It is a very easy thing to hate the United States of America right now. But why? We stormed the beaches at Normandy, saved Europe from economic ruin with the Marshall plan (thanks for paying off the loan, Norway. Anybody else? Anybody? Bueller?), invented the Internet, uprooted tyrants, and give foreign aid away like it was candy. We want to be the good guys and thought we were. Yet we just can’t seem to get any love these days. How’d we get here? Well… [JFrater: as the representative of Listverse, I would like to say that we don't hate America - in fact, I had one of my greatest holidays there. This list will no doubt cause a storm - be calm and debate nicely!]
The first reason: we act like the world revolves around us. America presumes much for a country generously dated at 300 years old. China has latrines ten times older than that. A quick example: many countries play baseball, but only we have the “World Series”. We’re getting better about our egocentrism, but it’s been a loooong time coming. And don’t get me started about our tourists. Just smile and take the money- they’re loud, but they’ll be gone in a week.
Okay, I’ll concede Vietnam, tennis (but we don’t care) and Kenyan marathon runners. But we win damn near everything else, eventually. The Space Race. The Cold War. Tour de France. The list goes on and on. Even we hate the Olympics now that our professionals are allowed to participate straight up with the underaged/doping communist nations. It’s boring for us, but as a Red Sox/Bolton Wanderers fan, I know the angst that chronic losing against bigger and better funded opponents generates. And if we don’t have the best athletes/scientists/entertainers, we’ll make sure they get a chance to immigrate while others wait in line. That’s gotta sting. Oh, Yao Ming and Ichiro say “Hi”.
Why? Because we can. Americans are the second fattest industrialized nation per capita (sorry, Australia). But as always, we make up for it in volume. We can afford automobiles so we don’t ride bikes or walk anywhere except for fun, and thanks to abundant agricultural surpluses, ANYTHING we want to eat is readily available from takeaway restaurants and convenience stores. Some of our refrigerators could hide an entire human body. And we like the fatty stuff, because fat tastes good. This is NOT a good thing, and our global franchises (KFC, McDonald’s) are already infecting nations that traditionally had healthier diets (are you listening, Japan?)
The United States is the inventor and only wartime practitioner of nuclear weapons (never mind that using them prevented an invasion that would make the Iraqi insurgency look like a blowjob. “Operation Downfall”, the now-declassified US plan to invade Japan, estimated 1 Million American casualties alone). Lax security protocols (and clever spying) spread the secret to the USSR and after that the genie got out of the bottle. Many countries now have atomic weapons, and with no clear Cold War counterpart to US supremacy, the balance has shifted, and the peace dividend has not been kind post 9/11.
Though accounting for only 5 percent of the world’s population, Americans consume 26 percent of the world’s energy. (American Almanac), and we are the world’s largest single emitter of carbon dioxide, accounting for 23 percent of energy-related carbon emissions worldwide. (U.S. Department of Energy). This, while worldwide, some 2 billion people are currently without electricity. (U.S. Department of Energy). The good news is that among industrialized and developing countries, Canada consumes per capita the most energy in the world, and the United Sates is only second. Italy consumes the least among industrialized countries (that’s because they still drive Fiats, which “conserve” energy by breaking every other day).
The United States has the most advanced army in the world. We station our military in other countries at their “request”, which is a source of much seething and hurt national pride. From Banana Republics, to the Cold War, to the War on Terror, we routinely interfere in the business of other countries to make the world safe for our interests, whether anybody asked for it or not. Even if the intentions are both right and good, many countries resent our involvement in their affairs on sheer principle: they’d rather f*** it up themselves. Are you listening, North Korea?
A thriving market economy and near total freedom of expression liberate Americans to pursue almost every endeavor imaginable, resulting in some of the greatest discoveries and inventions in the history of man, from the first practical light bulb to powered flight, polio vaccines, radio and TV, space exploration, the Internet, and unfortunately, everything in between. So that means ubercrap like Jerry Springer and Britney Spears gets exported worldwide. No, I’m being too kind there– “force fed” worldwide. Other cultures despise this with a mix of dread, envy, and loathing. They can’t figure out how to cull the good from the bad out of this torrent (neither can we, btw)—but once it takes hold, it won’t let go. This what the Islamic world fears most. Tanks, they understand. An educated, employed woman horny and clubbing on Friday night they simply can’t fathom. And it scares the crap out of them.
