I recently stumbled upon an AOL-hosted web page from 1996 titled The Evil of Pippi Longstocking in which the author claims that Pippi is the Antichrist, the devil, an evil concoction dreamt up by Germans and Swedes to fill the power vacuum left by Hitler’s death. I have to assume that David Nagel’s purpose in publishing his rather idiotic theories were to drum up controversy and revenue from the traffic the angered hordes would bring.
I can’t argue against that motive because that’s precisely the idea behind Richard’s Ramblings — find something interesting or informative to write about, slightly twist it around if it’s fictional, gratuitously sex it up with a sprinkling of bøøbs, bosoms, and breasts (oh, my!), and dish out a few comments designed to heat up the conversation. The extra traffic should increase revenues from click-through ads. Millions of websites have the same revenue model, as do Fox News and Howard Stern.
None of that works without the other side of the equation — the visitors. And, boy, are David’s Swedish readers riled! 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 åsshølë!“
- “I wipe my åss with the American flag and spit in your face.“
Being a citizen of the United States myself, I was curious as to the sentiment of others. So I decided to find some additional opinions by searching the Internet with Google, spelling left intact:
- “The only thing Americans can teach is how to corrupt countries and take their money. All Americans are is greety båstårds.” — I think countries have been corrupting themselves for thousands of years 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 that can ruin things for everyone, even on a global scale — but not everyone fits that description. Personally, I have no idea how to teach someone to corrupt an entire country.
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Photo © iStockPhoto.com / Michael Ciranni
“[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. Interestingly, when I lived in Germany as a child, the fantasy car of choice by most Germans was a Pontiac — not a Mercedes or Porsche. I never understood that.
This 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air — the big yellow thing under the half-naked, non-fat girl, who herself was created in the United States — was made possible by the first mass-produced automobile perfected by Henry Ford in 1896. As, too, were headlights (on the car, not the model) by Horatio Allen in 1831, polarizing sunglasses (sunglasses invented by Sam Foster (Foster Grants) in 1929, and polarization by Edwin Land (Polaroid) in 1932), and the digital camera used to take the picture by Kodak in 1975.
You’re probably viewing the picture on either a personal computer (thanks to IBM in 1981) or a cellular phone (Motorola in 1973) over the Internet (sometime between 1960 and 1995, depending on your definition).
American scientists at Dow Corning invented the first silicone breast implants in 1961. The bikini, however, is French, and the fingernail polish is of Chinese origin.
Sadly, according to the OECD, the United States does lead the developing world in obesity rates, followed by Mexico, New Zealand, Chile, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Luxembourg, and Finland. The WHO also includes United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Kuwait in their fattest countries list. And, yes, some Americans are a combination of stupid, fat, and ignorant. So are some members of any other country in the world.
If Microsoft products are used as the sole 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. That the Swedes could read David’s diatribe on the Internet at all is thanks to the United States.
- “Americans are full of shìt. 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, again, the same can be said for every other country.
- “You are all non-sensical inbred morons.” — Actually I don’t personally know anyone who is the result of inbreeding in the United States, 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? The Spanish Habsburgs died out due to inbreeding. Consanguineous marriages were also common in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and India, and 20-25% of marriages within many Muslim and Hindu societies are between first cousins.
- “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 shìt hølë.” — According to Google, it seems that people all over the world are calling just about every country on the planet the “biggest shìt hølë”. And half of them claim that wherever they’re living now is the world’s biggest shìt hølë. I say we just all take a vote and decide once and for all. That’s the democratic way.
- “I thank God that I’m not a stupid åss-fûçkìng American.” — I thank God I’m not a stupid åss-fûçkìng American either. I can’t understand people’s obsession with anal sex. Sorry, I’m not into that. I’m just a regular American of 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 these Proverbs:
“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.
The same “deliberate” mistake was made by Russia, Amnesty International, the Council of Europe, and the United Nations. Pushing that aside, don’t forget that in Spain, Aznar’s official title is “Presidente del Gobierno” or “President of the Government”, not Prime Minister. – RDL
As noted: his title is best translated as “President”. The powers/structure of the office may be something more akin to what we’d call a “prime minister”, but the title is President.
