America seen from abroad: arrogant, nice, tech-savvy, free

[webfact]

America seen from abroad: arrogant, nice, tech-savvy, free

By VIJAY JOSHI

 

BANGKOK (AP) — The rest of the world may think Americans eat a lot of burgers, have huge shopping malls and are ruled by an arrogant government. And yet the "Ugly American," it would seem, isn't all bad. Americans are also seen from afar as generous tippers, friendly, uncomplicated, rich and the standard bearers of freedom, equality, creativity and technological power.

 

While many Americans feel their nation is divided as never before, a sampling of the rest of the world reflects a more charitable view.

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EDITOR'S NOTE — This story is part of Divided America, AP's ongoing exploration of the economic, social and political divisions in American society.

 

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Generations in Asia, Africa, Europe and Latin America have grown up under the influence of the superpower U.S. and have felt awe and envy. America permeated their lives — through comics and Coke, through Hollywood and Neil Armstrong, and via the internet, iPhone and Facebook. It has been seen as the land of plenty, freedom and equality where Indian migrants could head behemoths like Google, Microsoft and Pepsi, and a South African could capture the imagination with an electric car. And after 9/11, the world grieved with America.

 

Yet, America's admirers have felt betrayed by other shades of the American character: the military interventions in Vietnam, Iraq and elsewhere; the gun violence; the right (inexplicable to many) to carry weapons; the deep and angry racial divisions; and, lately, a presidential nominee calling for harsh restrictions on Muslims and Mexicans.

 

The Associated Press sent reporters across the world to ask ordinary people about their views of America. And in the opinions that came back, some clear threads emerge, anecdotal yet illuminating.

 

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WHAT IS THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT COMES TO MIND WHEN YOU HEAR THE WORD "AMERICA"? DESCRIBE THE COUNTRY AS YOU SEE IT:

 

— "The first word that comes to mind when I hear the word America is 'Arrogance.' They are big and loud and they are in charge of everything." — Christopher Darroch, 39, actor, Toronto.

 

— "Capitalism. Money rules everything. Overweight people, Donald Trump, elections, shootings." — Ingerlise Kristensen, 68, retired bank employee, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

— "America is food ... fast food and (Coca) Cola. It's cars. It's the many electronics we have ... the bridge in San Francisco." — Ksenia Smertova, 21, student, Moscow.

 

— "America? Uhh, that's a huge country. Burgers, the American dream, choppers, ... Elvis, cowboys. We dream of America and they dream about Europe. But one thing for sure, they cannot make beer." — Knut Braaten, 43, handyman, Oslo, Norway.

 

— "Everything in America is high tech!" — B.S. Mehta, 34, health insurance agent, New Delhi.

 

— "Has a very liberal culture, great people and a country that drives innovation." — Shitij, 26, sales and marketing worker, New Delhi.

— "A lot of (consumer) products. A lot of dresses, and cars, and all that. A society that has more things than our society." — Antara Rao, 18, economics student, New Delhi.

 

— "(America) welcomes all different races." — Marren Cahilig, 21, bartender, Manila, Philippines.

 

— "It is powerful." — Gennelyn Escopete, 33, DVD street vendor, Manila, Philippines

 

— "Probably capitalism, but I see it more as freedom ... that every person can do what he wants, when he wants — true freedom, but it costs a lot I think, and sometimes it brings you lower than takes you higher." — Karin Cohen, 25, bookshop worker, Jerusalem.

 

— "The first thing I think when I hear United States is a world power." — Pedro Ivan Gonzalez, 35, juice seller, Havana.

 

— "It is a world imperialist power country. Obviously (the people) don't have much to do with the government's political decisions but I do think that it is a big, powerful country that has always tried to dominate countries it doesn't favor." — Rosa Moscoso, 42, Havana.

 

— "A country of freedom, particularly freedom of thought. And it's a country with quite advanced technology industries. You see, I even have two iPhones." — Liu Xiaodan, 30, hotel manager, Beijing.

 

— "America is a country that produces a massive amount of cultural output such as Hollywood movies, music and many other (forms of) entertainment." — Sam Wang, 20, university student, Beijing.

