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WITH all the talk of a coming war and the mistrust and hate among several religious and ethnic lines, I have a simple question...
If America (or, in general "the West") is so hated for what they are and stand for, then why don't those people who receive aid from them Food, Medicine, Technologies, etc.) not accept it? Why do they ask for our help to feed, heal and educate their children then cry "Imperialistic Dogs!" when the mood suits them? Why do they come to Western schools when they don't approve of the culture they support? Why should we continue to help them?
I know, you can't turn your back on people who are suffering or need help when you have the ability to help, but there comes a time (like a parent) when you have to let go. If they don't want to graciously accept the offer, then we shouldn't be so willing to hand it out. I don't feel that anyone should be throwing themselves at our feet just because we are there, but it would be nice if someone would just say Thank you once in a while.
[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: Sam Smoot ]
 
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Originally posted by Sam Smoot:
Why do they ask for our help to feed, heal and educate their children then cry "Imperalistic Dogs!? Why should we continue to help them?


Well how many people are there in world whom you have helped individually( not american govt.)
 
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I don't understand why people pick up fights just like that
 
Sameer Jamal
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I have seen most of the time in Javaranch that most of the ranchers relate themselves to a particular community/country/area in political or racial thread and say that we (Americans or Indian) have done this(like sam was saying that we have helped so many poors....), we have done that but I want to ask how much individual contribution was there. Similarly whenever there is any negative point , then you say that It was our govt who have done the wrong thing not us.
So please define what is "we" is that you or the community which you belongs to ?
 
Sam Smoot
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Not trying to pick up a fight, just want to know why when "we" (the general American Public who have no influence on the American Policies) contribute to various organizations and pay taxes to our government to fund aid programs for those "in need" in other countries are told that we are nothing but dirt in the views of those whom we are told are receiving the aid. I think that there may be a major misconception in that (in other countries, anyway) that the democratic process means that everyone knows what everyone is doing. It doesn't. We have a President, Congress and Judicial system, and all of them have the power to override the other. The problem surfaces is that they are all people with their own agendas, and once they get elected, then they most often do what they want and not what they are told. People are people no matter where they go and are influenced by the information they are allowed to have. No one in the general populace knows everything. We only go by what is reported or issued to us by the various media and government outlets. If something is wrong, most of us would like to fix it, however, we are governed by the Golden rule:
Those who have the most gold, rule...
Look, I'm a simple person who wishes EVERYONE would just get along and quit trying to be so macho and tough about everything. If we all pooled together, then things would be much better. If ALL of our leaders would stop trying to make themselves the Center of power, then we may actually get more important things done.
Like JAVA Programming.....
[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: Sam Smoot ]
 
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Originally posted by Sameer Jamal:
we have done that but I want to ask how much individual contribution was there.


I'm not sure if it's ever enough, but I guess I have done my part as an individual enough that I don't have any guilt, although it is true that there is always more that every individual can do. I would say that every part in some way contributes to the whole, so I guess a better question to ask would maybe be how many people actively try to have a positive influence on the lives of people in need? Is that what you mean? You raised the question though, so how about you?

Similarly whenever there is any negative point , then you say that It was our govt who have done the wrong thing not us.


You are correct on that point. The American people need to share responsibility with the government's actions when something negative is done, just as much as they are willing to share in the accolades when something positive is done.
 
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Originally posted by Sameer Jamal:
Well how many people are there in world whom you have helped individually( not american govt.)


Well, I know that more than a third of my income goes to taxes. Some percentage of that is dedicated by the american govt. to foreign aid.
That means that I personally spend several hours a week/month away from my children earning money so that my government can provide this aid.
I would think that that means that I have individually helped those folks.
Of course there is the additional time that I spend earning money that I then donate to non-government groups to releave poverty around the world. Nobody "makes" us do this - but we get insulted an awful lot anyway.
Of course Sam - I think that it is sort of like the time and effort that parents put in towards their kids. The receivers of this not only do not particulary thank them - they often openly resent and rebel against them. The point being that we shouldn't be doing it for the thanks, and perhaps we should just graciously ignore the resentment and chalk it up to "growing pains".
Of course everything has a limit.
 