Aside from the fact that you cannot be a President in a monarchy, my Spanish friend told me it’s Prime Minister so I think I’ll go with her. If you’re on the look out for sheer stupidity, how about English pensioner Derek Bond, who the FBI had arrested when he was on holiday in South Africa in February. Why, you might ask? He has the same name as an alias that was being used by some guy wanted for a money laundering racket. He languished in a jail cell for 20 nights, during which time Interpol contacted the FBI who failed to respond. The real suspect was arrested in Las Vegas after a tip off. Even then it took another day before the FBI contacted the SA authorities to have him released. A quick look at a picture of the two men tells you everything you need to know. I was under the impression, given to me by the various Americans I have met recently that you are at the pinnacle of intelligence gathering… hmmm. Anyway why could’nt any of you just come out and say.. “Yeah another fûçk up by Government” (a capital G to denote all governments throughout the world). I’m quite sure you can find all kinds of things the Brit’s çøçk up. To be a truly great nation you have to be able to hold your hands up and admit that it’s not perfect, and for God’s sake don’t believe everything they are telling you, especially now.
Here is an interesting example, on the eve of war, as to why Americans are perceived as stupid as indeed are the brits in this case I am sad to say, this story has been covered up fairly well.
http://www.evworld.com/databases/storybuilder.cfm?storyid=490
My, I must say I’m growing particulary fond of this webpage. I have lived in America for most of my teenage years. Yes.. yes, my people, I have had to suffer through 4 years of American history, (which is all utter CRAP by the way. Boy you know that Boston Massacre was terrible, wasn’t it? A huge turning point for its revolution, though! I’m not sure, I think it was all about taxes, even though they only had to pay 6 pence a year to that dåmn British government, [while the] average Brit had to pay 50 times that. Too bad teacher forgot to mention [that])
I’ve learned that manipulation and propaganda is huge here, among government and especially among people who are confident their country is the greatest in the world (as I quote from Al Gore) and then when they experience resentment from other countries they go off with the same old excuse, ‘they’re just jealous.’ America feels they have that certain something, called the American dream, its theres [sic] and only theres [sic] and foreigners everywhere are just dying to dive into that great golden nation and experience that truly great sensation of being an American.
I’m not anti-America but it IS a load of bûllshìt. Try leaving your country and experience other cultures. Germany, a great country not only devoted to killing off the Jews, a beautiful place where people ride bikes through the streets and purchase their foods from marketstalls, somewhere OUTSIDE of Taco Bell, of course that’s everywhere in Germany BUT the capital… not everyone is satisfied with the glamor of Hollywood or the excitement of Florida, where even your dogs can get facelifts, or the state of Utah where Mormons thrive or even sunny California where spending money is the thing to do.
911 was terrible, not only Americans died in there you know, yet there’s a part of me that wishes that building fell down (and no one got hurt) so America could get a feel of what countries that face war and terror everyday go through, maybe a little reality check is all that was needed (of course not with the killing of thousands of people!) and you can not blame people in other countries for ‘not caring’. Apparantly no one cared when Iran had their King taken away and replaced [with] an evil cult tyrant who calls himself an Islamic leader resulting in the mass murder of hundreds of innocents, and was put there by America, England and other first world countries all for the sake of oil! What about landmines? [They] thrive everywhere today and some in Santa Margerita too from what I’ve heard.
Plus, so much discrimination here, it’s almost funny. What was it first? Black people? Hispanics? Christians at one point, and now its the muslims! YAY! The Islamic religion, I’ve noticed, has been considered a huge threat in America (at least it gives the Mexicans a break) but that’s only because the people have seen leaders such as Saddam and Bin Ladin, those deprived Nazis who unfortunately represent the Islamic religion in all the wrong ways! (I’m not Islamic but it’s wrong isn’t it?! Please tell me you can see that!) Islam is about peace from what I’ve heard, and don’t just scoff and think its a load of bûllshìt. What about the Catholics? Have you forgotten what their whole religion was about before all the evil priests began to grope and fondle and EWWWWWW. But remember, it was faith and love to God, (and I’m sorry you don’t believe in God, most Americans are athiests, true fact! I don’t give the slightest shìt if you’re too intelligent to believe in a God) so what was my point? Every country sucks but from everywhere I’ve been America is the crappiest.
