United States of America

Thank you Lolababy I totally agree with you

lol well thanks, I just hate when people act that way, its annoying.

I dont agree on both opinions. As far i understand, you look it to black and white. Offcourse the USA have ,because of their power, the responsibiblity to involve into the world matters. And offcourse they don't always make the right decisions and take the right actions. Also who would like to have china or russia as world power instead of the USA?  America has things to be proud of, like economical freedom. Worlds nr #1 country on that point. People should feel lucky they were born in the US, maybe not the best place to be born in but alot better then 2/3 of worlds other countrys. Don't forget too it can be a lot better.

Well I'm glad I was born in the US, I just don't like everything America stands for. That's all...

yeah o well, like dumbbrunnete said: "America has nothing to be proud of we have nothing to be proud of!!"

i really don't agree

I see where your coming from, every country has things it should be proud of (and many countrys have economical freedom), but my opinion is that since th US has so many more things to be proud of compared to many places that we (as a country) become arrogant and act all high and mighty. The only reason the US has any power in world affairs is because we are the only country to ever use an atomic bomb and I think that that is no reason to have power.

Well said boomstam. Some of our leaders have made dumb decisions, but that shouldn't be what people base their opinions of this country on. I think our country has many things to be proud of, even if we do have some things to be ashamed of

Ah i like a lot more what you said now brunette. But dont be mistaken, there is little space between arrogance and jaloursy. After all in mine opinion iraq didn't have to happen if the UN made some real decisions. Countrys like russia and france are also responsible for that. What dont make the USA guiltless offcourse. The militairy power the USA have should be used for good purposes. Like Eritrea and Dafur
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eritrea
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dafur

And in mine opinion the USA should keep up the pressure on Iran. I remember  Mahmoud Ahmadinejad saying the holocaust never happend and the state of israel should be wiped out. Those things you just can't let happen.

I dont support Iraq at all. We screwed the guys who screwed us and thats where it should have ended. I dont like how we are alwasy trying to push our way of life on to other countries. And yes the military has done many good things and I know of both Eritrea and Dafur. It doesnt help that our media only shows the negative parts of the war and etc. And yes when it comes to world affairs many countrys should take the credit for good and the blame for bad not just one country. I think that our Pres. has a lot to do with it too and I do not like Pres. Bush

"Why do americans insist on antagonizing people? have you lot ever actually had a complement that wasn’t from yourselves? seriously, you’re actually very annoying people. And you are much hated all around the world. Maybe you should just take pride in being the butt of people’s jokes."

Awesome!  Way to write off 300 million people! 

Sorry to burst your ethnocentrist bubble here, but the entire country doesn't think with one mind, and most people here detest our government's most recent actions as much as people around the world do.  Americans have a crappy government at the present, but the vast majority of them don't think that crappy government represents them.  If you actually had a conversation with some Americans, you might learn the truth about them---most Americans are friendly, polite, and compelled to help others.  In fact, if Americans didn't have such a self-sacrificing spirit, half of them wouldn't have been convinced by their president to send their sons to war under the guise of promoting free democracy abroad.

for who are you writing this part moonfish?

ya i was wondering the same thing boomstam.

And Im pretty sure you support the US, even though you have that quote in the begining right?

America is not as bad ad you make it out to be, it's quite nice!

Heh, if it's length you're referring to, sorry. I got carried away. But I just cleaned up some of the grammar even though all of my paragraphs disappeared. Oh well. It's pro American.

eh yeah i readed it quickly and i dont like the french either, basterds

Ya, we should have let Hitler take over the world.  Life would be great right now.  You American haters have to get a life and understand that you're all jealous you don't live in the greatest nation ever.

Haha, no I wouldnt go that far as saying America is the greatest nation. Because it's not, quite franly there isnt a greatest nation. That's funny though, saying the world would be much better if Hilter took over the world. It's funny when people compare Bush to Hilter, I really dont think they have much in common. I mean, Hilter was a great speaker lol.

hahaha thats funny :-D

hmmm lov to visit the U.S wel i hav jus hawaii wer thers lik no curruption :P but yerr evrytim we hear bout the U.S in AUS itz always fear ,terror, gangs, murders murders n mor murders!  jeeee lik wtf is wrong wit this country!?

