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 Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 8:03 am
im not american, but i wouldnt like living there i think...tho we have the same problems in europe...and out education system isnt good at all...(well that only goes to my country-Lithuania) and all that government nonsence... well, at least we all get the info we need...since the 1st government in life here is at school...in our school we have a president, a parliament and some comitees. anyone interested can participate in running the school. then, when they leave, they have the idea of what is government, what it does and so on..
but i think that was not what this thread is about....i got carried away again...
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:11 am
No, I am not embarrased of America anymore than anyone else should be ashamed of their homeland. Other countries have problems too so I don't know why every one acts like USA is supposed to be perfect. I don't agree with everything, or in fact most things, the government does, but USA shouldn't take the fall for being crappy when other countries are crappy. I can't help what the government does, so I except no responsibility for what Bush or anyone else does. If Americans who get on the internet and whine aren't going to do something, honestly, they should just shut up.
In regards to foreigners talking ill of USA, it makes it hard to care about your problems. The way foreiners talk about USA they make me feel like a suck up. I want to be culturally sensitive and when people say bad things about another country I want to correct them, but the way the people in those countries feel about Americans, why should I care about you when you say things about me? I just wanted to get that off my chest because I'm tired of seeing people say England/Japan/France is great and America sucks, and having to say "Africa isn't all bad" when they think I'm low class and ghetto-acting. Bottom line, I'm not going to take up for other countries while they sit around and personally attack me. That's what it feels like, because when they say things, they mean all Americans.
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 4:34 pm
I know exactly how you feel. Truthfully, i think the US is going straight down the toilet. Everything is screwed up in the worst ways. Our government becomes more self-contradictory as the days go by. Evrything is party-run now. Nobody pays attentions to the issues: Education, economy, un-employment, illegal immigration, etc. Evrybody just goes by their party, Democrat votes for Democrat; Republican votes for Republican. Nobody cares. Furthermore, i'm not sure if its just me, but has anyone else noticed that the election system gets stupider every election?? What with super-delegates, conventions, primaries, caucases, and everything else; we end up with 2 candadites who have the backing of their party and the election is decided by the Independents (alot of the times, people have to choose from the lesser of 2 evils). In my opinion, i think it should all be scrapped: the caucuses, the primaries, the conventions, and the entire un-standardized stupidity. Presidential candidates should go out, run their advertisements, debate the issues, shake hands, kiss babies, and do whatever else they do; and whoever get the majority of the votes cast wins. Instead, we have to deal with electoral college, as well as everything else i have already mentioned.
Furthermore, education is also going down the toilet. The majority of kids in the US cant even point to China on a map!!
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Posted: Wed Apr 23, 2008 2:49 pm
Honestly, I know it's not going to change in my lifetime- not by much, at any rate. I wouldn't spend my life trying to fix something I wouldn't be able to enjoy at the end.
Other than that, though, I'm not ashamed or embarrassed of living here or of the country in general. When foreigners talk ill of Americans, well, it obviously has to come from somewhere. Not all Americans are like they say (I don't think I am, for one), but some are. And if those people are annoyed by it, they ought to change themselves; it's the only way to get rid of the stereotypes.
Sono:
You're completely right. D; Education is terrible. Specifically geography and history. My mum used to think that Brazil was a continent and I can't point to any Middle Eastern country without half-guessing. I struggle to even find Germany. (Some kids, yeah, probably can do that because they study- really study, but most don't and just do what the schools tell them.)
History, in my area, focuses on the US for nearly all grades. Ninth, tenth, and (sometimes, it depends on which course one takes) twelfth are basically the only courses devoted to history.
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 8:27 pm
The problem with America's schools system is they've gotten obssessed with teaching tests. History isn't important because standardized testing is basically on math and reading. Of course these people who can't find obvious places on the map should mabe try looking this stuff up on they're own. Why is it that people are always depending on school to learn everything, what ever happened to finding out information themselves. If people know schools suck, they should take the initiative to teach children they should know, like geography and unabridged history. At some point people shouldn't blame an obviously flawed institution and should look inward.
