Comments on: America! Fuck No!

By: Jess Lee

Jess Lee — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 22:14:05 +0000

Hear hear! This is a great post. This sentence especially rings true for me: "There is of course nothing wrong with being proud of your country, but there is a difference in blindly believing that your country is the best of the best, and that you a superior in every way, and that others do not share or enjoy the same freedoms and benefits you do." There's a big difference between loving your country and thinking your country is superior to all the other countries. I've always been uncomfortable with how nationalistic some Americans are (I'm not American myself but I love living here in Silicon Valley).

Even though Obama does use the standard "America is the greatest nation on earth" rhetoric (I think presidential candidates *have* to, unfortunately), I'm positive people around the world will rejoice if/when he's elected, because he represents a more nuanced, international and multicultural face for America. Even the Chinese love him! http://www.atimes.com/atimes/China/JJ28Ad01.html#

By: Jess Lee

Jess Lee — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 17:14:05 +0000

By: Jess Lee

Jess Lee — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 15:14:05 +0000

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 16:44:21 +0000

We're not perfect, no one is. But I still don't give a flying fuck what any other country thinks of us. Nope on single bit. And yes, I travel, in fact Australia is just about one of the only places I have not been.

Obama is a Marxist, liar and a tool of the extreme far left mafia. I have sat and watched as his camp has taken over the airwaves with Saudi Arabian like state tv tactics. Where anyone questions The One, they are silence with his team of a thousand lawyers. Truly frightening that 50% of my country wants to elect the least qualified presidential candidate in the history of my country. The only redeeming value Barry has is he looks good in a pair of board shorts.

By: expat city

expat city — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 08:08:01 +0000

someone on Bill Maher said it very well, to paraphrase,

the rest of the world loves America for its optimism. They hate the current administration largely because they've stolen that diamond-like flame that burned so brightly in the USA in better (pre Bush) times, Democrat or Republican.

By: Sam

Sam — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 19:06:59 +0000

I can't imagine an Aborigine running for president, even a mixed-race person, in your bloody wonderful country. If it could have happened there, why hasn't it? Because America is the only place this is possible. When was the last English PM a man or woman of color? Fat bloody chance one would even risk running. God forbid she/he approach a soccer stadium full of English sportsmen. In my months in Europe traveling, I always felt the love/hate relationship in every country. I haven't been to OZ but I know enough about how your tribe treated the natives to know you are no better than us, and in some ways worse. America is only a potential, as it always has been. It could be the best place on earth and real Americans are striving to make it live up to its ideals.

By: Erwin Blonk

Erwin Blonk — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 09:56:29 +0000

America is still influential, argueable the most influential, in the world. Such countries tend to be inward looking. That is not an American trait, it is how people are. If the US could break out of that before their influence dwindles (as will happen in a few generations), that would be unique. However, seeing history as it goes, that is highly unlikely. It is the way of the world and so far no-one, and certainly no country, has been able to escape from it.

By: Rowan

Rowan — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 08:27:11 +0000

I think the homeless people issue is a good point. I, too, find it quite disturbing when I visit an American city and am confronted with a huge number of homeless people. There is, of course, homeless people in Australia, but the number doesn't really compare at all.

I've also spent time living in Swedish cities and nearly had a heart attack one day when I saw a beggar. A beggar? In Sweden? Extremely unusual. Yes, yes, I know, bloody socialists.

@scott, yes of course there is racism in Australia, but that's not the reason why he'd struggle to get elected. He'd struggle to get elected because we don't really do speeches -- it's a bit too showy and big-headed for our liking.

By: ickledot

ickledot — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 04:41:35 +0000

Great post. Balanced and well argued. As you write, it is all to easy for those of us living elsewhere to blame the world's ills on the US.

By: scott

scott — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 04:38:31 +0000

I still say America! Fuck Yeah! and am voting for Obama. I believe the US has a lot of strengths that are not going away. There is also a lot of room for improvement too but I don't think Obama is going to be able to make much headway in reforming a government that is fueled by special interests and directed by lobbyists. The new boss is going to be pretty much the same as the old boss. I don't share your concerns regarding America's image, worry about its critics, or think that any other society should abandon its culture and adopt ours. I have a lot of Australian friends that I respect but I don't think Obama?¢‚Ç¨‚Ñ¢s story could have been possible in Australia today. Racism is still too prevalent there.