What do you guys think of America?

[wishspirit]

Hi everyone!

Well i'll give a little intro to the question. At uni i am studing history, as some people know, but we have to take an elective course. This term im taking american studies.

I have to do a presentation on what people think of America, and i would be really intrested to know what you guys think of America, and what being American means compaired to the rest of the world.

The reading we are doing focuses on people from lots of different countries saying their opinon on what America means to them, so i wanted the inside perspective (being English myself)

Can anyone enlighten me?

 

[schmitty]

Great country, tons of different natural resources.

 

[BabyPiglet]

America represents freedom and acceptance.

I love it.

 

[TheAmazingSpidey]

America owns.





'Nuff said.

 

[wishspirit]

America represents freedom and acceptance.

I love it.

unlike other countries? (sorry playing devils advocate to spark debate) there are many other countries that value diversity and have freedom, what makes America different?

 

[crazytp93]

Just look at how many different cultures we represent

 

[VMK_MagicalLadee]

I dont....
eh.


I dont want to be flamed LOL
So...nvm XD

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I dont....
eh.


I dont want to be flamed LOL
So...nvm XD

My thoughts exactly!

I love my country, but there are some things that I don't agree with, and I don't really want to start a fight or anything.

 

[wishspirit]

Just look at how many different cultures we represent

again, devils advocate, other countries have lots of different cultures and kinds of people. Not just america

 

[wishspirit]

My thoughts exactly!

I love my country, but there are some things that I don't agree with, and I don't really want to start a fight or anything.

I dont....
eh.


I dont want to be flamed LOL
So...nvm XD

I want to hear ur opinon, it is just ur opinon, people should respect it. You dont have to say what you dont agree with, just may suggest how other people see America.

 

[Babyjustrun]

I think the place has a lot of opportunity, and in general the people are welcoming and nice, not arrogant and ignorant like television programs show them perceived as.
They do have a few bugs and such in their laws and I guess in their politics, but what country doesn't? It's just that a lot of the world's attention is focused on this country, people are watching it like a hawk. They say the President of the United States is the one of the most powerful positions in the world (well what I was watching said it WAS, but I'm not debating about that). I guess sometimes people are more interested in how the US is either succeeding or failing. Some people get a bit too happy when something bad does happen. And it's kind of sad that people think that way.

 

[BabyPiglet]

unlike other countries? (sorry playing devils advocate to spark debate) there are many other countries that value diversity and have freedom, what makes America different?

I never said other countries didn't. But that's why I love America. I don't want to debate it (sorry), that's just my opinion.

 

[Columba]

The greatest country in the world!

Unlike in the old country, during its occupation, the USA took my family in and we've thrived here for almost 200 years. I'll always be loyal to it for that. I loved its history and I love its people. I've got family in many other nations, so I get around a lot, and I'm getting pretty annoyed with the *few* foreigners who are jumping with the "We hate America" train. How quickly so many of them forget...

 

[JulielovesDisney]

I want to hear ur opinon, it is just ur opinon, people should respect it. You dont have to say what you dont agree with, just may suggest how other people see America.

Well, like I said before, I am proud to be an American and I love living here, but I just find a few things faulty with this country. Like our voting system. People are lead to believe that your vote counts. Well it almost doesn't. Our next president isn't based on who the citizens vote in, there are a lot of other contributing factors, like the Electoral College, etc. Their decisions can change the popular vote outcome, which I think is wrong. I think officials shouldn't decide who becomes president, I think it should be solely based on the popular vote, with no state weighing system or anything.

And I also think people are mislead and think that if you are, for example, a poor man living in Mexico and you want to achieve the "American Dream", that it's easy and that anyone can come to the "Land of Opportunity" and make it big. Well, odds are, you can't. It takes a lot of hard work, and you also have to be in the right place at the right time and know the right people to come out on top.

America is advertised as a land where poor people can become rich. But there are a lot of underlying factors that many people don't see that almost prevent them from reaching their goals of wealth. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it's just false advertising that it's easy. You can do the same thing in ANY country and achieve the same results. It just takes hard work, being at the right place at the right time, and knowing the right people. That's how you get on top and become the CEO of a major corporate company.

That's just my view.

 

[Pirate Me]

People come to the United States for open oppurtunities. There are millions of people that come from all over the world. Some of the places they're at are in a corrupt state; it could be their form of gov't, or to escape religious prosecutions.

