I'm just wondering, especially from non-Americans, how they view the US and Americans. Are we really loud? Arrogant? Ignorant for not learning a second language? Can people tell when they're dealing with an American?
I lived in the US for many years and I think I got a thorough understanding of it. Enough to publish a book. If you are curious to learn more about your country or how it's perceived around the world, a great thing would be to go live abroad for a year or two. Everybody has their own opinions, and a lot of people have a deep misconception about America. In my opinion the only way to have an opinion about any particular country is to (i) live in it and (ii) live outside of it. The geographical location you choose (e.g. Europe, South America, Africa, Asia, South East Asian, UK, Australia) will give you a different perspective on things and a different vision of your own country. Just one thought though: You ask "what do people think of America". Most people around the world will tell you "America is a continent". Referring to the United States of America as simply "America" is standard in the US, but from a foreign perspective it sounds very ignorant, arrogant, self-centered and bigoted . Reference to America instead of USA can even be offensive to some citizens of other American countries. There are a lot of great things about the US and a lot of bad things. One thing that really amazes me though is how Americans are so sure of being the "greatest nation". This blind patriotism is a phenomenon that I still can't fully understand. It's almost become a religion. I think it either denotes a lack of education or a lack of critical thinking. Thank goodness not all Americans are shortsighted like I've just described. Mostly those who voted for Trump though. Although, I met a lot of liberals who were just as bigoted as Trump voters (no offense if you voted for him, I hope y'all are gonna learn from that mistake).
I'm from Canada, close to the border (like most Canucks). Honestly, I like you guys. I'm pro-American, and view you as regular joes. The jobs that I've had, including my current one, have had me working with you either face to face or over the phone. We generally have the same beliefs and get along well. My expeditions into your territory, provided I don't spend time in the worst parts of Detroit or Chicago, have been positive. That being said, there are a lot of folks up here, some of my family members included, who absolutely hate you folks south of the border. I don't understand it myself, and their arguments are very weak, reeking of anyone who has not spent one second conversing with an actual American.
I didn't meet many Americans in real life. Many people here in Germany think of the average American as this conservative right-wing fat rich man who loves to shoot his gun around. Of course this is an exaggeration but the general prejudice is Americans being very self-righteous and arrogant.
The way I see it, is that Canada can be friendly with many nations of the world. But if we can only pick one, it should be the USA. Our number 1 trade partner, our closest match in terms of worldview (despite what Prime Minister Socksy McHairdoo would have you believe), and our greatest military ally.
I am a foreigner, and lived here for 14 years. I spent my time in elementary school in another country but I went to high school here and college. I am a senior in college and graduating. What do I think about America? Honest Opinion: Do not get mad if something I say is offensive, I might not know if it's offensive or not...but my honest opinion is: 1) Americans can have everything they want, as long as they work hard for it. Now, some people are lazy!, but I understand...they could be suffering from a disability or something...who am i to judge? 2) There's a lot of cultures here: black, white, hispanic, asian, etc etc... therefore it makes conflict, because people here are so entitled to their own opinion and most of them (but not all) don't want to respect each other's opinions. Different cultures clash with other cultures...but we should at least try to get along! 3) People here are lucky, they have the government, police service, hospitals, public education (except for expensive colleges lol), cars, public transportation, etc etc... America doesn't run out of food...you may see a bum in the streets...but you never see a grocery store run out of food! 4) Americans are self-righteous, and can be really arrogant...not all, but about 70%. 5) Americans like their luxuries, money, wealth, power, fame, sex, instant gratification, anything that is pleasurable is what drives them. Now, who am I to judge again?...some are good people..some are driven to raise a family...etc.but I'm just saying the general stuff... 6) Football, guns, big trucks, big everything. They like everything BIG. 7) Americans sometimes lack empathy and some are such narcissists. 8) Rap music today...sucks. 9) Americans love their anti-depressants 10) It's a rich culture but the media is unequal to the minorities. When I think of hollywood, there's not much equality: Feminism is rising, the minorities are ignored and picked upon: like the blacks, hispanics and most of all...asians are ignored in media. How often do you see an asian male and asian female and mexican actors that are often famous? It's very unequal that whites are often portrayed in the media...there needs to be diversity! Although I understand that America's population is mostly white...it's natural that they are more popular. 11) Donald trump is garbage. 12) They hate other countries (especially Russia and China) and take pride in just America itself. 13) White supremacy 14) Injustice in the justice system...America has the most jails and prisons. 15) Very expensive colleges 16) Opportunities, there's tons of jobs here 17) Intolerance of other cultures.... 18) Racism is still floating around and nobody seems to do anything about it...bring back Malcolm X and Martin Luther King... 19) They love war 20) Walmart, grocery store, stores, stores, everywhere...it's like a never ending business... 21) Burgers and Fries and fast food, people in other countries tend to think America is fat, rich, conservative and self absorbed or they only think about themselves and not compassionate toward others.
