Why is it that people tend to focus on the negatives of America.Not the positives?
599519
It's chic to bad mouth the US right now.  Like it was back in the 60's.  It comes from a victim's point of view.  Bad things that happen to them MUST be somebody elses fault.  And, if you are happy, you must have done something wrong or illegal.\nIt's best just to avoid losers like that and enjoy your life, making sure you raise your family in the same way.
1009219
The American tends to be more ignorant, or more of an asshole.
351501
Although some people say America is a "bad" country, people still want to come to America because it has more opportunities for them than the country that they live in.
308251
The mind set that you're criticizing actually has a historical term called American Exceptionalism.  It roots all the way back to the beginning of the USA and it is the belief that America is truly unique and special in the world.  Americans operate off this assumption that is ingrained in them from birth that says America is superior.  It's naturally for someone to have pride in their country, but unfortunately, most of us Americans take it to a an extreme level.  This is why the Bush administration thinks that it's O.K. for America to ignore the Kyoto Protocols and that the Geneva Conventions don't apply to them.  And thus your problem, Americans on Yahoo are so ignorant that they just assume that well of course everyone on yahoo is an American.  It's an American company in English!  And they would be surprised to know that people from around the world use Yahoo.  I think you are right to take offense at Americans who do believe that the USA is everything and I agree that they are wrong.  One of the answers to the problem and what allowed me to see it in myself was to travel abroad.  And I don't mean go be a Ugly American tourist, but I went to Brasil and actually staying in someones house for two weeks and experienced what life is like for them and it forced me to realize that the American way of doing things is not the best and that the USA is really only a small part of the world.
1061571
I am American myself and I asked a similar question on this site, yet i may have phrased it offensively since many took offense. I asked who thought Americans were arrogant and dumb. Many foreigners thought that Americans are. What I think is: America is a very powerful country and with this comes big weights, people tend to be more arrogant and closed-minded since they think America is so great and other countries do tend to be jealous. I have experienced it being born and living here, some are that way, yet there are many who are not arrogant or dumb but open-minded, and they have to take the stereotypics.
783769
GREAT question. Especially since so many countries do not allow their native citizens to talk badly about them.\n\nTo me, the fact that Americans enjoy so many freedoms and opportunities for wealth causes others to be jealous of us. The jealousy is often expressed through bashing. For me the proof that America is a great country is reflected by the number of people who try so hard to get here. If this country and its citizens were as bad as the people bashing it thought, we wouldn't have the illegal immigration problems, nor would so many people make the effort to come here to live legally, or to become naturalized citizens.
547388
I've living in several countries for many years.   For starters, most common people are so focused on getting on with their lives -- you know: existing, feeding their families, staying out of a tribal argument, or avoiding pestilence -- they don't have much else on their minds.\n\nAs for the educated individual in these lands, it all depends on how they were raised, what their major course of study is (or their career), and how pervasive Western pop culture is in their country.\n\nAll in all -- most of the world sees a lot of good and not-so good about the U.S.   Again, it depends on their cirumstance.  If they were a tsunami victim, or a refugee fleeing genocide, and received our assistance, *  or were grateful for our orphanages and refugee camps -- the perspective would be positive.\n\nFor all our weaknesses, America is still a land of opportunity.   Why do you think so many immigrants want to come here?
1020583
Lots of countries have the image of America as being all about consumption.  The french especially are often amazed by how much Americans eat, they can't believe portion sizes in restaurants for example.  They also feel that Americans in general do not have a strong sense of culture/history/art and takes a narrow view of world issues and events, based on our national self interest and wish for instant gratification.\n\nPoorer or developing countries often look at the general prosperity of America and its power and wonder why this country doesn't do more to help the rest of the world with problems like poverty, disease, etc.  It is true America does some, but very little in fact in proportion to its wealth.  In many other cultures there is a strong expectation that those who have a lot must support those who are in need, so America is often perceived as a selfish country.\n\nHope this helps but make sure you use your own words to do your report.
613808
As in all things, we Americans are self-conceited jerks.  If it doesn't happen within our shores, we seem to think it doesn't really matter.
