Anti-Americanism at record levels worldwide, report shows

**** SURPRISE!!!!!!! < :-)

Anti-Americanism is at record levels thanks to U.S. policies such as the war in Iraq, and Washington’s perceived hypocrisy in abiding by its own democratic values, U.S. lawmakers said Wednesday.

Intersting how the article makes no mention of Delahunt's party affiliation (Democrat, of course), but precedes Rohrabacher's name with his party affiliation.

Which actually demonstrates the problem. Most teachers, like most journalists, are left-of-center. The elitist nature of the jobs attracts leftists better than jam bands and Che t-shirts. If you're a leftist, you'll have a natural tendency to be anti-American (as far as America's traditional values go) no matter where you are on the planet. If you're a teacher or a journalist, your job is to teach people about the world. So your worldview will be imprinted on those you teach, whether they like it or not.

The journalist saw no need to inform the reader of Delahunt's party affiliation, but saw the need to advise the reader of Rohrabacher's party affiliation prior to relaying the man's opinion to the reader. So the journalist tried to give the impression that Delahunt was neutral and had no agenda, while attempting to paint Rohrabacher as a partisan. And I'll bet that the journalist never conciously was aware of his manipulation. Such is the nature of ingrained bias.

The bit about "Washington's hypocrisy in abiding by its own democratic values" is quite true, unfortunately. Here we are, traveling around the world displacing dictators and their sons so the citizens of a distant country can choose their government and leaders, all while America's own irnoically-named Democratic Party utilizes a primary election system which allows super delegates to pick nominees regardless of the popular vote.

As far as I'm concerned, let the world's leftists hate America all they want. You are known by the company you keep, after all. Just ask the current DNC nominee...

I think I'll let some of the anti-American responses that are sure to appear on this thread as our defense.

"Most teachers, like most journalists, are left-of-center." Hey, that explains how all the major media hired former generals who were working for Rumsfeld and weapons makers to hype the invasion! because they're owned by leftists! ...and, uh, they wanted to discredit movement conservatism by getting the public to support neoconservative policies that subvert the Constitution and bring America to its knees, economically and politically, so that people would repudiate the current administration and all it represents. Those devious lefties....

The journalist saw no need to inform the reader of Delahunt's party affiliation, but saw the need to advise the reader of Rohrabacher's party affiliation prior to relaying the man's opinion to the reader. So the journalist tried to give the impression that Delahunt was neutral and had no agenda, while attempting to paint Rohrabacher as a partisan.

This is just plain ignorant.

The article states that Delahunt is the chairman of the House subcommittee on international organizations,etc. Since Democrats hold a majority in the House, all committees are led by Democrats. Therefore, stating so would have been redundant. Meanwhile, members of committees can be from either party and so it was necessary to identify their party affiliation. Writers generally try to write for people with normal awareness.

It is always laughable to read the comments of the Bush apologists when evidence of how much he has hurt the US comes to light. (I am pro-US which is precisely why I am anti-Bush.)

Although I agree with the premise of the story that anti-Americanism has increased, I think it's important to point out that the United States is still, very much so, loved by most countries as well.

The thing that really stuck out for me in this story however is this:

Dana Rohrabacher, disagreed with the report and its premise, telling a Washington hearing where the document was released that “I don’t think the United States needs to apologize” for its acts.

Why not? Just because you do good doesn't mean that when or if you do bad, you are automatically exonerated. Most of us do right by our spouses an overwhelming majority of the time, but after the times when we don't do right by them, we still apologize, because it's the right thing to do. I really believe that the idea that the U.S. has nothing to apologize for is extremely arrogant and extremely short-sighted.

Taka

WhiteHawk, you seem to miss the point and demonstrate the problem both at the same time. Why is it so many Americans paint everything in terms of "left" and "right", or "Democrat" or "Republican", or whatever similar terms you want to use. Over and over again we see these terms used as an excuse for justifying ignorance or stupidity.

This article is about the world's view of the U.S, not the U.S's view of itself. Going on about "left" or "right" is to completely ignore any legitimate issues raised (or illegitimate ones, as well). "Left" and "right" are devisive terms used to try and paint everyone who doesn't believe the exact same thing as yourself as "the opposition". ...What? You don't believe the U.S. is the sole moral compass for the entire universe?! You must be a leftist pinko commie. and vice-versa. Argument over. Only, the thing is, there wasn't any argument, just the application of labels.

So, what were the actual issues raised in the article:

1) "Our physical strength has come to be seen not as a solace but as a threat, not as a guarantee of stability and order but as a source of intimidation, violence and torture.”

2) "the war in Iraq, support for some repressive governments, a perception of bias in the Israeli-Palestinian dispute and the 'torture and abuse of prisoners' in violation of treaty obligations."

3) "unilateralism, particularly in military action, has led to 'anger and a fear of attack that are transforming disagreements with U.S. policy into a broadening and deepening anti-Americanism.'"

Any view on these issues (without having to resort to labelling and thus being able to ignore them and the left the problems continue to grow)?

Personally, I see issues like the U.S. support of Isreal as a major issue, though recently there seems to be an improvement in attitude towards more of an effort to resove the issue (rather than just support one side over another). Also, Guantanemo (sp?) Bay was always going to be a big issue, where U.S. government has majorily undermined perceptions of moral authority internationally. Again, trials are (finally) starting to take place, and once all the prisioners are out of there, attitude toward the U.S. should start to improve. There are still a few other issues, but I wouldn't be surprised if this point in time marks the low point, and there is an improvement in future attitude "surveys". That is, of course, fully dependant on the next administration and what they do, and how the U.S. population hold them accountable.

As far as I'm concerned, let the world's leftists hate America all they want.

That's a great attitude, and so typical of why Anti-American sentiment is increasing. This arrogant, ignorant and dismissive world view, typified by Still-President Bush, is that anyone who disagrees with America or dislikes America is stupid or motivated by some selfish agenda, so there is no "valid" anti-Americanism. And anyway, it's the job of the people who don't like America to see the light and realize America is great. This method of dealing with problems has worked out so well.

Oh No! I'm a proud and patriotic American. But, even I have seen the disgrace caused by our so called democratic and free nation. To put it bluntly... I don't trust Americans. Yes, I'm sorry to say. If we just look at only the smallest fundamentals of trust...not doing what one says or even able to write an e-mail in reply....lazy? arrogant? selfish? too busy doing nothing? who knows...I'm tired of worthless excuses. Get off your high horse.

What America says or does is like NAZI Germany, That can arrest you now for anything. Don"t believe what they say ., remember they are still in our country after 63 years. Once they come in they never want to leave and threaten you or your country if you challenge them.

anti-Americanism has been around for a long time. Its going to go up and its going to go down. I do however like Taka's point: "I think it's important to point out that the United States is still, very much so, loved by most countries as well." People still want to get in the country, even trekking over deserts, riding in containers, and marrying the ugliest of people to be able to stay.

We are in an unpopular war, but even if we weren't, we still wouldn't be liked. You the most right-wing religiously controlled countries that get into reports such as this. You have very left wing countries who get into reports such as this.

We are either criticized for allowing too much freedom, then criticized for cracking down on freedoms. We get hit on immigration, yet there is no other country in the world that has the rate of people coming in. Our music scene is criticized then yet it is copied. Our Hollywood scene is criticized yet copied. The list goes on and on.

What I really have to raise an eyebrow to sometimes is the accusations of arrogance. I know very few Americans who go around shouting how bad country A is and what country B doesn't have. I hear so much from, even Canadians, that America has nothing on us. We are the nationality to be in the future. All these countries love us and we get special treatment in Japan. I even have a Canadian friend who teaches English. His constant rant is how much America doesn't compare to Canada. I hear the same from the Brits, from my French friends. I have even been advised to give up my American nationality and "plead to Castro government be Cuban".

I say, ignore reports like this. It is really the only thing you can do. Kind of like liking some girl who doesn't like you - there is nothing you are going to be able to do to have her like you.

The Congress under the majority of Democrats have the lowest favorable rate than President Bush. The Dems are looking for a quick fix, and they do not mind to paint a dark picture of America for their own gains. America is not perfect, the UN are lost and corrupted, the EU is being swallowing by Islam, and the Russian-Chinese alliance are ready to stir the pot. There was a flaw in Bush's Iraq policy; however we have to give a new Iraq a chance. "Killing field" is nothing if America is pulling out from Iraq now. May be you folks do not give a damn. Have a conscience and thinking ahead about further steps ahead. How about focusing on securing energy policy thus stopping sending our money to the Mullah for a change.