Despite the hyperbole bandied online, strong political opinions won’t get your door kicked in at 3 AM like in the Gulag Archipelago. There are no Stalinist purges or killing fields here. And the FBI/CIA/ATF/DEA/PTA will not shoot you on sight simply because you speak against The Surge or march against the Economic Stimulus Plan. But it’s certainly fun to claim a fear of it! You become an instant radical and feel intellectually enlightened to boot– patriotism is an uncritical, reflexive act, right?– only a deep thinker would hate his country (yet stay on to enjoy its privileges). And don’t worry about proof, because all that matters is the accusation. Volume and conviction win the day, so toss that bibliography—grab half the story and make the rest up. If you get caught in a logic box, claim satire. Other countries see this lack of consequences and pile on.
From Vietnam to Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinski to “Mission Accomplished” in Iraq to finding Osama Bin Laden, we seem to do most of the work, but keep a lot of things hanging on, never quite finished. Eventually the answer makes itself known, but it usually takes time, and involves help from others after a lot of (necessary) heated discussions. Maybe we should try this as as a first course of action more often…
We are a nation of doers, and our errors (when they occur) will be from acts of commission, not omission (Hypocrisy Alert: Darfur). Sometimes that’s a great thing, like sending Kruschev’s missiles back home, breaking Gaddafi’s/Qaddafi’s/Kaddafi’s nuclear ambitions (his nukes are now safely tucked away in Oak Ridge, Tennessee), or winning the Cold War. Other times, it blows up in our (and often, YOUR) face. Our attempts to spread democracy worldwide, intended to let others enjoy the same freedoms and advantages that we have, sometimes result in innocent people dying. We must stop to remember the Somalia embassy, Madrid and Fiji and Lockerbie 101 bombings, along with the millions of nameless others who suffered and died in countries that are not free. The US is the biggest face opposing these things that actually does anything (not just talk, FRANCE. You railed about Guantanamo but when it came time to release prisoners you took ONE.), but our allies often bear the brunt of our “foreign” wars, because the enemy cannot reach us. That has changed recently, and while it has altered our perspective, it has not altered our resolve.
If other countrymen from all over the world hate America so damn much, why are most of our large corporations owned by foreigners? Why haven’t you gone out and built up your own mega-franchises and skyscraping office buildings to benefit your own people? Why do you come here to America to spend all your money?
I spent 18 months in the middle-east country of Oman about four years ago. All I saw were Brits working the middle-eastern owned oil companies. All I saw were women treated like dirt. All I saw were Indian and Pakistani immigrants working as slaves (yes, slaves). And the whole time I was there I saw one public church in the city of Muscat. It was all denominational, because that is all the Muslim Sultan would allow… and I might add here … that’s all the homo*****ual sultan would allow. It was well known that he was gay, but because he was the sultan, he was never ridiculed.
From what I read up there in the list, it’s basically just a big joke as to why you might hate America, although most are valid points. But after visiting just one foreign country, I was desparate to get back to American soil. Where as a woman, I can drive my car myself wearing a two piece thong bikini if I want to, listening to Christian music or hell-bent rock-n-roll and most people won’t even look my way.
Go on wich’yo bad self, Lady Liberty!!!
Lucky Jamie, neither European, nor American. (So am I)
Anyways, i think the majority amongst us believe that America is just a great nation (concerning science, tech, sports, entertainment, money etc. etc.), but your pesky Govt. ruines the image (of liberty, freedom, enfranchisement etc. etc.). Lets see, G. Bush admitted that invading Iraq was a (massive) mistake, Dick Cheney … well, everyone knows, & Donald Rumsfeld (probably equal to Dr. Josef Mengele) threw a typical ‘American’ apology to the world. They admitted that they were mistaken in believing Irq had WMD’s. So, the hundreds of thousands of people killed in Iraq are compensated by a weany ***** sorry ? I dont think so. Also there is Vietnam, then there is Korea ( where American forces made over 80% of the U.N forcs), then there is Afghanistan, where America is trying (in other words, pretending) to destroy some religious fundamentalist & extremist groups which it has itself created to fight the so called monster of communist Russia? (Rusiian invasion of Afghanistan). And now, they have started bombing Pakistani Tribal Areas which, despite numerous govt. protests, have had no effect on the American administration whatsoever. No offence intended, but you see, you own political leadership is destroying your image, not that we have any grudge against Americans.
