Quote: Sometimes it comes to my attention that all the world does not like Americans. I have known about this since I read the "Ugly American" book and was involved in Southeast Asia in the late '50's and early '60's. Our way of life is threatened today as it was never before since the American Revolution. I remember when my father and three uncles served in WWII. I somehow knew that I would never see them again but I still wrote every week and sent a package of goodies to each once a month.

Quote: Quote: Sometimes it comes to my attention that all the world does not like Americans. I have known about this since I read the "Ugly American" book and was involved in Southeast Asia in the late '50's and early '60's. Our way of life is threatened today as it was never before since the American Revolution. I remember when my father and three uncles served in WWII. I somehow knew that I would never see them again but I still wrote every week and sent a package of goodies to each once a month. Hi Mike; I used to wonder why many countries disliked Americans myself. When we were stationed overseas ordinary citizens treated us very well. I don't have any memory of being treated badly because I was American and a military brat. But I heard that Americans and what they stood for wasn't very much appreciated. The stereotype of the ugly American seemed to me to be based on what happens when you get an ordinary American civilian, usually from a small town, who can afford to go to Europe or whereever where he flaunts his money and lords it over the locals and learns nothing. I haven't seen military personnel or their families do that. I'm going to check that book, "The Ugly American," out of the library. Seems like an interesting book. I tried to and couldn't understand why we were targeted on 9/11 and why we could be so hated in some Islamic countries. Then I came across this book at a used book store called, "The Tyranny of Malice," which describes this phenomena of third world countries blaming all their woes on America. How even some of our allies and many of those countries we send aid to are the first to turn on us and blame us for the woes of their regimes. I used to think that since we're damned if we do and damned if we don't we might just as well stop the money flow to these people. But that would fit into their stereotype of us as the Great Satan. And many good people who look to us as their last hope would suffer, so we can't do that. We can't confuse the people with their governments. And we can't confuse ordinary people of certain ethnic backgrounds with terrorists. Racial and ethnic profiling is disgusting. It seems no matter what, there are always going to be people who will hate us. Another interesting phenomena is these same countries who are the first to point fingers at us are also the first to come begging for military aid and financial aid when they're in trouble. Face it, for all our faults, we're still the most philanthropic and high minded and fair of the vast majority of countries. Our government is the proverbial Uncle Sam. We're sugar daddy and a rich uncle to our poorer relatives so to speak and many people are dying to come here. Thank goodness we have our own continent big enough for everybody and they are welcome as far as I'm concerned. I still believe in the promise engraved at the foot of the statue of liberty, "Give me your huddled masses....." And thank goodness we are powerful enough and rich enough to stand up to evil and promote good. I'd rather be in a position to help others than always be begging for aid ANYTIME. If some people think that is being an ugly American, I can live with it. I'm not being patronizing, though I am patriotic. Now if I went overseas and acted patronizing in any way, yes I would deserve to be called an ugly American. I think that most people know that yesterday's enemy might be tomorrow's ally. Just wait till the next coup, or war, or occupation, or crop failure that happens. Uncle Sam will come to the rescue and guess what, we have a new friend. Don't worry. Too many countries have too much vested in us being just the way we are for our way of life to be threatened. Even China. I don't often get on a soapbox and preach. But it seems I have had it with all this America bashing and it feels bad to see regular folks who pay their taxes in order to give foreign aid and who send their sons and daughters to die fighting other countries' battles, having their good intentioned actions deliberately misread and trashed by a few. I think that those people or countries who are constantly criticizing Americans and America should reflect on what their real motives are for pointing fingers at America. They also need to reflect on themselves, too. Something that we as a country always try to do when someone accuses us of something. Oh boy. Sorry about the speech, but something in what you wrote spoke to me.

Quote: Quote: Sometimes it comes to my attention that all the world does not like Americans. I have known about this since I read the "Ugly American" book and was involved in Southeast Asia in the late '50's and early '60's. Our way of life is threatened today as it was never before since the American Revolution. I remember when my father and three uncles served in WWII. I somehow knew that I would never see them again but I still wrote every week and sent a package of goodies to each once a month. Hi Mike; I used to wonder why many countries disliked Americans myself. When we were stationed overseas ordinary citizens treated us very well. I don't have any memory of being treated badly because I was American and a military brat. But I heard that Americans and what they stood for wasn't very much appreciated. The stereotype of the ugly American seemed to me to be based on what happens when you get an ordinary American civilian, usually from a small town, who can afford to go to Europe or whereever where he flaunts his money and lords it over the locals and learns nothing. I haven't seen military personnel or their families do that. I'm going to check that book, "The Ugly American," out of the library. Seems like an interesting book. I tried to and couldn't understand why we were targeted on 9/11 and why we could be so hated in some Islamic countries. Then I came across this book at a used book store called, "The Tyranny of Malice," which describes this phenomena of third world countries blaming all their woes on America. How even some of our allies and many of those countries we send aid to are the first to turn on us and blame us for the woes of their regimes. I used to think that since we're damned if we do and damned if we don't we might just as well stop the money flow to these people. But that would fit into their stereotype of us as the Great Satan. And many good people who look to us as their last hope would suffer, so we can't do that. We can't confuse the people with their governments. And we can't confuse ordinary people of certain ethnic backgrounds with terrorists. Racial and ethnic profiling is disgusting. It seems no matter what, there are always going to be people who will hate us. Another interesting phenomena is these same countries who are the first to point fingers at us are also the first to come begging for military aid and financial aid when they're in trouble. Face it, for all our faults, we're still the most philanthropic and high minded and fair of the vast majority of countries. Our government is the proverbial Uncle Sam. We're sugar daddy and a rich uncle to our poorer relatives so to speak and many people are dying to come here. Thank goodness we have our own continent big enough for everybody and they are welcome as far as I'm concerned. I still believe in the promise engraved at the foot of the statue of liberty, "Give me your huddled masses....." And thank goodness we are powerful enough and rich enough to stand up to evil and promote good. I'd rather be in a position to help others than always be begging for aid ANYTIME. If some people think that is being an ugly American, I can live with it. I'm not being patronizing, though I am patriotic. Now if I went overseas and acted patronizing in any way, yes I would deserve to be called an ugly American. I think that most people know that yesterday's enemy might be tomorrow's ally. Just wait till the next coup, or war, or occupation, or crop failure that happens. Uncle Sam will come to the rescue and guess what, we have a new friend. Don't worry. Too many countries have too much vested in us being just the way we are for our way of life to be threatened. Even China. I don't often get on a soapbox and preach. But it seems I have had it with all this America bashing and it feels bad to see regular folks who pay their taxes in order to give foreign aid and who send their sons and daughters to die fighting other countries' battles, having their good intentioned actions deliberately misread and trashed by a few. I think that those people or countries who are constantly criticizing Americans and America should reflect on what their real motives are for pointing fingers at America. They also need to reflect on themselves, too. Something that we as a country always try to do when someone accuses us of something. Oh boy. Sorry about the speech, but something in what you wrote spoke to me.