Thanks George W. Bush, Dick Cheney and friends!!!

peopel say some stupid stuff, alot of Europeans are anti US, like the British, Dont they KNOW their troops are there Fighting along side US? same thing with Australia. People like to JUMP on Bandwagons like the Tibet issue. wait till Obama becomes president! the "anti USA" Horse manure will Fade Away!!........

It says “disappointment and bitterness” has grown from the perception that much-vaunted U.S. values “have been selectively ignored by successive administrations” for national security or economic ends.

Left or Right? Seems the answer would be both...

I think the war in Iraq has a lot more to do with the negative attitude than the report is making out.

I had been living in France for sometime before the build up to war and saw first hand how some people changed during that time. America friends of mine who had been in France since the Vietnam war were suddenly finding their lives complicated by 'anti-Americanism' (which I think is a crock of $#!7 expression). French friends felt personally insulted by what was happening in America simply because they disagreed with the invasion. It was an emotional time but a big part of the problem was that there were leaders in the government at the time goading it along. I think it will be a long time before people in France forget the ridiculously arrogant comments by guys like Rumsfeld(who was seen as a representative of the American people). Seriously, that is the kind of stuff that needs to be apologised for and I think it would have a positive impact.

I chalk this up to two things.

First the Bush administration couldn't explain giving alms to the poor without looking like a bunch of bungling serial rapists. You can only answer everything with half truths for so long before everyone begins to hate talking to you.

Second, we are prominent as a superpower, but unlike any other superpower before or since we let out dissidents talk freely. When people who couldn't conceive of a government publicly arguing with itself hears parts of our government bitterly slander other parts what are they supposed to think? Imagine talking to a man who at random intervals begins screaming at the top of his lungs that he's a chronic liar and up to no good. You'd think he was crazy at the least. That's what a polarized democracy does for your PR.

Of course it doesn't help that parts of the American government have indeed been acting badly the last few years. Combined with us going over the heads of other governments who thought they could control the US through the UN and I'm honestly not surprised that our PR is so bad. Nobody likes it when the pissed off bull gets loose in the china shop.

Which actually demonstrates the problem. Most teachers, like most journalists, are left-of-center. The elitist nature of the jobs attracts leftists better than jam bands and Che t-shirts. If you're a leftist, you'll have a natural tendency to be anti-American

This statement has so much dumb I don't know where to begin.

First off, there's begging the question. Namely, you assume the problem is more in people's perceptions, and not in the actual actions that they're perceiving, as if you have some natural right to favorable bias. This attitude has always infuriated me, and it's damn near driven me away from the Republican party (yes, I am a Republican.)

Most teachers, like most journalists, are left-of-center.

Define "center." Hint: it's not where you're standing, token annoyance at right wing problems aside. This is also called a bear assertion, and it's also logically invalid. REALLY, REALLY, logically invalid.

The elitist nature of the jobs attracts leftists better than jam bands and Che t-shirts.

The elitist nature of your attitude attracts people who habitually over estimate their personal intelligence and importance better than televangelism. And THAT, all subjectivity aside (as much as it can be, anyway,) is a LOT more supportable than your flippant BS.

Such is the nature of ingrained bias.

You mean, the kind of bias that makes someone complain about REPORTERS for two paragraphs before making a token acknowledgment that things aren't perfect in the States? That kind of ingrained bias?

If you're a leftist, you'll have a natural tendency to be anti-American

This sentence is beneath contempt, but I'll address it anyway.

Since the media has been addressing everything anti-American as leftist (yes, the media. There's always political bias, but the delusion that the left has some unfair advantage is ludicrous, no matter how snippy some people get) then by that definition OF COURSE the "left" is "naturally" anti-American. If you go by actual standards, however, they're anti American government, which is a COMPLETELY different thing.

I'm disgusted by my government's actions, and I AM NOT OF THE LEFT. I am disgusted on many levels: incompetence, hypocrisy, selfishness, greed. But I'm considerably more disgusted and disheartened by the attitude that some of my fellow Americans have adopted: they're more concerned about "liberal" bias than with dealing with the problems the "liberals" point out.

Every time an article like this is commented on, I always cringe internally and wonder how the "concerned" Americans will find a way to blame everyone except the people in charge THIS time. It's cowardice. Stop shooting the messenger and work on the mess. PLEASE.

One more time, for the cheap seats. ACTIONS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE REPORTS OF THEM. I'm not suggesting the media is clean, but grow up.

they're more concerned about "liberal" bias than with dealing with the problems the "liberals" point out."

I take it that you see that as going in both directions then, do you?

Yes, the hate on for America has risen, but the hate has always been there long before Bush was even conceived.

"French friends felt personally insulted by what was happening in America simply because they disagreed with the invasion" Seems a lot of French need to retake their history courses. Seems to me that far too many Europeans are ready to jump on America because it lets them off the historical hook... And mostly, the American left are all too forgiving in that matter.

Don't always believe the hype.

What I really have to raise an eyebrow to sometimes is the accusations of arrogance. I say, ignore reports like this. It is really the only thing you can do.

Well, there are different kinds of arrogance. While putting other people down is the most obvious kind, to disregard criticism as being irrelevant because you are secure in your conviction that anyone who is criticizing you 1) has no right to do so; 2) doesn't know what they're talking about is probably at least a LITTLE arrogant. This kind of smug contempt toward outside criticism is characteristic of many Americans, and I say so as an American. It's like the expression Americans love to use, "let's agree to disagree." It sounds kind of concilatory, but most of the time what it really means is "I think you are a twit and you will never persuade me of one single thing, but I don't want to waste any more of my time on you." Nevertheless, people who use this expression all the time seem to be certain that it shows how open-minded they are. Saying "Americans are not arrogant, but obviously we don't have to pay attention to silly outsiders who are just bitter and jealous and don't really understand all of our good points" and seeing no contradiction seems to pretty much exemplify the lack of self-reflection that many Americans (quite naturally, when you look at the thought process or lack thereof) claim does not exist.

"Anti-Americanism at record levels worldwide, report shows"

If only it were true.

chardk1: I think you are taking me wrong. If it makes you happy criticizing America, then go ahead, but it doesn't mean I have to listen. There are a lot of things I don't like about America myself, but I don't need to go on a rampage about it.

The Roman empire had the same problem until they fell flat on their @rse as well...

So, to recap:

Bashing American government at JT = good.

Bashing global liberals' governments at JT = bad.

RR

Seems a lot of French need to retake their history courses

Perfect, exactly the ignorant attitude I was talking about. Guess you think French history started with America 'saving their butts'. Read your own history books. Where did the Statue of Liberty come from and whose actions helped get it there? It's silly and irrelevant to bring up such nonsense as read your books... Then you complain about other disliking you?

Esther Brimmer, director of research at John Hopkins University’s Center for Transatlantic Relations, noted that after the September 11, 2001, European nations were keen to help the United States, including in Afghanistan. But their support was “deeply impacted by the invasion of Iraq,” and cooler relations contributed to Washington’s failure to secure Macedonia’s membership of NATO and to undermine its role in reforming the U.N.’s human rights mechanisms, she said.

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq provided an excellent natural experiment to test the U.S.'s NATO allies' willingness and ability to share the burden in a fight. Afghanistan was the so-called "good war" in which the Europeans were fully complicit. Even if they later refused to join the fight in Iraq on legal or moral grounds they could have delivered a powerful object lesson to the US had they shown their mettle and value in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, their paltry contributions to the effort in Afghansitan have shown Ms. Bremer's premise to be threadbare. Even such troops as have been sent have often been prohibited by their governments from operating in the dangerous parts of the country - not primarily because of their disagreement with the US but because their stingy with their blood and treasure.

You see RomeoRamen, therein lies the fundamental difference here on JT. Whenever people 'bash' America here, it's strictly due to the POLICIES and the POLITICIANS who run the country. It does NOT extend in general to the American public.

On the contrary, the naysayers here habitually stereotype, insult, and bash every level of the country of Japan, from its governmental institutions to its people. There is no differentiation between bashing a government and bashing a people.

So really, some here have absolutely no right to complain about America being bashed considering their own hypocrisy.

"Anti-Americanism at record levels worldwide"

And just how do "they" show their ire ?

-Buy taking trips to America ! So much so that records for international tourists set records this and last year.

-By spending millions on American pop culture like hip/hop, rap, movies, etc.

-By continuing to do business with the USA, solidifying their position at #1 as the worlds most competitive nation !

-By inviting American professional sports teams to various venues around the planet including China, London, Mexico, Toronto, etc !

-By sitting by on their collective thumbs in quiet approval as the US takes care of the worlds terrorists !

Yep... they all sound pretty pissed off at America to me !