Sigh… This isn’t exactly what I hoping to read when I first woke up this morning. Guess I’ll just have to keep on rocking in the free world.
is alexander graham bell american? could have sworn he was scottish jordan?
http://sln.fi.edu/franklin/inventor/bell.html
tv was invented by john logie baird another scottish man
Scottish inventor, John Logie Baird, the father of this pervasive technology, first publicly demonstrated television on 26 January 1926, in his small laboratory in the Soho district of London.
god you are dumb!!!!!
Frank Whittle, a British pilot, who designed the first turbo jet engine in 1930. The first Whittle engine successfully flew in April, 1937.
ha ha i cant get over your dumbness
bet he doesnt comment again
ahhh jeremy. thats a really good point there. mean of course in theoretical terms yes. but in the same instance. it was a horrendous loss of life really. for all the merits of winning. we have to look at the fact that those poor people in those mass graves. looking down from heaven are still saying. ” you could have done it a lot faster if youd have stopped hitler when you saw him amassing an army to take poland…you bastards” you see what i mean
Yes, davross, please *do* tell us what marvelously flawless country *you’re* from.
Oh, and it sounds like a lot of you guys don’t have problems with AMERICANS, but rather, American CONSERVATIVES. Politically/culturally/socially, the US is essentially two different countries geographically interspersed. Blaming American liberals for George W. Bush is like blaming France for the Third Reich.
Sigh… This wasn’t exactly what I was hoping to read when I first woke up this morning. Guess I’ll just keep on rocking in the free world.
@Blitz
You dont necesarilly need to procreate for the Hispanic population to go up. It justdepends if it is legal or illegal population
America did not win the space race! Not even close! Russia won. Sputnik, Yuri Gagarin.. Ok you can have the moon, but not without controversies.
And for the record, I hate america
This is priceless,,,,,,,I love it when retarded people try to think
91. “I think its funny americans can brag about being “american” however the usa is almost completely made up of immigrants (apart from nativve americans) that have populated the country in the last 300 years.”
Err… if you haven’t realised… being American is not an ethnicity, its a nationalism.
People hate Americans in our Era just like they hated English in the 19th Century, France in the 18th, Spain in the 17th, Portugal in the 16th, Romans before Christ, Persians (whenever)! every century has a bully just like every school year. The diference is that because the media is so advanced nowadays we know about more at a real time frame!!
dbrownl said: “forgot that you are ignorant… time to learn about other cultures other than yours,…”
Yeah, right. America bows to other cultures more than any other country in the world. Go to south Florida or any large city and see where the “American Way” has been overrun by the “cuban way”, “peurto rican” way, “indian” way, etc…We accept all values and go out of our way to accept them AND celebrate them. YET Another reason our country is the BEST.
@ Archangel .110
I am Canadian so most definetaly not jeleous of americans and their *****ty beer
JFrater: Oh but I know
I thought that list was hilarious! There were some additions I could think of:
- We don’t all live in castles
- We aren’t all alcoholics
- Some of our teenage girls aren’t actually pregnant (yet).
I have to say though, I still get a kick out of the fact that nearly every house I’ve ever lived in is older than America…. widdle ol’ USA :p
I must concede however that a lot of the negative feelings about America stem from a certain ‘coolness’. That certainly rings true amongst the student population (and all the goddamn first year Political science kids. UGH!)
I still don’t understand the logic of being able to drive at 15, buy a gun at 16/18 (verification anyone) but not being able to drink till you’re 21!
calm-incense
do i have to repeat it a million times?
British people do lots of bad things, we ruiled the world at the point of a sword while your ntavive people were running around in loin clothes but we dont go on and on and on about why everyone hates us and why?
we know, so we are shamed by it, not bragging why you are wrong to hate us in a list.
people hate america because they write rubbish like this
Also, you could combine 5 & 6.
I don’t know much about the Cold War but I’d be inclined to say that Soviet economic problems and numerous revolutions across Eastern Europe, which led to the dissolution of the Warsaw Pact, were the main catalyst, of the end of the Cold War.
