America... what do you think?

[Apollo]

http://current.com/items/88805814_the_listening_project

 

[dodo2761]

The people I have met in the US have been very been very nice and always helpful to me.
I have visited DC and NY as well as Disney in Fl.
I like the shopping- its cheap. Dont like the food.
In DC it seemed impossible to buy alcohol.
I do think Americans think that if it isnt American it aint 'neat'

 

[Apollo]

As a non American:

What is your perception of America? The cartoon version is that you all go around with guns whilst stuffing your faces with hamburgers, hero worshipping pointless celebrities whilst retaining an ever increasing puritanical 40's moral value structure.

I don't agree that everyone wants to go there though. Even though it is a great place to be for opportunity, there's plenty of opportunities throughout the world to enjoy too. A lot of the people I know would never even entertain the idea of travelling to the states because of the fear of getting shot. I personally think they're a bit deluded because guns are everywhere but the fact is, America stands up for it's right to own guns and that's why a lot of people have that fear.

I would argue that America is less tolerant of the minorities of our society also. It doesn't seem like a very gay friendly place to be (unless you live in SF or NYC). As a non American i'm often amazed at some of the views of my American Friends in regards to certain issues. Like I mentioned before, it's almost as if American society has gone back a few decades in terms of moral values. Becoming more and more puritanical and dare I say it, right winged in it's views.

I never understood why people think that we are less accepting of other minorities in this country. We are one of the most diverse countries in the world, I would argue THE most diverse in this world. As an American, you are either prepared to deal with someone from every continent of the world, or you just stay home. In any business, you will see all types of races represented, and them getting along with one another.

I am fresh out of high school, and the student intermingle with other races without much thinking. We do make lots of jokes on stereotypes of every race, but you see that being done with two or three different races easily represented.

This is the same for in the real world.

If you can't get along with another race in America, than why are you actually in America?

 

[gsdx]

I never understood why people think that we are less accepting of other minorities in this country.

Sadly, much of that actually comes from your television programmes and news reports.

 

[dodo2761]

Sadly, much of that actually comes from your television programmes and news reports.

There is a huge presumption based on TV that all Americans are white- the reality being that it is very much multiracial. When I was in NY I could only really guarantee that African Americans were actually going to speak to me in English.

 

[metta]

I never understood why people think that we are less accepting of other minorities in this country. We are one of the most diverse countries in the world, I would argue THE most diverse in this world. As an American, you are either prepared to deal with someone from every continent of the world, or you just stay home. In any business, you will see all types of races represented, and them getting along with one another.

I am fresh out of high school, and the student intermingle with other races without much thinking. We do make lots of jokes on stereotypes of every race, but you see that being done with two or three different races easily represented.

This is the same for in the real world.

If you can't get along with another race in America, than why are you actually in America?

I agree with you. Living in California, it is wonderful to be able to get little glimpses of so many cultures, whether it is through spending time with friends, cultural events, restaurants, shopping, etc. I don't know what people here are thinking. It is the countries that are more monolithic that typically have more of a problem with diversity. I do understand that some parts of the country are more friendly about this than others. And what is funny about that is many of the areas that don't like diversity as much typically are the areas that tell people how much more friendly and nice people are where they live.

 

[Chalchalero]

As a non American:

What is your perception of America? The cartoon version is that you all go around with guns whilst stuffing your faces with hamburgers, hero worshipping pointless celebrities whilst retaining an ever increasing puritanical 40's moral value structure.

I don't agree that everyone wants to go there though. Even though it is a great place to be for opportunity, there's plenty of opportunities throughout the world to enjoy too. A lot of the people I know would never even entertain the idea of travelling to the states because of the fear of getting shot. I personally think they're a bit deluded because guns are everywhere but the fact is, America stands up for it's right to own guns and that's why a lot of people have that fear.

I would argue that America is less tolerant of the minorities of our society also. It doesn't seem like a very gay friendly place to be (unless you live in SF or NYC). As a non American i'm often amazed at some of the views of my American Friends in regards to certain issues. Like I mentioned before, it's almost as if American society has gone back a few decades in terms of moral values. Becoming more and more puritanical and dare I say it, right winged in it's views.

I totally agree with everything you have said here. For a country which seems to pride itself on its freedoms, its government seems to spend a great deal of time and effort in denying people their freedom and taking freedom away from others. Unless it is about guns of course. Then freedoms abound. Guns are sacred cows in America. It is very strange.

Also, in a country which sees itself as a world leader in human rights, their criminal justice system executes people at a rate that would make China and other dictatorships proud, while then claiming to defend life in their anti abortion stances.

They refuse to ratify the Kyoto accords and are trying to stand in the way of an updated environmental treaty being agreed.

The government is fighting tooth and nail to deprive people in Guantanamo Bay simple basic fundamental rights, despite the Supreme Court having already told them they were wrong to do so.

It is a country where people of other cultures and races do not feel welcomed because of the inherent racism in the immigration laws and the ignorance of the man on the street. I have even encountered racism within the gay community ad I live in New York!

The gap between rich and poor, the strangle hold the corporate giants and Israel have over policy, the corruption of government leaders, the apathy of most Americans which allowed George W. Bush to be elected in 2004...I could go on, but why?

 

[DotComGuy]

Non-Americans
What is your perception of America? I ask because here "America is the best country in the world .

I would like to here from someone outside the U.S. and get their prospective, the good, the bad, and the inbetween.

I get tired of hearing Americans saying "we're the best" or "only in America". I live in Canada and there isnt anything in America that they can do that we cant. O.k. you have guns but that isnt a bonus.