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Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:11 pm
Stronghearted11 lili of the lamplight Compared to many other countries, our education system isn't all that good, though. I'm not too sure on this, but I think that it depends on the subject. I know that in countries in Europe, they stress the arts and language. In countries like the US or Japen, they stress the math and sciences. (But I'm aware that the Japanese education system is better than the US sweatdrop ) Sorry if that looked like a useless rant or something sweatdrop lol, math. I'm terrified of the math section on the entrance exam to the Japanese college I want to go to. Even though I'm going to take AP calculus my senior year and I'm pretty good at math. Sorry, that was way off topic. I don't much like the way we are about other countries either, but for now the most I can do is convince the people around me that they should change. The thing is, that's such a small percentage of the country and I don't get along too well with other people anyways.
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Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 5:08 pm
Kalathma
History, in my area, focuses on the US for nearly all grades. Ninth, tenth, and (sometimes, it depends on which course one takes) twelfth are basically the only courses devoted to history. What area do you live in? Where I live there are classes on world history, American, and European history. Kalathma
I struggle to even find Germany. (Some kids, yeah, probably can do that because they study- really study, but most don't and just do what the schools tell them.)I beg to differ. I know where Germany is, I can point to it on a map even without political boundaries drawn in. I can do that with a lot of countries. I have never studied or memorized the location Germany, or any country for that matter, but I know them. The only areas I'm not generally familiar with are various small islands and about half of Africa. At this point, I’ve taught myself more than school has. -_- apiyo The problem with America's schools system is they've gotten obssessed with teaching tests That seems like what it is. I've had many, many classes where the teacher would say " Guys, if it were up to me we'd go over this for another two weeks so that you can all really understand it and I can teach it to you, but we need to move on so we can be ready for the tests in May. I'm sorry. You will be tested on Friday." Koko.Dk I hate saying that too I rather just tell them " Jeg kommer fra Danmark" (I come from Denmark ) then say "I come from America" Me too…I really hate talking to someone and then having to tell them that I’m from the USA, so I answer where I’m ethnically from instead, then if they ask the question again I tell them where I live. I was just recently talking to one of my friends from Germany about this actually…. Koko.Dk I also hate when from America go to a foreign country and "assume" that the world speaks "English" I think that that’s maybe the one thing that can’t entirely be blamed on America, but I agree. It makes me cringe that there are people out there who go to another country, expect everyone to speak English, and on top of that, expect them to do things the same way that people do it in America. If you go to another country, it’s not like an extension of your backyard or something, so why the hell would you treat it like that? It’s another country with its own culture and dignity, and you have to respect that. It’s your job to be able to get around, to learn some of the language and customs, and not to make a fool of yourself. If I am from Saturn and go to Mars, I would come prepared for everything to be completely different and I would respect that. If I am from America and go to Algeria or South Korea or Brazil or any country, I would respect that. Expecting everyone to know English, everything to be the same, and for everyone to comply with your little screwed up image of their country is arrogant and rude. Sir_Catherine
One: I am attempting to learn French. It is very difficult for me. Part of the problem is we, usually, do not begin learning a foreign language in the US untill our teen years. Also, I apparently struggle with learning a language in the first place as I am having far more trouble than my class mates. I do like the language and enjoy reading it, but my understanding is slow and I cannot understand it when it is spoken. I really wish more emphasis would be put on learning another language. Learning languages when you get into high school really isn’t the optimum time to begin, you should really start earlier. If the system really cared about having a decent proficiency in other languages, they’d start us off in middle school at latest. Fortunatley I got lucky and started learning other langauges way before I hit my teens. I believe this helped me a lot with my linguistic abilities; I have a way easier time with langauges compared to almost everyone I know. I feel bad for them and wish they could have had the same opportunity. Sir_Catherine I refuse to be embarassed that I am from the US. I have been told that when one goes to Europe it is better to say that you are from Canada. If I go to Europe while a citizen of the US, I will not do this. Accept me for who I am, just as I shall accept you regardless of your ethnicity, creed, sexuality, age or gender. I see where you are coming from. If you just be embarrassed about where you come from and hide under the sofa all your life about it, how much respect are people going to have for you? It’s better to admit it, and then show people what you as a person are like, and “dispel” the stereotypes of that country and the people there. Technically I can say that I’m from Canada though…. xd
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 7:09 pm
Let's say there's some random flamer/n00b that randomly appears in a chatroom (or online game) and starts spamming up the chatbox with curse words.