Sam Smoot
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Of course everything has a limit.


This (in a rambling sort of way) is my point.
Thanks, Cindy...
[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: Sam Smoot ]
 
High Plains Drifter
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Originally posted by Sameer Jamal:

Similarly whenever there is any negative point, then you say that It was our govt who have done the wrong thing not us.


Private U.S. citizens and businesses donate an astounding amount of money every year to domestic and world causes. I think it's more than reasonable for some to claim a role for trying to help.
As to the point above, that's a political problem, not an American one. Those of us who are free to disagree with our governments often do so when government action doesn't sit well with the individual conscience.
 
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I would like to think that it is about being the bigger person. That even though we are looked at with hatrid, we continue to help people in need. That those that are suffering and really in need of our aid will get it, even if they do hate America.
By that we continue to set a standard. And in the end, we can feel good about our country becuase we continued to strive to make the world better even in the face of our adversaries.
However, I know that there is more to it than that. I know that we tiptoe around other world leaders trying to appease them at all costs because of diplomacy. I know that when we send aid to another country, it is probably because when the time comes, America will say "Hey, remember when we helpded you? Now here is what we need".
I know that nothing is free. Even in the land of the Free.
 
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Foreign aid is the most abused word. Allmost all foreign aid have strings attached to them. Maybe foreign aid is a polite word for bribe.
Most countries which accept such aid(bribe) are no position to refuse them.
 
Sam Smoot
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Thanks, Mr. or Ms. Coward , for the tip... I'll use the word processor next time.... Usually, I'm more concerned about getting the topic across instead of spelling and grammar.
[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: Sam Smoot ]
 
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I always wonder, why do govts. of the first world give aid to the third world anyway??? As I understand every memebr of UN has to pay certain amount (as per its GDP) as aids etc. Is that correct? If it is, I would not call it an aid but an obligation.
 
Cindy Glass
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I find it amazing that someone would equate typing skills with education. :roll:
It is not like a person is going to put a huge amount of effort into checking a silly little post in Meaningless Drivel.
LOT's of very educated folks are lousy typists - it really does not reflect on the education system - just the forum software (lack of a spellcheck).
Or perhaps it reflects on the person who singles spelling out as the important issue of a conversation in a thread about world relief .
 
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jus dont fid the trol
 
Anonymous
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Originally posted by Anthony Villanueva:
jus dont fid the trol


English Translation:
Just don't feed the troll.
 
Jason Menard
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Originally posted by some poorly educated Anonymous Idiot
Can any American spell properly his/her own language?


The proper way to phrase this in English would be "Are there any Americans who are able to spell properly using their own language?". Of course, Americans have many different languages, but I'm sure being the intelligent person you are (sarcasm btw) that you knew that. We can assume for the sake of argument that you think all of us have English as our primary language. Now what your sentence asked was whether or not there are any Americans who know how to spell the phrase "his/her own language", or possibly you may have been asking if we know how to spell the word "English".

If only your government invested more on schools and universities and less on weapons!


"Invested more on"? What is that supposed to mean? For the love of God man, can't you construct a proper sentence? One invests "in", not "on". What an idiot. Did the person who taught you English just do a poor job, or do you simply lack the comprehension skills necessary to assimulate this knowledge?
You also seem to not be aware that for the most part, public schools are largely funded through state and other local taxes. This means that defense spending has little impact on funding for public schools, so your sentence was ill thought out in that regards as well. But I'm sure you knew that too.
Maybe you should look at yourself and your terrible grasp of the English language before criticizing those of us who make the occasional minor spelling error or typing error.
 
Jason Menard
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Originally posted by Tracy Woo:
I always wonder, why do govts. of the first world give aid to the third world anyway??? As I understand every memebr of UN has to pay certain amount (as per its GDP) as aids etc. Is that correct? If it is, I would not call it an aid but an obligation.