Here, you can speak out about what your opinions are. All adults can vote, women and men have more equal rights (though there are few cases in which people slip between that)

Here, there are many job opportunities. People have rights. We have freedoms. There is help for the homeless and poor via shelters and food stamps, welfare, etc.
We're free here.

 

[wishspirit]

I never said other countries didn't. But that's why I love America. I don't want to debate it (sorry), that's just my opinion.

Sorry if you dont want to debate, i just want to know what makes America different, its not a criticism, i just want to find out what people think makes it different.

Cause when i think of America, it tends to be of shows such as deperate housewives or friends, rather than the people themselves. I also make massive comparisons between the way America and England are run, because thats what i know and understand, so i just wanted a fresh perspective. I want to know what its like living in the last great superpower in the world, and whether it feels like the 'Bowling for Columbine' film portrays

I can understand where Julielovesdisney is comming from, and it takes amazing guts to say whats wrong with ur own country. Hey im not saying Englands perfect, in fact far from it, i just want to hear differing opinons.

 

[BabyPiglet]

Sorry if you dont want to debate, i just want to know what makes America different, its not a criticism, i just want to find out what people think makes it different.

Cause when i think of America, it tends to be of shows such as deperate housewives or friends, rather than the people themselves. I also make massive comparisons between the way America and England are run, because thats what i know and understand, so i just wanted a fresh perspective. I want to know what its like living in the last great superpower in the world, and whether it feels like the 'Bowling for Columbine' film portrays

I can understand where Julielovesdisney is comming from, and it takes amazing guts to say whats wrong with ur own country. Hey im not saying Englands perfect, in fact far from it, i just want to hear differing opinons.

I understand, but I answered the question you posed at the beginning of the thread.

'What do you guys think of America?'

You should ask, 'What makes America different?'

 

[DDRManiac]

do i think america has its problems...ofcourse..who doesnt? but if you asked me if could choose to live in any country which would i choose...it would certainly be here...you can say what you want about this place but i wouldnt want to live anywhere else in any other time in history...this place is home and has so much to offer!.....and it has amazing places like disney world and cedar point to sweeten the deal! However! i think living in Great Britain would be amazing as well and would be more then willing to do a study abroad there!

 

[JulielovesDisney]

Sorry if you dont want to debate, i just want to know what makes America different, its not a criticism, i just want to find out what people think makes it different.

Cause when i think of America, it tends to be of shows such as deperate housewives or friends, rather than the people themselves. I also make massive comparisons between the way America and England are run, because thats what i know and understand, so i just wanted a fresh perspective. I want to know what its like living in the last great superpower in the world, and whether it feels like the 'Bowling for Columbine' film portrays

I can understand where Julielovesdisney is comming from, and it takes amazing guts to say whats wrong with ur own country. Hey im not saying Englands perfect, in fact far from it, i just want to hear differing opinons.

No country is perfect, thank goodness.

My sister-in-law is French and she said that many people who don't live in America view the country to be just Hollywood-esque and materialistic. Which is ok in a way, because that's how we portray ourselves through the media. Our "international representatives" are Paris Hilton and other celebrities, which stinks because a majority of the people are nothing like them (thank goodness!!!!)

The average life in the USA is simple. It's routine. I don't know how to explain it, but I'm sure it's pretty similar to life in any other non-3rd world country in the world. You wake up, go to school come home, work, eat, sleep, rinse and repeat. And of course, go to Disney!

 

[Sparx]

America is a strong country. We have a political system unlike any other country in the world. Yeah, there are democracies, but Democracy is a failing system. We've blended democracy and republic and came up with what we use today. We are one of the youngest countries in the world, but we're also one of the largest and a superpower. Yeah, we're up to our eyeballs in debt. We're in a war. But we'll do what americans do. We'll band together, we'll get through it, and we'll return to our place of power that we deserve. This isn't patriotism talking, this is me telling the truth. America has lasted this long for a reason. There are houses in Europe older than my country, but we are one of the strongest countries in the world. We're technologically advanced, and we try to school everyone. Regardless of our debt, regardless of our problems, we still stand as a united nation. In my country, everyone is equal. Not every country in the world can say that. In my country, I can stand up and say "I HATE AMERICA." because america says I can. The US doesn't have to agree with what I've got to say, but she will defend my right to say it. I will be the first as an american, to admit my countries faults. But i will aslo be the first to sing her praise.