how do immigrants view the united states differently than me?
409405
We would first need to know how YOU view the U.S.
180811
One word...  "Jealousy"\nWe are still the wealthiest and most powerful nation in the world although that status is now on decline due mostly to bad leadership.  People see our success and power and get quite jealous.  We are still the land of opportunity and freedom though and that is attractive to everyone.  We have jobs, unemployment support, medical care, a governement that doesn't torture or kill, and a hugely diverse population.  What isn't to like about living here?  If you were in another country with little hope of success and you saw the soap operas about the wealthy American life style I am sure you would want to come here as well.\n\nI don't agree with the view expressed by some that that people are just mad at our government.  I will concede that at one time that might have been the case but in my field of work for an environmental consulting agency with internation ties I see things differently.  I visit places and meet people of many nations and I have to say that, for the most part, when people know I or my coworkers are American they treat us very differently so we usually go with claiming to be from Australia or Ireland depending on who is in our group.  Don't get me wrong.  There are many good people as well who like Americans just like any other nationality.  They are very tolerant which makes the experience much more enjoyable.  Once again, it is the ones who make the most noise that get heard and right now those are the US haters.  Some people just like to blame others for their sad lives rather than trying to improve their situation.
182522
Canadians always treat immigrants with a "laissez faire" attitude because there are so many immigrants/different ethnic backgrounds in Canada, that they don't even really notice. Canadians are all immigrants themselves anyways. I'm Canadian, but a third generation Canadian, and most of my friends and my spouse are second generations, and one is a first generation. Occasionally you will meet a stupid canadian loser who was brought up the wrong way and who is rascist against immigrants but that is the same in any place you go. There will always be rascists. MOST canadians are very open and don't really notice any difference or don't care where people come from.
911910
I'm American and I don't think they do. I think some of us think that we are inferior though.
1042104
Hey there. I'm a Malaysian (a country in South East Asia) and I may have a different perspective among other answerers (I do live outside of America, don't I?) Anyway, most people would view Americans as rich, well-educated, and sadly, trigger happy. Yes. Nobody here ever thought of Americans having troubles with drugs, illegal immigrants, and so forth, because the only news that we get about America in our news papers are about Bush's policies against the world, about Hollywood actors, and American sport. As a proof, give me a minute as I fetch today's paper.\n...\nOkay, from the Borneo Post on American related news:\nHome: None (for obvious reasons, haha)\nClassified: None\nSports: "Storms douse action at US Athletics championships"\nWorld: "US warships successfully shoots down warhead in test"\n"Poll finds great divide between West, Muslims"\n"FBI arrests seven in Miami"-suspect netted in raid over alleged plot to attact Chicago Sears Tower skyscraper\n"US Senate rejects Democratic deadlines for quitting Iraq"\nTV Guide: None\nPeople&Places: A lot especially on Keith Urban's and Nicole Kidman's wedding\nBusiness: None\n\nNo news on drugs. No news on illegal immigrants. We don't know anything about the real life of Americans unless we surf the internet and actually search for American news. America equals to Hollywood. If I were to tell my neighbour that I am going to New York, she would say "Are you going to Hollywood? Americans must be very handsome and pretty and rich. How can you afford to stay there? Don't they hate Asians and Muslims? You'd better not go if you want your mother to have a grandchild." Some also view that Americans are living in their own world. When the whole world is crazy about football (soccer), Americans would watch NFL. When the world is against George W Bush because of what he did to the world (such as invading Iraq without UN's permission and refusing to pay back US' debts), Americans kept supporting him. CNN controls the mind of Americans. Nevertheless, the American Dream is always on most pauper's mind, hence creating the illegal immigrant problem. I'm not suprised because before I saw your question, I came upon a question where someone asked "Which country is the richest?" and most answerers replied "USA". Americans are also vein for thinking that other countries are poorer eventhough most countries here have a lower unemployment rate and a higher buying power. Well, that's only from my humble opinion. I'm sorry if I made anyone angry but it is reality, and that is what we really think about Americans. I hope I helped out in a way or another.
401865
Yes, I am currently living in another country and it does get alienating sometimes. Despite the hype about "Americans don't have any culture", that is really not true. When you live in other places you are shocked by some of the cultural norms in other countries. Certain things that are legal in other countries are illegal in the US.