Although I’m probably wrong here and pressing submit will make me look foolish.
For you history buffs it’s the 54th anniversary of when the Pact was signed.
Okay, the opening paragraph just shows the person who wrote this is completely blind/oblivious to things they don’t want to accept;
First of all, D-day serves as a small tale of heroics in comparison to what Russia was involved in during their time in World War II. they lost well over 20 million lives, half of which were soldiers. While America lost under half a million. American are usually praised for their menial contribution in allied victory.
On top of that, America helps countries only when their interests are being attacked. the marshall plan was used to stop the spread of communism, to stop a ridiculous theory that governments would collapse to communism across europe *domino theory* Coming from the person who wrote that opening paragraph, i suppose you think the americans are really helping the middle east aren’t they, completely in ignorance of their presence in the middle east as an action to obtain oil.
Much like how americans take credit for everything, in addition to being the largest factor in gaining victory in World War II, americans believe they invented the internet. The internet was created by Tim Berners Lee, an englishman. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Berners_Lee
I could say so much more but I doubt the stubborn brain of yours would comprehend furtehr than this paragraph.
Another ignorant person that thinks the internet was invented by Tim Berners Lee. People call Americans ignorant?
Blind calling others blind? Just saw your other comment below regarding difference between internet and WWW but the main point here is do you know the difference? Internet is just a network of a number of computers and what you are doing now…like accessing websites, chat or email…those are applications that make use of internet. Just like an airplane makes use of air to fly above the ground…that does not mean air is plane??
Quoting from wikipedia: "The origins of the Internet reach back to the 1960s when the United States funded research projects of its military agencies to build robust, fault-tolerant and distributed computer networks. This research and a period of civilian funding of a new U.S. backbone by the National Science Foundation spawned worldwide participation in the development of new networking technologies". So you see, though internet was started by the US Army, the latest form that we use now is the effort of scientists from across the globe (of course some of them are Americans)
Going into its history, the internet developed by the US Army was just a group of interconnected computers which were used to calculate the trajectories of ballastic missiles etc. Later on it was used by major institutions but what common people like me and you are using now is WWW which makes use of internet.
As i have already said a number of times.. agreeing that internet is the most important part of WWW, planes, motor vehicles and all those that use wheels to operate…are you going to credit the inventions to Iraqis and Iranians, coz they were the first to "invent" the wheel and none of those above would have been possible if wheel was not "invented".
I was just stating fact that the internet was created by the U.S. The WWW is only one part. The internet exists without the WWW, but the WWW doesn't exist without the internet.
.128 ari —
what rubish??
Oh .. you mean the truth… ok.. just clearing that up.
@cas1989
Dont even get me started with the heaven thing lol. And yeah they could have stopped him earlierm but 20 years earlier they lost countless millions of lives and were looking to do things a little more peaceful. EVen if it meant conceding some countries to Germany.
113. CatChick1964
Isn’t that such a bad generalisation? Firstly, you were in an Islamic country (not saying all Islamic countries are like this)… secondly, the business world is owned by American and Western corporations in majority because of how the West exploited (perhaps innocently) the economy from way back then to perhaps until now.
@ blitz7 :
hispanics are the ethnic group in the USA that have more children and they’re the biggest immigration wave in the world! but the study could be wrong!
Archangel, even with the huge border it is still a really high ammount of deaths, close to TWENTY-FIVE MILLION, over 4 times the number of deaths that the Jews suffered at the hands of Germany, on the other hand, France only lost half a million people, and the same goes for the UK, only about half a million people. Russia failed to properly protect its citizens and paid the price. You can’t deny that France and the UK were just as involved in the war as Russia and yet they didn’t suffer such heavy casualties.
This article is absolutely pathetic, possibly the worst garbage i have ever read. I honestly fear for your sanity. The reason why people hate America is because we protect our economic interests around the world directly through bull ***** wars, overthrowing democratically elected leaders, supplying guns and training to terrorist groups around the world. We basically started the extremist Islamic movement, most of our citizens believe that a 2000 year old zombie is going to forgive them of our sins making most of us literally insane. I would go on but this is a waste of time. Seriously when I think of America its like a bunch of retards with a nuke doing what ever the hell they want.