___

TALK ABOUT ONE EXPERIENCE YOU'VE HAD WITH AMERICA OR AN AMERICAN:

 

— "I have been in the States a few times ... It is a great country and would love to live there. People are nice but superficial. Not sure whether I actually am ready to move there because it must be a tough country to live in. I prefer it here. It is more cozy (laughing), less restrictive ...(made drinking gesture)." — Knut Braaten, 43, handyman, Oslo, Norway.

 

— "When I was driving to North Carolina I stopped at McDonald's. I was wearing a T-shirt that said, 'You Can't Get This In The States.' The fellow in line asked me in a very American accent, 'Y'all can't get what in the States?' I explained it was a joke, I was from Canada. And he said, 'Oh Canada! Y'all get snow up there.'" — Christopher Darroch, 39, actor, Toronto.

 

— "I was stunned to see how big everything is over there. Shopping malls, meals, people, cars. We in Europe have smaller things ... What I liked when I was over there was the service level, it was very high. But people expect to be tipped so that is why they are so services-minded. Their approach is different from ours ... we do it because we care about others, they do it because they get tips ... they were raised that way." — Ingerlise Kristensen, 68, retired bank employee, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

— "I had a roommate ... a Californian, when I was in Korea as a college exchange student. She was a happy person, better than my Chinese roommate ... there were three of us in the room. The American was easy to talk with and we had a lot of things in common. (She believed) that the people's voice should be heard." — Marren Cahilig, 21, bartender, Manila, Philippines.

 

— "A friend had an American friend over and he was surprised to see how laid back we are. He also emptied my friend's fridge, saying he's used to eating and drinking whenever he feels hungry or thirsty. And he drank tap water ... oh no!" — Kenni Friis, 28, computer technology student, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

— "They're generous. If we ask for a high price, they don't bargain. They're calm and kind and friendly and they like to smile." — Gennelyn Escopete, 33, DVD street vendor, Manila, Philippines

 

— "There is a lot of misconception about their politics. I've seen that many times they are very charismatic, friendly but that does not mean that they share the political thinking of the United States (government)." — Pedro Ivan Gonzalez, 35, Havana.

 

— "I think the way they are talking and dealing with personal relations is quite direct. They just like speaking their mind, which is a reason that I don't feel quite comfortable going around with Americans." — Liu Xiaodan, 30, hotel manager, Beijing.

 

— "My impression of Americans is that they uncomplicated. Interpersonal relations among Americans are much more practical, in contrast to the complicated way that we Chinese people treat each other." — Men Xuezhi, 54, doctor, Beijing.

 

— "I don't like American guys who always pursue their own personal interests. I prefer hanging out with Canadians or students from Europe, because at least they are quite polite." — Li Jiaqi, 23, college student in U.S., renewing his visa in Beijing.

 

— "An American friend visiting ... came with the idea that he is going to find another America here ... I believe they should understand the values that we have as Arabs, embrace them and try to go to a more local level to comprehend why we think and why we live the way we live." — Summer Abu Ltaif, outside the American University of Beirut.

 

— "I think everyone is very tolerant there, in a way that there are all kinds of people, whether from different ethnicities, different countries, different religions. People are mostly not concerned with what another (person) is doing. There was a bit of a culture shock when I first went there because the way people dress there is very much different from the way we dress here. All of them wear shorts." — Antara Rao, 18, student, New Delhi.

 

— "I have traveled all over the United States in Greyhound buses as a tourist. I did not find any discrimination. I found the people ... very hospitable, nice and very cordial." — Kanti, 74, travel agency owner, New Delhi.

___

WHAT MAKES AMERICANS AMERICAN? OR WHAT IDENTIFIES AS AMERICAN TO YOU?

 

— "A black-and-white look at the world. They miss nuances." — Knut Braaten, 43, handyman, Oslo, Norway.

 

— "I think there obviously is the American dream, the idea that unifies them all. They are also unified in the sense that the dream isn't really a real thing anymore. The reality doesn't match the ideal. What identifies an American? Loudness. All of the Trump stuff in the U.S. has been depressing ... you would like to think people are smarter than that ... but definitely surprising and depressing to see how much support he has and how much support his ideas have." — Christopher Darroch, 39, actor, Toronto.