Loads of love
Sara
I think your name is Richard? Hi, Richard! I’ve actually been reading through everyone’s comments and noticed you’re only speaking when someone is bashing America. Tracey who takes offense at England’s views of America (VIEWS honey, views) I see you, yourself bashing away with her with that crap Pop Idol thing/Emmerdale/Who wants to be a millionaire shìt Britain’s managed to crap out or the trashy trash of London. I think Stephen was pointing out the long term history and traditions of England that has clearly dated back way way way way way ago (god, I’m fûçkìng intelligent) different beliefs and views on culture, no taco bell in England, no Limp Bizkit in Bosnia, must you bite back every opinion and not agree with ANY of our views we’re spewing out, (I know you agree with us sometimes, but then it always follows up to an exhausted opinion of yours) I know you’re American but havn’t you been ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL around the world? for fûçks sake man. could you be any more american? (yea, i’m expecting many responses for that one)
To your first comment, the tax in the Americas amounted to about 12 pence per year, with British citizens paying around 26 times that much. The Stamp Act, the real reason for the American Revolution, would have increased the taxes paid by mainly the American rich, and was overall a well-balanced tax-cutting solution to the booming national debt of Britain. To your other “points”: manipulation and propaganda is a part of every government. If you’re personally telling ME to “experience other cultures”, I’m very well-traveled and have lived in both England and Germany myself, and am aware of the pros and cons of living in each. You think discrimination is limited to America?! Every argument can be applied to just about every other country in the world, yet America bashing continues. My point, as mentioned several times, is that I do not think it fair to criticize the general populace of any region for the acts of a few. If you don’t like and appreciate being here, no one is making you stay! Why participate and reap the benefits the culture provides and slam it at the same time?!
To your second, that’s called moderation. Since the topic is about misplaced America bashing, I find it prudent to respond to comments on that topic, when time permits. If someone is interested in Britain bashing (or for another country), I can open up a new topic. For now, I’ll keep everything on-topic. Oh, and I don’t “speak” every time someone bashes America. Your second comment confuses me: you claim that I don’t agree with any of your views, but immediately say that I do agree sometimes. Which is it? I’m also confused by your comment as to whether you are intending to insult me for being a well-traveled American or whether you think I have not traveled enough. And “an exhausted opinion”? Generally, my responses are much more succinct than the previous poster, and are you implying that I should not make a response to errant facts on my own website? Hehe! – RDL
that’s exactly what i mean, it seems to be you can’t take opinion and find it neccessary to talk back with any means possible, even the most uncomprehensible ramblings i see you doing run on sentences or even overlapping yourself at times. I know its YOUR website and you feel that people do not give enough a chance to America, all there views are wrong to you obviously and it seems to me you shut off completely when its critism over America, even going on about their OWN country which is a quick cheap way to retort and not even prove a point. If you notice, I mentioned that you are a well-travelled man and I used this fact to futher question you and your responses to only anti-america posts, proamerica you seem to just leave to ‘justify’ themselves, (and how you can even find time to respond to these posts each and every day with your busy life is beyond me) and if you notice I provoked critism to my own country and I have much to say about other nations, but of course, this is a forum dedicated to opinion on America. Racism is everywhere, I of course have not missed that, me being from many places, I have experienced and witnessed this shìt many times, its not fun, but you learn how to quickly retalliate and put those Nazis back in their places, (unless they get violent, then I suggest smashing their balls) Your facts, I will take your word for it because you seem like such a lovely man despite your arrogance at times, but my sources are pretty realiable also, i do not pull crap out of my åss just to make myself sound intelligent, and I don’t think anyone else is either but you don’t just merely respond to facts you agonizingly twist everything around to completely crush one’s post that actually made sense and provoked thought into me. Just for the statement, I have not and ever chosen to live here, and next year I have the freedom to leave ah yeaaa im living it up next year my friend, its Canada for me!