We are very similiar but I hate America's pre-occupation with being the best.

If anything, Canadians should shout again and again that we are at the top of the list of the liveable cities. But we dont. America should be humble.

 

[Chalchalero]

http://current.com/items/88805814_the_listening_project

This was very interesting. I particularly understood what the South African said when he stated that America gives with one hand while taking back with both hands. I also agreed with those who believe that this government is in love with power.

 

[dodo2761]

Whilst I have said I love Americans- You do seem to doa bad job at looking after your own- the New Orleans flooding for example. You do have third world areas within your own borders.

 

[kevbo]

What do I think?

I think it's the dream that we all share... It's the hope for tomorrow!

 

[metta]

I do really like Americans, but I know here, all races and minorities are accepted and are usually getting along with one another. Whereas when I look at the US, it seems its every race and religion for themselves. Maybe its the way American media portrays things. But it seems as though its the blacks against the whites, the latinos against whites, whites against all, and then everyone against muslims. I know this may not be the case, but American media doesn't do a good job of showing the world the United States. Just by watching CNN you will see that race and ethnicity plays a huge part of American life. So the US may be diverse, yes it has a lot of different races, but its not necessarily pleasant and 'accepting' of minorities.

I've really liked all the Americans I have met, but America as a whole I'm torn if I'm a fan. I do believe there is a huge hatred towards minorities in the US, the lack of gay rights in the US, that annoying constitutional right to bear arms, American foreign policy. But I've only been to the states around the Ontario border and have formed an opinion of the US by what I see on US media, so I guess my opinion doesn't really matter until I've seen more of the US, and see it first hand.

Try and visit New York, California, and Hawaii, if you get a chance. I do not see a huge hatred of minorities. In fact, it is so diverse, that it has become harder to see what a minority really is...becuase we are all so different in so many ways.

As a biracial (British/Chinese) gay vegetarian man, I'm pretty much in a minority and I have never felt that most people hate me for being one. There are extremes that truly come out of bigotry and are often passed off as a religious belief....but that is rare to see.

 

[Apollo]

I get tired of hearing Americans saying "we're the best" or "only in America". I live in Canada and there isnt anything in America that they can do that we cant. O.k. you have guns but that isnt a bonus.

We are very similiar but I hate America's pre-occupation with being the best.

If anything, Canadians should shout again and again that we are at the top of the list of the liveable cities. But we dont. America should be humble.

Last time I checked, it is legal to own a gun in Canada? And many people do.

 

[Chalchalero]

I never understood why people think that we are less accepting of other minorities in this country. We are one of the most diverse countries in the world, I would argue THE most diverse in this world. As an American, you are either prepared to deal with someone from every continent of the world, or you just stay home. In any business, you will see all types of races represented, and them getting along with one another.

I am fresh out of high school, and the student intermingle with other races without much thinking. We do make lots of jokes on stereotypes of every race, but you see that being done with two or three different races easily represented.

This is the same for in the real world.

If you can't get along with another race in America, than why are you actually in America?

You live in Houston, which is a cosmopolitan city. Unfortunately those who live outside of urban areas and are not much exposed to people different from themselves are not very tolerant of them.

Please remember that this is Jim Crow's country. If it were not for the leadership of people like King, Kennedy and Johnson, those laws would still exist, because it certainly was not the American PEOPLE who wanted them changed.

I believe that this country accepts (whilst not exactly encouraging) immigration merely because the economy depends on immigrants. But the American people as a whole, I believe, do not really accept or like minorities. This is just my opinion...

 

[Apollo]

Whilst I have said I love Americans- You do seem to doa bad job at looking after your own- the New Orleans flooding for example. You do have third world areas within your own borders.

The third world areas are being created by the weather, and people are rebuilding, but it is a slow process.

The New Orleans thing is sad, but once the Bush administration got off their ass, they did come and helped a lot. They are still rebuilding, but again, slooooow process.

Then again, look at Houston doing Katrina. We opened our city and services to people of Katrina and helped a great deal. I heard many personal stories of people opening their homes and taking people they never knew into their homes.

 

[sabot3ur]

just illustrating what I see through american media mostly.

informed? lol.

 

[Apollo]

The racism your talking about was way back in the 60's. Such thinking like that is pretty much dead. Sure there are those small groups who still think like that, but they aren't only in America. I don't think many people still hold Germany to it's nazi past, so why are we still being held to our racist past? We have essentially overcome all of that, and are still working on it.

Jim Crow is gone and dead, and has been dead for awhile now.

 

[Apollo]

Definately, there are places within the US that are amazing, I've always thought of New York, and California as exceptions to a lot of things anti-American. I'll have to check out Hawaii too! I do really like the United States, my post may have come off as being very anti-American, but just illustrating what I see through american media mostly. I really want to go on a roadtrip around the US! Maybe once I graduate! haha

Please do go on your roadtrip. You will find New York and California aren't the only states that are accepting. Sadly, it seems like the American media is dropping the ball.

 

[dodo2761]

you do piss about with measurements- gallon US v gallon uk etc.

 

[dodo2761]

The third world areas are being created by the weather, and people are rebuilding, but it is a slow process.

The New Orleans thing is sad, but once the Bush administration got off their ass, they did come and helped a lot. They are still rebuilding, but again, slooooow process.

Then again, look at Houston doing Katrina. We opened our city and services to people of Katrina and helped a great deal. I heard many personal stories of people opening their homes and taking people they never knew into their homes.

Not so sure about that- I know this is going to sound really rubbish as evidence but on American Idol they were handing out food parcels and equipment to homeless and needy within the US- not just New Orleans area.

But please dont forget- I love YOU S