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European perception of America

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I've been wanting to post these 2 question to all of the Americans in here for a while, but for some reason I haven't untill now, so here goes...

How do you guys think that Europeans feel about the USA as it is today?

How do you think Europeans react to the re-election of your president?

Just curious I guess.



I'm European, does my opinion count? I hold America in very high esteem.

The fact is that opinion in Europe is heterogeneous. There are many opinions both at the individual level and at the national level. Those who pretend that their one opinion reflects all of Europe are just drunk on their own cool-aid. The views expressed in European media further obscure the facts on individual opinion and reinforce a self perception of this monoculture of America bashing.

I'm ashamed of some of my European brethren. The complete lack of any sense of history and the cultural snobbery and elitism of the profoundly ignorant is not something to be proud of. Just because a European grows up in a town with a sandstone building or two doesn't make them culturally superior. European amnesia on recent history and America's largesse is disturbing and entirely their fault.

As Europeans visit memorials to the massacre of millions of innocents and the loss of millions more on the battlefields of Europe they tend to lament the whole sorry matter as if some kind of madness that overtook humanity when the truth is far more instructive. Wars are not merely moments of passing insanity in the feckless actions of mankind. Sometimes going to war is the lesser of two evils and it's Europe that should be ashamed of turning its back on America as America once again shoulders most of the burden of doing Europe's dirty work for it.

400,000 dead Americans in in WW1 and II and some European elitist has the temerity to point the finger at the US when the survivors and the families of the fallen aren't even in their graves to spin at the outrage.




Can I say that your post was not only poignant but well written and thought out...thank you for your opinion and for voicing it so eloquently...:)...


~R+R:)


You're welcome. :)

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It would be if you were clueless about history.



Or if one doesn't try to put a a pro America spin on things.

I'm not minimizing America's contributions. But I'm not going to exaggerate them, either.
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It would be if you were clueless about history.



Or if one doesn't try to put a a pro America spin on things.

I'm not minimizing America's contributions. But I'm not going to exaggerate them, either.



Fair enough, but we haven't even touched on American largesse after WWII and the unprecedented reconstruction of societies previously bent on the conquest of America & its allies.

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Or, another way of looking at it would be that America sat back and watched, and at times profited from, the rise of the Third Reich, until additional intervention was necessary to save our own skin. We were reluctant teammates at best, from a strictly political standpoint.



So NOW you advocate Americans nosing their way into the affairs of others?

The fact is that America was in no position to do anything from a force standpoint. We were not a leading superpower and the military might was pretty substandard even at our entry point. The Japanese Zero, for example, was a much better figher than we had. Why would it be any different? After WWI, we were quite isolationist. Nothing short of Pearl Harbor would get the people up for war.

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So NOW you advocate Americans nosing their way into the affairs of others?



No, I don't advocate that. I don't know where you got that impression. I do feel, though, if we are going to meddle in the affairs of others we should have better motivation than oil.
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I am definitely proud of all the dissenters, who take enough pride in their country to stand up and point out their government is wrong. It sickens me all the people who are so proud of their country, but so intolerant of dissent. That is hate and fear, plain and simple, and those are two ideaologies I just cannot stand.


How come we can't say what's right, too, without being told we're intolerant? Ignorant? Ignoring history? Hateful and fearful? How come?

Ciels-
Michele


~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

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How come we can't say what's right, too, without being told we're intolerant? Ignorant? Ignoring history? Hateful and fearful? How come?



Say whatever you want, no one is trying to stop you. But, if you imply that dissenters are somehow second rates citizens who don't take pride in there country, that is a grossly misguided, hateful statement.
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Just to put things in perspective for you guys... I just flicked through the last 4 pages (since those were the new posts).

A sum total of ONE person in Europe posted. They posted twice - three half-lines in total. Those were jokey comments.

The rest of this thread about European perceptions of the US... is just American's arguing with each other.

Calm down guys. It's the holidays and stuff. [:/]

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Don't you think it a little suspect that they said, we'll surrender if the emperor retains power. We said no and dropped a couple nukes. Then they surrender and we let the emperor retatin power.



No I don't find it funny.

We looked at the situation and after the war was over found that there would be no harm in allowing the Emperor to stay seated. We didn't know that while we were in a war and while people on both sides were dying.

Also we made those kinds of concessions as a show of good faith.

So no, I don't find it in the smallest bit wierd.
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

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I'm European, does my opinion count? I hold America in very high esteem.