Sir, I shed a tear when President kennedy died. May be some one in Japan did when Gandhi was killed. May be people in India,and other parts of world will do when mandela dies. America has lost the moral authority when it elected leaders like Nixon,Bush etc. Musharaff is bulwark of Democracy and his army was given 10 billion US dollars but not Myanmar military junta(who donot suffer0 but the people of Myanmar suffer. whenaid is denied).US gave PL 480 food aid to India when we were aligned unofficially with soviet union.That requires moral courage. But today it FEARS ISLAMIC FUNDEMNTALISM but cannot help Democracy in India or its Muslims and so they are getting petro dollars and Saudi wahabism is flourishing.

Hell! I wonder why?

Westurn no offense my friend but that's a pretty laughable list to "prove" that there is no anti Americanism worldwide.

Face it, I could also come up with a list to disprove people's notions here that Japan is a horrible place to live and work and earn a living, amongst a multitude of other things (high technological advancement, exportation of japanese culture to an eager world audience, etc. etc.) and people like you would laugh and argue to the contrary.

Face it there is a general anti American attitude in the world, and thankfully it WILL improve once the idiot in office now is long gone.

Ummm Jr...

"that's a pretty laughable list to "prove"

Hardly... the facts are out there as... people vote with their feet !

"Face it, I could also come up with a list to disprove people's notions here that Japan is a horrible place to live and work and earn a living,"

That's too easy to counter Jr... just look at Japan falling population base. The Japanese don't want to reproduce and foreigners don't want to live here ! End of discussion ! Can you say the same about America ??? Increased population by more than 60 million in the past 10-15 years ! If the world hates America so much... why are they bustin' down the door to get in ? And Japan ??? No thank you !

Legitimate criticism of the US is somewhere between what the US government takes responsibility for and what the radical anti-Americans accuse us of doing.

I am convinced the disdain started when they conjured up that arrogant slogan "shock and awe" to be unleashed on the Iraqis. Then it was followed up with Romsfeld statement about "old Europe". And that ridiculous display of the Commander and Chief landing on a carrier, declaring victory and an imminent end to the war. They have just behave like clowns all round.

Kind of Everton2, it started with Bush acting like a cowboy and thinking he could win over Iraq all on his own, and he and his administration royally screwing things up. Total impression of America imperialism, as no humongous stock piles of WMD's were found, no links to al qaeda, etc. etc. I mean, it totally does not give a good impression to the world when you invade a country on false pretenses, ruin countless civilian and coalition lives for the sake of hubris. Why wouldn't people have anti American sentiments?

skipthesong, I'm not saying that people aren't hard on America. I do feel that America is as well-meaning a dominant world power as there ever has been, lots of countries including many of its most virulent critics have benefited greatly from their association with the U.S., China and Russia are much more self-serving and make far less positive contributions to the global society and still get cut a ton more slack, etc. These things are all true and Americans should feel free to point them out.

But that doesn't change the fact that Anti-American sentiment is on the rise. Yes, perhaps some of it is irrational, yes, perhaps a lot of it is harsh. But as Americans we should care about why people think what they do about us even if we disagree with the "what." The opinions of people who dislike you may not be correct, but they are almost never uneducational. That is of course making the large assumption that one has any interest in learning something (Dubya, I'm talking to you).

westurn "Anti-Americanism at record levels worldwide"

And just how do "they" show their ire ?

-Buy taking trips to America ! So much so that records for international tourists set records this and last year.

-By spending millions on American pop culture like hip/hop, rap, movies, etc.

-By continuing to do business with the USA, solidifying their position at #1 as the worlds most competitive nation !

-By inviting American professional sports teams to various venues around the planet including China, London, Mexico, Toronto, etc !

-By sitting by on their collective thumbs in quiet approval as the US takes care of the worlds terrorists !

Yep... they all sound pretty pissed off at America to me !

You forgot to add that there are at least 15 million illegal aliens that make America their home, because they can't get a fair shake at finding a job to suport their family. Nor do they ever say anything like after the great tsunami in 2004, yes many countries gave financial support, but I seem to remember many US military forces doing the brunt work of getting the needed supplies to remote areas. But, I guess I am just being too xenophobic.

rjd_jr...

You see RomeoRamen, therein lies the fundamental difference here on JT. Whenever people 'bash' America here, it's strictly due to the POLICIES and the POLITICIANS who run the country. It does NOT extend in general to the American public.

Um, no. This little nugget was posted on a previous thread and was allowed to stay:

"Bush won because both Gore and Kerry seemed too clever so people voted for the candidate that seemed the dumbest. I am really curious about the anti-intellectual currents that flow through American society. Why don't Americans like smart people? Is the dislike for smart people the reason America scores so low on international tests?”

I actually protested to the MODS about it and I was told that it actually falls within the guidelines of the site (ie it's not crude, insulting, or senseless nation bashing), so I'm not sure how much creibility I can give to your "fundamental difference" point of view.

You can look at the US's actions and find reasons to criticize, but you also need to understand that global polls showing people's opinion of America includes people like the above. There are similar people in the US who have the same shortcomings, but since the global media isn't obsessed with printing opinion polls from Americans about other countries you can see how they don't have quite the same impact.

"Why wouldn't people have anti American sentiments?"

Because most people do not directly associate themselves with their "own" governments actions let alone those from other nations. I hardly doubt there is a Japanese alive that would openly state that Fukuda does exactly as they wish. Or how about the French ? Are they judged by the actions of Sarkozy ? The Brits under Gordon Brown ? I think not... so why are Americans held to the double standard ? Actually they are not ! Only under the disgruntled eyes of rjdjr and his ilk. Because the fact remains American goods, services, culture, technology, ideology, etc... continues to be the envy of anyone able to "freely demonstrate !" People choose to live in America over Canada every day of the year ! People buy American products, step into McDonalds, down a coke, slap on their levis, watch baseball, turn up Puff Daddy, and can't wait for the new Indy jones movie on every corner of the world ! American technology is in such high demand that thousands travel to America for transplants and operations as it is the norm and not the exception. Sorry Jr. I could go on all day. Those that rail against America do so at it's politicians and not the American people... This article clearly states...

"It says the problem arises not from a rejection of U.S. culture, values and power but primarily from its policies"

yeh, well how many other nations can live up to the scrutiny of their policies like the US must do ? Hell everytime Japan gets called to the table over it's child porn, whaling, relations with North Korea etc... they call off the dogs ! Nobody does that with the US. Such is the price for being number one and the envy of the world !

I read the article twice but still can't work out who hates America most. This could make for a very provocative Japan Today survey:

Who Hates America more

Is it the world's 1.2 billion oppressed and envious Muslims, insulted and envious Europeans, fearful and envious South Americans

or

US Democrats ?

chardk1:

But as Americans we should care about why people think what they do about us even if we disagree with the "what."

Agreed. All other things being equal it is desirable to be popular. I wouldn't make it a primary aim of US foriegn policy, though.

envious europeans? they've got the airbus a380, tgv, autobahn, porsche, ferrari, lamborghini, zonda, bugatti, audi, mercedes-benz, maserati, bmw, and aston martin. throw in james bond, too.

i don't think so...

I have no intention to disparage American culture, though I prefer MOS Burger to MacDonalds, Sora/Riku to Donald/Goofy.

But it's true such polemic writers as Benjanmin Fulford are giving some influence on the people here in Japan on how to think about America, apart from the question of whether what he argues is true or not. We began to see America quite objectively detaching ourselves from any sense of shared destiny.

particularly in Muslim countries and Latin America.

As long as Muslim countries hate us, we must be doing something right. It's when they start to like us I'll get worried.

thundercat: Seems a lot of French need to retake their history courses

Perfect, exactly the ignorant attitude I was talking about." No, its your biased thinking that is getting the best of you. So, I can not criticize France for anything? By having a few particular views on France's history makes me ignorant? Because America is hated by so many I am not allowed to make a few counters?

Ok, so let's see who is ignorant:

"Guess you think French history started with America 'saving their butts'." Where did I say that? Have you read enough to even know not only what France's past consists of, but what is happening in France and all of Europe right now?

" Read your own history books." I have many and I have read many.

" Where did the Statue of Liberty come from and whose actions helped get it there?" I lived for several years in NYC, you think I've never been to the SOL?

" It's silly and irrelevant to bring up such nonsense as read your books..." Well, so you are saying in 20 years or so, that anyone making the same criticism of the US now, will be nonsnese?

" Then you complain about other disliking you?" Where did I complain? I just said one shouldn't really be a hypocrite. I don't go around making it part of my day to pick out any one country to bust on. As far as any one disliking me, well, then they could just kiss my butt! Like I said, and your ignorance proves me correct, that no matter what you do, you can't change someone from hating you. So be it!