I’m hoping that Canadian schools will help you in the many areas where the pathetic American educational system has dismally failed. Oooh, criticism of America, formed in a concise, simple sentence, with correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, and without the need for run-ons or epithets. All that and I still manage to pigeonhole you in the same sentence! You want to have a discussion on a specific pro- or anti-America issue, or one concerning another country? Let me know what that exact issue is and I’ll gladly research it and open up a whole new topic of discussion. Ya’ll come back now, hear?! – RDL
I have no grudges against the American people (my girlfriend is American, I am English, not that this means anything but i’m telling you anyway 😉 however I heard a somewhat scary thing on the radio the other day. The BBC did a survey of the four main US networks (CBS, ABC, NBC and Fox) and found that in their main nightly news programmes (the U.S. equivalents of the 9/10 o’clock News here in the U.K.) they found there to be just two or three non-American news stories covered PER MONTH. These on the whole tended to have an American interest. Our news here is regurlarly dominated by international non-U.K. related stories. I find it a little worrying that the world’s most powerful and ‘advanced’ country seems to be so blissfully ignorant to the goings on in the rest of the world. The American media is a hugely powerful thing and if it is only feeding the American population with American facts and news, then its bound to breed ingorance and the lack of knowledge that can lead to hostility. What do the Americans think of this? Does it bother you that you don’t see much international news? Do the findings of this study seem correct?
Your sarcasm in failing miserably my friend. I’m not asking for any of those things, I’m asking for you not to BS your way into bring other peoples opinions down. I’m asking you to just accept views without snapping back like you do, and in a fairly obnoxious manner might I add.
-Sara
I am EXTREMELY bothered by the lack of international news in this country. In times of international dispute (especially when it is caused by the US- which, unfortunately is usually the case!) I thirst for information from an international perspective. It is VERY difficult to find. I would claim that Americans are stupid- myself included, not because we are generally unintelligent, or naive (well I haven’t decided on that one yet actually…) but because we do influence a large portion of the global cummunity, BUT we do it without consideration for the wishes of the affected nations. We do not consider the rammifications of our actions- we do what will benefit US (HA-sorry, bad joke), and expect (or more realistically- force) the opposition to comply. This is the American Foreign Policy in a nutshell. No wonder there is a general distaste for our “Nation”. I don’t approve of the sweeping generalization that has become “stupid american”, but I cannot ENTIRELY disagree with it either. No American could. Instead I look at the same generalization as an OBVIOUS implication that a change in foreign policy is necessary NOW.
The US is quite possibly “The Most Successful” nation (if economic prowess, liberty and military might is any indicator) but we are simply NOT GOOD ENOUGH to -ACT- like we are “the best”. If we are so hëll-bent on Amercanizing the globe, let us show everyone by example, what good can come of a government such as our own. The way we are acting now- is giving all the other nations of the world a VERY clear example of the unfortunate vulnerability of our Nations Government. Perhaps that is better- so they can fix that problem and clue us in. In all, I am feeling more and more, that our “Gung Ho” Foreign Policy, is the force behind our Nations corruption (which is historically the greatest danger of any democratic government…)
Oh- someone elluded to the idea that the repressive nature of American media is perhaps to blame for the “blinders” that Americans wear- BRAVO! And I don’t think it ends there- but I don’t have the energy to rag on the US anymore tonight. (maybe that is the media’s fault as well!) I’ll be back though.
