| Author | Message | ||
     Eboos |
"You can respect the office and thereby show respect for the person who holds that office while still keeping a close critical eye on what they do while in office. " Keeping a close critical eye on things and being critical of every action a president takes are two different things. The first can be helpful, the later may only lead us right back to where we are. | ||
| Damnut |
I can say with a bit of confidence that with Obama being President that the dislike for Americans in foreign countries should reduce substantially. I see and hear it often when I travel abroad. | ||
| Eboos |
The dislike for Americans overseas is not something that just came up during the Bush administration. I spent my years overseas during the Clinton administration, and I faced a good amount of negative attitudes... but yes, I have a feeling things will improve. (Message edited by eboos on November 05, 2008) | ||
| Damnut |
I didn't think it was bad until I checked into a hotel and someone asked me "American or Canadian?" and I answered truthfully. She told me straight up, "I hate your f*cking President and I f*cking hate you too!" along with some other choice words. Wasn't traveling as much overseas during the Clinton years but have noticed in the last 8 that the foreign approval ratings of our incumbent president has been in a constant nosedive. | ||
| Eboos |
What country was that in? Instead of calling that a representation of the feelings of people from other countries, I would say that was the complete lack of class of one person. | ||
| Chellem |
Yes. And I would have told the person, in the same polite way, that she doesn't have to take my f*cking money either. And I'd have left. I'm sorry, I know it's important in theory, but foreign approval rating? Jeez. I can't muster that much concern. I don't approve of their f*cking leaders either. ->ChelleM Excuse my l*nguage. | ||
| Eboos |
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| Eboos |
Let's not forget that the attitudes of a lot of countries were much different when the Soviet Union was breathing down their necks. | ||
| 46champ |
We need to remember that statement the next time some despot has them enslaved. | ||
| Indy_bueller |
I thought both speeches were brilliant and went a long way toward bringing the country back together. Ever since the 2000 election there has been a fracture in the unity of the nation, I'm hoping that this will be a step towards healing that. The only thing that worries me is that some people seem to want to attribute a mystical or demi-god like status to Mr. Obama. I'm very uncomfortable with that. | ||
| Damnut |
The person was not working for the hotel (I believe) and that one happened in the Republic of Ireland. Foreign approval ratings will not be high on peoples lists that do not travel to foreign countries. I speak to many people about their views on my beloved country when I travel because I want to know what people outside of the USA think and there is no doubt that Americans are not looked upon with great admiration. I not saying that they do not like us at all but I get the general feeling that they don't like us at this present time, mostly because of Iraq. With Bush leaving the White House, it is a start as I don't think it matters to them who replaces him. USA made from the best stuff on earth!!! | ||
| Hammeroid |
ha ha. I knew you were gonna say Ireland. They are very passionate about their hatred for us. Everything is our fault. "Dumb Americans." ha ha. Don't turn on the radio over there either. Violent crime is out of control over there, but "America is horrible". However, there has always been very strong anti-american sentiment in Ireland, and they don't mind telling you straight to your face. Never have. | ||
| Hammeroid |
Then don't go to Ireland. I was in Ireland during 4 different administrations and the anti-american sentiment was there during each of them. | ||
| Hammeroid |
tramp. what happened to your post??? | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
I was out in my 40 year old Dodge pickup today with a bloody great trailer on the back to go pick up a dead suv. At the gas station, a Frenchman ,in all seriousness, congratulated me on my new president. I thanked him & explained that although, the vehicle is, I'm not actually American, but that my American friends would be pleased to hear him say that. Everybody I know that has an opinion, is pleased that Obama is going to be the next president. He's got a lot of expectations to live up to, hope he can do it, the world will be watching. | ||
| Chellem |
A Irish bartender friend of mine - who is only 1st generation American I think - went to Ireland a few years ago, and someone there actually threw food at him, calling him a fat American. Not sure that a sentiment like that is going to change just because leadership did. But I also don't think that speaks for the wide majority of people in other countries. I've not been to Europe, but I've met a lot of Europeans here (mostly at dealer shows) and they all seemed quite open minded about Americans. Hopefully, NO ONE believes all the hype. Here or there. ->ChelleM | ||