Helter: As long as Muslim countries hate us, we must be doing something right. It's when they start to like us I'll get worried." Sooo, why are so many moving to the US and Europe? BTW, would you consider a great majority of European countries as Muslim led?

And lastly to the poster: "particularly in Muslim countries and Latin America." Latinos do not hate America. I don't know where you get that from, perhaps a few socialistic leaders. Do you know how much commerce has increased between the US and Latin America? Do you know anything about Latinos?

COMMENT OF THE MONTH from TPOJ -

"I'm disgusted by my government's actions, and I AM NOT OF THE LEFT. I am disgusted on many levels: incompetence, hypocrisy, selfishness, greed. But I'm considerably more disgusted and disheartened by the attitude that some of my fellow Americans have adopted: they're more concerned about "liberal" bias than with dealing with the problems the "liberals" point out.

Every time an article like this is commented on, I always cringe internally and wonder how the "concerned" Americans will find a way to blame everyone except the people in charge THIS time. It's cowardice. Stop shooting the messenger and work on the mess. PLEASE.

One more time, for the cheap seats. ACTIONS ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE REPORTS OF THEM. I'm not suggesting the media is clean, but grow up."

NO Americans knows why???

I live in a neighborhood of US Agency personnel, and they KNOW why.

Let's go down on some obvious points:

-Cold War ended

-US let down it's defense, goes on the offense in Japan and Europe.

-Addressed the indebtedness.

-US the sole superpower - a superpower based primarily on military might which is primarily run on oil.

-US has inadequate oil to address the equip for the Army, Navy, Air Force, 700+ bases. Prof. Chalmers Johnson talks about this.

-Rise of competitors, regional defense pacts.

-USSR was greatly weakened engaging Afghanistan, US is presently engaged in Afghanistan - maybe Afghanistan should be retitled, "Waterloo".

-Following the path of all Great Powers of the Past.

There is something on the US West Coast and it has required me to research what the US is doing - some of my questions were answered by the participants.

As long as Muslim countries hate us, we must be doing something right.

Sense of right and anger arising from it are often most welcome to some wiles.

-By spending millions on American pop culture

Culture, tourism or business have nothing to do with politics. My favorite authors and directors are all Americans. Actually I believe that America is a (the) cultural focal point in the world. I don't see any reason why I should hate American people; after all you don't even elect your president directly. In fact, I think that most people showing "anti-american" feelings are not that different from Americans who are pissed by their government.

difool, your post is the best one yet.

The world has long had a love/hate relationship with the US. There is nothing particularly new about that, nor will that basic fact change even if the most radical of policy shifts occurs.

skipthesong,

the point i was trying to make was that people didn't always 'hate' america. this article is about the raise of anti-americanism. i gave some examples of what i thought contributed to the problem and you retorted with the same old

'we saved you butts so shut your trap' nonsense that makes people want to hate you in the first place. that lame attitude will never win anyone over, especially when they feel wronged. keep thinking you are never wrong. keep pushing people around. keep saying ignorant things and watch those anti-american number continue to raise.

we saved you butts so shut your trap' nonsense" Never have I said that. I heard things like that when I was a Medic in the Army. I hated it. My brother always heard that from people when he was in Okinawa about the US saving them blah blah. I couldn't agree with you more. But, like I was trying to point out, I don't see much of that. I see more and more, espeically here in Tokyo with people from other countries making a decent night out the platform to go into an Anti-American rage. I do believe a lot of Europeans also want this to happen to get them off the hook for their negatives - Nazis, British Empire, France's Colonial past and their classed societies.

And, I don't believe anti-American is on the rise, it has always been there; its just reported more (IMO). Besides, who these days in America is really even American? I am a first generation American. Neither of my parents were born in the US, hardly any of my friends' parents were either. Also, I think many misquote others' pride in their country. I do believe a lot of this discussion tends to lean to people wanting Americans NOT to have pride in their country. I am American, I don't hate America, but I do disagree with it a lot. however, I do hate that I can't walk alone in certain areas due to street crime and that is never addressed as being a negative in the US.

Additionally, I would question anyone who really has anti-American feelings if they have ever actually been there and stayed there. If they did and still hate it, I would at least respect their opinion. Like I said, if people hate us, there really isn't much that can be done about it.

I'm tired of all this hating America stuff. Can't we go back to just being indifferent?

is funny ... actualy america didnt fix any conflict what so ever since 60 years , actualy is america thats make the most conflict around the world ... fighting for freedom and democrasy , thats nice !!! but we all forget thats they arent fighting for the freedom and democracy of every one here ... they are just fighting any country thats come on theyr way!!

so yes they are fighting for theyr owne freedom on the doom of other !

since 60 years is the mess ..Global warming is because of america.. terrorism , well before the CIA trainned suicide squad there was no terrorism by the way !! Organising Genocide around the world OR puching country to fight eachother to sell theyr Weapon ... Fake moon landing ...JFK murdered Hiroshima and nagasaki ...they didnt have to drop any nuke bombe since the war was over by the way !! Pearl harbor , not to forget thats american Puch the japanese to attack since they stoped the japanese economy for 5 years ... strange pearl harbor and 9 11 look the same to me ...all to puch the american public to go to war !!

We all have a so perfect point of view of america ..saikou desuyo !!

i think you all get the point .. only american still dont get WHY ...lolz !!!

Yoroshikune!!

Agreed. All other things being equal it is desirable to be popular. I wouldn't make it a primary aim of US foriegn policy, though.

Shimajiro - I appreciate the insight. I was really talking more in terms of how I think Americans as individuals and as a society should approach interaction with people of other countries, rather than national policy.

Either way, I don't think the American government or Americans should be obsessed with being "popular," just reasonable and practical. America and Americans at their best are a rare and winning combination of pragmatism and idealism, and I feel we need to get back to the difficult task of balancing our ideals and interests and shed the attractive but delusional dogma that America cannot be bad, so by definition it can do whatever it wants. Of course America is not as awful as its detractors assert, but claiming it is doing nothing but God's work on Earth, as some Americans (Dubya) do with no perceivable irony, is going to draw a lot of criticism and rightly so. You can't claim the moral high ground AND complain about being held to a higher standard.

I don't dislike Americans per se. But I don't approve of their diplomacy overseas and US politics/election campaign antics have to be the biggest joke in the world (except maybe for Zimbabwe's, for different reasons). And I shudder when I see the average carbon footprint of an American citizen - this has got to be linked to the obesity rates in the USA too. And do you know? I have NEVER met an American citizen who has confessed to voting for Bush isn't that unusual? I presume all the voters live (and hardly ever leave) their country.

The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq provided an excellent natural experiment to test the U.S.'s NATO allies' willingness and ability to share the burden in a fight.

Shima, NATO invoked Article 5 in the wake of 9/11 which states an attack on any member is an attack on them all which necessitates collective self-defense. But the GWB administration didn't want them involved in Afghanistan; we could handle it ourselves and they would just get in the way.

After it proved a lot more difficult than anticipated and the GWB administration had made "Iraq the central front on the war on terror" NATO was brought in. In addition to GWB's legendary unpopularity in Europe, there's no strategy for victory so it's not surprising things ended up the way they have.

While anti-Americanism is akin to a religion in some quarters in Europe, people like Chris Patten, who is as pro-American as your going to find among European politicians, were undercut by the GWB administration's decision to adopt a unilateralist foreign policy. He was given no more deference than street protesters.

As we embarked on as essentially imperialist enterprise in Iraq, nobody in Washington thought there might be any lessons in, say, the French experience in Algeria. The casual arrogance of the kid who thinks he's different and then gets his comeuppance proved understandably entertaining to those who proclaimed, "We told you so!"

In the end, I think it's less a matter of anti-Americanism than "America Oui, Bush Non!"

Westurn,

Hardly... the facts are out there as... people vote with their feet !

Exactly, then why do you like to bash Japan so much when people have been:

-visiting Japan in record numbers -sure, the J population is down, but the population of foreigners living in Japan is way up

J pop musicians like Kuraki Mai, Exile, etc. popularity is soaring in Asian countries such as Taiwan, Singapore, and Korea. J car companies have been consistently been placed in the top five in terms of safety and affordability. Foreign manufacturers continue to look to J technicians for high-precision products such as intricate shell casings for cellular phones sushi classes and other aspects of J culture has been growing in popularity abroad. more and more Australians, Americans, etc. have become more interested in learning Japanese. Fact is, the Japanese language has been a more popular subject lately.