Mateo
It is such a shame when Americans fail miserably in subjects such as history. One day I told one of my co-workers that America placed 27th in the world in student test scores. The person responded with, “Wow, that’s great!” It just shows how much social and intellectual apathy and lethargy has consumed the American psyche. I, like any other American, was shocked and appalled by the events of September 11th, but having a deep and astute knowledge of history, I considered 9/11 quite pale in comparison to other mass tragedies. For instance, every year in the Indian subcontinent, monsoons kill tens of thousands of people, every single year! Mother nature’s a bìtçh! In the Turkish region of Armenia after WW1, over 1 million Armenians were killed by the murderous Ottomans. That’s just a few terrible examples of how lucky we are to be living in America. And, just recently, the war in Iraq was a joke if I ever saw one. 99% of Americans never knew that during the 1980’s, the United States pumped millions of dollars into Saddam’s regime in order to help defeat the Ayatollah in Iran; we all remember him, don’t we? Those very weapons of mass destruction that G.W. so babbled over were actually given to Iraq by the U.S. during the 1980s. And guess what, the only country to be prosecuted for terrorism by the International World Court at the Hague? Libya? No. Iran? No. Afghanistan? No. El Salvador? No. I give up. The United States!!! And do you know how Israel was able to acheive status as a sovereign state in 1948? By terrorism, i.e. killing British officials who ruled the region of Palestine, which was then a mandated state under the British. So, every time that fat, greasy, twelve sandwich eatin’, overweight hater better known as Ariel Sharon wants to bìtçh about suicide attacks, he better realize in history what goes around, comes around!
I’m from Texas (the worse state EVER) and I have to say that if given the choice I would live in Europe. Though I dont hate America I think that our “leaders” have done a shìt fåçëd job trying to police the world…they make our public look SO BAD….not all of us are åss hølës….. Thats the problem with this country we try to police everthing! We cannot rule the world and take whats not ours…greed…a common word here? They arent in Iraq to help people they are there to take oil and protect their own interests. Bush cant even find those ‘weapons” he was looking for!…thanx Bush you have just spent millions on a lost cause when you should give the money to a more WORTHY cause maybe? Thats what happens when you let a wealthy redneck run our country, things just get ALOT worse. Yes a good majority of Americans are ignorant in their own way and light. When America started to boycott French goods that really pìssëd me off I took that as “Oh we are big bad America and if you wont help us kill whole families and little kids then you arent our friend!” I’m sorry but even though I am American I dont even feel partial to my own place of birth….Yes America MAKE France help you murder!:/ And thats kinda sad because as I get older I become more and more partial to Europe than anything….but then not sad europe seems like a cool open minded place. The courts just are now outlawing those laws forbidding homosexual relations! THAT SHOULDVE BEEN DONE A LONG ÃSS TIME AGO! HELLO its the 21st century! It also kinda disturbs me that it took America so long to make Civil Rights Laws (the 60s) That shouldve been done alot sooner….but thats what happens when your country is lead by stupid rich åsshølës who are power hungry! Our government has done shìt that they wont tell the public, we are left in the dark mostly as to why a good percentage of the world burns our flags and kills our vacationers. No one deserves to die, but dont act innocent and sad when someone is actually doing what you did to them….countless times….and sept 11th…we have been asking for that for a LONG time…not the deaths but just the event.
Thats all I have to say.
Don’t get so worked up about Americans. You should think about the comedy value they provide the rest of the world. If they’re not shooting each other in shopping malls then they’re marrying their sisters/mothers/aunts in the southern states. They live in a country they describe as “free” but youve got to worry that there are so many guns. And they’ve now become so utterly paranoid that any crime mentioned on TV is automatically an “Act of Terrorism”. We shouldn’t hate these people, we should pity them. Americans are hilarious!
Guantanamo Bay – this is an excample of the american hypocrisy people (including me) get annoyed about. How is it possible that a nation such as america can get away with detaining “terrorists” for an indeterminate amount of time without actually charging any of them? (and this is not an isolated incident either). The answer is that weak minded political leaders of the world are scared to say or more importantly, do anything about it for fear of american retribution. (anything from preventing imports, to war) The sooner the american government stops doing things like this, the sooner terrorists will run out of causes.
