Those Stupid Americans…
I was reminded the other day of how hated we Americans are. An admittedly stupid website was reporting that Pippi Longstocking is a Satanic character, and the visiting Swedes (Sweden being the country of Pippi’s origin) let their opinions fly:
- Another stupid American; the world is full of them!
- You’re probably a stupid American áššhølë!
- I wipe my ášš with the American flag and spit in your face.
Being an American myself, I was curious as the sentiment of others. So I decided to find some additional opinions by searching the Internet with Google, spelling (or lack thereof) intact:
- “The only thing Americans can teach is how to corrupt countries and take their money. All Americans are is greety báštárdš.” - I think countries have been corrupting themselves for centuries without the help of the United States. Also, most people worldwide work hard to better themselves and provide as much as possible for their families. Americans included. Yes, there are some really bad, greedy Americans — but not everyone fits that description.
- “[The] US is the laughing stock of the world. American cars suck, American people are stupid, fat and ignorant, your technology sucks.” - Yes, spoken out of prejudice and ignorance, Americans can be conceived as being the laughing stock of the world. So would whichever country happens to be in the economic and military lead at the time. Some American cars do suck, but the Yugo hasn’t won too many awards that I’m aware of. Oddly, the fantasy car of choice when I lived in Germany as a child was a Pontiac. Yes, some Americans are stupid, fat and ignorant. So are some members of any other country in the world. If Microsoft products are a measurement of our technology, then, yes, it sucks. But I haven’t seen any other countries that provide the number of major innovations that have stemmed from America in the last hundred years.
- “Americans are full of šhìt. ignorant, yet stuppied people. they are bvery norrow minded and veyr materiolistic.” - I already agreed that sum Amurikanz ar bvery stuppied. But not all — the first spell checking software was invented at UC Berkeley in 1972 — by an American.
- “You have a handful of smart and educated people who drive the country, and then you have this humongous blob of utterly clueless people who are hardly able to make a living.” - Can’t really argue with that. But the same can be said for just about every other nation in the world.
- “You are all non-sensical inbred morons.” - Actually I don’t personally know anyone who can be accused of resulting from inbreeding, although it may be common in certain areas of the country such as Tennessee (pronounced “Ken-tuck-ee”, if you’re from Tennesee). You think inbreeding didn’t occur within the European and Asian royals of the past?
- “Americans are generally loud and stupid.” - Yeah, I hate American tourists, too. Again, I’d qualify that as “some”, rather than generalizing the population as a whole.
- “U.S.A is the biggest šhìt hole.” - Seems that lots of people on the Internet are calling every other country on the planet the “biggest šhìt hole”, too, based on results from Google. I say we just all take a vote and decide once and for all. After all, that is the democratic way.
- “I thank God that I’m not a stupid ášš-fûçkìng American.” - I’m glad I’m not a stupid ášš-fûçkìng American, too — I’m just not into that. I’m a regular American of (perhaps) above-average intelligence, eking out a living, trying to fulfill the dreams of my family.
I’d rather be considered a stupid American than have to resort to pointless name-calling in a vain attempt to gain national stature. I am hardly a Bible-toting born-again Christian, but I find it difficult to disagree with: “The proud and haughty man, ’scoffer’ is his name; He works in the arrogance of pride… When pride comes, then comes shame, But with humility comes wisdom.”
Don’t lump every citizen of a country together under a single label; it just makes you look stupid.
“I was reminded the other day of how hated we Americans are.” Hated is a strong word. Personally, I’d say disliked.
I think Stephen was trying to point out that Europe is a formal alliance of very old countries, each with their own cultures. France and Finland have been developing from independant ancestral tribes for a very long time. The culture and depth of a society increase over time, by the addition of events, national triumphs and failures, and relations with other countries. The states were formed at the creation of the USA right? Before which there was a bit of fighting, mainly between groups of Europeans? You’ve got, maybe 400 years to draw on? Ok, so Europe is moving together, and willingly growing. We have a common currency, some shared laws and minimal borders, but languages, working hours, and military commitment are varied. The America/Europe comparison works on many levels, especially global politics (you are more influential), business, currency, and ideals.
I think your culture is shallow, and as such the output of your society is shallow. I am not sure if Americans are generally shallow individuals, but you certainly present yourselves as that way. Your domestic and foreign presentations (news, film, tv) are formulaic, glitz and tinsel affairs. You invented marketing and then used it to remove any discerning nature from your audience i.e. you. America has clearly produced some pretty cool and revolutionary stuff. While we have a lot to thank you for (and that’s why I won’t ‘hate’ you), you’ve also given the world some pretty trashy entries in many countries’ guestbooks. You revise history in public media, use conflict to feel the way other countries do in football tournaments. Your foreign policy is self-interested, backed by a disproportionately prevalent insular attitude to the world. Your performance at Kyoto was disgusting. So I guess my perception is not that an American is stupid, but America is, and probably not stupid, just ignorant.