22) Women here (NOT ALL but most) (especially the average american woman) are very self entitled. They want what they cannot have. Money, the big house, etc...and they treat men like shit. They think men should have less rights than men. Feminism is powerful here, that's why I prefer european and asian women....
Depends. The government, or the people? Here, we're not the biggest fans of the government, and in fact stood up against the USA several times and they weren't particular fond of it. There's good that was done, but it should also focus on its own citizens rather than try to be involved in every other country's politics. All countries have some sort of arrogance, though some worse than others. It's almost required in order to have sovereignty. However, unlikely most countries, the USA can back theirs up with its military, which can be either a great or terrible idea. The people, however, I actually like as long as they know their place. Tourists can be crazy as they fail to realize they're no longer in their country, but I've seen it here with Australians also, so it's not just an American thing (see previous paragraph). When I was in the USA, it was definitely a cultural shock. There were flags, EVERYWHERE, from flagpoles to houses to cars to even on clothes, etc. There's definitely a sense of patriotism and even nationalism in certain areas, but the people there are actually quite nice. I remember whenever I go to the market, someone would randomly greet me and talk to me. I've been to dozens of different cultures and countries, and although some also did that, it was almost expected in the USA for me. Americans do have a sense of ignorance due to them not knowing much about the world beyond their borders, but due to their vast size and the diversity of immigrant cultures there, it's expected. America does suck at learning other languages, but so do we here. Foreign language isn't even a required course here. It's an Anglophonic issue, not an American issue.
I used to be one of those guys that would shit talk the u.s. and wonder why people thought my home country was so great Then I became a teacher at a school near the u.s./mexico border with all international students. I met students who gave up everything to come to the united states to chase their dream of becoming a pilot. I met students who left their families and ate rice for every meal to even have a chance at the opportunities you and I have as Americans. I met a 48 year old student from india who left his family and sold his company to come to our flight school, only to be turned down because he ran out of money. I met a student who worked as a flight instructor without pay for 7 YEARS only to be sent back to his home country, as no airline would hire someone from disputed territory without the citizenship we're born with. I met immigrants that risked their LIVES illegally crossing the border that lies less than a mile from my house just to have one shot at the freedom we take for granted Meeting those people, it changed a lot of things for me -- but it mostly made me thankful. No matter how bad this country seems, we have opportunities that a HUGE part of the world could not imagine. And yet most of us put it to waste, all while cursing the very country that gave us those possibilities
Honestly as a British person I can spot an American like a needle in a haystack, no offence to them but I also see the loudness and arrogance. Each country has its own culture, and ours seems to clash with theirs for a lot of reasons.
Indeed, I edited my post because Americans will not admit that they have a lot of problems with the gun laws. No matter how many lives are lost..
That's really the only reason I don't visit there, and ever will. It's terrifying to think anyone at anytime could have a gun or something on them, I would always be in fear.
That, plus I think a lack of access to mental health. There are a lot of people who should be followed by therapists or psychiatrists but are not being helped and it's very obvious when you walk on the streets. In a society built around the self-made man myth, where self-worth is determined by how much money one makes (leading you to believe that if you struggle to make it, you're just another loser), I feel like a lot of these unstable people are more prone than anywhere else to developing frustration and anger to eventually just snap and go on insane rampages. One thing I like about the US is the idea that everyone is responsible for their own actions and the government is less involved in regulating what people can or can't do, but that's been taken to an extreme when it comes to guns and healthcare.