A common response to the n00b (that I've noticed) is, "That's so stupid...or American." (So American is stupid?)
I've also noticed that people in other countries refer to movies such as "American Pie" as "American (the United States kind) humor". In reality, I really don't find those kind of movies entertaining, but American movie industries continue to spout junk from their money-making mouths, and the world assumes that violence and idiocracy are things that we find intensely pleasurable. gonk
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Posted: Fri Aug 07, 2009 9:01 pm
apiyo The problem with America's schools system is they've gotten obssessed with teaching tests. History isn't important because standardized testing is basically on math and reading. Of course these people who can't find obvious places on the map should mabe try looking this stuff up on they're own. Why is it that people are always depending on school to learn everything, what ever happened to finding out information themselves. If people know schools suck, they should take the initiative to teach children they should know, like geography and unabridged history. At some point people shouldn't blame an obviously flawed institution and should look inward. i completely get what youre saying. in fact, it's probably the only reason i get A's--doing stuff on my own, that is. unfortunately though, most kids, esp. in high school are too busy looking for the easy way out or the best way to cheat on their next test or the next party their goin to & who's gonna bring the booze and the weed. whenever i look around my high school, it absolutely disgusts me that these ppl are part of my generation... MiasmaMoon I've also noticed that people in other countries refer to movies such as "American Pie" as "American (the United States kind) humor". In reality, I really don't find those kind of movies entertaining, but American movie industries continue to spout junk from their money-making mouths, and the world assumes that violence and idiocracy are things that we find intensely pleasurable. icon_gonk.gif i completely agree with you! those movies like pineapple express, superbad, tropic thunder--all of them utilize humor for the most immature of audiences. it is absolutely pathetic that ppl like those movies soo much!
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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 8:04 pm
apiyo No, I am not embarrased of America anymore than anyone else should be ashamed of their homeland. Other countries have problems too so I don't know why every one acts like USA is supposed to be perfect. I don't agree with everything, or in fact most things, the government does, but USA shouldn't take the fall for being crappy when other countries are crappy. I can't help what the government does, so I except no responsibility for what Bush or anyone else does. If Americans who get on the internet and whine aren't going to do something, honestly, they should just shut up. In regards to foreigners talking ill of USA, it makes it hard to care about your problems. The way foreiners talk about USA they make me feel like a suck up. I want to be culturally sensitive and when people say bad things about another country I want to correct them, but the way the people in those countries feel about Americans, why should I care about you when you say things about me? I just wanted to get that off my chest because I'm tired of seeing people say England/Japan/France is great and America sucks, and having to say "Africa isn't all bad" when they think I'm low class and ghetto-acting. Bottom line, I'm not going to take up for other countries while they sit around and personally attack me. That's what it feels like, because when they say things, they mean all Americans. This so much. heart I'm proud to be an American, but I really hate the way we are looked upon. I'm sorry that your media (considering your from Europe) covers America so much, but you guys are the ones who keep bringing us up. I don't know much about the government and such, but I do know that people have been telling us that the government lies all the time since Watergate. Ever since then, people have lost faith in our government and somehow I feel that's unfair. Sure there is some bumps, but all governments have them and honestly, there are governments out there that are worse than ours. One thing that really bothers me about America is how much we go against our own constitution. Religion shouldn't play any role in our laws, but yet it does. It frustrates me to no end. However, when I was researching same-sex marriage, some politician said that it'd all get smoothed out once the older generation died. Our schooling isn't bad. I mean, we have to go to school. It's the law. They also make it so that everyone has a chance to go to school and is taught fairly. America has a