| Bomber |
I was not in Grant Park last night, but, as many of you did, watched it unfold via the TV (one of the few decent uses for teh verdammit thing, of late) . . . . I was simply gobsmacked at the difference between last night and the previous political event I attened at said park (these 40 years ago) . . . . The number of folks ataking part in the political process for the first time (not all youngsters) may well be the best thing to come out of htis election cycle -- very heartening, to me. Nest biggest deal is when we, as a nation, have an orderly change in administrations early next year -- the EightyDeuce will NOT jumnp into DC, the Seventh Cav will NOT roll armor down Pennsylvania Avenue, and the mirical that is the Great Experiment will continue. YAY Us! | ||
| Damnut |
If they are here visiting then they will not have the distaste for this country as those who will not visit here. Until you go to someone else's country and speak to them you will not know what the folks from that region feel. I've been to 21 different countries in the last 10 years. Most of which have been in the last 6 or so. I am not much of a political person but I do love my country and like to know what others think of this great land of ours. Most people around the world are glad that W is on his way out as, I imagine, are most in this country as well. 50% of my travels are to Universities around the world so I get to speak to the students as well as the Professors and the other 50% are to major manufacturers of harddrives so I think I get a decent perspective of what folks overseas think of us. I'm just adding my thoughts about our new President and how he is going to affect the foreign approval rating for the USA. Kind of sad that not that many people in our own country really care. | ||
| Eboos |
Foreign approval has taken a distant back seat when our own citizens find it necessary to be shameful of our country. We have a chance at the second reunification of America. Republicans, Democrats and independants all need to work together and bring this country back and beyond the level of greatness it once had. | ||
| Tramp |
Umm.... I'm a dual-resident, I spend a good deal of time in Europe, and I have encountered VERY little anti-American sentiment, there. The little I've encountered I've assuaged, well, by reminding the naysayer that were it not for America, his/her country might be, to this day, part of a Nazi Germany, if not a Soviet Union. "Liked us plenty when we our blood fiiled the shores of this continent to liberate you all, right?" ...but, again, this type of exchange, let alone sentiment , is the exception, by FAR, and it's hyped to holy hell by too many tourists | ||
| Tramp |
Eboose said" Foreign approval has taken a distant back seat when our own citizens find it necessary to be shameful of our country. We have a chance at the second reunification of America. Republicans, Democrats and independants all need to work together and bring this country back and beyond the level of greatness it once had. F*ckin-A, Eboos. | ||
| Tramp |
Ireland's citizens are just pissed offf because we have way more Irish here than they have, there. What's their problem, anyway? Potato blight? You live in an Island- go catch some fish or crabs and eat some real protein, for once. What? you can't eat fish w/o chips? Puh-lease. remember who you all got them taters from, lads. right here. the new world, baby. Just like corn. and tobacky. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
I volunteered to go to Iraq even though I didn't agree with the war in the first place. You would have fit-in well in the Wehrmacht. | ||
| Court |
>>>.I'm a dual-resident, Cool! . . . I am dual-filament. Parts of me are brighter than others. We have more Irish bars in town than I suspect Ireland does in the entire country. | ||
| Tramp |
(Message edited by tramp on November 06, 2008) | ||
| Tramp |
That is likely a very accurate statement, Court. I think Hammeroid's town may have more Cubans than does all of Cuba. anybody remember that Fidelista soldier driving the park truck on the AM of HH4? | ||
| Tramp |
Seriously, though- Could one of you custodians please change this thread's title? If any member complained that a thread title using their name were offensive, they'd ask to have it changed. I think we can do this for Blake, at the very least. | ||
| Eboos |
If Blake finds it offensive, then please change the name. Do not delete or lock this thread however, I think that there are important things being discussed here. | ||
| Tramp |
I agree! Great Thread. | ||
| Court |
By the way. . . I abhor the title to this thread. The purpose of debate or any discussion is an exchange of ideas, not making another "eat their words". Lord knows, were that the metric, I'd have been done in 35 years ago. Change the title. |