As of myself, i like Americans as free, loving, caring And intellectually (somewhat) superior to others, but just face it, you’ve got a *****ty govt. system & setup.
@dadf
Dont be pulling out wikipedia references here haha
Er, Cathchick is it?
‘But after visiting just one foreign country, I was desparate to get back to American soil.’
Perhaps this IS the problem…. you went to one, borderline theocratic, most certainly orthodox country and made a bunch of quantitative judgments by simply comparing it to your perception of America. I’m pretty sure there are some places in America where listening to hell-bent rock and roll and being gay would get you in a whole heap of trouble. (I know this is true of most countries but your comment reads as though all other nationalities are essentially savages).
Perhaps this is another reason people don’t like America, they are a desperately insular country….? Just a thought.
@ davross
Uh, the difference is that the British Empire is no more. So of course no one is going to hate its modern-day UK incarnation.
More importantly, you seem not to grasp the concept that what one American does, or even what 5 million Americans do, does not give you the moral authority to then cast judgment on all 300 million Americans.
The creator of this list is not “America”. He is “an American”. There are roughly 299,999,999 other Americans out there, and I can assure you, they don’t all either brag about America or whine amount being hated for their nationality.
Oh, and to the idiot who acts as if Hispanics aren’t THEMSELVES genuine Americans, get a clue.
davross: I seem to have touched a nerve.
The Scotsman invented a useless type of television that was obsolete by the time it came out. You see, mechanical televisions are USELESS, we use Farnsworth’s invention.
Alexander Graham Bell taught and worked and invented in America.
So: suck it, you whiny little *****.
err…. I just hate rednecks and bush.
the world wide web is a large chunk of the internet. just to clarify. they’re not entirely synonymous but tim berners lee usually is not credited with his influence towards the internet.
@ Blitz
France was taken over in 3 weeks and spent a great majority of their war experience retreating or surrender, Not meaning to offend anyone here but you cant compare a country that spent 3 weeks at war before turning to underground fighting to a country that stood toe to toe with Nazi Germany for 4 years.
136.
Definitely won’t forget that! However, you must give credit to Russia… firstly, the UK was not land-bordered with Germany, secondly, France surrendered. Thirdly, if you consider geographics… the large open grasslands between Nazi Germany and Russia meant that Russia obviously had to stretch its armies more (meaning that it had a much much larger front line to defend)… as opposed to France and England which could easily have a front line and a lot of backup soldiers.
Can anyone really deny that the US is the most tyrannical nation in the world today?
You make a statement like that and have probably never been to the US, your views are probably just from what you've seen on the television. The US is a pretty big country, all kinds of people. We don't all think or act alike.
matt j
right on point. completely agree.
jeremy- thank you
I like America and I like Americans, but I take issue with this list. Being aware that half of the world despises you but not knowing the reasons why is sheer ignorance.
“from the first practical light bulb to… radio and TV”
None of which were invented in America or by Americans.
I noe I’m just a random chinese guy but Davross, wherever you came from, with all due respects, plz, CALM THE ***** DOWN!!!!
alexander graham bell is scottish ergo a scottish invention not american not to mention it was an italian who first patented the idea, you driblling is based on facts which your grasping at.
The fact remains, until arrogant americans stop making lists and forcing reasons why their country is amazing despite their mistakes, people will continue to hate them, also you perpetuate the problem by sticking up for them and not seeing that the reason why are angry is beacuse of this list, all americans go into patriot mode, even if 3 minutes previous they were hating america, its actually comical.
#138 .. 7raul7 …
Your absolutely right. Our leaders lie, cheat, steal, are alcoholics and drug users, Christians and athiests, they cheat on their spouses and rob the poor to feed the rich. But… as Americans, we all admit that we voted these people into office… and … we can admit that we did not vote for said political official without worry that some nazi/commie/dictator is gonna have his lackies knock down our door in the middle of the night, drag our family out to a big hole in a field and shoot each one of us in the head for not agreeing.
We can say what we want, do what we want, eat what we want, dress how we want, worship how we want, elect who we want, read what we want, print what we want, have as many babies as we want, be whoever the hell we want to be and … nobody cares. So why should you?
147.
