Right, Speakeasy posted a thread asking non-Americans to bare their soul about how they feel about Americans…

Your Views On Americans

In truth, I’m really not sure of the benefit of this exercise. In fact, I have some strong reservations about it for a number of reasons.

But, in the interest of fair play and all that, I’ve opened up this thread to allow Americans to reciprocate with their views on us non-Americans.

I just didn’t think it was fair for Americans only to be in the dock.

Sorry, I don’t know how to post a poll. Talk away....

Tethys

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-- Harry S. Truman

I'll post, but it's going to take me a second to write something up. There are an awful lot of non-Americans, I'm told.

I guess I'll just focus on Canadians, Australians, Brits and Europeans..

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“Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people.” -Dr. Carl Sagan

How can you ignore the population of Antarctica? Are they not people worth an American's consideration?

When I have some time later, Tethys, I'll post something. I'm at work and can only keep my thoughts on this board for short periods of time.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

Yeah its a very broad topic, which specific people/nations to focus on?

Why not go alphabetically? Andorrans apparently live a long time. And they speak French without actually Being French, which I expect is a plus to some people. Oh piffle - I forgot the Albanians and Algerians. I guess that means I don't consider them significant?

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Today's forecast: Government corruption.

Tomorrow's forecast: 100% chance of more 'politics as usual'

Maybe it's finally time to vote Libertarian

I love all the various cultures and peoples all over the world.

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One day, I will sneak across the border into Canada and be an illegal alien. It will be fun.

Yes, folks, I know, I know, there are like six billion plus non-Americans on this planet…I did deliberate whether I should only ask about Australians. But I anticipated that many here would have said that they have had too little contact with Australians to form an opinion of them.

Perhaps, as Evil_inKarlate suggests, you could do it alphabetically (which, as an aside, is rather a conventional idea coming from a “True Non-conformist”! ; or as Speakeasy indicates, you could just focus on specific nations.

Or just share your thoughts on the question as such; keeping in mind that it was prompted by Speakeasy’s question to non-Americans.

Believe it or not, there is method to the madness of the thread.

Tethys

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-- Harry S. Truman

Me too. I love to talk to others from different groups or cultures, especially those about whom I have little knowledge.

However, a BIG conversation stopper is when I start to hear generalizations about Americans. Such as

Americans are too ignorant of...

Americans are so hawkish that...

The Americans are so narrow-minded that...

Americans are so blind to...

etc.

I suspect that anyone who generalizes a population of over 300 million persons is either ignorant of the concept of normal distributions or is prejudiced against Americans in the first place and has no interest in a real exchange of ideas and experiences.

As I see several Americans generalizing the American population in such a manner as well, I suspect they are either ignorant of normal distributions or have a prejudiced bias based on ingrained partisan views.

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I am an American. That's the way most of us put it, just matter of factly. They are plain words, those four: you could write them on your thumbnail, or sweep them clear across this bright autumn sky. But remember too, that they are more than just words. They are a way of life. So whenever you speak them; speak them firmly, speak them proudly, speak them gratefully. I am an American. ...a tradition

We'd be onto Australia pretty fast.

For the French opinion, let's wait a year or two since the Americans seems to like Sarkozy, and didn't get use to him yet

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The only problem I have with the rest of the world is Anti-Americanism; prejudging and hating people simply because they are American. Fortunately, most of you guys are too smart for stuff like that!

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this is my only problem the "vogue" hate america schtick and hate americans who support bush, and hate the war and hate hate

I've enjoyed my travels, whether within or outside of the US. I find that, fairly universally, people in generally are kind, generous, and genuinely interested in being helpful to their fellow human beings.

Whether I've been asking for directions in the panhandle of Texas or in northern Scotland, I've found the average human being to great, period.

I think that it's unfortunate that so many of us are fixated on a human (and therefor innately flawed) construct like nationality; to the point of anger, hatred, and violence no less!

As an American, I love my country, for it has given me opportunity and comfort. I've been extraordinarily proud of some of the things we have done as a nation, and extraordinarily shameful of others. But, perhaps that's a good position to be in? I recognize the many positive things that the artificially defined geographic region in which I happened to have been born has done for the world, but I also see room for improvement.

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When they come a wull staun ma groon
Staun ma groon al nae be afraid
Thoughts awe hame tak awa ma fear
Sweat an bluid hide ma veil awe tears

I love 'em.

Of course, almost all contact with non-Americans has been within the confines of the United States. This means that most of them have been the internationalist sort of people that I like to consider myself one of. This may colour my opinion.

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"Jesus said: I have cast fire upon the world, and behold I guard it until it is ablaze."
Gospel of Thomas

generally speaking If a nonamerican does not lecture me about the evils of america. I like them. Australians Britains are usually the best in this regard. Although russians are too as well. Russians are cool, usually very smart and very proud. a Russian that goes to the school I go to would actually get into a fight if someone dissed russia , I like that its admirable. Pride in heritage is admirable, I think people in the west want to destroy intellectually all things that we have to be proud of. I think that is a shame I think we have many things, all peoples have things to be proud of in thier culture and thats what I like.

I admire that whether the person is English french Chinese russian Arab it does not matter to me. Particularly if that pride does not mean you have to diminish the pride of another people. Like I think some europeans think that they need to rip on america so that they feel good about thier accomplishments, primarily I guess liberalism..which i think has destroyed thier culture.. I mean all those grand cathedrals and castles... great cathedrals that end up being nearly empty thats ashame really I would like to go just to be awe struck by it all but they seem to take it for granted..and sadly mark it as evil. I am not even religious anything, I change my mind all the time on those kind of matters I just like the idea of it all.

nationalism is not a bad thing I think we can be nationalistic and still admire others cultures and national treasures. I find people that want to destroy these ideas they seem to be primarily for the west, europe america canada, I think they are just. . I dont know sad..

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