As far as I know this is most definitely not an obligation. Foreign aid spending is however often measured in proportion to GDP, if I'm not mistaken. This is foreign aid only from governments though. The point which was mentioned earlier was the vastly larger amount which comes directly from the goodwill of citizens. We shouldn't think only in terms of money donated to these charities and NGO's, but also in terms of time and materials donated.
I think the original question was asking why we should bother to contribute all this private money, material, and time (maybe in addition to the public money?) to an ungrateful world. I think, like Cindy stated, it comes down to being the "bigger" person. In other words, take the moral high ground. Most of us in this country are brought up learning that we should help out those less fortunate than ourselves, and this giving is simply a manifestation of our values as moral human beings.
Many of these people who hate us are not in a position to correctly make such a judgement. They are often being fed lies and half-truths from those whose best interest it is in to direct the masses anger elsewhere. So this is not really the fault of those who are in need, and I guess we should recognize this and send aid anyway. A poor and illiterate populace is much easier to control by those with an agenda anyway, so if nothing else, we can hold out hope that maybe in some small way our aid will go towards helping to eliminate these and other problems.
 
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Originally posted by Tracy Woo:
As I understand every memebr of UN has to pay certain amount (as per its GDP) as aids etc. Is that correct? If it is, I would not call it an aid but an obligation.


The UN is not an body which gives orders. Just recomendation. I think there is a 0.8% of GDP recomendation. The real figures are much lower except for some scandinavian nations.
Foreign aid is very often used to open markets for companies from donators country. Also the contributions of the western nations for help for lesser developed countries has become less in the last years. The rationale for that is total lack of sound political leadership, lots,lots,lots of corruption and lack of birth control in the countries to be helped.
A lot of lesser developed countries complain about restricted access to western markets. And they are right for segments like clothing and agriculture, I think. Unfortunatedly for some of us not in software , but its fairer the competitive way. I am sure regarding earnings I personally would profit from a atomic war India vs. Pakistan, but I hope this will never happen. They should be a fair chance to the skilled and inteligent to participate in the economy.
The anti-west arguments are shared among all the very diverse lesser developed regions. This doesn't mean that they would contain lots of real content. Often this is an easy way to create unity between locals. Often its part of the local culture to generate funny conspiracy theory stories. Last time I was in Chile the MIR space station should thud near the chilean coast. They talked 1 week about no other than "we are the dustbin basket for europeans". I think at the end it came down near Australia.
[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: Axel Janssen ]
 
Jason Menard
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Originally posted by <Anonymous Coward>:

"Invest on" is British English as taught and spoken in England (Oxbridge).
Perhaps the school you attended (in the middle of nowhere) was simply not good enough


Really? Well guess what Einstein, this site isn't in England, and the people you are directing your ignorant comments towards don't speak the "Queen's English".
Yes, perhaps the school I attended (in the most densely populated portion of the country) was simply not good enough .... Traditionally you would have a prepositional phrase in that case since you are providing no proper reference for "good enough". So please, be kind enough to tell us "good enough" at/to/for what?
You imply you learned your poor English skills at Oxbridge. Do you mean the Oxford Unabridged English Dictionary? Wherever you picked up your little bit of English, your instructors can't be too pleased with the result of their efforts. That's okay though, most of us are smart enough to be able to decipher what you are trying to say.
Okay, I'm done feeding the troll, but it was kind of fun.
 
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Meanwhile, I am sure at least some of the ranchers must be wondering why is it that the Indians always criticise Americans?
I guess its because we are tired of the short-sighted American tactics, which emphasises on solving a problem 'for now', not for once and for all. And parts of their 'solution', later on grows on its own and starts causing problems regionally, like viruses!
Well, India has received lots of aid from the US in 70s. (There were Amnesty reports that the wheat shipped from the USA was not suitable for human consumption, well still I appreciate the fact that they were trying to help, irrespective of the fact how it turned out to be). Lately we still are at the receiving end of UN aids, but we are also supporting some of the African countries with what ever we have ? like Wheat, clothing etc. But actual cause of distress is that lately most of the American help has gone to wrong hands causing us lot of headache on our western boarders.
I can't believe that Bush administration really believes that the loads of supplies they are dumping in Pakistan-Afghanistan boarders are going to the needy in Afghanistan. How weird! Don't they really understand how things work in this part of the world?
 