A Republican member of the subcommittee, Dana Rohrabacher, disagreed with the report and its premise, telling a Washington hearing where the document was released that “I don’t think the United States needs to apologize” for its acts.

There had been mistakes in the war on terror, notably in the field of human rights, he said, but argued the United States must not base its foreign policy on public opinion but on “what is right.”

He also disputed polling figures suggesting widespread anti-Americanism in Europe, noting that voters in France and Germany and in parts of eastern Europe have recently elected pro-American governments to power.**

This is a typical example of a politician who always think they are better and wiser than the public all the time.

So Mr politrician, what is right? If you are immediately available for answer, please let one of your die- hard defenders please tell us

Stanoue:

"I don't dislike Americans per se. But I don't approve of..."

Begs the question stan, just which country out there do you have your deepest "approval" of ? Canada maybe ? Nah, I mean cmon, there's a reason why Quebec wants to secede every few years. Denmark maybe ? Hey there peaceful... if it wasn't for the fact the muslim world has a jihad over their heads. How about Japan then ? Hmm, maybe not. Last time I checked the Fukuda cabinet had a worse approval rating then Bush ! So do tell stanoue, and anyone else for that matter... I need a good laugh !

Freakashow, you are absolutely right but that means nothing to the naysayers here.

Funny how when you counter arguments against people here with the very same reasoning they use to support theirs, all of a sudden silence.

With the 'can do no wrong' attitudes and double standards clearly on display here, it's no wonder there are anti American sentiments in the world.

Can any of the European set here tell us if this record-setting anti-Americanism we read of is as widespread and passionate as what the former Soviet Union faced back in, oh, 1968. The Commies rolled into and occupied what was Czechoslovakia and millions in Europe protested. Right? The demonstrations against that must have really been something else. I can't find much about em in history books or online though. What gives...

Soviet Union faced back in, oh, 1968. The Commies rolled into and occupied what was Czechoslovakia....

LOL!! Another American history lesson?

(The former Soviet Union had occupied the former Czechoslovakia since the end of WWII.)

A wrong deduction is made that absence of protests equals pro-national feeling. Lots of Europeans decried Soviet actions. But the fact is that, in 1968, the United States was killing far more people than the Soviets were. And that fact by no means excuses Russian actions.

Westurn;

-Buy taking trips to America ! So much so that records for international tourists set records this and last year.

Yes, and leaving in record numbers and being mad at having been ripped off so many times.

-By spending millions on American pop culture like hip/hop, rap, movies, etc.

Oh? Let's see, when was the last time an American movie has ever won a major award at a major film festival abroad, like Cannes, Berlin, etc. ? Hmmm ... It seems Hollywood has even had infighting of its own. Can't even pay their own writers for Christ's sake. Fact is, Hollywood earnings are at record lows. So much so that they have to look overseas for ideas. Why is it that there have been so many remakes of movies already made, like American versions of so many Japanese horror and animated movies, Korean action and dramas (does "the Host" and "Il Mare" ring a bell?), etc.

-By continuing to do business with the USA, solidifying their position at #1 as the worlds most competitive nation !

Yes, by being #1 in having done business with the most number of sweatshops, cheap labor, and being #1 in having the most civil lawsuits filed against it in the world. Do I even have to remind you of companies such as Microsoft and Nike to name a couple? They alone have had so many complaints of copyright infringement and cheap labor bordering on slavery.

-By inviting American professional sports teams to various venues around the planet including China, London, Mexico, Toronto, etc !

Inviting? Hah! More like American companies trying to earn a buck "pushing" their products overseas. When the market in their own country gets so saturated and disgusted with their own product, where else can they go but overseas. Yeah sure, go somewhere that doesn't know or doesn't care about the MLB steroid problem, or tainted refs in the NBA.

Yup, you haven't convinced me one bit.

1 - The report talk about Latins and some readers talked about Latins. As a former South American citizen, before inmigrated to J, I think that I know enough for make an opinion not based on supositions.

2 - Do Latins hate America? No they dont'. They admire american culture. They envy their wealth and power. Some wish to become american citizens, but the fact is that the majority of them just wish to work there some years and save enough for go back to their homelands and build a small business where their families and friends live.

3 - Latins go from distrust to fear to the US governament. Old people still remember "Coup d'état's" backed by the CIA, young people dislike the US governament ambivalent position about torture and the common citizens that worrie more about economy than politics, think that the US just forgot the Free Trades Agreements because Irak or read about Mexico after the "North American Free Trade Agreement" and have the feeling that US Free Trades Agreements are just mechanisms for estabilize the current situation, not for bring any improvement to the economy that can combat poverty and unemployment.

4 - So even if I am not an expert, but from my personal experiences living for more of 20 years in Latin America I can say these report say the truth, when say that "they Dont' hate the US, just the policies of the US governament". So I fail to understand why some people keep talking about "how much American Culture and way of life is loved" if the report say that the problem is America's Foreign Policies of the last years. Is like we complain about how much we dislike the work of GWS, Dick Cheney and Ronald Rumsfeld and some people answer "but you love the work of Madonna, Tom Cruise or Pamela Anderson. It's not related to the discusion and make no sense at all.

Sorry for the long post and good nigth.

The more things change the more they stay the same as my Daddy always said.

One is never sure which of two characteristics is more prominent in the American national character and therefore of the greater significance: naivete or a superiority complex. When for example they say things about our region, our surprise at their ignorance is surpassed only by annoyance at their stupid insolence. The less they know about a matter, the more confidently they speak. They really believe that Europeans are eagerly waiting to hear from them and follow their advice.

Goebbels on the USA 1942

http://www.calvin.edu/academic/cas/gpa/goeb5.htm

chardk1,

but claiming it is doing nothing but God's work on Earth, as some Americans (Dubya) do with no perceivable irony, is going to draw a lot of criticism and rightly so.

I think this is a bit of a strawman. It's one thing to believe or claim one's country to be a paragon on virtue - which I think few Americans do - and another to defend one's country from charges of being bad/evil - which they are unfortunately often obliged to do.

You can't claim the moral high ground AND complain about being held to a higher standard.

It may, however, complain of being held to double standards.

Seiharinokaze...

What you fail to realize is the magnitude of what people "say" compared to what they actually "do" ! There in lies the fallacy of this here "article".

Anti-Americanism at record levels worldwide, report shows

Hmm, according to the article, the report cites that America's standing in the polls is at record lows. That is the not same thing as the report showing that anti-Americanism is at record highs.

Be that as it may, I think it quite obvious that American prestige and legitimacy have taken hits since Bush came to power. This is so because:

By definition, prestige the perception of a nation's power. Meaning, prestige is based on the successful use of power. Iraq has not been a successful use of American power. Ergo, American prestige has fallen.

By definition, legitimacy is the degree to which nation's accept and abide by the rules that the powerful nations use run the international system. These rules have carrots-and-sticks to control and motivate nations to go along. Bush intentionally set out to destroy the Cold War rules of the games and replace it with the War on Terror.

The War on Terror has been embraced by few of our allies. Obviously, it has no tracktion in Latin America and the Arab world. I believe because the War on Terror was based on too much stick and not enough carrot, it is perceived by many as a War on Terra. Bush's you are either with us or against us can only work if America possess the power compel nations through the use and threat of force to believe what the would not otherwise believe.

The US does not possess that power.

As an American who is disgusted with my own country's behavior, both in foreign policy and culture, I'm not at all surprised by the notion that more people abroad hate us and mistrust our motives, since the USA seems to be all about greed and war. Why so many people admire us is a seriously flawed notion that "more is better". We have lost what little moral and spiritual compass/credibility we had under the Cheney/Bush misguidance the last 8 yrs. Whether we regain it is doubtful as long as the Pentagon/Defense industry is so bloated (over half the budget) and I seriously doubt that Obama will successfully take them to task. We are a failing Empire and like all Empires, we are being destroyed by our own greed and over-extension. I weep for the failed experiment in Liberty and Democracy, if there ever really was one beyond the greed of American monopoly capitalism. The USA may have done a lot of good things but usually with an ulterior motive.

Like I originally said...I'll let the hostile comments from the anti-Americans make our defense for us.

I feel sorry for the poor American soldiers who think they are showing patritism by serving the country when their leaders think of them as sheep.

*Military men are just dumb stupid animals, to be used as pawns in foreign policy."

-- Henry Kissinger

Anti Americanism is not so much hate rather it is more sympathy towards these ignorant people.

SuperLib

I'll let the hostile comments from the anti-Americans make our defense for us.

That is a tenuous position. It is predicated on two related faulty notions.