, Mike, Army Brat, Marine and special "Foriegn Service with the Department of State" which is now called "Special Operations."

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MikeZulu

Quote: Quote: Quote: Sometimes it comes to my attention that all the world does not like Americans. I have known about this since I read the "Ugly American" book and was involved in Southeast Asia in the late '50's and early '60's. Our way of life is threatened today as it was never before since the American Revolution. I remember when my father and three uncles served in WWII. I somehow knew that I would never see them again but I still wrote every week and sent a package of goodies to each once a month. Hi Mike; I used to wonder why many countries disliked Americans myself. When we were stationed overseas ordinary citizens treated us very well. I don't have any memory of being treated badly because I was American and a military brat. But I heard that Americans and what they stood for wasn't very much appreciated. The stereotype of the ugly American seemed to me to be based on what happens when you get an ordinary American civilian, usually from a small town, who can afford to go to Europe or whereever where he flaunts his money and lords it over the locals and learns nothing. I haven't seen military personnel or their families do that. I'm going to check that book, "The Ugly American," out of the library. Seems like an interesting book. I tried to and couldn't understand why we were targeted on 9/11 and why we could be so hated in some Islamic countries. Then I came across this book at a used book store called, "The Tyranny of Malice," which describes this phenomena of third world countries blaming all their woes on America. How even some of our allies and many of those countries we send aid to are the first to turn on us and blame us for the woes of their regimes. I used to think that since we're damned if we do and damned if we don't we might just as well stop the money flow to these people. But that would fit into their stereotype of us as the Great Satan. And many good people who look to us as their last hope would suffer, so we can't do that. We can't confuse the people with their governments. And we can't confuse ordinary people of certain ethnic backgrounds with terrorists. Racial and ethnic profiling is disgusting. It seems no matter what, there are always going to be people who will hate us. Another interesting phenomena is these same countries who are the first to point fingers at us are also the first to come begging for military aid and financial aid when they're in trouble. Face it, for all our faults, we're still the most philanthropic and high minded and fair of the vast majority of countries. Our government is the proverbial Uncle Sam. We're sugar daddy and a rich uncle to our poorer relatives so to speak and many people are dying to come here. Thank goodness we have our own continent big enough for everybody and they are welcome as far as I'm concerned. I still believe in the promise engraved at the foot of the statue of liberty, "Give me your huddled masses....." And thank goodness we are powerful enough and rich enough to stand up to evil and promote good. I'd rather be in a position to help others than always be begging for aid ANYTIME. If some people think that is being an ugly American, I can live with it. I'm not being patronizing, though I am patriotic. Now if I went overseas and acted patronizing in any way, yes I would deserve to be called an ugly American. I think that most people know that yesterday's enemy might be tomorrow's ally. Just wait till the next coup, or war, or occupation, or crop failure that happens. Uncle Sam will come to the rescue and guess what, we have a new friend. Don't worry. Too many countries have too much vested in us being just the way we are for our way of life to be threatened. Even China. I don't often get on a soapbox and preach. But it seems I have had it with all this America bashing and it feels bad to see regular folks who pay their taxes in order to give foreign aid and who send their sons and daughters to die fighting other countries' battles, having their good intentioned actions deliberately misread and trashed by a few. I think that those people or countries who are constantly criticizing Americans and America should reflect on what their real motives are for pointing fingers at America. They also need to reflect on themselves, too. Something that we as a country always try to do when someone accuses us of something. Oh boy. Sorry about the speech, but something in what you wrote spoke to me. Thanks Casilda, that is an unusual name. Is it from Spanish origin? I was told when I was attached to the Embassy in Canberra, Australia that even though we saved their country in WW II that we could not buy respect. I am quite sure that today that statement holds true more and more. I wish the politicos would figure that out. If the American public only knew how much money we give the Arab world, they would gag. Iwould like to hold all of our "Humitarium Aid" for three years and let them eat their oil. We might be surprised how soon they will come begging. I sound like a "Nationalist" which goes totally against my upbringing and learned phylosophy about being a giving Christian. They are out to destroy us! , Mike, Army Brat, Marine and special "Foriegn Service with the Department of State" which is now called "Special Operations."