You know it's easy to pick on the US because we are (if this was a sitcom or something) the big dorky brute who always manages to get into trouble no matter what he does…....Um its true I've really liked the experiences I've gained from going to other countries (thinking about going back to central america for the summer…) but the US is alright….........I'm not saying great…...not at all, but I couldnt live without NYC or Boston, o0o0 and Austin is fun too.

america is shit! all these people who are proud to be an american are just brainwashed into their world of money greed and consumerism. fact is, why are you proud to be 'an american' as there is no such thing anymore. you are merely a descendant of a real 'culture' who has moved on as you have had no money and come to a land where everything is easy and available (once youve destroyed whoever lives there obviously). think back to your family's roots and whatever honourable country they came from (before the shit hole of america) and stop doing your heritage and history in your blood an injustice of calling yourslef 'an american'. it doesnt exist. the 'americans' were killed a long time ago.

 the thing is americans have no idenity and so you get all cocky and arrogant about bullying other countries into admiring you due to your insecurity of idenitiy and heritage. its a group of people who dont belong to a culture so they seek security in numbers. saying your proud to be an american is embarassing to listen to. as i say, stop dressing nothing up as somehting. yoru a group of people who are somewhere where you dont belong and you dont have a country to call your own or a heritage. dotn take it out on people who do and dont use the excuse of it being jealousy. i feel sorry for americans. theyre all fired up and theyre all stupid and lost. nothing is real about america and this is felt by the people and this is why there is so much paranoia and thus anger from amercian people whcih resorts in crime and war and bullying etc

might i add that the comment of america being 'a shithole' refers to america in its current state- all about money, over consumption, pollution, concrete  and nothing of any worth, beauty or virute. not america as the land of stunning natural landscape beauty and culture it was before it was taken from the americans. it is the land of the people who couldnt make it in the world as it should be, so created a new, fake 'ideal world' of greed, laziness and ignorance. like little babies- kept fed, entertained and distracted so they dont have time to think about anything. with a huge dose of propoganda induced patriotism to cover the insecurity of a land that has nothing.

Given a choice, I wouldn't live anywhere else. God bless the USA!

I am glad I was born and live in a country where people are able to post negative opinions about their country and not be executed or jailed because of it. I'm glad I have soliders who, regardless of their views on the issue, are willing to put their lives on the line for the families of their country. I'm glad I am able to vote every four years to elect government officials. I am glad I have rights as a citizen of this country. I am proud to say I am American, and I am glad my great-grandparents came to this nation and gave my family the opportunity to call themselves Americans.

Anyone who thinks the USA is the best country to live in is an ignorant fool. The country has very low healthcare quality, there is economic turmoil almost similar to the Great Depression (keyword ALMOST), American city quality of life surveys found that American cities fall under that of Europe's, Canada's, and Australia's. The so called " freedom" Americans claim to have the best of, has been limited due to corruption in the government.

 Oh yeah and to the people who say people who bash the USA are just jealous, I can't really remember what major thing to be jealous of! Maybe the 20 mill+ illegal immigrants, or having accounted for over 1/4 of the world's population, or having corrupt corporate healthcare which sucks for the middle lower classes, or maybe the government taking away your Social Security funs and not reimbursing you? Yeah, seems like USA is still "number one".

"Ignorance is the only evil" -- Socrates

Too true Brent, but you also have to take into consideration that most of the people who say that are not very educated and have never been outside the US. As you quote, it is ignorance.

IF IT WASNT FOR THE USA NO COUNTRY ON THIS PLANET WOULD HAVE WHAT THEY HAVE TODAY. THEY WOULD ALL BE SPLIT INTO 3 DIFFERENT COUNTRIES OF ITALY, GERMAN AND JAPAN, remember? We saved your asses. Unless you people that sit here and bad mouth USA and have nothing better to do or at the very least you have fought in any important wars that changed the worlds outcome for what it is today then sit the f*** down and stfu.

You all have been hypnotized by your govts in thinking the USA is the worst country, alot of you probably even think we are wose than Hitler. Just remember we give more money to more charities than any other peoples or country, we are first on scene when there is genocide in country, we take in more illegal citizens than any other country and we provide the world with the best technology!!! All your countries do is sit there and ponder if killing is bad. Yea we may not have the best health care, and our govt is filled with corrupt MOFOS but isnt yours?