The first questionable assumption is that falling US approval rates since 2002 equates with anti-Americanism. No one has bothered to demonstrate a one to one correlation between the two. Eg Just because you do not Japan as much as you may have last year does not mean that you are any more or less anti-Japanese, if anti-Japanese at all. It means you do not like Japan as much.

The second specious presumption is all criticism of America comes solely from America haters. Since all criticism of the US is unwarranted, an argument for US policy is unwarranted.

But this is not so.

Some criticism of US policy is motivated purely by hate, But not all.

For these two reasons, your position is tenuous. Your conclusions, in fact, are your assumptions. That is called circular reasoning.

I think the US, in order to be strong, we must lead. I think leadership requires a lot more than what you have offered here.

they deserve it.

Who are "they"?

I know people in most countries are condemning the US for her foreign policy and cultural imperialism, but extending your stigma to her citizens for being American is quite different from stigmatizing her current foreign policy. Some of them may deserve, but not all of them.

Here is my list of agents that are worthy of blame:

The Bush Administration, CIA, lobbyists, US military industry complex, Oil Companies, Transnational Corporations, Southern Baptist Church

Westurn - I'm from New Zealand. And I do approve of most of my country's recent political and diplomatic decisions. Any problems with that?

After reading over 75 posts on this subject, I have come to the following conclusions:

Forget it. There is nothing that can be done. Even if people in the US start trying to do something, someone will always pop their head out say it is for ulterior motives.

forget it and ignore it. There is a particular religion in the world that is not only doing fine by ignoring most of the world's calls for it to change its ways, it is in fact getting bigger and bigger and has even went in the other direction in terms of freedoms. Let's take their approach.

Fight! All Americans around the world, start protests burn other countries' flags in the name of the USA. Start a street level terror campaign.. it seems to work for others, perhaps it would work for us.

Let's kill more freedoms. Let's get in step with the rest of the world and stop offering freedom of speech, the press, and your right to defend yourself. Stop requiring police to have warrants and in trials by court you will be assume guilty and its up to you to prove yourself innocent. Detentions should go beyond the usual 24 hours without being arrested.

Let's put in place an immigration policy that of Mexico. Even after become a citizen, you are not allowed to work in any government job and all counter parties are banned.

Perhaps when we start following the rest of the world's lead, we will be liked!

The first questionable assumption is that falling US approval rates since 2002 equates with anti-Americanism. No one has bothered to demonstrate a one to one correlation between the two.

Not quite, Dan. I think my previous post show what my position is: Legitimate criticism of the US is somewhere between what the US government takes responsibility for and what the radical anti-Americans accuse us of doing.

They attribute the cause of the negative feelings exclusively to one thing: the actions of the US. Articles like this pretend that all respondents are objective and rational when making their opinions. But it's my opinion that this isn't always the case. We've seen foreign newspaper editors openly admit that they've printed negative stories about Bush because it increases their circulation numbers when they do. Check out the thread about the beef protests in Korea where people living there have talked about how politicians use anti-American sentiments to help during their elections. I think you'd be pretty naive to think that situations such as this don't play some part in the opinion numbers, but again the article make no mention of it.

So, when talking about people's opinions of the US you should include conversations about the US's actions, but you should also talk about today's climate in which the US is being presented to the world, which sometimes isn't accurate or exclusively negative. It's because of that I said that legitimate US criticism is somewhere between what the US takes credit for (too low) and what obsessive anti-Americans accuse us of (too high). When I say that I'll let the comments from anti-Americans make our defense for us I'm saying that they are proving that some people go over-the-top with criticism and that people such as that can sometimes help skew numbers. That should be mentioned not as a way to excuse the actions of the US but to say that it can have an impact on opinion numbers.

Shimajiro,

I think this is a bit of a strawman. It's one thing to believe or claim one's country to be a paragon on virtue - which I think few Americans do - and another to defend one's country from charges of being bad/evil - which they are unfortunately often obliged to do.

Yes, unfortunately in this case the strawman is our two-term president. Here are some quotes from George W. Bush:

"I am driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, 'George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan'. And I did. And then God would tell me 'George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq'. And I did. And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, 'Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East'. And, by God, I'm gonna do it."

"Every nation in every region now has a decision to make. Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."

What do you base your assertion that few Americans believe their country is a paragon of virtue? Have you tried living in the Red States or even the more conservative or rural areas of Blue States? I have for 30 years, I went to church and have friends who joined the military and became cops. I lived in a town with a seminary. I can assure you there are no shortage of Americans who believe America IS blessed by God and if not perfect, at least too good to deserve the criticism of other countries. Not in a belligerent way, but the belief runs deep. There are people commenting on this thread who clearly fall into this category. Bush doesn't represent every American but he closely represents the way a lot of them think. That is why he is a two-term president. And many others, while they might feel otherwise, are not inclined to strongly challenge such views because they are afraid of seeming unpatriotic.

Here's another quote from Bush:

"America is a Nation with a mission - and that mission comes from our most basic beliefs. We have no desire to dominate, no ambitions of empire. Our aim is a democratic peace - a peace founded upon the dignity and rights of every man and woman."

Once you set that as the bar for your foreign policy, how can you complain about double standards. Don't talk the talk, and you don't have to walk the walk. I don't see how being called out as a hypocrite constitutes a "double standard."

I haven't been on JT's website for five years. Nothing quite as good at trolling for posts on JT as something to get the pro- and anti- crowds going on America. Good to see that some things never change.

I've heard WAY too many unrelated disjointed attacks on American character to believe for one second that this is anything but regular old run-of-the-mill passive agression. Everyone wants some supreme being to swoop down a fix everything, so they blame the most likely candidate. Then turn them into a culprit. That's called.. wait for it.. "paternalism" and it's THE most rampant social illness in existance.

Antidote/cure: independant thinking. ORIGINAL thinking. People who state Bush as the ONLY focal point prove my point. They're all exactly the same. Pretending the "vaaaast majority" proves anything besides the fact that they share the same illness. They have YET to achieve their FIRST original thought. And what's worse? They probably never will. Co-dependancy and passive agression are insideous debilitating disorders. They'll defend terrorists to defend their crutch. And guess what illness the terrorists themselves suffer from. Yup. Allah. The great swoop down and fixer. (forgive me dedicated seekers, but you know which you are)

I have no simpathy or responsability whatsoever for those who, however afflicted, take it out on my country's character. They should reboot their philosophy. aaaand in doing so: ------------ Get-----------a------------life.

Another instance that makes many all over the world scandalized at America is the US financial authorities' decision to change their regulation of "current cost account" into "acquisition cost account (about 70% of it)" to be applicable for evaluation of valuable papers and mortgaged real estates that banks and other businesses in America own.

BIS standard and current cost account introduced 20 years ago in place of acquisition cost account devastated and have since afflicted all the banks and businesses in Japan. Then how could America change without scruple the same accounting rule that afflicted others for decades once it begins to afflict themselves in the aftermath of the sub-prime loan crisis? Brazen-faced and imperialistic do not seem disjointed rhetoric.

O.K. I'll admit the USA is the worst country in the world. That's why everyone wants to get a green card to live there. Like Mark Twain said 150 years ago; "Democracy is the worst form of government.....except for all the others."

thepossum / isthistheend - Good posts!

SuperLib

Then your line should be

"I'll let the hostile comments from the anti-Americans speak to the anti-American bias in the world." A statement which, of course, I agree with entirely and in no way provides support or defense of US policy.

Even if we assume, as you do, that legitimate criticism of the US is somewhere between what the US government takes responsibility for and what the radical anti-Americans accuse us of doing.

Which, it is not.

Judging warranted criticism of US policy s not the same as a jury of peers sitting in verdict, where the lawyers for each side present blurred their versions of events, and the jury by super-imposing the two images, one focused two short and the other two far, the blurred images overlap and form a fairly accurate image of the truth. In principle. Judging warranted criticism is different because a court of law has a whole bunch of rules governing how each side can present their version of events; rules which are designed to ensure as much as possible that no untruths are injected into the process. In the court of public opinion of international affairs, there are no such guidelines. Thus the two images you are comparing are not based in version of events, but versions of the truth. All those involved, from governments to blogger are under no onus to distinguish between their role as advocate and judge.

And one cannot be both advocate and judge and do both fairly.

isthistheend

Sorry to burst your bubble, but that was Churchill.

Oops.

Just as you are wrong about everyone in the world wanting to come to live in the US.

Super Lib

"I'll let the ridiculous comments from the Republicans speak to the quality of the American public school system."

Seiharinokaze

I have to absolutely concede your valid point as I understand it. I don't mean to suggest that Americans arent the worst afflicted as we're the most unwary of the downside of collectivism: demise of individual potential to monolythic (and DUBIOUS) standards.