89383
Money counts. They feel superior to everybodyelse (not all)\nThey are not as educated as other nationalities on the whole. Useless about geography and other countries.\nVery conservative with a hypocrite side to them.\nNot as witty as Brits\nCan be very tacky (honoring flags, grandiose speeches)\nBut they are very friendly. Americans are nice and good overall and very helpful. And they have those good qualities to better themselves and to believe in themselves.\nDepends on what you are comparing it to really...\nThere is no perfect society in the world I think.
1130817
I totally agree with Angela and Monica. Americans talk about immigrants like Hitler and the Nazis did about the Jews immigrants come to the U.S. in search of a better life and all the bad things you hear about immigrants like them not paying taxes or being lazy an uneducated are lies I came to the U.S with my family when I was 7 at the moment I'm 13 my dad always pays his taxes on time and he works extremely hard he leaves at \n7 a.m. and comes back at around 10 p.m.and the thing about us being uneducated that's a lie and Americans you complain but as I recall you stole this land from people who already lived here you stole their land exploited and killed them and one more thing some Americans think that just because an immigrant comes to this nation he can't love his homeland and his flag to those people I say \nVIVA MEXICO AND THE USA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
121861
nope, i dont know the diference. i think im both. a us.american citizen. U.S. stands for United States as in The United States of America.
630202
Hypocrisy.  Americans conveniently forget that unless they're Native Americans, they're *all* immigrants.  \n\nInstead of "I got mine, you get yours", we believe in "I got mine, so screw you."\n\nNo wonder the world hates us.
379020
If you're a US citizen, than one side of this answer is easy. Legally, you're American, and that's an end of it, for we (nominally) follow the law. And that should settle that, except for the odd cretin who has racist ideas about what's American and what isn't. And the snooty (too often women) who need someone to look down on... Though I personally think it's hard to look down on anyone when your tiny mind can't get out of the gutter. \n\nCulturally, you may still be Indian (food, clothing, behavior, language and so on all contribute to cultural identity). \n\nSince you claim no connection with Jamaica it doesn't seem likely you're Jamaican in any sense. \n\nAll of this is largely a phantom question, though a need for belonging and feeling comfortable makes it a practical issue for many, perhaps especially when young. and when those cretins may have friends in high places who can make things uncomfortable, or intolerable, for 'the wrong sort'. It's an old story, on both sides. It's a phantom question because the whole business is an example of reification, which is a frequent and subtle way folks get themselves and their ability to think, completely messed up. To the misfortune of many. Bose' attempt to back the Japanese in WWII India is an example. In fact, the entire Japanese (and German and Italian and South African and Rwandan Hutu and religious wars anywhere and anytime and Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge genocide and ... all examples of this in one way or another. \n\nI think it's more important, if somewhat less comfortable, whether you are a member of the human species, of Gandhi, George Fox, Socrates, Solon, Themistocles, Spinoza, Newton, Jefferson, Hamilton, Grotius, Erasmus, Bertrand Russell, Artisophanes, Sophocles, Shakespeare, Whitman, Curie, Hypatia, Archimedes, ... in making the best of what you have or can contribute. Consider especially the example of George Washington, Cincinnatus, and Jose Figueres Ferrer in contrast to Samuel Taylor (Liberia), most of the Nigerian leaders since independence, Idi Amin, the Samosa family in Nicaragua, the mostly unfortunate history of Haiti since it threw out the French, and the long reign of the PRI in Mexico just ended by Fox, .... If so, in a real and important sense, you are a citizen of all that matters.\n\nExcept for the small-minded Mrs Grundy's and Comstocks amongst us. And they only matter when they get together and gang up on folks. That's one of the reasons politics is so important. Ignore 'em unless they gang up. Until then, it only encourages 'em.
1024396
I cannot answer for MOST Americans.  I don't really care where someone is from, just how honorable, nice, dependable, and honest they are.
