuild to regain the status we hold now. We, as Americans, take pride in showing our strength after being attacked on 9/11 & our determination to rebuild the World Trade Center towers. We did not back away from moving on.


turnea:


Agreed. There have been many nations that have done similar things that we have done or still do. We have made the same mistakes as other nations once before.

Those words almost hit the nail on the head. I would state it a little differently.

GREED COMETH BEFORE THE FALL

The United States and its people have always been able to overcome anything that they have come up against. This country is best known as a melting pot, and that everyone had a equal chance in our system.

Well not anymore, the greed of the companies(overpaid CEOs) in emphasizing the bottom line of the income statement over anything else, is what I would tell anyone that asks about the United States. The future of the middle class is at stake and maybe the whole nations could be too.

Goodness! That is just a tad bit ...ok not a tad...that is just outright inflammatory...don't you think? Like this kind of stuff has not been occurring since the invention of companies, bottom lines and CEOs it is just a lot more transparent. Not to mention it is hardly a trait reserved of only American corps, bottom lines and CEOs. Somehow I just do not think the concept of greed being a universal thing is all that far fetched. Check out what Mugabe's greed has done to his nation.

Also what makes you feel as if "The future of the middle class is at stake" ...maybe that is the case in Douglasville, GA but where I am from we are bursting with America's middle class and they all seem to be in more than good health to me. In fact I often look around me and think....my god where did all this money come from?

America is a lot of cultures, so to call America one thing is foolish. I think lots of Americans have become mindless, materialistic Hollywood slaves, but there's lots of good qualities to associate with certain groups of Americans. America has lots of the smartest people in the world, but also a lot of the dumbest. America has a lot of the most copasetic beatniks and a lot of the most intolerant Baptists. America has some of the best writers ever, and some of the worst.

I'd say that America is in a really dismal state right now. We're almost in a quasi-Brave New World state, where we're so drunk on all the flashy lights and cool gizmos that we've lost our soul, at least for most of us. I mean, I consider myself pretty non-materialistic, but whenever I go to Best Buy or stores like that, I still can't help but drool. However, we've got the potential for a real Renaissance if we can get past the commercialism and materialism that the media puts out to us.

I think that what America really needs to have is a week when the power goes out all across the country. I know it's a hopeless fantasy, but I'd like to see us live without our G5s and out Palm Pilots and our Monday Night Football. I don't see America falling in the same way as Rome (though it could,) but rather society simply turning into a dystopia because America is too distracted by the pretty shiny things to see what's really going on. When 90% of America can name a member of N'Sync and 10% can name a member of the Supreme Court, we've got problems. Serious problems. Not fatal problems, but critical ones none the less. If we don't solve these issues, I don't see American society progressing. It just doesn't work that way.

I just don't know where to begin.



http://www.dissidentvoice.org/Articles4/Sklar_CEO-Pay.htm



Now I guess that is a tad bit inflammatory. Before you get up on your almighty horse and look down upon me,just pretend like I might know a few facts too.

There never has been such a gap in pay between the top officials in the companies and the workers.



As for that comment I am still trying to decide whether you are serious or you think I am that naive. Questioning my post with sarcasm makes me believe you don't have all the facts or just wasting my time

The "pretty shiny things" we use and take for granted is what makes our economy go. The internet is a communications network that businesses use. Many companies have the internet as the place where customers order their things now. That effects businesses. Cell phones and palm pilots are used to send messages.

This is the technological age. Get used to it.



Your precentages are way off. N'Sync is old news. Who'd wanna name them? (sorry...little joke). Anyways, those precentages are bull. American society is progressing. We are creating new technologies to ge things done faster and better and we create things to prevent other things like vaccines for viruses.

What is your point popeye?...does this mean pop stars ...Britney Spears earned just under 40 million in 2002... will also be the end of our civilization too?
Or how about directors? George Lucas earned 200 million in 2002.
Maybe it will be actors..Cameron Diaz and Adam Sandler each earned over 40 million.

Like I said I often look around me and think....my god where did all this money come from?

I believe in my post I was referring to CEOS and companies,not Director and POP-Stars. You never answered my post but just changed the subject to people that are not connected to the discussion. We could have mentioned sports players,too.
But they were not included in my post.

America in a nutshell:

Big

Bold

Beautiful

Bonkers

Bashful

Becoming

America is my home. I love my home, but I see a nation that is in crisis and will be until we come to terms with the fact that we are really trying to grow up on the inside while facing some tremendous problems outside our borders as well.

