What Do Your Overseas Friends Think of America These Days?
926209
We'll, I'm Australian. Personally I think the US stands for many great things but over recent times this has really been overshadowed by negatives that many US people do not seem to understand. Many seem to have a US centric world view and don't care what the rest of the world thinks, this is very negative. The US must engage and become more active in positive issues and not just hand out aid money. I think most Aussies still like Americans but try to think more global. I.E sign the Kyoto agreement and be more even handed to those that need assistance.
994712
I have no problem with most of America.  There are some stereotypes...and some of them may be true.  \n\n1.  Centric (not knowing much about the world outside USA)\n2.  Boasters (biggest everything)\n3.  Bullies (current foreign policy)\n4.  Wasters/not environmentally friendly (not wanting to support biofuel production to its max...see Bush's comments on the use of corn for biodiesel)\n\nHaving said that, there are plenty, more than plenty of Americans who are concerned and friendly and humble and just like everyone else.  Unfortunately, we don't hear much from them, as the newscasts prefer stories that are shocking and awful.  So the world's view of the typical American is probably skewed.
671113
I think you may find that recent usa activity in the middle east is at least questionable in some countries.\nAnd this Iran thing now... \nYou could only hear muslims (don't get me wrong here) before, talking bad about america, now it's a global discussion...\nNo conclusion. Just thinking...\n\nI don't dislike americans. Have to go there and see what is this "new world" deal all about. lol.\nWhat's the best way to contact you? email me.
585727
Yes, I totally agree!\n\nI'm not trying to sound ignorant here, but the average American is rather close-minded to the rest of the world. They need to get their heads out of their butts, and learn that others really do exist out there. \n\nI think that's part of the overall reason why other nations feel resentment towards them.
419939
You are making GROSS generalizations. \n\nDoes the rest of the world have any clue how many Americans are disgusted with our own government's foreign policies?  How many Americans LOATHE our current administration?  How many Americans have expatriated or are in the process of expatriating in disgust?\n\nShut up, sit down, and don't tell me what I do and don't have a clue about.
1144041
Many don't like Americans but I don't think that it is fair to ask them that question.  In reality they have limited exposure and can only go by what they get in the media.  Many countries have state-controlled media and others are just very liberal and only present them with what the media bigwigs think is important.\n\nAlso, many people outside the country erroneously believe that Americans are like what they see on TV shows.  It's easy to see how that can happen but in reality 99.99% of the people are nothing like that.\n\nDon't forget that most of our media is based out of Los Angeles and New York.  Although those areas dominate the media that are absolutely not representative of the rest of the country.  That gives people from out of the country a skewed sense of our culture.\n\nAs for being rude I am really sick about hearing this.  I really don't understand why Americans are so quick to spew out this stereotype.  Rudeness is really a cultural thing.  What is rude in one culture isn't in another.  Living in Southern California we get more than our fair share of tourists.  I have seen so many European tourists that are "rude" simply because they don't understand our culture.  I'm sure that many of the things that they are doing are perfectly acceptable in theirs.  How about Asia?  Ever try riding public transit without being beaten?  Hell half the stuff they do there would land an American in jail but it is perfectly acceptable in their culture.
611959
I think Americans are good people for the most part just like in the majority of other countries but as a society in whole we tend to group people in big categories together and say they are one way or another.  Unfortunately things will never change that way.  People are people... some are good and others are not.  Every country has them all.  I guess it depends on the politics that rule the countries nation that makes Countries look bad or look good.  Right now I think the American government is making them look bad in some aspects but I respect the fact that they are a very proud nation. I have been to the USA and love it there.  I would hope that people realize the amount of propoganda out there that causes people to think a certain way and that we must know we are not getting the full story when it comes to the war in Iraq and many decisions that are made by the president and government.\nSad but true
1169784
I would not say most but some and they are entitled to their opinion.I really don't care who likes or dislikes the Americans.That is their problem if they don't like us.Not ours.
417847
All of the American people I've met have been polite and friendly. \nIts just your leaders that we cant stand.\nOh, and Dr Phil
596159
Brain washing works well here.  I do not believe that this is the greatest country.  Yes, I have traveled and it reaffirms the fact the America is not the greatest country.
1147497
I have no idea.  i am a American, and i live in England, and everyone has their little opinion on America and its so annoying, people think they're experts on America, and they've never even been there.  If I was to talk bad about a third world country people would think i was rude and stuck-up, but for some reason people from other countries think they can sat whatever they want about my country.  I have met Africans from really bad countries and they have the audacity to talk about America and how violent it is, when they live in country that is at war or is far more violent than America.  I think alot of them are jealous and wish they could live in the most powerful country in the world.