 The USA is not about the govt we are about the people. Our peoples come from all around this world and we all are united in a common interest, its called freedom.

i happen to have a different view for you to consider... especially in reply to 'elegance' who feels that Americans are all cultureless...

 GOOD!.... i hate culture.. - so called 'cultures' are the root of every prejudice.

 My genealogical line is a cross of native american, english, irish and possibly a few others.  I couldn't tell you exactly what my heritage is... which is exactly why it has become a NON ISSUE for me.  The more the 'races' mix the more culture fades away and along with it racism.  We need to stop celebrating our racial histories and instead embrace each individual - oddly enough by understanding us as individuals, eventually the line blurs... and we become ONE.  In contrast - if we continue thinking of ourselves as Dutch, African etc. - we destroy our ability to understand each other.

With that said... America is a mix of every people... so if you are to blame America - don't you really blame yourself?... afterall - there are individuals of every nation here.  America was an experiment of sorts.... and it's gone very well - and has problems too.  The 'melting pot' was an Ideal that the U.S. descended from...  Ideals are hard to put into practice - we went through hundreds of years of injustice and only recently are we finally getting close to the original idea.  Freedom for all - equally.  We're getting there.. and since there's someone from every nation here in the U.S. - you can all be proud of that..

 Americans want nothing more than to be the symbol of hope, the protectors, and the benefactors of the world.  Unfortunately, what we hold in our heart as our goal - and the reality are often worlds apart -  But still that is the goal of 'most' American's.

 America is not the best in all categories, the education system has been neglected from massive defense budgets for example.. but i believe it is best in enough categories - that if it isn't 'the best' country... it surely is near the top.

 Peace everyone and God bless...

oh and also.. Brent F..

 Yes, actually I am proud of the United States problems with illegal immigrants.. - they simply want to live here because they feel they would be better off.. - it may tend to have a negative impact on our society at first - but we are a country of immigrants, we are built around it.  Our problem in the U.S. is that the very idea of 'illegal' immigrants at its core contradicts our ideals - it becomes hypocritical. - but there's no real way around it - we can't take in every person that wants to cross the border.  Though i don't think there's many rushing in from Canada =)

 But let's look at Canada for a moment.  Though I'm positive they have the same negative outlook about America like most other nations - they have an ideal position - they don't have to devote their GDP to defense.. instead that is our job.  (their defense budget this year was 16 billion.. that's not going to cover it). They also share a good trade partner..

 Our country would be far better if we didn't NEED to police the world... and no, I don't approve of the Oil wars.. or the religious wars.  Bush was a dark period of U.S. history that shamed us all.  Yet still  during this middle period in humanity's history, as we seek a world wide peace - there must be a nation which over-powers the rest with it's military might.. and they must maintain a moral standard - that was the part we failed at during the Bush era... we are attempting to fix that... it will take time.

 In any world of nations... a nation such as the U.S. is necessary - until a day when there are no third world countries...  until a day when we can dismantle every bomb.

 But until that day.. we must push for ever higher moral standards in America... the world watches us - and every single mistake we make along the way is documented.. and criticized.. and attacked.  Freedom is a great thing and no one should rest until every person in the world is truly free. 

With great power comes great resposibility...  there are great things ahead for the U.S., i believe.  A renaissance, so to speak =)  A rebirth of accountability... and a return to our ideals.

gocy you have obviously never actually seen the hole in the side of the pentegon   the hole was the size of 2 greyhound busses bumper to bumper   not no 15ft wide   and bodies are flamamble and ther sure was a hell of alot of flaming jet fuel around  i may be crazy but i think they burnt up(think about cremation)   and the engines had to be put together so they just might have been dimantled by the force of them hitting the side of a building at about 300 miles per hour  nothings indestructable    thats just my opinion

This whole conversation is just a red-flag as to the dangers of nationalism (or shall we say, blind patriotism…).

Culture (both ‘cultures’ and the idea of culture) is interesting and useful to explore, but the very nature of a nation state is just about monopolising and controlling force and economy.

Still, a bit of socio-cultural ignorance is always entertaining!