I’ve been to the states twice (San Jose and NYC) and enjoyed myself both times, and found every one to be really friendly. I’m sure it’s a pretty nice place to live. But, as a foreigner, feeling your influence on my life, I gotta say, booo. So, I don’t know how I found this site or why I decided to comment, but, well, “Hey, Richard - peace”.
– European, English, resident in Amsterdam, luckily not BornInTheUSA.
I don’t disagree with your points, but as I restate what I’ve said all along, I don’t think that it’s fair to generalize an entire people based on the actions or inactions of a few. Yes, the country is young and immature. Yes, the media and programmes are formulaic (although borrowed from other countries, The Weakest Link, Whose Line is it Anyway, Three’s Company, Big Brother, and American Idol included) and I am embarassed by popular exports such as Jerry Springer and David Hasselhoff! Yes, investigative journalism in the US is often biased which is why I often listen in to BBC Radio for a worldly perspective. Yes, I am shocked that coverage of actress Winona Ryder’s guilty verdict for theft and vandalism is more prevalent than the results of the recent elections. Yes, US international policy is self-centered. Yes, I, and millions of other Americans, were appalled by the behavior of some of the American competitors at Kyoto, including the hockey players (nothing compared to the ice skating debacle at Salt Lake City, though). Yes, I am shamed by the behavior of the occasional loud-mouthed, obnoxious, and uncultured American tourist. Just don’t judge me or the average American (whoever that is!) based on the actions of others, and I will not judge you based on my vision of Tony Blair, Eastenders, Melinda Messenger, Camela Bowles, or The Sun. Peace to you, too! - RDL
…and don’t underestimate how bemused we are by our perceptions of the British news media. I read most of the major UK papers daily, both trashy and respectable, and from where I sit, some days it seems all a large chunk of the British population cares about is Kylie Minogue’s cleavage and obsessions over what goes on in David and Victoria Beckham’s nursery/bedroom/car/garden/rubbish bin/trousers. I’m sure this is not the case… but if you judge a population by what its news “professionals” deem important, you’d never get a flattering picture of a people. And yes… GWB’s outright rejection of Kyoto was despicable. When exactly he thinks the problem will just “go away” is a mystery to me.
Oh, THAT Kyoto! Seems we’ve embarassed ourselves more than once around that particular namesake… Living in the past, I am… *spoken like Yoda* - RDL
Why are Americans so full of pride for their country? Goerge Bush has a need to kill people with any little excuse. You’re fat and you think you can sue the fast food chain for getting you that way. What the hëll do you expect from a burger dripping with fat? You’re thick in more ways than one. You’re accent is drowl and annoying. Your goverment thinks that your citizens should be excempt from the laws that everyone else in the world lives by. The only good thing you have going for you is Viggo Mortasen, Sean Astin and Elijah Wood when speaking in an English accent in Lord of the Rings.
Only one guy out of 287 million is suing the fast-food industry, Emma, sweetie. And yes, that man is indeed an ignorant, brainless twit. Fortunately for us, however, ignorant, brainless twits are not unique to the United States.
Well, Tracey, sweetie, Americans have the nack of flashing their ignorance, without realising that they’re doing it. Americans come 1st place in stupidity becaus you do it so well. Unfortunatly for us, your mistakes effects the rest of the world. You voted for a homisidal leader rather than Al Gore. Wuh?
Cor blimey guvnor, this as turned into a right old slanging match hasn’t it ? Ok, quick points. Bush 2 was not elected. The democrats aren’t much better. The diversity between American states in terms of politics is a bit of a joke. You cannot say Washington and Colorado’s populations are as different as the populations of Italy and Scandinavia. The idea that the EU is anything approaching the ‘United States’ concept is way way of the mark. And yes America, your president, along with our PM, is trying to kill everyone. I recommend everyone read ‘Stupid White Men’ by Michael Moore. Its not abusive of the American people, and so it shouldn’t be, but it does lay it on the line about how the most powerful country in the world is really a cancer on the world. I will add more when I think of more. No to war in Iraq !! Bush is rich enough and this is only about oil just like Afghanistan. I certainly dont want British soliers to lay down their lives for a bunch of multi millionaires to add to their wealth. We won’t benefit. Richard, you’re in no way stupid, but you do like to try and blame some things on others. The uk maybe respnosible fo some çráp TV, but we also have 11 newspapers just in London alone, and news programmes that are informative.
hmmm…..have just realised half of what i wrote was already said by people and responded to and have consequently made a bit of an áršë of myself.
Really should read everything through. Maybe I belong in America :o) I AM KIDDING before everyone goes mad and sends a navy seal to eat fish at the London zoo. I will keep quiet now until I have read everything.
Emma, sounds like the pot calling the kettle black… Oh, and I voted for Al, myself. - RDL