283133
im from australia and some people here think that most americans (not all) have very bad manners and are very disrespectful. we think that some americans are selfish and think their 'all that'. but i'm not saying all americans. australia is just the same, our society is going downhill.
622853
i am a iranian living in tehran.\nwe like america very much.\nbut many arabs and europians hate america.\ni was in this disco in slovakia and people hated americans and also i saw it in russian capital moscow,there they just hate america and in their stand up comedies portray americans as stupid.\nin france people like america but in england they just very angry with america.(but still like americans)\nin iran i never saw somebody hate america but people go to demosntratoion against america becasue america treaed us very bad many times.\nsimetimes i just feel that america should apologize to iran and shake hands with our people ,then we can face all those nations that hate america.\nmay be you saw that our president said something bad about israel,there are political reasons behind that.our nation is hated by arabs and we are under threat from amreica and europe.\nhe chose to start a policy in which we can have some allies in the region,that is why he said that and that policy is actually working fantastic.\niran is not america's problem.many nations hate america strongly.\ni have a friend from south korea ,he strongly hate america becasue he belives that america caused the separation of two koreas.\njapanese hate america and i almost lovd this japanese girl called " norie" she told me america changed the religion of japan after WWII and they are very demoralized because of this and still angry with this.\nin mnay nations that their heads are smiling at americans poeple becoem more angry as they want to amrica know that they are upset.\nand remember that people that did atrocities in america in 9/11 were saudi young men.\nyou know i am not religioius at all but i like that iran is religious,in our family nobody even smoke.\nbut there are many **** iraanian families,many without culture and many others are very nice.i just like my close friends .with them i feel so good even beter than all my foreign friends.\ni was in many countries,i guess every country is just different and nice, iran is one of them ,you will see many bad and good things there.\ni can say in iran people very warm,iranian food are very nice.and girls are very romantic.\nour new president is very humble man.he drives a 1971 peugeot and speaks to people as his own children.\nmay be one day i come america,but before that i want go other countries.specially i want go brazil ,cuba and venezuela.i am told that they are very nice people.\nalso i have jewish friends and i know many jewish songs by heart.\nspecially i love this song: adon olam and we sing it with them.\nin synogoge i sing:\nwa aftahet adanai ala hekha.(means: put te name of god above your doors).\nmegadethuk@yahoo.com please do not spam me as many of documnts are in my inbox.\n\nsorry for long letter.\nthese are things in my mind as a 26 year old (young!)in iran.\ni just wanted to share them.
865548
That is an interesting point about America from its neighbour. It is a pity that Americans have not earned the good will of even one of his neighbours. They need to have a re look at their international relations and relations with their neighbours.
176134
I will give you my opinion as a foreigner to the United States. I am from Guatemala, and the majority of people to whom I speak with, consider that since Mr Bush is in office, the United States is largely hated all around the world.  I hang out with a lot of tourists and volunteers and I can tell you that it is safer and nicer all around to have friends other than Americans.  The whole American mentality that you are the "Most powerful country in the world" is absolutely absurd.  Most powerful compared to what?  No country is powerful against the power of Nature, and Katrina, wild fires, Mudslides and other occurrences will prove me right.  A little humility would do you wonders.\nOf course this is not say that ALL americans are hateful.  The thing is that many are and they are actually very noisy and ocupying places of power at the moment, so they are more noticeable.  I pray for the day when things change for the better and we can all live like brothers in this world, because at this rate, we are going down....
94367
America has become the pariah of the world: arrogant, selfish, self-centred, ignorant, pseudo-fascist, careless of world opinion, disregarding global warming, ignoring international law, greedy and ugly. The future lies with the East: China and India. It will take more than just ditching Bush and his criminal friends to change things. In the meantime, international hatred of the USA will drive it even further into militarism and prejudice.
398398
This country like any other has it's problems.  But America is like no other place in the world.  We have freedoms here that others can only dream about.  We have the will and strength to over come anything.  This country needs a strong moral center which it seems to be lacking on the west and east coasts.  There are the exceptions to that comment but most of the really liberal,(freedom w/o restrictions or consequences) crowd seem to live there.  I think we need to overhaul our social security system, our tax system and our education system.  If we take care of these basics then i believe we will be back at the top of the world in no time @ all.