Why are Americans so defensive about America?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I were from the UK, I would criticize my home country, too. But I'm not from the UK, I'm from the USA - the land of the free, and the home of the brave.

🤢
This kind of thing. I’m better than you mentality. Are you six years old?

You’re from a country full of pale, melanin deficient, bog dwellers with bad teeth and horrible cuisine. Shut your mouth and be happy we let you in our country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm 2nd generation American and I think it's fine for foreigners to criticize the USA in a debate about government policies, current events, etc. But it is really grating when foreigners make really sweeping (often derogatory) generalizations about all Americans. Grating, and also usually inaccurate. I also think it's offensive when recent immigrants or people here to work are highly critical. Literally no where else in the world would allow them the same opportunities to immigrate or work here. I'm a Democrat but I am hugely patriotic and extremely thankful my parents immigrated here and that I was born here. I would definitely not want to be any other nationality.

+1 to this. If someone wants to tell me how they think a Parliamentary system does a better job of addressing xyz, I'm all ears. But tone matters, and people are rarely as funny as they think they are, especially people who didn't grow up learning the various nuances and cultural cues that make things humorous.

Listening to someone who's trying to be funny and doing a bad job is annoying regardless of the source. Listening to someone who's trying to roast you and doing a bad job is just obnoxious.

+2
Your example of the parliamentary system being better is a good criticism. It’s fair, it’s valid and it doesn’t denigrate our country.

But I find the OP to be unclear. Are we talking about visitors to the country? I would never go to another country and complain about it to the people who live there; that’s just a jerky move, like criticizing your host’s house at a party. Are we talking about immigrants? Also weird and rude. If you hate it here so much, go back to where you came from if it’s so much better. Is it just poorly worded but is actually a “I miss my home country” or “being an immigrant is difficult and alienating”? Those are understandable.

But I find a lot of people from elsewhere love the I hate America trope and love to roll around in it like a pig in s**t not thinking through whether or not it’s appropriate.

So yeah, I guess OP can call us “defensive,” but she’s clueless.

[Anonymous]

Because America is big brother to the rest of the Western world and they are ungrateful and unappreciative. It gets old.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from the UK and growing up, when people criticized the UK, it was not a big deal. WE criticized ourselves. Of course there are some stereotypes I disagree with like that ALL the food is terrible. But a lot of them have merit. I feel like we constantly spoke in my family and other families about ways in which other countries were better. France had better access to good quality food and a better attitude to cooking. Japan was healthier. Most places had better weather. Having a royal family was possibly very dumb. English people are often pale and excessively embarrassing in a football abroad context. I could go on. It BAFFLES me that any time you say anything about America is sub par, Americans FREAK OUT. And immediately tell you to 'go back where you came from'. Like - WTF? Americans cannot possibly think that everything about America (obesity, drug prices, health insurance, severe weather + trailer parks, trump etc etc) is amazing. It's just not feasible - that would be lying. So what gives? Doesn't positive change happen when you are able to look inwards, see other possibilities and dream of a better way? Do ppl think they will burst into flames if they admit that Twinkies are... sub optimal?

America is a generous country. We more than pay our fair share in the world and saying "Thanks to the US," would be nice. We are also a young country and frequently a vulgar country but when natural disasters occur any where in the world, the US is first to offer aid. The US, for all its faults and there are many, is still that shining city on the hill and still the best hope for mankind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from the UK and growing up, when people criticized the UK, it was not a big deal. WE criticized ourselves. Of course there are some stereotypes I disagree with like that ALL the food is terrible. But a lot of them have merit. I feel like we constantly spoke in my family and other families about ways in which other countries were better. France had better access to good quality food and a better attitude to cooking. Japan was healthier. Most places had better weather. Having a royal family was possibly very dumb. English people are often pale and excessively embarrassing in a football abroad context. I could go on. It BAFFLES me that any time you say anything about America is sub par, Americans FREAK OUT. And immediately tell you to 'go back where you came from'. Like - WTF? Americans cannot possibly think that everything about America (obesity, drug prices, health insurance, severe weather + trailer parks, trump etc etc) is amazing. It's just not feasible - that would be lying. So what gives? Doesn't positive change happen when you are able to look inwards, see other possibilities and dream of a better way? Do ppl think they will burst into flames if they admit that Twinkies are... sub optimal?