Jason Menard
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Originally posted by <English Teacher>:

To Invest On = (of an organization or government) to spend money on something in order to make it more successful.


Not in American English. Which is what he was criticizing to begin with, so that's what we must be referencing. Similarly, we don't "go to the loo", or "drive a lorry", or "take the lift". We don't go "on the dole", we don't "take the mick". When we drink, if we are "pissed", we are angry. Crisps are chips, chips are fries, biscuits are cookies. We sure as hell don't go around asking people for a "fag".
(edited by Cindy to remove "name calling" and a questionable suggestion :roll: ).
[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: Cindy Glass ]
 
Jason Menard
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Originally posted by <Anonymous Coward>:

You have an obsession for homosexuality, don'y you?


Umm, if you were so well versed in the Queen's English as you claim, you might be aware that a "fag" is a cigarrette, and that "bugger off" has nothing to do with any particular sexual orientation. It's obvious where your line of thinking lies.
And what's "don'y"? Is that proper British English as well?
[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]
 
Cindy Glass
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hmmmm . . . my point exactly .
 
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Paavam
You mention how aid to that part of the world is misappropriated. This goes on in all parts of the world. The leaders take the money and supplies to pay and feed their military first. After all, those are the ones keeping them in power.
 
Paul Stevens
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then I will not loose my precious time to teach you.


I guess you could always tighten it up some
 
Anonymous
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Originally posted by Paul Stevens:

I guess you could always tighten it up some


lol
 
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A government never gives help for free. I'm not only talking about the US government. It is the way governments act, they just don't act like people. People may give something for free, but not government.
The last thing that comes to my mind is the GMO food that was given to the poor country. Can we call that help or shall we call that " to enslave". A new market for food-chemical multinational.
Cindy Glass posted

Well, I know that more than a third of my income goes to taxes. Some percentage of that is dedicated by the american govt. to foreign aid.
That means that I personally spend several hours a week/month away from my children earning money so that my government can provide this aid. ...


Can I say that you spend more time for the palestinian slaughter, the Vietnam war (if you're old enough), the Iran-Irak war, the conflict in congo,..., and much more. That's the only thing people remember about your country.It's all about the foreign policy.
Do you think, that any country or any people is gratefull for the food you give them after you enslaved them.I saw an add some month ago from MSF or amnesty international (I don't remember well), " The third world borrowed 1$, they paid back 6$ and they still have to pay back 4$"
I don't remember any help coming from the US govt. (neither Belgium) that had no political issue, but I remember aid coming from individual person (from all country) that was helpfull.
 
Paavam Payyan
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Originally posted by Paul Stevens:
Paavam
You mention how aid to that part of the world is misappropriated. This goes on in all parts of the world. The leaders take the money and supplies to pay and feed their military first. After all, those are the ones keeping them in power.


Yes, I agree. My point was, as long as the aid is reaching wrong people, Sam (original poster) shouldn't be expecting any gratitude for the good things that his country is into, simply because its not reaching the right people.
Its like this.
You are not gaining any good faith from those who is actually supposed to be benefiting by the aid because its not reaching them.
You are not getting any gratitude from the ones who is getting the benefit, but they know it wasn?t meant for them on the first place! So they are actually still against you.
And then there is the rest of the world who has nothing to do with this, but later those elements who initially misused the American aid, starts playing bad in the region, causing all sort of problems (including extremism, militancy, separatism, etc etc)! Now rest of the world has good reasons to blame America again! Because its Americans who distributed food and arms on humanitarian basis, but to the wrong people!
I guess the report from that newly appointed team to analyse why America is being hated so much is going to be something similar to this. Its sad, but just short-sighted ?business politics?!
 
Cindy Glass
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Originally posted by Younes Essouabni:
the Vietnam war (if you're old enough),


!
You are such a sweetie - Bless you *kiss*.
However I remember it well - but you better leave that one out of the conversation because it would just muddy the conversation with side topics.
However on the rest - most Americans believed at the time that the middle east foreign policies were the right thing to do - even if YOU don't approve. Actually, most of us STILL think so.
Perhaps they were not carried out as perfectly as they could have been. As always, there are ripple effects, and these are ALWAYS difficult to anticipate, but on the whole, given the same situations, most Americans would agree with our policies in general. Sorry if you don't.
Enslaved is an interesting word to use for a bunch of countries that we carefully did NOT take over.
They are no more enslaved than US business is enslaved by MicroSoft .
 