We do not have one voice, even though one voice was encouraged for us to take after the September 11th attacks. Who among us is to say what that one voice should be if no others are allowed to be heard?

We comprise the best and the worst of people and all points in between. Generally, I find my fellow citizens good-hearted and willing to help but not always aware of what others need. We are capable of so much goodness. We see the effects of kindness every day, but we also see the effects of selfishness.

As a nation we are people of incredibly cluttered minds and lives. Would that Thoreau lived today if he thought that people lived "lives of quiet desperation" in his day.

America can pretty much do everything at once, carry on its business domestically and still be the big stick superpower abroad. We just can't do it all well, and no matter how much I love this country, I sincerely believe we need to change our priorities.

Popeye..

from what I could gather from your post your point was that CEOs make too much money...well so does Britney, movie stars, supermodels, directors, professional athletes, etc etc.

I am asking you what is the point? If you feel that the amount of money the CEOs make is greedy and will eventually put and end to our way of life here in the US why are the outrageous amounts of money that popstars, musicians and actors make not also considered to be a representation of America's greed and as you predict demise?

Corporate greed and scandal has no nationality. It is just that as an American..you are only aware of all things American

Here are a few of what I guess we could consider to be the world's classic corporate scandals :

BCCI

Barings Bank <---- they made a movie about this one.

Credit Lyonnais

And believe me there are many many more! So I would agree that you could use the descriptive words greed or excessive in describing the US if you wished to..but I would also argue that those words can be used to describe human nature...and America is not the only place where we can take witness to human nature.

America. What a Country. Americans, D'oh! Where to start.
We evolve. I really don't believe any other country does. To attached to traditions
and unwilling to try new things content to live off the deeds of those in the past.
We really cannot be defined in a few easy words or phrases.
The best of the world come here by any means possible.
If you build it, it will come.
If you dream it and sacrifice for it, it will happen.
If you don't, well life still won't be all that bad.
For all the different views beliefs opinions what ever we are a very peaceful people.
We have flaws BUT each generations that dies takes some with them and each new generations recognizes a few more as silly or wrong and leaves them behind.
The current state of greed will pass, and come again, and pass, and come again.
Is our system always fair or even perfect. No, but nothing else comes all that close.
and no system will ever be perfect, people will always have differences of opinion and what is right and wrong.
So please Enjoy it preserve it and sometimes just laugh at it

America...to me, is it's strength after 9/11 and it arrogance in thinking it couldn't happen to us. It's pride in it's people yet still discriminates. With all religions appreciated or acknowledge only the first religion accepted in America still dominates not joins with the others. America's people fight amongst themselves about destroying a fetus while orphans and the abused are abundant. Bravery also comes to mind when thinking about the young men and women fighting for the ideals of their country.

When next July 4th comes I will thank and apoligise to the Native American Indians who inhabited this land first. I will also thank the British for instilling in our ancestors with conservative morals and ideals. And as I wave my flag and eat my hot dog I'll pray that this country will only improve through Democratic and Republican concessions.

After having read the beast of a post which i have just written below, i just wanted to apoloogise for the doubtless patronising things i have said, please just bear with me, i dont mean to insult or upset anyone.

Hi there,

This is my first post, and probably my last as i registered just to add my two cents/euros/pence . As an English student of the ripe old age of 18 i just thought you guys would like to hear it from another angle; i.e as a "Brit" (by the way, just to clear it up I am ENGLISH not British, I'm not in denial, I was just born here)

As a youngster i used to watch all the American movies on TV, laughed at the one-liners and generally marvelled at how great the world was. I can recall saying to my mum after watching the news one day (something about foreign affairs including the US) and saying "Isn't it good that we're friends with them (Americans), we're the good guys" Aw, wasnt i a cutie... Anyway as i've got older the veil of naivety has gone and I'm living in a world that i'd never realised existed.

Now i see America as a tyrant. You simply cannot go around and start wars on other countries whilst under no threat from them. My anger is heightened by the ######## excuses for the Iraq war (and i'm talking about Tony Blair, too). It was about Oil. One has only to briefly delve into the Bush family past and his administration to see how obvious this is. Weapons of mass destruction. Yeah, i can see them; just before they blow up on some poor bastard Iraqi's house.