Yes, there are way more tyrannical nations out there. The US is still a bastion of liberalism, freedom, etc. (even if it has dipped from this every now and then – nothing is perfect!).
“but you cant compare a country that spent 3 weeks at war before turning to underground fighting…”
They spent three weeks fighting because after three weeks Germany had invaded half the country and crippled them.
“to a country that stood toe to toe with Nazi Germany for 4 years.”
Toe to toe across the Atlantic.
Ah, yes, the brave and noble Russians, fending off the Nazi invaders. The same brave and noble Russians who stabbed Poland in the back, purged millions of their own people and then forcefully imposed communism on eastern Europe.
@ 141. calm_incense :
When I refered to the hispanic comunity I was just pointing out that America has a very low native population… its based on immigration! I never said they werent american, although with the latest illegal immigration stats a lot of them arent!
Oh no, Clarkee, plz, dont say that. It is those kind of words and quotes that starts arguements.
152.
Because the US (as a state) thinks it can say what it wants, do what it wants, elect who it wants on the global stage (i.e. to other countries)… so that’s why people DO care.
Why does everybody ***** that America is only looking out for its own interests? Isn’t that what a good government is supposed to do? Secure it’s people and their well-being first and the peoples of the world second? Just a thought.
@Baxter
I was referring to Russia standing toe to toe with them for 4 years, not Britain.
151. davross
Im not american, but if anyone was to single out or insult my country directly or indirectly in a public social orum such as this, I will argue for it as national pride is what makes us what we are and where we came from.
jeremy – *****, sorry! I withdraw my comment.
154. Baxter In Action…. baxter you are misreading! this was referring to the Russians.
155. Earl – Yes Russia is flawed, but so is the United States who has been forcing democracy (which isn’t the best way to do so) down the throats of other countries for a while now… with mixed results.
161… heeheehee Touche!
Davross: considering that Bell was a naturalized citizen of the US and considered himself to be completely American: “I am not one of those hyphenated Americans who claim allegiance to two countries,” I’d say that yes, the telephone is an American invention.
140. FindMe
You’re damn right I compared it America. I compared it to freedoms that I grew up with. It made me decide that, no, I don’t want to visit another country and see what other atrocities other governements heap upon their people.
Hate me for the generalization? I don’t care. I can sit here all day and rant and cuss and debate the issue. The fact remains that I am an AMERICAN and I’m damn proud of it.
As my red-neck, beer guzzling, WWII hero father-in-law might say, put that in your pipe and smoke it.
165. Agreed, but be careful not to generalise… like in every nation, and like people… there are intelligent Americans and dumb Americans and everything in between. Because the nation is the ‘top’ nation of the world… their flaws (and intellect) are more pronounced and highlighted.
America should be once more a prosperous nation under Obama. Americans and Non-Americans such as myself adore him worldwide so now Im starting to speculate that the USA should have some support thatn it didnt when Bush was president
@ Baxter
No Worries haha, I am sure the Ruskies would have prefered the toe to toe that Britain was doing.
Blitz just seems to be way off base with his assumptions that Russia was doing nothing but throwing people into a wood chipper. If i recall correctly Germany was doing the same thing on that front. It had nothing to do with tactics or “fighting fair”. it was a war based on complete eradication as compared to the Western Front
Davross: Every American is Rosie O’Donnell and Rosie O’Donnell is every American, amirite?
“considering that Bell was a naturalized citizen of the US and considered himself to be completely American”
That’s bull*****. He was living in Ontario at the time adn dividing his time between there and Boston. He did not consider himself to be American.
And regardless, he was born in Scotland to Scottish parents, was taught in Edinburgh and did most of his sound experiments in Edinburgh. All America did was give him money.
His grave is located in Canada on top of Beinn Bhreagh mountain overlooking the Bras D’or Lakes in Cape Breton. The wording on his gravestone reads simply, “Teacher – Inventor – Citizen of the U.S.A.”. His descendants still return to the family estate in Baddeck every summer, and some are year-round residents. As one of his great grandchildren once quipped “The Bell family is much like the telephone — conceived in Canada and born in the United States.”
from
http://www.science.ca/scientists/scientistprofile.php?pID=120
a pretty good read.
ANNOUNCEMENT:
read comment 123. and all discussions will be avoided!