IMHO, All of the US victims of sub-prime loans suffered from inadviseable levels of trust that spread to cascading failures to the point that adviseable levels of trust were even taken out.

So we're probably the most dangerous doners of a sociological disorder riding on an economic cairrier wave. And the defensiveness is all perfectly reasonible, AFTER the illness of substituting any one authority for any other is acknowledged as being irrational.

U.S. MORAL standards? Just lumped in as an afterthought? That's irrational. Theres nothing inferior or superior about our morals except theyre constantly tested with the trouble we manage to get into.

In case anyone's still reading my amateur psychobabblings: Look at Microsoft. Theyre a cross-section of this whole US beast. Setting standards in one legitimate area of expertise and then dominating other illigitimate areas with "false authority syndrome". They should collaborate with existing authority, not sabotage OpenGL or conspire with Nvidia. :) But not MS's fault if people demand MS to solve things they should solve themselves. The casualties: REAL programmers turn to shiney new paradigms, RAD packages, and other artifice, like programs should fall out of vending machines. Look at the HUGE inventive potential of the 80's compared to the, given potential, limp-wristed efforts now. Same simptom: inadviseable collectivism creating passive agression where it was intended to support inventors via logical, unbiased standards.

So a fast ascending, ambitious country tends to attack us on moral grounds when they should have confined themselves to economics. Personally I'd be the first to outsource EVERYthing and cooperate selflessly.. if they didnt get so damned personal in their demoralizing attacks. The whole thing is an epidemic where PC is a substitute for the hard work of philosiophy. Now theyve got ME trivializing!

So much for my amatuer psychobabble. I relent too, as my own place in my own point is turning from critical to hypocritical thinking. :)

Kijimuna

Welcome back.

--dananator

Correction:

US has inadequate oil to address the equip for the Army, Navy, Air Force,MARINES, 700+ bases. Prof. Chalmers Johnson talks about this.

I am in a strange position where I can discern factors initiating this symptom called "anti-Americanism". The debate is functioning on at least two levels - US public perception, US Govt. perception (this is classified). I have received some privy info, and "locked on" to the overall geopolitical strategy.

I am glad to be an American. I work a public library with many patrons who have given up pretigious positions in their home countries to live here. Not everyone is anti-american.

Gee, I'd love to find out what was actually asked in the polls. Data is generally only as good as it's collection methodology...

Well, I don't hate Americans - people are pretty much the same everywhere, wanting security, love & a comfortable lifestyle with the time to pursue their various interests. The American Government and general history of international relations, though, is another thing altogether! While the U.S. of A. has undoubtedly done much good over the years, it also has a hideous record of self interest and bullying to force its view of 'good' and 'right' on the rest of the world. This 'Big Brotherly' concern and attempt at getting other countries to "do what is the best for them" because "we are right & you should do what we say (not what we do)" is why America has been (and will continue to have) image problems around the world. If only as much ingenuity and energy was put into international relations and activity as is put into marketing & sales, what an amazing positive influence America would be!

Why do so many Americans think everyone in the world wants a green card? I don't want one - I'm sure that there are others too.

Jake.

It puzzles me too as an european and being an expat myself. I see tons of people moving to europe, asia rather than the USA.

Illegal immigration is also a problem for a lot of countries in this world.

Well, "accidentally" invading a country as a revenge for the actions of a few lunatics completely unrelated to that country, and killing hundreds of thousands out of hate for 1 person are in general not seen as very positive things by the majority of the world's population.

This report does not really come as a surprize.

Yeah, and certain business practices don't help either. Not surprised that many people shun US products and the law-suits against microsoft, etc.

While I have met many nice and friendly americans, what irks me are the guys that feel that the US(God, etc) can't do wrong and we should be thankful for them and kow-tow to their might.

Not going into details why I feel that way.

But what irks me and many others is the "feeling" that the US and many of its citizens show that we are right and you are wrong, we know better, etc at least that seems to be the way they want the rest of the world to feel.

Nuff said.

I agree with Zen Builder! It is true that most of the US citizens think that they are always right, and everyone else is wrong. This doesn't help...

Antonios

You sound pretty sure about that.

It is true that most of the US citizens think that they are always right, and everyone else is wrong. This doesn't help...

From our perspective we meet a lot of Europeans who think that they are always right and the US is always wrong. I'm going to go out on a limb and make a wild guess and say that that thought has never even entered your mind.

Kinda "irks" me. :P)

Americans are not always right but I still like living here. We are a diverse people and always have been. Maybe that is the reason "everyone" hates us. They see a little of themselves in us. My family ancestry is German, English, Irish, Scottish and Native American. The current generation includes a Korean, Thai, Thai-American children, and a few Latinos. We are a diverse group but we are family and I love them all.

A lot of folks are jealous of America. U.S.A is not perfect, but still the best country on earth. Europe is being eating alive by the force of Islam. The time will come, America will steps up to the plate thus saving Europe again. The opportunistic Russia and China has nothing to offer to the civilize world. I guess it is easy to complain rather than making things constructive. Remember that America is a microcosm of the world like no others. We will be evolving beyond all these nonsenses. Go ahead and learn how to complain about U.N for a change, will you!

"From our perspective we meet a lot of Europeans who think that they are always right and the US is always wrong. I'm going to go out on a limb and make a wild guess and say that that thought has never even entered your mind."

You will have to give some examples about that, my dear friend. And if I were you, I'd stay away from the "liberation" of Iraq as far as possible :P

All this blah blah about right and wrong, seems to me "it ain't braggin' if you can do it !"

The USA has the worlds largest economy. Leads the world in technology and science... at least according to the nobel prizes handed out every year. Arts, literature, cultural influence... the USA is a powerhouse ! Sports teams that have been so succesful that the nearest nation, in terms of medal won, at the Olympics is half of what America has accomplished. Lest we forget a military that continues to demonstrate an uncanny ability to succeed (todays JT article on "Iraq violence down" is an interesting read). The US has the worlds most competitive markets and US products are second to none ! The people are friendly, outgoing, generous (60% of the worlds total donations), and most of all they care !

Keeping all this in mind, and there's much more out there, I think the US has the right to brag and be proud of the nation it's built ! Being "anti-American" is equivelant to being a racist ! Imagine if I said I was "anti-Japanese, anti-French, anti-German" ! You all would spend hours on hours decrying my soul for it's wickidness... yet it's ok for you all to openly state such hatred under the guise of a JT news article here ? Shameful behaviour indeed !

westurn.

And you are just anti-anything non-us.

IF the USA is that great than you shouldn't need to remind us about it in every one of your posts. How superior and better you guys are. It gets boring and only creates anti-american feelings and make people dislike people like you.

Have a good day

"IF the USA is that great than you shouldn't need to remind us about it in every one of your posts."

And if the US was that evil, Japantoday wouldn't have to keep running garbage like this !

Have a good day

maybe there is some truth in the garbage, or maybe you need to keep posting how much better your country is to keep convincing yourself.

Have a good day too.

"maybe there is some truth in the garbage"

But none in my "reminders" ??? Excuse me Zen Builder but your bias is showing !

As is yours.

Kettle = Black, Pot = Black. ;)

America is a powerhouse. Which is exactly why they need to act responsibly, and be aware and sensitive to the effects of their actions globally.

The stat that may be most important is overall quality of life. The Economist magazine's Intelligence Unit puts together statistics which purports to measure this using a variety of individual indicators including material well-being, health, political stability, family life, community life, climate, job security, gender equality and political freedom. (No Olympic medals stats -- LOL.)

The United States ranks 13th on that scale. Sure, a lot of people from countries scoring far lower will want to come to the US. But as the US quality of life declines, and it most certainly is in decline, many will want to migrate to nations higher on the list -- and do.

The sun eventually set on the British Empire, and it appears that the US empire is past its prime as well. It appears as though the balance is shifting to China (as an economic powerhouse) over the next 25 years. Lord knows the US economy would be FAR worse off than it is today without the Chinese lending our government money.

Take a quick visit to China and you will tack another 50 years on that date. The greatest thing about America is that we may disagree with the negative remarks you make about our country, economy or foreign policies but we will defend to the death your right to say them. America is simply diversity personified. We are a little bit of everybody; the good and the bad.

This poll is a rebuke of bush, that is all. He is an idiot and everyone knows it. Unfortunately Karl Rove could get idiots with former Presidents as a Dad elected. The USA has suffered terribly under his corrupt failed administration and the world has noticed. Hard not to notice.The USA is at a low point now and the rah rah flag wavers on this board are hiding their heads in sand if they pretend otherwise.