pretty nice percent of people who can read. It's true, some people don't work as hard as they should and are given more chances than they should, but people are still getting some form of education and they have to to get a job today. My school was also taught in a multi-cultural setting. We often had world weeks where we spend a week learning about the other cultures that we had in our school and such. We also were taught geography well. Also? History is a big part of my schooling. But I agree--we need to start learning languages at younger ages. It'd help us so much considering America has no set language. We should be taught Spanish, French, and other languages along with English. Welfare system, yeah, it sucks. It's probably where people get their ideas that Americans are lazy. People who take advantage of the welfare system are pathetic. They are the ones who deserve to be called lazy. But then there are some who need it and try to get through life. The reason we have the welfare system is because "no American should go through poverty". It is a noble thing, but too many people take control of it. I'm sorry if this doesn't make much sense. I'm not totally educated in all areas and some of my information may be incorrect, but this is how I feel. I am not ashamed to be American. I'm proud of my country for it's people and for our past.
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Posted: Sat Aug 29, 2009 10:23 am
Karpusia Our schooling isn't bad. I mean, we have to go to school. It's the law. They also make it so that everyone has a chance to go to school and is taught fairly. America has a pretty nice percent of people who can read. It's true, some people don't work as hard as they should and are given more chances than they should, but people are still getting some form of education and they have to to get a job today. My school was also taught in a multi-cultural setting. We often had world weeks where we spend a week learning about the other cultures that we had in our school and such. We also were taught geography well. Also? History is a big part of my schooling. But I agree--we need to start learning languages at younger ages. It'd help us so much considering America has no set language. We should be taught Spanish, French, and other languages along with English. The thing with the schooling is that last year I only went to school about half the time and the year before that I only went about 1/4 of the time. I still passed all of my classes besides English last year(which is actually because I started refusing to write the essays at one point, not because I never went), and the year before that I passed all my classes. I was taking almost all supposedly hard classes, too. I pretty much just had to show up to take the tests and do just enough homework to pass. This is in part because I can teach myself easily, but when it gets to this point it's just ridiculous.
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Posted: Fri Oct 28, 2011 8:21 am
Karpusia Welfare system, yeah, it sucks. It's probably where people get their ideas that Americans are lazy. People who take advantage of the welfare system are pathetic. They are the ones who deserve to be called lazy. But then there are some who need it and try to get through life. The reason we have the welfare system is because "no American should go through poverty". It is a noble thing, but too many people take control of it. I'm sorry if this doesn't make much sense. I'm not totally educated in all areas and some of my information may be incorrect, but this is how I feel. I am not ashamed to be American. I'm proud of my country for it's people and for our past. This is so true. I was not aware that foreigners thought government aid was a sign that Americans were lazy, but there are people that need it. Actually, there's a lot of Americans too think those programs are inherently wrong, along with Social Security, Disability, and all those forms of government aid. I actually have had debates with people who think that everyone who got government assistance was lazy, but that isn't true. I know a lot of older people (and some not that old, in their 50s) who need government help, because they did work all their lives and now they can't because of the jobs they had (manual labor of the people-dropping-dead-at-work sort). Are these people lazy? No, they did work, and they want to work, but it's just not physically possible. They worked themselves almost to death and if they pay their taxes and put in social security, they have paid their dues and proven that they deserve some help at the end of a grueling career. People that make snap judgements about the disadvantaged are a little bit out of touch, and don't realize how easy it is for them to be sick or homeless. And these days, it's really easy.
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