Do you hate the U.S?

Alright, I'm gonna begin this by saying I don't consider myself an American, I consider myself a New Yorker, first and foremost. Born in NYC, and I live in NYC. I was always told growing up that NYC is so different (a lot of people say better too, but my mom always hammered home the point that it wasn't any better or worse, just different) from the rest of the Country, that it might as well be it's own Country. I can even pick this up myself by just going to other parts of New York State, the mentality is totally different. Much more conservative, more old values (by Conservative, I don't mean Republican. There is a BIG difference. The basic definition of Republican is someone who wants more Local Government power, e.g. more states rights, wants less Federal Government control in the public/private sector, and less Government Help and Aid programs, both National and International. That's it. Anything else is Conservatism or Liberalism, which are MORALS, a set or platform of personal beliefs. You could have Conservative Democrats, Liberal Republicans, and vice versa. You could consider the majority of the "fresh off the boat" immigrants in NYC to be Conservative Democrats, because they have older, more traditional values and they want to maintain them, but they want welfare, foodstamps, and Medicare. Because the basic definition of a Democrat is a person who wants more National Level Government power, e.g. less States Rights, wants more Government control in the public/private sector, and more Government Help and Aid programs, both National and International). I love my city, and I'm very proud to call myself a New Yorker, but to call myself an American, not so much.


I don't dislike (hate is too strong a word) America as a whole because of our Government, all Governments are corruped in some way, shape, or form. It's not because of our History, and it's not really because of our Media. The ONE THING I hate (and yes, hate is the proper term for this ONE thing) is our collective Culture. Let me explain. Throughout our history, we've had (and still have) a Cultural aversion twoard Government and Authority, the Centralized Federal Government to be precise. Hell, our nation was BORN of revolting against what essentialy was a strong Central Government. Our very 1st constitution, the Articles of Confederation, reflected that, and passed off almost all powers of Government (including things like minting money and natralization) to the newly formed states, and they would only work together for trade or war. To amend the Articles, all 13 states had to agree unanimously. During the 9 year period it was active, NO new National laws were passed. A government NEEDS strong central power to get things done QUICKLY and EFFICIENTLY. Greater States Rights leads only to dissagrement, inconsisstency, and to a contineing dissallusion that we stand united (just look at the individual states laws on Gay Marriage and Civil Partnership). This maybe a Government issue, but it's root is Cultural. (I would much prefer a Parliament system that has no Local Governments to endlessly squable and fight with each other. Just one, big National Government).


I know that the idea of a nation born from rebellion is quite romantic, but it seems that this notion of birth from a Revolution combined with the excesses of Capitalism has made a Culture where we are never happy with what we have. If something is not to your likeing, just bitch and whine (by that I mean litigation and law suites) and someone will change it. Also, it's a certain thing about the original Manifest Destiny idea that never really died completely. There is a certain sense of entitlement that comes with a majority of non-immigrant or non-1st generation Americans today. A feeling of always being deserving of something, even if you did nothing to earn it. Also is the increasing lack of determination occuring today. If something doesn't work out at first, just give it up and try something else (look at our divorce rate, or how much people switch career paths today). A certain lack of drive and work ethic are pervasive in the Culture today.

Also conserning the excesses of Capitalism, it's produced this mentality of excess in everything we do, and has created the idea of bigger is always better. More money, more cars, more clothes, more stuff, a bigger TV, a bigger pair of tits, etc. It's a very shallow and narrow way of looking at things. It boils down to the idea that we are ultimately judged as a person by how much shit we have, and not the "content of our character" as Martin Luther King Jr. would say. Also there is the seeming lack of perception that great excesses are detrimental to your health (look at our Obesity problem, and by extention any form of addiction). The idea of Obesity leads into my final subject, which not many people may find importaint, but I find extremely so.

Now, before I get into this, I want to say I work in a restaurant currently, and I'm currently in training to become a chef, so food and the ideals and politics surrounding food are impotaint to me. One of the things that pisses me off the most about our collective Culture is the industrialization of our food. The destruction of the ideas of seasonality and locality in order to make way for the massive flood of canned and pre-prepared food. It one of the things I love about European and Asian countries (in fact, this is the #1 reason I love Japanese Culture, above Anime/Manga) is that the idea of seasonality, locality, and preferance for using fresh ingrediants and cooking for yourself instead of eating Fast Food survived, even with the advent of Fast Food and Prepared Food. We need to eat to stay alive, and if we can't even take that and put some consideration into what we eat, like the French, Japanese, Spanish, Chinese, Italians, Vietnamese, Greeks, Indians, or really every other country besides us, what does that say on how we will regard things we don't need to live? And to live well too!
An enlightened Culture, in my opinion, is one that knows how to eat well. If a Culture can regard eating well with true pleasure, then they're on the right track. If like us, a Culture can't, then we won't be able to do anything else well.

But besides all that, I would say dislike the US as a whole, but I don't hate it. The Constitution by itself is a beautiful document, and I love the diversity this nation brings (expecialy in my city). I also love the principles this nation was built on, but I think by means of our Culture, and Government Corruption, the US has become a twisted image of itself, and I often think it has suffered unrectifyable damage.

hmmm I don't think it's really possible to hate a country. I can dislike how it's currently governed and how it was in the past but this all seems like over hating based on the poor governing of the country in the last 20 years. But really, in comparrison with a lot of the world America is a great place. I'm not saying don't complain and that it's perfect. But honestly, I love the orginal principal (i.e when America was first started) The constitution was such a revolutionary and Amazing principal "all men were created equal" The seperation of church from state... I just don't like how as time has gone on more freedoms have been took away from people like the patriot act.But everyone here seems to see "America" as some singular guy even though many of you say "good apples but in a basket full of rotten one" the real thing is the world is a "a few good apples in a basket full of rotten ones"

and before someone says "This guy is a patriot" or something along those lines I'm British and I find a "relationship" with ones country amazingly stupid

The USA doesn't suck, its just there are so many stereotypes about Americans that others want to believe about us. After all, we are currently one of the (if not the most) powerful nations.

Don't hate people for the broken system, change the system to save the broken people.

There's so much that could be said it'll fill an entire book series. There's no need for us to tread so far, as google will yield much resource should one need them. The better question is... what must be done to undo the eagle's death spiral?

As a Chinese-Canadian, I can bring some advice from the best of both worlds. I think proper education, with a focus on early adaptation of logic and critical thinking is key for development of children. Emphasis on science can actually save lifes, since a lot of people die not so much to their own stupidity as much as to their lack of knowledge.

i hate their government system, and their out look, i hate their schooling. But i believer their people are true to them self's as individuals. And i have no right to judge them.


sides my girlfriends American.