289009
This is a symptom of a national disease. That disease is apathy. There is a value assigned to all thing according to rarity. Objects, beauty, the quality of life, even relationships. The more you have of something, or the less you had to work to get it, the less value you attache to it. This isn't a bad thing, it is completely natural. In nature there is competition and typically, the stuff that life needs to continue living, will be the stuff that is hard to find.\nAs a generation of Americans without any great war or great tagedy to scare us into caring about the things we have, we care very little about the luxuries we possess, the freedoms we enjoy, and in turn we run everything we have into the ground. We are apathetic to how our great government is run and don't even pay attension when the corperations take over and start wittleing away our freedoms. We are apethitic to each other and the happiness of our neighbors so we drive like selfish pricks, or we lie, or we otherwise treat eachother like crap. We do this because there has been no hardship big enough in any of our lives to teach us the real value of things. The real value of forming a brotherhood with our fellow Americans and doing good for goodness' sake. Also this process is what allows us to not be interested in how the defination of freedom is being changed. We have freedom taken away bit by bit. In increments so small it looks harmless. But eventualy we will all look up and realize that whatever isn't defined by the law is ilegal. This is fascism. It is a shame. This is a cycle that has been evedent throughout the history of Man. \n1) Things are awefull\n2) War against hardship to make life good\n3) Happiness and prosperity for 3-4 generations\n4) Decline\n5) War, etc.\nThis is sad, but it is the way things work. And it continues to happen because most people don't realize that this is the cycle. And until there is a great catastrophy to make us care about the things we have it will continue to decay.
456761
SOME American people act very stupid - also on Yahoo Questions. Their world is so small that they think America is the world. \n\nBut I think America as a country is playing a positive role in the world most of the time and I think American people are just like the people of any other country - some of them are intelligent and kind, and others not. There is nothing diabolical about America or Americans.
89985
HATE is a very strong word, but along such negative sentiments, perhaps it's because the U.S. has a very aggressive foreign policy that involves itself in the affairs of other nations, often times for its own interests above those of those countries. According to the President's last State of the Union address, this progressive and competitive edge is what affords Americans a certain lifestyle which, often times, is unavailable in those "hateful" countries. The U.S. comes across as "arrogance" at times and in many cases, just "ignorant' of other countries.\n\nOf course, there are religious assumptions as well. And what exactly you mean by "Americans"... in general?
646338
Criticism against the USA comes from many many sources.  e.g. people who don't like freedom of religion, people who\ndon't like a free economy, people who don't like freedom\nof the press, people who are jealous the rich and/or those\nwho would like to be rich, etc.  Lord knows, the USA has made alot of mistakes, but we still have freedoms the rest\nor the world would love to have.
1051220
I agree with you. But since you live in America, you also must know that we are never happy. We need to b*tch about something all the time. This President makes it so easy for us to do it.  No matter what people say, this country is a great place to live. Due to the greatness of this country, we also have the privillege of saying whatever things we like about our "great" leader. \n\nOne side note: It does not matter who the president is. America will alwasy b*tch about him or her.
975383
Until 4 years ago, my opinion of Americans was Rude, Loud, Arrogant, Inconsiderate. When I went to Mexico, this was justified.\n\n3 years ago, I visited Upstate New York, and my opinion changed, I have met a lot of good people, not many of them are rude and arrogant, in fact, very few.\n\nOriginally being from England, I have learnt a lot about American upbringing since I have been here. \n\nThere are US flags everywhere, people are proud to be American. \n\nChildren are taught the national anthem at a young age, they are proud, and their nation makes them feel proud.\n\nThey are taught that America is the best country in the world, the Land of the Free.\n\n70% of Americans do not hold a passport, or have never left the continental US. They have never compared their country to another civilised country, so are naive in that respect, and they tend to regard other countries as less civilised, and inferior.\n\nGenerally, they are good people! I live here now, so they can't be that bad!
125252
Good=Access to the world's best stuff. Bad=citizens (America especially) tend to be egotistical, thinking that America is the best and therefore everywhere else must suck.
91123
as an American i think we need to grow up realise we are not the best in everything and that sometime we never will be. We need to fix or problems before we try and fix anyone elses.