"We are the bullies of the world!"

[dnuggett]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith

Originally posted by: dnuggett

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
We've been disliked for decades, we just weren't paying attention.

The reality is that we have not been cared about for decades. Most people (including Muslims) get up in the morning, and hope they have can get enough food to feed their families for the day. Neither you or I no any other American means anything to them unless we decide to get in their face. Do they like us? If you asked them (without an M16 in your hand) they would say "no" and promptly forget about it. It's like ice storms in areas prone to them. People don't like them, however they don't dwell on it unless they have to deal with them directly.

Am I curious, are these people to whom you refer to all that exists of the world?

As I said, most people of the world don't really care either way, and yes, most of the six plus billion people are most worried about their next meal.

There are hundreds of millions of people who have less money to spend on food in a year than Americans do for disposable paper products. Many hundreds of millions.

All that exists of the world goes far beyond the US, Canada, Japan and Europe. Poverty and hunger are the rule. Malaria kills more a year than any number of terrorists ever could.

That is the world as it is.

Under those circumstances, would you really worry about US politics?

You made a blanket statement that we have not been cared about for decades. And there are a great many, many, many countries outside of Europe, Japan, and Canada that do care about the US. Some of those are the poor countries you speak of. You don't know that?

 

[tallest1]

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith
I can't answer the second question. My response is I hope so, but I am not so sure the damage can be undone in four years.

 

[Genx87]

We have been considered the Bullies of the world for decades. And nobody has been able to make us look better in the eyes of the world. If Clinton couldnt do it then I doubt Kerry will.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
If Kerry gets into office, Osama and friends will laugh themselves to the bank...and take advantage of a weak president just as they did with Clinton. After all, it was under Clinton's watch that all of the 9/11 planning was done.

At least Bush will speak sofly and walk with a BIG FVCKING STICK!

Oh man wow, I could even feel my nuts get hard. I can see those hairy knuckles around a tree.

 

[Whitecloak]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
If Kerry gets into office, Osama and friends will laugh themselves to the bank...and take advantage of a weak president just as they did with Clinton. After all, it was under Clinton's watch that all of the 9/11 planning was done.

At least Bush will speak sofly and walk with a BIG FVCKING STICK!

Oh man wow, I could even feel my nuts get hard. I can see those hairy knuckles around a tree.

:laugh:

 

[raildogg]

people who hate America will hate America no matter what

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Originally posted by: dnuggett

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith

Originally posted by: dnuggett

Originally posted by: WinstonSmith

Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
We've been disliked for decades, we just weren't paying attention.

The reality is that we have not been cared about for decades. Most people (including Muslims) get up in the morning, and hope they have can get enough food to feed their families for the day. Neither you or I no any other American means anything to them unless we decide to get in their face. Do they like us? If you asked them (without an M16 in your hand) they would say "no" and promptly forget about it. It's like ice storms in areas prone to them. People don't like them, however they don't dwell on it unless they have to deal with them directly.

Am I curious, are these people to whom you refer to all that exists of the world?

As I said, most people of the world don't really care either way, and yes, most of the six plus billion people are most worried about their next meal.

There are hundreds of millions of people who have less money to spend on food in a year than Americans do for disposable paper products. Many hundreds of millions.

All that exists of the world goes far beyond the US, Canada, Japan and Europe. Poverty and hunger are the rule. Malaria kills more a year than any number of terrorists ever could.

That is the world as it is.

Under those circumstances, would you really worry about US politics?

You made a blanket statement that we have not been cared about for decades. And there are a great many, many, many countries outside of Europe, Japan, and Canada that do care about the US. Some of those are the poor countries you speak of. You don't know that?

Are you talking about governments? If so, sure. They are aware of the US being a potential threat and a source of aid.

The average Nigerian gets up in the AM and thinks a lot about us?

To be sure, there are those who have a favorable view of the US. Ususally this is after a disbursment of food from US (often privately funded)

In whether or not they have a favorable opinion of us, these people go back to their business of trying to get by. The US is an abstraction.

Sometimes I wonder if as a whole Americans are too self-important. (That was not directed at you BTW).

Most people really don't dwell on the US, and yes, I have had occasion to get around, and meet people from elsewhere.

 

[maddogchen]

Just wait till China overtakes the US to become the world's superpower. Then you'll see what a bully is really like. You ain't seen nothing yet. 😉

 

[AntiEverything]

Originally posted by: chess9
It will take 20 years to undo the mistakes of the last 50 years. We need a FORWARD looking foreign policy with an emphasis on getting the poor nations invested in capitalism and democracy.