Let’s not be so hateful and judgmental of Americans! Americans are human beings just like everyone else, and they are privy to the same intellectual foibles and mistakes as everyone else. Let’s face it, do we really think Germans give a shìt about Beethoven, or the English are constantly quoting Shakespeare? I, as an American, have been to those countries, and they are just as decadent and appalling as we are in the U.S.A. In Germany, I met a beautifulAryan’girl who wanted to have sex with me. She went so far as to ask me if I wanted her to take a shìt on my face! I, terrified, quickly turned the offer down, but had normal sex with her nonetheless. After sex, I asked her if her fascination with coprophilia was just peculiar to her, or was it a widespread fetish? She shockingly said that most German girls are into it. So here it is, a citizen from the land of Bach and Beethoven, a Nordic specimen that Hitler would have admired, and she wants to shìt on my face! How disgusting!
This comment is directed at ‘Bubba’: wha?! How come you managed to turn a discussion about American intelligence as perceived by the rest of the globe into a comment about German people’s unusual… er… ‘preferences’? However, good point about the fact that all English people aren’t continualy quoting Shakespeare: I much prefer Ben Jonson (“I fart at thee.”
First, If my country is under attack, the GOOD OLD USA will be the LAST to be there to defend my country PROBABLY because THEY ARE THE ONES ATTCKING IT! Americans think that the only answer to national problems is war. It’s disgusting actually. Also, whether i believe this or not, you won’t care, because as Americans, you think you are the most powerful åsshølës in the world. Your COUNTRY may be rich and powerful, but a lot of your residents are in fact extremely poor and dirty and over-weight. Also, living in fear every day of your lives must be wonderful…everyone owns at least one gun, and you have kids bringing guns into schools! God knows why anyone would want to live in that supposedly “free” country of yours. Stop electing losers, and maybe things will get better, although that would take quite a lot of work…good luck with all that. “Bowling For Comlombine”-Good movie…All Americans should take a look at it.
The american government almost consistently throughout history has been made up of morons who cause more distruction to their people than good. And since the united states is a democratically ruled country, your government is a representation of the people, people who continue to elect govenments who cause destruction in not only their own country but around the world as well. Its interesting to see how Osama Bin Laden used his expert CIA training and funds given to the Afghan government to kill three thousand american people. One of many idiotic things in american history, caused by americans. So until you cease to elect destructive morons, who stupidly cause more harm than good you will always carry the “stupid americans” label.
I am a Canadian and dåmnëd proud of it. I do not care much for americans. It is not so much the people I do not like it is the government brain washing them to believe they are right and the rest of the world is wrong. Therefore the world must abide by our way. For the most part Americans are not stupid. They are (I mean no disrespect) ignorant about the majority of the world because of their educational system. And to me that is so sad. I remember as a lad grwoing up in the 50s and 60s most of our school books were American and we learnt a lot if not more about the states than regular Americans. This is why I belive Canadains are a people of the world. Whereas Americans are isolationist and want to be left alone. That is a real contradiction isn’t it?. I just wish the govt there would just use some common sense. But George dubya doesn’t have much of that of that does he.
Can we all just get along!?!
PEACE
So the consensus is that all of Europe, America, quite a lot of Africa and most of continental Asia, not to mention South America are all implicated in being incedibly violent, ignorant and generally inconsiderate of other nations and peoples. This leads me to believe that apart from a brief misunderstanding with the aborigines when social cleansing was the fashion, Australia is the most goodwilled and people loving place on the planet. Try to be Australian!
Yes, I spelled *incredibly wrong and yes, I did add quite a healthy dose of irony there. The point is that being all school kiddie-ish and saying my country is better than yours is really not broadening anyones’ world view. It’s a shame that (some of) the Americans here can’t get past the initial sting of the comments and actually hear the points that some people are trying (if somewhat un-diplomatically)to make. There’s a really daggy phrase that I think applies which goes something along the lines of “If somebody has a problem with you, it’s their problem. If everybody has a problem with you, it’s your problem.” I think it’s sad that so many people dismiss the anti-american backlash as jealousy, there has to be more to it and as a country and a people it might bode well for America to pay heed to what’s being said.