114778
There are differences in the way non-Americans express themselves (and it's not all due to poor English!). \nBut come to think of it, I'm not sure if those differences represent our different countries. I'd rather say that we're all 'aliens' in a product that is basically US-targeted, and maybe we're eager to please and give a good impression (many US users just don't seem to care). Some cultural differences are apparent, especially with respect to the perception of humor and irony; that's when the common sociocultural background becomes more visible, I think. \nI have no idea if I project something of Argentina in my Q&A, and I don't know what a "typical" Argentine person is like. We're said to be pedantic and think ourselves too cool, but that's just a stereotype... or is it? There was another user from Argentina here that sounded really silly, and I didn't want this person to be associated with 'my' country!\n\nI guess this question was directed at US users...I wanted to add my contribution anyway. I have to say that the mere fact that you call yourselves "Americans", as if the rest of us lived in Oceania or quite another continent, makes me smile. And I think that says a lot about the US too!\n--------------------\nUpdate: Hola Rantrax!! No, it was not you. Glad to know more of us are joining this :-D
215104
That's how I feel too, I hope we'll get used to it....\n\nGo out and try to find Americans that You get along with, People that share your Interests and Opinions. You will see that NOT ALL AMERICANS ARE EVIL!!!!\nJust give it some time, try to be open towards other People and take your time to get to know them better before You judge them, and also allow them to get to know You better.\nPeople You did not like before maybe turn out to be very cool People, just give them a chance.\n\nThere is so many different Cultures, Religions and Believes mixed together in this country I am sure You will find someone You like to hang out with.\nJust be open.
999769
We can sometimes be spoiled brats.  Rightly or wrongly most of us grow up thinking we live in the greatest country in the world, not because of who we are as individuals but because of our institutions and our history.  We naively expect the entire world to feel the same way and for everyone to "love" us.  I suppose it is kind of an insecurity, possibly because we are this melting pot.  I think most countries with single strong ethnic identities probably don't suffer from this insecurity.  They are who they are and they just don't care what anyone thinks.  Americans get this attitude but in a different reactionary way.  Trying to give an example:  The French say might criticize America for something it's doing in the world...and it feels no embarrassment about doing so...they are perfectly justified in doing so.  However after this "affront" we become insulted...kind of get our "feelings hurt"....then respond with a kind of beligerant screw you attitude.  I suppose we come off kind of whiney at times like that.  On the other hand it seems that other countries aren't quite as "thin skinned".  So I don't think it's an inferiority complex...but I think it's a bit of over concern with image.  I think we should just do what we do and quit worrying about what people think.  Personally though I have to admit that i'm becoming weary of the weight of all the worlds problems and if the world wants us out of them maybe we should just get out of them...and let them deal with it all.  Seems to me like we are only having our entire economy destroyed by dealing with the rest of the world anyway..so shut the borders...bring all the troops home, cut off all foreign aid, no more trade, sit back, and carry a big big stick.  Maybe then the rest of the world will find us acceptable.\n\ntruthseeker...you are seeking anything but the truth or if you are it's to seek it out and destroy it wherever you find it.
676804
Based on your use of "YOU" when referring to the U.S.A., I can assume that you either aren't in the U.S. and therefore you should mind your own business, or you are in the U.S. but don't identify yourself as an American.\n\nIn either case: You are no better than the dog sh!t I wipe off the bottom of my shoe.
75226
It depends on their point of view.  Personally, I think the US has a very weak culture.  Americans think the world starts and ends with the United States.  They speak, for the most part, only one language, have no interest in visiting foreign countries and so forth.  When I was in college most of the people I met didnt even have a passport !\nTravelling for americans means visiting another state.  This is very disturbing as all american cities seem to be the same.  Here's downtown, there are some suburbs and maybe a lake or if you are lucky a chunk of the ocean.  Whoppie doo!\n\nThis ignorance baffles me, it's sort of like, hi here I am, I am the center of the universe would you like to be with me ? No thank you.\n\nHeck no, you got no culture, mostly everything about the US is about Hollywood, Bombs, Sex, War and politics and money, lots of money, so materialistic.\n\nThere is so much more out there that could show the US how to start getting a proper culture.  Frankly, I consider the US to be highly ignorant.\n\nI'm not saying there is a perfect country out there, because there isnt.  Otherwise everyone would prefer to live there.  However, the US is NOT the best place Ive seen, not by a longshot.  You should do some rearch to see how the US is regarded around the world.  People out there simply laugh because the US portraits to the rest of the world nothing but Hollywood, an economy driven by a constant need of shopping and fishy politicis combined with unnecessary wars.