Jason Menard
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Originally posted by <Anonymous Coward>:
then I will not loose my precious time to teach you.


Do you mean lose?
 
Younes Essouabni
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Here In Europe, we are wondering how many of you american people cares about the US foreign policy.
It is spreading around (for a long time now), that the average american just don't care about what the govt. is doing outside the country.
I mean, the average american has others problems to deal with. Polls are showing that the main subject for the next presidential are 1�)Economy
2�) Drugs prescription
3�) or 4�) Iraq war.
It's tending to confirm that you just don't care! Don't missunderstand me,I don't blame you. I'm just saying that if people were more concerned (if it's true that they are not),a lots of things could have changed. Beginning, by all the public or "secret" war that US is leading all around the world.

Posted by Cindy Glass

You are such a sweetie - Bless you *kiss*.


He he he Thx. First time that I get a kind word here (tears coming up), All i get usually is sarcasm (crying loudly)
 
Jason Menard
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Originally posted by Younes Essouabni:
It is spreading around (for a long time now), that the average american just don't care about what the govt. is doing outside the country.


Actually, that's not exactly true. According to polls at least, most of us generally agree with our foreign policy. We think the rest of you are wrong and have it backwards. Europe and the UN are often viewed by many here as being spineless and unwilling/unable to take action on any issue, without our lead of course, even when it is abundantly clear (to us at least) that action should be taken on some issue. So basically, we believe most of the time that our policies are the correct ones, and its you guys who are backwards and too shortsighted (or unwilling) to recognize the big picture.
I just don't want you to get the impression that our government runs around enacting all these policies that YOU don't agree with, thinking that our government must just be doing its own thing and that we don't agree with it. Of course in any issue there are those who will agree and disagree domestically, so I'm just speaking on the whole and generalizing quite a bit. Make no mistake, the US Middle Eastern policies are generally widely supported in this country (possibly with the exception of our relationship with Saudi Arabia).
 
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Based on "Anonymous Coward's" eye for detail, especially her majesty's language we should recommend "Anonymous Coward" to write a routine for British/American English Compliance for the forum ... :roll:
 
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Qualifier: I am an American and more specifically a New Yorker. This makes me much angrier than most Americans who've only seen the smoking crater on TV. I have had to SMELL it every day for the last year.
Anyone who would say that the attack was deserved in any way has a bloody nose coming if he visits me.
All of that aside:
To answer the question of WHY IS AMERICA HATED I offer a simple answer: Jealousy
America is one of the youngest countries in the world and yet we dominate, infiltrate, and assimilate everything in the world economy. We break all of the rules and reinvent ourselves as we see fit. We shun tradition and rebel against authority and oppression as a national philosophy. This has the unabashed quality of making the rest of the world seem like they're standing still, & thereby pissing a lot of people off in the process. Everyone hates a winner. Tabloid sales for example, are based on how much people resent celebrities. Everyone loves to see a sucessful person take a fall. It makes them feel better about themselves.
Do I think America is perfect? NO. But having travelled the world I can state that my opinion is that it IS Better. You may not have an equal chance here - but you have a CHANCE. That's more than the poor peasant women getting beaten by rifestocks for not covering their faces or insert your favorite propaganda model here.
As for taking Cheap Shots at spelling errors - if this site offered the ability to edit a node, or at least preview it before submitting - I imagine most of that would go away.
As for the educational system in this country - yes - it's lame. But as a nation and as a culture we discriminate against the stupid. You can see it practiced in advertising every day. Those who have an inclination towards sucess will eventually be successful and the rest are "red-shirts". And that's Natural Selection at work...
OK - whew - enough ranting... Why I let myself get suckered into these emotional topics is beyond me...
 
Jason Menard
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Originally posted by Gregory Cranz:
and the rest are "red-shirts".