-Robert

Is that sarcasm? A joke? 😕

How are you going to spread capitalism and democracy to people who don't want it? 😕

 

[Rob9874]

People hate America for what it stands for: freedom, liberty, capitalism. We are not the bullies of the world. If anything, we fight the bullies. We're the strength behind what is good. You know when you're watching a movie, and the bad guys are killing innocent people, and the good feeling you get when the superhero comes in and overpowers the bad guys? America is the world's superhero. Do you ever ask yourself, "Why does Batman bully the Joker? Why can't he just let the Joker do what he wants?"

In all seriousness, I can't believe we're being compared to bad nations that use force to coerce others. If you can't see a difference between what America is doing, and what the Nazis or Iraq was doing, then there is something wrong with you. "Well, we think we're right, but they thought they were right too." That argument is such BS! Anyone knows that democracy and freedom are better than murder, rape, and dictatorships. If we have to use force against murderous governments to promote peace and freedom, that is a good thing. It is never bad to force freedom on someone. Even if you have to shove it down their throats.

 

[RabidMongoose]

Of course the US is a bully of the world...it is in the very nature of most nations, especially superpowers.

I think Kerry could improve the image of the US...I mean Bush has already caused so much international hatred of the US, IMO. However it's not going to make everyone love the US or anything. As long as the US is the lone superpower at the top then everyone will direct some hate towards it.

 

[Czar]

Originally posted by: Rob9874
People hate America for what it stands for: freedom, liberty, capitalism. We are not the bullies of the world. If anything, we fight the bullies. We're the strength behind what is good. You know when you're watching a movie, and the bad guys are killing innocent people, and the good feeling you get when the superhero comes in and overpowers the bad guys? America is the world's superhero. Do you ever ask yourself, "Why does Batman bully the Joker? Why can't he just let the Joker do what he wants?"

In all seriousness, I can't believe we're being compared to bad nations that use force to coerce others. If you can't see a difference between what America is doing, and what the Nazis or Iraq was doing, then there is something wrong with you. "Well, we think we're right, but they thought they were right too." That argument is such BS! Anyone knows that democracy and freedom are better than murder, rape, and dictatorships. If we have to use force against murderous governments to promote peace and freedom, that is a good thing. It is never bad to force freedom on someone. Even if you have to shove it down their throats.

thats precicely why many people dont like the US, its the overblown ego

 

[mjquilly]

Originally posted by: Rob9874
People hate America for what it stands for: freedom, liberty, capitalism. We are not the bullies of the world. If anything, we fight the bullies. We're the strength behind what is good. You know when you're watching a movie, and the bad guys are killing innocent people, and the good feeling you get when the superhero comes in and overpowers the bad guys? America is the world's superhero. Do you ever ask yourself, "Why does Batman bully the Joker? Why can't he just let the Joker do what he wants?"

In all seriousness, I can't believe we're being compared to bad nations that use force to coerce others. If you can't see a difference between what America is doing, and what the Nazis or Iraq was doing, then there is something wrong with you. "Well, we think we're right, but they thought they were right too." That argument is such BS! Anyone knows that democracy and freedom are better than murder, rape, and dictatorships. If we have to use force against murderous governments to promote peace and freedom, that is a good thing. It is never bad to force freedom on someone. Even if you have to shove it down their throats.

what he said

 

[Czar]

Originally posted by: RabidMongoose
Of course the US is a bully of the world...it is in the very nature of most nations, especially superpowers.

I think Kerry could improve the image of the US...I mean Bush has already caused so much international hatred of the US, IMO. However it's not going to make everyone love the US or anything. As long as the US is the lone superpower at the top then everyone will direct some hate towards it.

that is very true, being the biggest superpower in the current world affair also makes you the biggest target of just about everything

 

[Bowfinger]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
If Kerry gets into office, Osama and friends will laugh themselves to the bank...and take advantage of a weak president just as they did with Clinton. After all, it was under Clinton's watch that all of the 9/11 planning was done.

:roll:

I know some of you guys are touchy about Kool-Aid comments, but c'mon. How else can you respond to absurd, party-line parroting like this?

At least Bush will speak sofly and walk with a BIG FVCKING STICK!

... which he will use to beat up the little crippled country in the corner instead of the real source of the problem.

 

[element]

Kerry can only change how he is viewed, not how the rest of the U.S. is viewed.

If they chase after him into his bedroom like they did with Clinton, the world will still point and laugh at your idiocy.

 

[imported_Condor]

Dumb survey. Where was the question that asked if I believed kerry would make everything much worse? Obviously a biased survey.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: IHateMyJob2004
That's a Bill Hicks quote. Where "We" is the "U.S.". Two fairly straight forward questions:

1) Are we the bullies of the world?
2) If Kerry gets in office, will we be perceived better in 4 years?

I'd like to qualify my answer a bit as well.

1.) Yes, but we've been viewed that way for several decades.
2.) Yes, I think things will get better in 4 years but I think it will take a few generations to get us back to where we were before Bush took office.