Now the war is just a catalyst for me. Pardon my ignorance, i've only been to the US once (to Florida on holiday) and i was warmed to the core by the friendliness and genuineness of people there, so this is no personal dig at you peeps, but i can see the whole global situation ending in tears....

You think the war was fought to fight for your freedom? I think you, as a nation, need to get out of your patriotic bubble, and take a deep breath. Freedom can be seen in many places. In many forms. But it can't be seen in Iraq, not under Saddam, and certainly not under the US. What about the third world which our nations all have a hand in keeping poor at our benefit. Free trade for the Western World is a farce. Ask the starving children wheres there freedom. I think the 9/11 thing (a truly evil and harrowing event - i shed many a tear) was a wake up call to the US that they are not a separate part of the planet, where the grass is green and bunnies hop by - Rather it is a hate figure for many people who are angry. Angry at their deal in life.

I think many Americans are ignorant of life outside America. And i think, with your status as the definitive superpower, that it a terrifying prospect. You ignore the Kyoto treaty, you drive for 9/10's of your total journeys anywhere (compared to 3/4 here - the remaining fractions are either cycling or walking) you drive massive engined gas guzzlers, nobody seems adverse to the massacre of animals via "hunting", your schools are billboards for corporate sponsors.

Your culture is one of fervent patriotism. I can admire this, i really can. But only when it is of a benelovent sort of way.... I mean, I get behind England in a game of football (the real kind of football - Don't get me started) just like everyone else does here, but I don't kick off about the greatness of my country because i've been told it is - i don;t blindly tow the line. Our co-operation with the Bush administration is unforgivable and how can the US be the only Western country not to adhere to the Geneva convention?!?!?! In a modern world, it seems, barbarity reigns. American patriotism extends to fooling yourselves that you are weilding the sword of liberty in every decision - every time. I'm not the only person who thinks like this.

I think what I'm trying to say, is that, well, in a selfish way, i want to live in a world that isn't full of cruelty and ignorance. Just wake up. For the sake of the planet, wake up. Realise that our economic growth isnt going to last forever at the expense of the poor and the planet. Lose your corrupt government, stop trashing your corner of the world. Make a break from your history and do something good for the world. I know the British Empire was a tyrannical regime, but it fell. All things come to an end. Dont take your wealth for granted. We are all going to die. Just dont let our grandchildren die from our fumes. Love your country. But love humanity in its entirety.

Matt

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO BYPASS PROFANITY FILTER

I didnt, calm down. I'm new here.

If I was running for office I would call America the land of the free and the home of the brave. It's a jingoistic description that leaves all of the hard and deeply thought out elements out, and everyone can jump on that bandwagon (exept the pro-slavery and pro-coward elements.)

America is the head of heresy in our modern world and it leads an infidel democratic regime that is based on the separation between religion and the state and by ruling people by the people. - According to Abu Gaith, Al Queda's spokesman.

Seriously though, I think it is the greatest, in the world, embodiment of individualism(not necessarily a good thing), corporatism, cultural diversity, entertainment, and social division.

If your white you alright,
If you brown stick around,
If your black (or latino nowadays...) get back get back!!!

Just for clarification, American didn't 'overthrow' anyone in Iran. Prime Minister Mosaddeq cozied up to communist elements in Iran which P.O.'d the U.S along with moderates and religious clerics in his own country. Yes, the CIA aided the rebellion and the Shah, who took over, was a crook.

With regards to France, you were correct about their help in America gaining it's independence. Without their arms, it would of been impossible to fight off the British. I think we have repaid that debt in spades though defending their existence in 2 world wars. But thanks for the Statue of Liberty.

America has made mistakes, but those don't define us. We are not conquerors yet we have become not only the beacon for hope and freedom in the modern world, but the most economically viable and strongest nation on the planet.

America hears the cries of the world as gives more money and aid than every other country combined. Emerging countries look to our Constitution when trying to form their own.

We are not xenophobic...China is the best example of that. Our markets are open to trade and we accept other cultures as exampled in our melting pot populace.

America is the best example of the democratic experiment.

God Bless her.