 
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Originally posted by Gregory Cranz:
To answer the question of WHY IS AMERICA HATED I offer a simple answer: Jealousy


I agree. In general, US populace has risen above petty issues (unlike other countries, including India) have. The way you guys have built your country from almost nothing is truely amazing. Of course, no country is perfect, and I really think that your policy towards Pakistan is all messed up, and some of the terrorism issue is your own making but I greatly admire US for its attitude and its way of life (I am not talking about quality of life, which is also great btw). I do not hate US at all, I just wish my coutry were like that. Another thing is, people in India (in general) do not hate anybody, and US the least, except Pakistan.
 
Younes Essouabni
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Originally posted by Jason Menard:
I just don't want you to get the impression that our government runs around enacting all these policies that YOU don't agree with, thinking that our government must just be doing its own thing and that we don't agree with it.


I never doubted that you followed the news, neither that you were concerned. The question was intended to tha average american (You may be an average american but you seems to be a very concerned average american). As you was in the army, and as you're doing some training stuff, I won't consider you as an average american.
Originally posted by Gregory Cranz

To answer the question of WHY IS AMERICA HATED I offer a simple answer: Jealousy


Jealousy was mainly the answers in 70's, 80's.
Hey man wake up, people in other parts of the world don't give a rat's ass of your style of life. They just want to live in peace without the Big US coming and getting them in trouble.
It seems like, people hates you especially where you send some "help". When you helped Iraq at war (against Iran), Iraquis were happy, now they understand that you pushed them into war just for your interest. And they are mad about it. It seems like the hate comes from the country you helped most.

Anyone who would say that the attack was deserved in any way has a bloody nose coming if he visits me.


Nobody said that the poor people deserved it. People say that's all because of your foreign policy!
 
Jason Menard
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Originally posted by Younes Essouabni:
People say that's all because of your foreign policy!


Well, as the other poster was hinting at, the biggest kid on the block and the one with the most toys is very likely to upset many. It's always been like that, and it always will be. This is particularly evident in a unipolar world, as opposed to the good 'ol days of bipolarity.
I think what upsets some most is that for the most part we dismiss their points of view so easily. And what is even more maddening than the fact that we may seem to pay little attention to the opinions of some in the world, is the impression they have that we can pretty much ignore them and do whatever we like regardless of how they feel about it.
We do the things we do because we believe we are right. You oppose us (not necessarily *You* Younes, just a generalized impersonal collective "you"), and we dismiss you because we believe you are wrong. The fact that we can dismiss you so easily without giving you a second thought is a blow to your collective ego. Yet on the other hand, you cannot dismiss us as easily. We are too pervasive for that, and you have a far greater dependence on us than we on you. I can see where that would cause some anger.
Make no mistake, most of these people who have a problem with us would have absolutely no problem being in our shoes.
Not to be blunt or argumentative, only to try to give you a little bit of insight.... How often does the US or any of its policies come up in conversation with you and your friends in Belgium? How often are we covered in your media? Now ask yourself how often Belgium or any of its policies comes up as a topic of conversation for most Americans, or how much coverage what's going on inside Belgium receives in the US media? For the most part, the answers to that last one are "never" and "none".
If you ask most American about Belgium, the first things that are likely to come to mind are "waffles" and "chocolate". If you meet a history buff, you might add "surrender" to that list. This isn't a slight by any means, I only bring this up to show that one of the reasons people have so much problem with us is that we are so much in the forefront. You see or read about us everyday in the news, and you often talk about us. You watch our movies, listen to our music, and read our books. But we barely notice you. This is not a bad thing. On the contrary, we have little problems with anyone else, unless they do something to piss us off. Otherwise, you are generally below our radar screen and we probably just haven't taken much notice of you. But being the generally friendly people that we are, in the absence of evidence to the countrary, we generally assume that you are nice people and will trreat you as such, without preconceived notions. Again, not a slight or an insult, but that's kind of just the way it is for many of us.
[ September 09, 2002: Message edited by: Jason Menard ]
 
Michael Ernest
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I removed posts that attempted to raise insults from errors in grammar and spelling.
 
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