 

— "Americans are American because they feel (they are) better than the rest of the world but in reality we are as good as they are. They simply don't see us as their equal ... but we are. Sometimes we are even better than them . but don't tell them (laughing)." — Kenni Friis, 28, computer technology student, Copenhagen, Denmark.

 

— "You can easily distinguish an American like here in the restaurant. The Americans are more of a tipper, good tippers. Americans are gallant." — Marren Cahilig, 21, bartender, Manila, Philippines.

 

— "Many things ... their arrogant ideology of a powerful country and above all they have a language that is practically universal and almost everyone depends on that language. And they are a people that like having a lot of fun ... and their brands: McDonald's, all of that, makes the American identity ... or North American ... we call them North Americans rather than Americans, because we all are Americans." — Pedro Ivan Gonzalez, 35, Havana.

 

— "Technology makes Americans American." — B.S. Mehta, 34, health insurance worker, New Delhi.

 

— "America is a land of opportunities. I think that anybody with good ideas, if they want to make a mark, it gives you an equal opportunity in that country. America stands out because people recognize merit out there." — Shitij, 26, sales and marketing worker, New Delhi.

 

— "They believe in democracy, in freedom; they are willing to die, kill, et cetera, for that. They believe in the right to have a good life and to help others to have a good life, and I think that's part of what makes them Americans." — Ziva Meizels, retiree, Jerusalem.

 

— "I think their patriotism, you know, God bless America. And it is a great country; I have visited it. It's a wonderful country and there is high security, standard of living is very high. So yes, they are fortunate, and it is God bless America — that's what makes America, America." — Summer Abu Ltaif, outside the American University of Beirut.

 

—"I think that they are formed by an ideology. There are no Americans as such. Because there is no such ethnicity. But there is an ideology that unites them all." — Zhila Gudzueva, university lecturer, Moscow.

___

Associated Press journalists Charmaine Noronha in Toronto, Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines, Mauricio Cuevas in Havana, Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen, Denmark, Chris Bodeen in Beijing, Thomas Cytrynowicz in New Delhi, Moshe Edri in Jerusalem and Mohammad Aouti in Beirut contributed to this report.

 

-- © Associated Press 2016-08-04

[Mango Bob]

That's me in a nutshell.

[Jingthing]

OK comments. Expecting a lot worse. I'm sure they're coming on this thread! 

[Silurian]

1 minute ago, Jingthing said:

OK comments. Expecting a lot worse. I'm sure they're coming on this thread! 

 

Yeah, I expected a bit worse but the sampling is quite limited. Then again most of the local Thais seem to have a favorable view of Americans from what I can tell.

[JHolmesJr]

Americans are cool….but american expats in the Tahitian Queen are uncool.

[Jingthing]

There are some rough grains of truth in the comments.

But keep in mind there is a massive amount of diversity among actual American people.

Be careful about unfairly stereotyping all people from any nation.

Currently, it concerns me that foreigners perhaps fairly might think any random American they encounter may be a supporter of the current poison on the land, the fascist political movement of trump.

He represents the absolute worse vile gross crass aspects of American culture. Yes, that exists, but that's not the whole story. 

Edited August 4, 2016 by Jingthing

[american12bthai]

this article contradicts the current thai governments actions. and shold be under investigation for making the government look bad. 

 

thais like money. not americans not europeans, money.  if you have money in your wallet, they like you. 

 

and soon its going to get worse. with thai on thai crime SPIKE. if your white with land... be careful. 

as tourist fear to give out PRIVATE information as they enter thailand, lesssss and lesss are coming,.... and more and more chinese are exploiting. this screws thailand.  fine by me.  Im betting against. 

[OMGImInPattaya]

A great country, no doubt, but not perfect...no place is  

[Emster23]

just a gentle reminder that the source of phrase "Ugly American" comes from novel with character known as "Ugly American" was man who didn't go to embassy parties, hobnob with the elite rulers, corporations, etc but rather got out into the villages and worked with the people putting in pumps, irrigation. Got his hands dirty, in other words. It was meant as an ironic compliment.

