posted on Sep, 11 2003 @ 12:29 PM
People can say what they want, but I am convinced that the peoples of some countries hate America for either one of two primay reasons:
1) We support and will defend Israel (pencil in all Arab and Muslim-run countries here)
2) We place very little importance on the opinions and objections of other nations (pencil in "Old Europe" here)
All other reasons are mostly B.S.
Yes, we sometimes meddle in world affairs and weild a big stick. It's good to be big and strong, versus small and weak. It guarentees our way of
life and our values and belief system. It also allows us to protect some of our weaker friends from their menacing neighbors, and from internal
fanatics.
We have many troops based in other countries, this is true. But contrary to what the world thinks, this is a very unpopular policy with most
Americans. Our line of thought is "why the hell should our boys be over their protecting (insert country name here) from their beligerant or
unstable neighbor when all they do is bad-mouth us?" As far as most Americans are concerned, our servicemen would be alot better off stationed in
the US wher they are respected, and you other countries can defend yourselves.
We sometimes wage war on other nations, but usually for the following reasons:
1) Very stupidly, you have attacked us or one of our friends either directly or indirectly, and raised the ire of the American people. We now see you
as a danger to us, our friends, and the defenseless peoples who live near you.
2) You harbour those who have waged war or terrorism against us or one of our friends, and you support them actively. You are guilty by
association.
We also lend support, military or otherwise, to governments and/or rebels whom we see as pro-American. If you are a fascist, communist, marxist, an
Islamic revolutionary, or some other supporter of non-democratic or totalitarian movement, you WILL NOT be on this list.
Sometimes we are forced to support the lesser of two evils, in order to serve the greater good. Yes, the Shah or Iran was a corrupt man with strong
grip on the Iranian way of live. But do you think the Iranians are better off now? Why dont you ask them? Sure, they can say that they are free of
American influences, but at what cost? The Iran of 25 years ago was a prosporous, oil-rich nation of educated people, living for the most part in
secular peace. Their only enemies were the hated Iraqis (geez, big surprise there). Now, they are a terrorist-sponsoring international pariah, full
of repression and hate, and they are trying to develop nuclear weapons, probably to strike at Israel with (IMHO, this will sadly cause us to again
take up the sword of justice and be branded as "meddlers" and "international cop" to prevent this).
We like Israel becaue in many ways they are like us. They also are strong, and care little for international opinion. They have also survived
multiple invasions, and a never-ending tidal wave of internation spite and hatred. Good for them. They dont take any sh*t, and neither do we. They
(like us) aren't perfect, but we are both trying to work things out from the inside, despite the efforts of our detractors.
As far as our culture and products are concerned, if you don't like it, don't buy it (or into it). We force nobody to buy anything. I know as an
American, I can go out tonight an eat in French, Italian, Chinese, German, Thai, Poruguese, Mexican and Irish restaraunts within 10 minutes of my
home. The same goes for international products. My house is littered with Japanese electronics, Canadian beer, Russian vodka, cloths from China,
Singapore, and other oriental places, French wine and cheese, etc. Much of the food we buy during our winter months (especially fresh fruit and
veggies) comes exclusively from South American destinations, where winter is warm. Russia and African countries export raw materials to us in vast
amounts.
Should we stop buying your products because we dont like you? If we did, I wonder how it would affect your economy and quality of life? How many of
you would fold and revert to anarchy? Go check out the economies of Libya and Iran, BTW. Reeaaaal powerhouses, I tell ya (despite being 2 of the
worlds most oil-rich nations).
We do these things to stay strong and healthy.
YOU need us to be strong and healthy. Who else will bail you out when Russian reverts to communism or becomes a fascist state, and decides to
"reclaim" lost territory and glory in western europe? Or maybe when China decides to "expand" its borders? Or when North Korea or Iran develop
and product nuclear-armed ICBM's and decide they are going to blackmail you?
The neighborhood cop always takes alot of abuse for being a pushy oaf, but who do you call when you get in trouble, or who do you blame when he is not
there to protect you when you needed him?
Us, thats who.....