We payed back the French back then and the Spanish lets not forget them. Hamilton and Jefferson worked their collective bottoms off to pay back our revolutionary debts despite us being an upstart. When we landed at Normandy I remember someone paying homage to Lafayette. something like "Lafayette we have returned". Americans by and large as far as I have seen do not deny French help. I have however seen plenty of French people say we had nothing to do with world war I or II. The Statue of liberty is still probably the greatest monument in the US. I do not like Bush but I dont see the US as tyranical for attacking Saddam. It is the people and the troops who carry a war not the alleged motives of a select few politicians. It is the Arab League who are tyrants who forbade the topple of Saddam in 91 and who sat idle as Saddam slaughterd thousands of muslims. Bush was wrong... invading Iraq isnt. Invading Afghanistan certainly isnt either. It is those who defend the rights of men like Saddam and Omar who act tyrannically. Remember it is the people and troops who push the war and it isnt in our and their mind to wage war for oil. They believe because they truly care. You cannot judge the US because you assume the worst of a few politicians. That is tyrannical thought. The US isnt Bush it isnt Cheney it isnt Rumsfeld it isnt Rove it isnt Ashcroft it isnt Rice there are about 291,999,994 other US citizens and our motives and beliefs do matter.

Darn it is getting late in the day and I have not abused a brown or black person yet today. Guess need to go slap the wife around.

I would describe America as a joy, wrapped in opportunity, sprinkled with sweat and tears, leavened with imperfection, infused with grace, and garnished with freedom.

You sure could have fooled me. It appears they are running the country and getting the gullible American people to believe them.

So far we have had the Patroit Act,Wmds(lies),Supreme Court in their back pocket.


Oh by the way Cheney and his supreme court justice went fishing together for a few days and shared the same plane and same cabin. But he will be allowed to sit in on the case involving his friend Cheney and the Energy commission secrecy. That sure is unbaised.

I've spent a lot of time in America and I love it.....I've found the people to be friendly and welcoming, I like the variety & the feeling of enterprise & energy. I also like ordering a 'small' meal and getting enough food to feed a family of 10 !

And the wilderness is astounding.

Some administrations I don't hugely approve of, but I can't think of worse administrations in other countries, but I've found your average American to generally be polite & charming - and not nearly as stupid as we in Britian like to pretend they are!

Plus its hard not to like a country that produces the Simpsons! (although could you please take back Friends - its just terrible... )

What do I dislike?

I think your foreign policy can suck, but then, so does the foreign policy of most countries (except possibly the Scandinavians!) . Its just that you're a bigger country and so what the UK could get away with, the US gets derided for!

Ummm..I dislike the assumption that America is better, or that it evolves more, or is fairer or freer than other countries. It strikes me as a little naive.... the rest of the world goes through huge social changes, develops new technology, becomes more democratic as well....we just don't advertise.
( And most of the western European countries have also been 'super-powers' in their day - an advantage brought on by better technology, or a better economic structure at the time...everyone has their day in the sun I guess - but its not an unassailable position..... )

And you could mkae SUV's more fuel efficient....or stop driving them because they're big and a bit silly unless you REALLY need to 'offroad' on your way to the local multiplex........

But on the whole, a jolly good country. Well done.

Popeye they do run the country but we are not believing them. If you think Jane and John Doe America support the war in Iraq because they want oil you are sadly mistaken. The adminstration isnt duping the people the people are supporting their war for their own reasons and it isnt because of oil. The people drive and sustain the war not the alleged shady motives of a few politicians.

"America is a curious thing. One of the most pagan societies, but one given to all sorts of odd strains of religion, like evangelism and peculiar fanatical cavorting." - Spoken by a good friend of mine.

America is sickeningly commercialised, loud and given to sensationalism. Its people are genial and artless. They can be incredibly insular sometimes, and naive, but these stereotypes, I find, are more often proved false than true.

It is also stubbornly patriotic.



Possibly the most obnoxious thing that some Americans still insist. "We're so free, we exported pure Freedom to Afghanistan and Iraq against the wishes of a great deal of slightly less free people in Europe and the rest of the world! USA #1!!"

Reading back what I wrote, I see that it's fairly cynical. Really, I don't hate America. I'm just fairly indifferent towards it.

When I ask people why do they believe in the Iraq war, their number one reason is that they trust the Bush adminstration. All of them repeat the WMDS and he is a bad person, which is the same as Bushs reasons.

So as far as I can tell,a large part of the American public is blindly following and trusting in the current adminstration, without taking time to educate themselves on the foreign events.

No I don't trust him and you don't and quite a few others,but there are still too many that do trust him, after all the condemning evidence.