[JetsetBkk]

I didn't read all the comments in the OP as they started to make me feel a little queasy.

The one word that springs to my mind is "uneducated", as in Watters World...

 

[Boon Mee]

3 hours ago, Jingthing said:

OK comments. Expecting a lot worse. I'm sure they're coming on this thread! 

What are you expecting? 

Aside from Low Information Voters e.g. Peggy Joseph...

Edited August 4, 2016 by Boon Mee

[Berkshire]

We can probably get some pretty good insight from our non-American TV members.  But I must declare: Don't hate us for Donald Trump!  Most Americans can't stand the guy!

[Boon Mee]

^

Speak for yourself.

Sizable percentage of Americans loath Crooked Hilary...

[masuk]

I wish Americans would not take over the entire conversation of a cafe or restaurant.

 

So many can be 'talking' to their friend opposite them at a table, and the whole place can hear them.   Almost as noisy as the Chinese!!

 

Get a volume control guys!

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, masuk said:

I wish Americans would not take over the entire conversation of a cafe or restaurant.

 

So many can be 'talking' to their friend opposite them at a table, and the whole place can hear them.   Almost as noisy as the Chinese!!

 

Get a volume control guys!

I've noticed that too and it's probably a fair enough general stereotype.

However, the more soft spoken Americans that you don't hear, you don't hear ... so it's probably not as widespread as a lot of people think. 

It reminds me of people that think most gay people are flamboyant. They see the flamboyant ones ... and the ones that aren't don't even register.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I'd say, there is no single type of American: there are Americans of all colors/ethnicities, conservative and liberals, people of many religions, rich and poor, cultured and uncultured, well-educated and un-educated, loud and soft-spoken, etc etc. That's what happens when you are a country of people, who for the most part, originated from many other cultures and countries around the world.

 

Yet, I would say there is an American ideal (note this is the ideal, not something we've achieved) that most of us have ingrained --  and that is, as said in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

 

That's the kind of idea that brings people from other countries to America, a place where you can make something of yourself without necessarily being born rich or hi-so, and where you probably have more overall freedom than most places in the world. On our best days, we reach for those ideals. On our worst days, we embarrass ourselves by trashing them.

 

Edited August 4, 2016 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[JSixpack]

5 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

Americans are cool….but american expats in the Tahitian Queen are uncool.

 

Naturally, Justin Bieber fans can't relate to the expats of any nationality in the TQ. Suggest you give up hope the management is going to cater to millennials or wannabe millennials. Cheers!

[JSixpack]

1 hour ago, Berkshire said:

We can probably get some pretty good insight from our non-American TV members.  But I must declare: Don't hate us for Donald Trump!  Most Americans can't stand the guy!

 

No, we'll mostly just get the usual bashing from our non-American TV members, notably from the rabid Brits. Stop caring who hates us and who doesn't; stop being defensive and easily wound up--we'll have a much shorter thread anyway. .

 

Most expats and tourists abroad aren't the best representatives of their countries whence they come.

Edited August 4, 2016 by JSixpack

[Redline]

2 hours ago, JetsetBkk said:

I didn't read all the comments in the OP as they started to make me feel a little queasy.

The one word that springs to my mind is "uneducated", as in Watters World...

 

Hahaaa, but Fox News doesn't make you queasy?  Open your mind brother.  If you watch Fox, and these movies, I'm afraid you can't be taken seriously anyway.  Granted, there are a lot of idiots there, but it's a big populated country.  There are a lot of idiots in every country.  Education doesn't have everything to do with it ether, but I suggest you change your media choices because those are choices of the "uneducated"

[Redline]

I think this was fair enough.  I'm an American, I'm not loud, but I can be an ass if the situation calls for it.  A New Yorker is waaaaaay different from a Californian.  It's a big diverse country, with a power hungry government, so you can expect anything.  There are many different internal cultures~even within cities.  There will always be a "world power", and the next one could be decidedly worse.

[boomerangutang]

Often brash, cocky.  

