The Image of the United States Throughout the World

[WildBill]

I am starting this thread, because I don't want to hijack SeamusTx's thread about the shooting in Holland. I think that it's an interesting topic. Of course I don't want it to turn into a discussion of religion.

...I wonder if most Americans know or care how this type of news coverage adversely affects the image of the United States throughout the world.

Count me in the "don't much care" category. My time abroad taught me that when you are the big dog on the planet, all the little dogs living in your shadow develop feelings of inferiority, even if (or perhaps, especially if) it is the big dog who is holding the wolf -- or the bear -- at bay. They will find all kinds of secondary stuff to yip about, whether it is guns, fast food, SUVs, languages, treating military exercises as practice for war instead of camp-outs, etc. (Note -- you will also find this at the root of the Arab/Muslim hostility to the West)

Mass shootings happen abroad as well, and are not exactly rare, even in allegedly well-behaved European countries. I think it was Kopel or Lott who documented this in one of their papers on mass shooting event. Europeans like to snipe at us for individual citizens killing each other and call us violent. They tend to overlook that throughout history they have killed far more of their own citizens, they just use their own governments, police forces, and armies to do so. Much more efficient to have the state do it.

[WildBill]

Count me in the "don't much care" category.

I have spent some time in a Muslim country [Malaysia]. Probably most people don't even know much about this country, but it is not considered to be radical or fundamentalist country.

My view of their "official image" of the United States come reading, listening and viewing their news media: television, newspapers, and radio. My observation is that the news media has an "anti-western" bias in their reporting. For the most part they view American life and culture as violent, decadent and immoral. Most of their examples come from American movies, television, music and magazines. It is also interesting to me that their newscasters and reporters on their English broadcasts all have British accents. They do not like to show American TV shows or movies where firearms are used. One of my friends from work told me that was one of the reasons that MacGyver was such a popular show in that country.

On the other hand, I found that most of the "real people" look up to the United States and admire our freedoms. In my experience, most of them intrigued by our country and our way of life.

[sugar land dave]

If this is Nature vs Nurture, I vote Nature. You are your DNA. You are your blood chemistry.

[PappaGun]

All cultures and nations have their problems.

It is easy to be nation centric and xenophobic and live in the now.

Most fail to see their own issues at hand, especially in a historical perspective, while judging others even though many of those issues are remarkably similar.

Look at this site for some sobering numbers of how other's treat their own. And they judge?


http://necrometrics.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

To answer the question, no, I don't think most Americans care.

This country offers the ability to hide from the world if that is what you want.

[gtrman66]

I have spent a lot of time in Germany in the last year (and a lot more to come). They generally are envious of the US. I was talking to a guy about his need for a "chainsaw license" to cut wood on his own property.

On the other hand, the mere mention of our current "leader" brings laughter with everyone I talked to.

[WildBill]

If this is Nature vs Nurture, I vote Nature. You are your DNA. You are your blood chemistry.

I am almost positive that I have no idea what you are talking about.

[speedsix]

...America's kinda like the image of John Wayne...loud, arrogant, rough...but let there be trouble...they'll call him every time...then, when he's settled the trouble...they don't want him...till next time...one thing's sure...they've always known that Americans will stand up and fight...hope they always know that...

[Oldgringo]

...America's kinda like the image of John Wayne...loud, arrogant, rough...but let there be trouble...they'll call him every time...then, when he's settled the trouble...they don't want him...till next time...one thing's sure...they've always known that Americans will stand up and fight...hope they always know that...

If America is so bad, why:

* do they keep coming; and/or,
* why don't they go back where they came from?

[baldeagle]

...America's kinda like the image of John Wayne...loud, arrogant, rough...but let there be trouble...they'll call him every time...then, when he's settled the trouble...they don't want him...till next time...one thing's sure...they've always known that Americans will stand up and fight...hope they always know that...

If America is so bad, why:

* do they keep coming; and/or,
* why don't they go back where they came from?

[speedsix]

...America's kinda like the image of John Wayne...loud, arrogant, rough...but let there be trouble...they'll call him every time...then, when he's settled the trouble...they don't want him...till next time...one thing's sure...they've always known that Americans will stand up and fight...hope they always know that...

If America is so bad, why:

* do they keep coming; and/or,
* why don't they go back where they came from?

...most of them what come across the border know nothing of America or our history...it's money they're chasing...they aren't coming to contribute to make us greater...but to suck our lifeblood like leeches...or ticks on a dog...

[Beiruty]

...America's kinda like the image of John Wayne...loud, arrogant, rough...but let there be trouble...they'll call him every time...then, when he's settled the trouble...they don't want him...till next time...one thing's sure...they've always known that Americans will stand up and fight...hope they always know that...

If America is so bad, why:

* do they keep coming; and/or,
* why don't they go back where they came from?

I guess you need to ask the early settlers who came here and "prevailed" over the "savage" native people. Most likely you will get the same answer: Better life. Nothing changed over the last 460 yrs.

[speedsix]

...try tellin' the "natives" that!!!

[Kirk]

I lived for 3 years in Saudi Arabia and found it surprising as much as they disliked us but they did many thing to be just like us in America. Many looked forward to visiting or going to college here.

Many people I have met in other country (Indonesia, Kuwait, Oman, Nigeria, UAE, UK) got their impression of Americans from the TV and movies they watched. I had a taxi driver in Scotland tell me he thought everyone in Texas walked around with guns strapped on just like the old west.

I have been in places where rights didn’t exist and chaos rules, our worst days here are pretty good in comparison.

I am proud to be an American and what the United States stand for. As for the rest they can stay home if its so much better.

[Thomas]

I had a taxi driver in Scotland tell me he thought everyone in Texas walked around with guns strapped on just like the old west.

There are people in the United States who think this.

[sugar land dave]

If this is Nature vs Nurture, I vote Nature. You are your DNA. You are your blood chemistry.

I am almost positive that I have no idea what you are talking about.

I thought the thread was one thing and it was another......

National pride exists. Just about everywhere. Now the USA makes an awfully big and attractive target for those whose national pride can be boosted by a little jab at us. Nature of the beast.

Whoa! I worked Nature back into the thread!