But soon a saviour is coming in Saint Barry. Once he is President the USA will again be on track solving problems and not created them. Helping people not murdering them in the name of oil. Once Bush is back in the dung hill he calls home in Texas the world will recover from the constant failure that they have seen in the last 7 plus years.

America is no longer the number 1 economy, it's now the number 2:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/paul-abrams/bush-screws-america-agai_b_91760.html

We thought this was "Japan Today" not "America Today"??

BAGHDAD - A car bomb ripped through a busy commercial street in a Shiite area of Baghdad on Tuesday, killing at least 51 people and wounding scores more in the deadliest blast in the capital in more than three months.

So much for the make-believe fantasy of the winger community.

And Canadian, Japan is a client state of the US politically as long as the LDP is in power.

Over five years ago, I posted the following at JT:

Within decent people, a critical and mildly hostile attitude towards American foreign policy is more or less compulsory. But for the Anti-American it is an unbridled obsessive hatred of everything American. They hate everthing about us and that blind hatred leads them not be interested in understanding the world around them, but rather fiercely committed to viewing all developments as indicators that America - the decadent evil power -is declining.

Basically, anti-Americans follow the principle that any action taken by the US must be in the wrong, and even if successful was accomplished through underhanded means. Further. these people were undisguisedly pleased when the Twin Towers fell, when the US embasy got sacked in Iran, or when we were driven out of Viet Nam. They can not help getting a certain kick out of seeing our country humiliated, because they need these reminders of the limits of our truely intimidating power to feel that in the end a final humilation will come our way, especially in times like now when it appears America will never fade away.

Anti-US inspiration is essentially negative. They need not so much to alter or comprehend the external world as to feel that their internal struggle for respect is going in their way. In each case there is the same obsessive fixation on an evil and corrupt America, and the same inability to form a genuinely rational opinion based on probabilities. One prod to the open nerve of Anti-Americansim, and decencies vanish, the past altered, and the plainest facts denied.

In short, dont waste your time with these self-willed nutballs. I don't, unless I'm feeling plucky.

woops

http://archive.japantoday.com/jp/news/256097/all

It seems that little has changed since then.

Everyone knows the US attacked Iraq because of Oil. You want peace? Mind your own business.

DanManit,

if in the last five years you have not moderated your view of the constant failures, domestic and international, of the current occupier of the white house you are doomed to vote yet again for a fool.

The whining of the rah rah american right or wrong types on this board is all so transparently empty now. It was so five years ago at the start of the Iraqi invasion to those than see beyond the propaganda that the WH spit out in chuck size bits for the naive. Scotty has made that so clear now that even a neocon could understand.

The fact is that the French were right, Putin was right, the millions around the world including in Japan were right and the right-wing faith based bible thumpers who supported the invasion blindly were wrong. And we Americans who can tell truth from fiction were right as well. Its all documented in the JT archieves.

The USA has suffered terrible and our future is now morgaged to the hilt for a useless and phony war against a paper dictator who was created by the CIA anyway. Real patriotic Americans can see this and can now hope for better starting next year.

ae2481 at 03:21 PM JST - 18th June

Everyone knows the US attacked Iraq because of Oil. You want peace? Mind your own business.

America has done this twice and we got Pearl Habor and 9/11. and that's all Im going to say in these comments.

Ok one more thing.

Most people hate USA because you have a better chance of being successful and powerful in USA than you do in any country. People who hate are usually the ones who dont succeed.

right on, zurc buddy! you tell that dan man . Us fake Yanks gots to stick together. Go Flames!

Zurcronium

It is unclear from you post weather you lump me in with the American Right. If you are, you may wish to reconsider that proposition. My former handle was Dananator. As the JT archives show, I have been one of the most ardent critics of Bush's War even before there was Bush's War and am second to none when it comes to fighting the good fight against these cretins of the Right.

But the depravity of the Right in no way excuses the depravity of the Left. Just as the idiocy, incompetence and injustices of the Bush Administration in no way excuses the fatuity of the anti-American. Two RIght wrongs do not may the Left right, as it were. The French were wrong, Putin was wrong, and the millions around the world, most of all the millions in Japan against Bush's War were wrong, because they were "right" for all the wrong reasons.

The last five years have only served to strengthen my appreciation that neither the (American) Right nor the (American) Left have the answer to the problem of American leadership in the post-Cold War era.

"Real patriotic Americans" must recognize this.

This headline is no shocker...the world hates America for what Bush has done. When I was a kid it was my dream to live in the USA and spend my life there. I went 12 years ago and although it is a beautiful country and there are some amazing people there, I was totally put off living there by selfishness, greed and a ME ME ME attitude from a lot of Americans. I know they're not all the same, but it was enough to change my lifelong dream. I think America can garnish a fresh image, but it's going to take a VERY long time!

Anti-American until we are needed.

I need you now.

Ohiodonna, you got that right... "Anti-American until we are needed."

I have yet to see any country on this planet return a single donation or charitable contribution from the USA. Seems to me we either got a buncha misinformation comin' from the editors of this here website or the world doesn't hate America as much as JT would like you to believe ! In any case, what a shameful article to reprint ! Why the editors here would choose to do so is disappointing to say the least !

USA has the worlds largest economy. Leads the world in technology and science... at least according to the nobel prizes handed out every year. Arts, literature, cultural influence... the USA is a powerhouse ! Sports teams that have been so succesful that the nearest nation, in terms of medal won, at the Olympics is half of what America has accomplished. Lest we forget a military that continues to demonstrate an uncanny ability to succeed (todays JT article on "Iraq violence down" is an interesting read).

Valid point, Westurn. But you fail to mention that the U.S. are also leaders in fraud cases (as evidenced by the spate of arrests made of real estate companies in the U.S. concerning the mortgage crisis), bad food (as evidenced by the bad tomato crisis and other food problems facing the U.S. nowadays), and homelessness and inattentiveness to those in need of homes (as in the number of Katrina victims still without one).

Oh, and you mentioned the "Iraq violence down" article, but you failed to mention the recent "Car bomb kills 51 in Baghdad" article which was printed June 18th. Things that make you go hmmm..

Bottom line: "With great power, comes great responsibility" (or at the very least accountability). The U.S. has great power, but has shown very little responsibility, if any. We can thank our current government for that. The U.S. government has had the gall to say "We are the ones with power, so we should not be held accountable for any crimes we may commit in the pursuit of our goals!"

Well, I still would like to believe that the end does not always justify the means.

Oh and this just in, Americans are now among the leaders in the amount they must pay to fly. Not only are there extra charges for your second piece of luggage, curbside check-in, choosing your own seat, booking using your frequent flier miles, but from August 18th, a fee will be levied for all drinks, including soft drinks, coffee, and bottled water. Imagine paying 2 dollars a pop for bottled water? And there's no way around it since you can't bring in any liquids into the terminal anyway.

This just in - most Americans don't care what the rest of the world thinks of us. What's more, though we account for less than 5 percent of the world's population, we supposedly consume 25 percent of available resources. I rather doubt that little bit of trivia, but I like to throw it out as proof positive for the first sentence I wrote.

Red - We're the nation that can do anything, to the benefit of the rest of the world, and we're feared and despised for it.

Red... "This just in - most Americans don't care what the rest of the world thinks of us."

Why bother ? Damned if you do damned if you don't ! Why dwell on what "outsiders" think. The US is the greatest nation on the planet, JT editors are full of beans with their biased reporting. Imagine if your team is winning 97% of it's games. Would you focus so much atention on that other 3% ??? Seems some, and JT editors, do ! Not much to say about such a loser's mentality.

Imagine if your team is winning 97% of it's games. Would you focus so much atention on that other 3% ???

And if winning games, and being the best at sports, Olympics, etc; while pumping billions upon billions of Americans' taxpayers money into a war most did not want, at the expense of Americans' welfare (e.g. food costs, inadequate health care, homelessness on the rise, rising fuel costs), is all that you care about, then all I have to say is to each his own.

As for me, I'm fed up already. And even on his way out of office, our dear leader is proposing to ask Congress for another 162 billion dollars to fund the Iraq and Afghanistan wars! Where can that money come from, but our own taxes, which could be going to a lot of other things that I could think of. Even my hardline Republican coworkers have had enough. Enough with the "my way or the highway" attitude.

Anti-Americanism? Yes, it is out there. Is it warranted? Well, frankly speaking, most American citizens are honest to goodness people. Unfortunately, our current government has so eloquently painted us in a bad light, not to mention the nice little target on our backs. What credibility and respect as a leader has now been turned to fear, and private loathing by nations and people who will cower and say nice things about us when we are looking, but say otherwise behind our back, as is done with the class bully at school.