 

Know-it-all when among among themselves, but acting cheery and humble when with foreigners.  

[Chicog]

7 hours ago, JHolmesJr said:

Americans are cool….but american expats in the Tahitian Queen are uncool.

 

Oi there's nothing wrong with TQ.

[landslide]

4 hours ago, Redline said:

Hahaaa, but Fox News doesn't make you queasy?  Open your mind brother.  If you watch Fox, and these movies, I'm afraid you can't be taken seriously anyway.  Granted, there are a lot of idiots there, but it's a big populated country.  There are a lot of idiots in every country.  Education doesn't have everything to do with it ether, but I suggest you change your media choices because those are choices of the "uneducated"

The uneducated are those that limit themselves to one source or perspective of information.  Be it Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, BBC, or Al Jazeera, no one site gives a total picture of the issues, nor does it represent every individual's thoughts and aspirations.  Try to listen to many sources, hold your nose on some, but listen to as many as possible.  You may be surprised at what you learn.

[landslide]

5 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

I'd say, there is no single type of American: there are Americans of all colors/ethnicities, conservative and liberals, people of many religions, rich and poor, cultured and uncultured, well-educated and un-educated, loud and soft-spoken, etc etc. That's what happens when you are a country of people, who for the most part, originated from many other cultures and countries around the world.

 

Yet, I would say there is an American ideal (note this is the ideal, not something we've achieved) that most of us have ingrained --  and that is, as said in the U.S. Declaration of Independence, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

 

That's the kind of idea that brings people from other countries to America, a place where you can make something of yourself without necessarily being born rich or hi-so, and where you probably have more overall freedom than most places in the world. On our best days, we reach for those ideals. On our worst days, we embarrass ourselves by trashing them.

 

Great post.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Re what I posted above, I think lots of what I said in the first pgh can be said, to some extent, about the Thai people. Not as much language or religious variations as the U.S. But certainly all incomes, widely varying educations, political views, different regional styles, etc etc.

 

But where the U.S. and Thailand more significantly depart, IMHO, is the ideals I described in the second pgh.I don't think there is a cultural concept in Thailand that all people are created equal or have equal rights. Clearly the Thai people think of different segments and elements of their society as very unequal by birth, not just by accomplishment/achievement. And the society's commitment to/expectation of personal liberty and freedom is equally lacking, not just now, but for probably always.

Edited August 4, 2016 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[craigt3365]

13 hours ago, JetsetBkk said:

I didn't read all the comments in the OP as they started to make me feel a little queasy.

The one word that springs to my mind is "uneducated", as in Watters World...

 

I won't post it, but I've seen the same stuff from various countries in Europe.  The US is consistently ranked in the upper tier with regards to education.  Not the best, but far from the worst.

 

As mentioned above, be careful what you see on Fox news!

[Caps]

Having worked with the US military on numerous occasions, visited the country and worked on a DoS contract.  No comment 

[dick dasterdly]

The few Americans I met abroad on holidays were lovely people.

 

Always best to separate the individual people from their government.  Governments are pretty much universally appalling as they're only interested in their own power and wealth.  Individuals (with a brain and enough interest to holiday abroad) are far more kind, caring and considerate.

 

I've found this also holds true with the French and Germans.

Edited August 5, 2016 by dick dasterdly
Edit - Must add that the Americans I met on my one holiday in the US - were friendly, but insular and racist.

[Redline]

This is true, and I do, but Fox I just can't.  I have tried many times.  I do follow news from many sources around the world, USA, England, South Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, and little of China and Russia....

[Redline]

13 hours ago, landslide said:

The uneducated are those that limit themselves to one source or perspective of information.  Be it Fox News, MSNBC, CNN, BBC, or Al Jazeera, no one site gives a total picture of the issues, nor does it represent every individual's thoughts and aspirations.  Try to listen to many sources, hold your nose on some, but listen to as many as possible.  You may be surprised at what you learn.

This is true, and I do, but Fox I just can't.  I have tried many times.  I do follow news from many sources around the world, USA, England, South Korea, Thailand, Cambodia, Japan, and little of China and Russia....