Everyone is pissed about what the Rev. Wright said about the US, but the words were inflammatory, but the feelings is there.


(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - More adults in the United States are unhappy with their country’s reputation around the globe, according to a poll by Gallup released by USA Today. 68 per cent of respondents are dissatisfied with the position of the U.S. in the world today, up 17 points since 2005.

U.S. president George W. Bush—a Republican—earned a second four-year term in the November 2004 presidential election with 51.03 per cent of the vote. His government is currently leading two high-profile military operations abroad: The coalition effort in Iraq and the war on terrorism in Afghanistan.


LINK

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I would be one of those who are dissatisfied with our global standing. IMO, this country was duped into entering a war against the objections of most of the global community. At this point, there is no solution. If we continue with the war, we feed the anti-American sentiment and we fuel terrorism. If we pull out, it is our fault that civil war continues and we fuel terrorism. To me, we are in a no-win situation. I fail to see how more of the same (McCain) would be helpful...

Being busted for performing torture in Guantanamo Bay and in Iraq doesn't help much with global opinion or with our national identity; nor does our willingness to infringe on individual Constitutional rights in order to maintain some perceived national security. It seems to me that we have publicly lost the high ground. Maybe it is shame that makes me unhappy about the opinions of the global community; if I think I am right I could care less what others think.

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dragonspring

LOL! I couldn't agree more with the link or Crystal's thoughts...As I'm also one of those who found alot of truth behind the harsh words of Wright...

And considering that a large majority of other Americans also believe that our reputation and actions lended alot to what occurred on 9-11, I guess what I find amazing is that those that want to believe otherwise consider it 'un-American' and 'anti-American' to even express those sentiments?

ROTFLMAOL!!! And since the story about Wright hit the news, I've actually seen others reporting people to HS for stating their dissatisfication on this very topic?

Ali, I think you mean Dragon's thoughts? ROTFL

I'm sort of torn here .... There is a lot more to why we went into Iraq than what can be reported. And unfortunately, what is reported is always the negative. On the other hand, we need to get out, but the fledgling government over there is not helping the situation ... we really can't leave until they are able to take care of their own security. I agree that we are stuck in a no-win situation here.

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Opps. Yes, I ment Dragon...I've been up since 7 yesterday morning. So my eyes and fingers aren't working alongside my thoughts very well right now. ROTFLMAOL!!!

The impression that I have of US is that your President is an idiot, that your foreign policy is decided on what is good for the oil companies and the country is basicly corrupt.

The general population are racists and your criminal justice system is a disaster.
Having said that, I love going to Us, New York is my favourite followed by Houston and the people are generous, freindly and affable. As a tourist LA is incredible with the Latino mix of the population. I went to an outer suburb (I have no idea of its name) and there wasn't a shopkeeper who spoke English which fascinated me.

The purpose of this post is to demonstrate that your Government is giving very bad signals to the rest of the world that are not the opinions of the general public. I'm reasonably well read and travelled but I keep getting conflicted messages about the US, can you imagine what a Muslim in Iran thinks of the US?

Your last sentence--yipes--so true.

I need to visit France sometime so I can get the bad stereotypes out of my head--I get that "stuffy" stereotype in my head of france, that "I'm too good to talk to you" mindset, which I'm sure is probably completely false.

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killer---as a disabled american, i gotta say before i got hurt,my main concerns were meeting the bills and spending time with friends and family---my day centered around tasks and intellectually masturbatory pursuits to take away stress and engage my funny bone -----now that all i have is time, i have been soaking up the vitriole and idiocy of what has become the world---scares the crap outta me--i watch tv and am soaked in the tales that exploit the stereotypes of immigrants, race, big people, sex, class, etc--not to mention the ubiquitous !!FEAR!!! that is shrieked at me from every nook and cranny----i am fairly housebound, so real human interaction is rare---but i do remember the kindness of strangers, the openness of a heart, the easy ready smile of children, and the feeling that a caring soul is never far away---all things that media in various forms would have you believe is fading away to be replaced by 'ignant' dumazzes---may be true, but if you are willing to experience life, you will come to the old bygone conclusion it is what you make it; believe none of what you hear and a short half of what you see, and never judge a book by its cover----the upside of seeking knowledge is that often that knowledge will preclude you from being led down the garden path, and you can cast a jaded eye on what is clearly crap---it may be in the shape of meatloaf and have a sprig of parsley on top, but---it is still crap---come back and see us anytime-----if you're a foodie, NY is the place to be--if you aint skeered....

That was the whole point of my post. The American people are generally kind generous folk living their lot in life to the best of their ability. I admire the fact that you have an area as I described in LA that is comletely Mexican and the rest of the City has tolerance for this. I admire the mix of New York where I felt totally safe wandering the streets on my own. I love the music bars in Houston, sitting at the tables on the street outside with great live music playing.

Somehow your Government doesn't reflect this opinion to the rest of the world. Also the media play a large part in outsiders perception of US. Understandibly very few movies are made about the tolerance of Americans, usually it's the opposite side that is displayed.

My point is that to a person with very little education, living in a totalitarian state where his Government controlls what he sees and hears and who is bombarded by negatives about the US and then has his religious leader confirm what he sees and hears on TV and at the movies and with your Presidents occasional stupid comments, a fear and resentment is built up in their minds and an explosive situation develops.

Don't get me wrong on this issue I'm on your side but something needs to be done with your elected leaders. I think you have raised the bar too high with all this religous nonsense about past infidelities and if they visited a brothel and how they voted 10 years ago. Who really cares? Bill Clinton and JF Kennedy are perfect examples. They are probaby the two best presidents in my living memory and they had the morals of alley cats.