The fact is that opinion in Europe is heterogeneous. There are many opinions both at the individual level and at the national level. Those who pretend that their one opinion reflects all of Europe are just drunk on their own cool-aid. The views expressed in European media further obscure the facts on individual opinion and reinforce a self perception of this monoculture of America bashing.

I'm ashamed of some of my European brethren. The complete lack of any sense of history and the cultural snobbery and elitism of the profoundly ignorant is not something to be proud of. Just because a European grows up in a town with a sandstone building or two doesn't make them culturally superior. European amnesia on recent history and America's largesse is disturbing and entirely their fault.

As Europeans visit memorials to the massacre of millions of innocents and the loss of millions more on the battlefields of Europe they tend to lament the whole sorry matter as if some kind of madness that overtook humanity when the truth is far more instructive. Wars are not merely moments of passing insanity in the feckless actions of mankind. Sometimes going to war is the lesser of two evils and it's Europe that should be ashamed of turning its back on America as America once again shoulders most of the burden of doing Europe's dirty work for it.

400,000 dead Americans in in WW1 and II and some European elitist has the temerity to point the finger at the US when the survivors and the families of the fallen aren't even in their graves to spin at the outrage.



Now that was a great post.
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

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So when do you plan on opening your parachute?



I lost this low pull contest long ago! You can impact if you want to!





Oooooh...I'm scared...and I'm done...


~R+R:)...Still laughing...:D:D:D...



Horrible. That's what I suspected since a while.

:o




Wait a moment...did you call me horrible?


~R+R:)...Good thing I dun't take what you say for while...:D:D:D...



You? Of course not. Just the imagination of "you can impact..."

:o

dudeist skydiver # 3105

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This was the quote in your post - "I, for the record, am extremely proud to be an American and am very proud of my country's history." My analogy was not. Refer back to what I replied to and read your own post.

and :S Oh no!!!, I called you 'angry' what a horrible personal attack..... Are you ok? need a tissue? (I'm sure you are laid back and it is 'comical', but your posts are pretty harsh in all teh threads, I can't see you smile or smirk when it's the written word. If you want to make that impression)

...
Driving is a one dimensional activity - a monkey can do it - being proud of your driving abilities is like being proud of being able to put on pants

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The "you can impact" comment wasn't even made by RoadRash. It was just one more mean-spirited post by another poster. Follow it back and you'll see.
witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

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This was the quote in your post - "I, for the record, am extremely proud to be an American and am very proud of my country's history." My analogy was not. Refer back to what I replied to and read your own post.


I reread, and still have no idea what it is you're talking about now.B|

Sorry my posts don't contain enough pictures for you. I'll try to remedy that.:):(:PB|:$:):S>:([:/]:D:o:|
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The "you can impact" comment wasn't even made by RoadRash. It was just one more mean-spirited post by another poster. Follow it back and you'll see.


Follow it back a little further, and you will find the first hateful comment came from Road Rash. She then deleted her last hateful comment. Thanks for trying to be my conscience, though.
Math tutoring available. Only $6! per hour! First lesson: Factorials!

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Wars are not merely moments of passing insanity in the feckless actions of mankind. Sometimes going to war is the lesser of two evils


Wars are justified by politicians who do not normally suffer from immediate consequences such as getting killed in action. I don't think the thesis of "lesser of two evils" is that popular among those who risk loosing their lives.
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400,000 dead Americans in WW1 and II and some European elitist has the temerity to point the finger at the US ...


I do not quite understand the logic of this statement. The Germans lost over 6 million and the Russians lost over 20 ...

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What, are you three years old? I don't give a shit who started it. Act like an adult and take responsibility for your own behavior.

And since I don't have to look at you in the mirror every day, I don't particularly care how your conscience is doing.
witty subliminal message
Guard your honor, let your reputation fall where it will, and outlast the bastards.
1*

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I've been wanting to post these 2 question to all of the Americans in here for a while, but for some reason I haven't untill now, so here goes...

How do you guys think that Europeans feel about the USA as it is today?

How do you think Europeans react to the re-election of your president?

Just curious I guess.



i personaly like americans
but i cant eat a Whole one and you need a realy big BBQ!:)
YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE A DEMOCRASY you choose who leads you and the rest of the world must learn to live with that

as a people a race a culture what ever only a few other countries give the oppertunity to be what ever you want in life help and encourage you to achieve the goals you have and protect your civil rights so hard,

so you yanks dont worry about what others think of you just be yourself
safety enjoyment learning, sel the sport. dont kill it.

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