Without us, sweetkins, you would be speaking German. Ever hear of Lend Lease? We saved your bacon two years before Pearl Harbor. A simple thank you would be have been sufficient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are not American right OP? So people are not going to react well to you criticizing us. Plenty of people in the US are critical of their own country - but most people don’t like it when someone from another country is criticizing your own.

Particularly, when they come here to take advantage of our universities, Standard of living, and freedoms.

[Anonymous]

[quote=Anonymous]I'm from the UK and growing up, when people criticized the UK, it was not a big deal. WE criticized ourselves. Of course there are some stereotypes I disagree with like that ALL the food is terrible. But a lot of them have merit. I feel like we constantly spoke in my family and other families about ways in which other countries were better. France had better access to good quality food and a better attitude to cooking. Japan was healthier. Most places had better weather. Having a royal family was possibly very dumb. English people are often pale and excessively embarrassing in a football abroad context. I could go on. It BAFFLES me that any time you say anything about America is sub par, Americans FREAK OUT. And immediately tell you to 'go back where you came from'. Like - WTF? Americans cannot possibly think that everything about America (obesity, drug prices, health insurance, severe weather + trailer parks, trump etc etc) is amazing. It's just not feasible - that would be lying. So what gives? Doesn't positive change happen when you are able to look inwards, see other possibilities and dream of a better way? Do ppl think they will burst into flames if they admit that Twinkies are... sub optimal?[/quote]

Ah! The rape of the world by the British Empire. Thank God, we had a revolution before you could steal all of our natural resources and make us bow and kowtow to your parasitic House of Windsor! In fact, please do us a favor a take Harry back to the UK as the US does not need another druggie

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm from the UK and growing up, when people criticized the UK, it was not a big deal. WE criticized ourselves. Of course there are some stereotypes I disagree with like that ALL the food is terrible. But a lot of them have merit. I feel like we constantly spoke in my family and other families about ways in which other countries were better. France had better access to good quality food and a better attitude to cooking. Japan was healthier. Most places had better weather. Having a royal family was possibly very dumb. English people are often pale and excessively embarrassing in a football abroad context. I could go on. It BAFFLES me that any time you say anything about America is sub par, Americans FREAK OUT. And immediately tell you to 'go back where you came from'. Like - WTF? Americans cannot possibly think that everything about America (obesity, drug prices, health insurance, severe weather + trailer parks, trump etc etc) is amazing. It's just not feasible - that would be lying. So what gives? Doesn't positive change happen when you are able to look inwards, see other possibilities and dream of a better way? Do ppl think they will burst into flames if they admit that Twinkies are... sub optimal?

I agree with most of the prior answers, but I'd add two factors that deserve more attention:

1. America gets held to a far higher standard than most other countries. I get it, but the constant criticism, double standards and hypocrisy get awfully tiresome.

2. I believe in America, and think many others feel the same way. Despite all the mistakes (some horrific) and current problems, I think that this is a remarkable and unique place. I think that this gets neglected/overlooked far too often, and I'm sensitive to foreign criticism as a result.

PS--Just to forestall the inevitable response, yes I am white. However, a significant portion of my family (including my partner and kids) are members of a severely disadvantaged & historically abused minority.

[Anonymous]

Americans think that they have it better than everyone else in the world and that they are, in fact, better than other nationalities. That's why. Younger generations will not be so easily convinced about the myth of American superiority.

Signed--
an American who has lived overseas

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Americans think that they have it better than everyone else in the world and that they are, in fact, better than other nationalities. That's why. Younger generations will not be so easily convinced about the myth of American superiority.

Signed--
an American who has lived overseas

I think that you misstate the case.

I don't think most Americans think that "they are better" than other nationalities.

Most Americans think that the American system/history is superior to that of most other nations.

Very different.

[Anonymous]

The US geographically is a closed society - Canada and Mexico are neighbors yet see how we don't exactly love them. Americans aren't used to be around anyone else - it is very independent in culture. Add geography in - we aren't used to being around anyone at all - it's a difficult concept and one most are not used to in actually considering or even being open to listening to any other country's opinion. The downfall of America will be it's pride. Pride is both our strength and weakness - it is what has lifted American ingenuity, ability to impact the world positively and allowed US economic success. It is our weakness because we think we're the only ones who know anything in the world.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You are not American right OP? So people are not going to react well to you criticizing us. Plenty of people in the US are critical of their own country - but most people don’t like it when someone from another country is criticizing your own.

So when does one get to criticize it? I’m a naturalized citizen who has been here since my early teens. I see faults with both where I came from and the US. I see what OP is saying. Criticizing your country doesn’t mean you don’t love it. Or make it better. And it’s funny hearing an American say you can’t criticize someone else’s country when the US does it all the darn time to others.

What is America not doing for your country back home that it is not doing? I am sure that is the source of your complaints.

Your question makes no sense. Can you re-phrase it? Btw-Last time America (which is a continent not the US by the way) interfered with our country we ended up with a dictatorship. So the US can stay put. I do love the US but that doesn’t mean I don’t have criticisms. But my question stands…who does get to criticize the US? Born citizens? What about those born to undocumented immigrants? Or just people whose families have been here for generations? The fact that so many people are getting defensive in this thread proves OP’s point.

The country is the United States of America. Sometimes people refer to the country as “America” and the people as “Americans.”

Why are you so focused on who “gets” to criticize a country? If you aren’t going to do anything about the issues you don’t like, people won’t want to sit around and hear your constant complaining.

Do you think people want to listen to you griping all the time…about anything?

Holy crap lady/dude take that chip off your shoulder. I didn’t say I constantly criticize the US or complain about it. Stop reading into it. I said the US has issues. Americans-including some on this thread-often imply that immigrants cannot have any criticisms of the US. Again so defensive-the more you talk, the more you exemplify what the OP (not me) is talking about. And you think expats (bc Americans don’t call themselves immigrants when they land on other countries) don’t have any issues when they move abroad?

[Anonymous]

I have no problem with constructive criticism. But when people make sweeping generalizations or engage in whining and attacks without any positive, actionable, or productive suggestions they can just go off and pound sand as far as I'm concerned.

[Anonymous]

A lot of you are making valid points about people whining and criticising. Fair enough. But I go back to OP’s original point “It BAFFLES me that any time you say anything about America is sub par, Americans FREAK OUT.”

The key word is ANYTHING. If I say I think American coffee is horrible, I guarantee there will be posters telling me to go back to my own country and that there are millions of people clustered at the border who are desperate to come so American coffee must be great (okay, I made the last bit up but you get my point).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:A lot of you are making valid points about people whining and criticising. Fair enough. But I go back to OP’s original point “It BAFFLES me that any time you say anything about America is sub par, Americans FREAK OUT.”

The key word is ANYTHING. If I say I think American coffee is horrible, I guarantee there will be posters telling me to go back to my own country and that there are millions of people clustered at the border who are desperate to come so American coffee must be great (okay, I made the last bit up but you get my point).

The criticism we hear isn't about American coffee. The criticism is along the lines of oh you say you are democracy but you invade other countries and seek to impose your values on them when you don't uphold your values. These kinds of statements always have an agenda behind them. Or the criticism is along the lines of your cities are not walkable and people have to drive far to work and you all do not get a lot of vacation time--but yeah, you complainers come here to take advantage of the economy that requires these sacrificies. Oh, and specifically for European criticizers, what is the size of your country's defense budget? How much do you contribute to NATO? I thought so.