Should the U.S care about what the Europeans think?

[Infoproliferati]

Apparently, the Europeans just can't be bothered to hate America anymore. Now they look at the U.S with pity. Interesting Newsweek article:

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/08/09/p...ericanism.html

In reality the majority of Americans don't care about anything that happens beyond the U.S border anyway. So it means little what those Europeans think. Or what the Canadians think. Or the Mideast. Or may be the rest of the world.

Does it matter that America can't be bothered what everyone else thinks?

[Gerry]

Should the U.S care about what the Europeans think?

Well, without our aid everyone in Europe would be speaking German.

[katherine]

Well Uncle Sam is not always right
Personally I read foreign press from different countries, it gives you a different perspective on things, including your own country.
US media is not always "fair and balanced" but too many Americans rely just on it.

Perhaps it's the 'patriotic' chord too, people are afraid of criticizing their government for fear of being labeled unAmerican.

[DomainsInc]

Should the U.S care about what the Europeans think?

personally i think americans can be hyper sensitive regarding critisim about their country and when someone from another country says something they don't like, its just an easy way to dimiss it...oh they're not american, so they don't matter, etc.

[Gerry]

While travelling abroad, I do not take personally the criticism of America and Americans because, frankly...most of what I hear is spot on.

And, more than once that smug attitude has shown too often on this very forum.

Some want you to shut the hell up and you don't know what you are talking about or you have no right to criticise because you don't live here. It is as if in (their little minds and little worlds) the US news and influence does not reach outside our borders. Therefore, no one has the right to be critical of what the US does. I am absolutely sure that the invasion of Iraq does not affect or afflict anyone else, its only our affairs to do what we do or who we invade or who we kill and who we identify as the enemy and no one else has the right to say anything because they are not American.

Too many can not connect the dots in regards to how small the world has become and how intertwined everything is thanks to technology and that news and influence are a 24/7/365 fact of life now.

[Acro]

Ah, touchy subject. As a Euro living in the US I've witnessed many Americans wearing a Canadian flag t-shirt when they visit Europe

Kidding aside, the subject is not simple to analyze, even if it comes in the form of a Newsweek article. But overall, it's a matter of global economics: what happens in Europe affects the US and vice-versa. With regards to politics, the US gets a rap from other countries when it comes down to pre-emptive military strikes abroad. It's a balance of power; Russia does the same on occasion and the US turns a blind eye.

Unfortunately, despite coming closer via the Internet, we've grown further apart as humans. The issues that should be taken care of globally include water and food availability, the eradication of infectious diseases, the environment, poverty, gender equality, child abuse and labor. It doesn't matter if one is American, European or Asian etc. The basic human needs are fundamentally the same.

[Ulysses]

Should the U.S care about what the Europeans think?

Well, without our aid everyone in Europe would be speaking German.

Good point Gerry!

Rumour has it the UK knew about the Japanese plans to attack Pearl Harbour but chose not to tell the US. The UK knew that after the attack by the Japanese the US would become involved in WW2.

Up until this time the US stayed impartial to what was going on in Europe.

[domainscot]

Should the U.S care about what the Europeans think?

Well, without our aid everyone in Europe would be speaking German.

Thats complete bollocks. The USA only came into the war after pearl harbour, the 2 years before that the UK was fighting the Germans and Italians in Europe. Also fighting Japan in Far East.had help from people from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Some African States, along with Former colonies and ex army navy and airmen from the countrys that had been invaded, one best fighter squadrons in RAF was Polish

The war is generally accepted to have begun on 1 September 1939, with the invasion of Poland by Germany and subsequent declarations of war on Germany by France and most of the countries of the British Empire and Commonwealth. China and Japan were already at war by this date. on the morning of December 7, 1941. The next day the United States declared war on Japan

Bring it on folks.

[Gerry]

Bring it on folks.

Was ist los?

Da, comrade. Perhaps it would have been Puruski would have been easier to learn.

Puzhalsta

[Raider]

Should the USA care so we can be more like Europe? That seems to the real question here.

I honestly don't know of anyone who wants the USA to be more like Europe, with the exception of leftist's and socialists of course.

The problem I see with the USA and Europe is a clash of ideologies.

[draggar]

Perhaps it's the 'patriotic' chord too, people are afraid of criticizing their government for fear of being labeled unAmerican.

Funny how one of the most "American" things someone can do is considered un-American.

Rumour has it the UK knew about the Japanese plans to attack Pearl Harbour but chose not to tell the US. The UK knew that after the attack by the Japanese the US would become involved in WW2.

Up until this time the US stayed impartial to what was going on in Europe.

Um, the US knew that there was an impending attack - we just didn't know exactly when. The message was on its way to Washington when the attack happened.

The US military even saw the Japanese coming in but didn't trust a new technology (radar) enough to know what it was, they thought it was some bombers coming in from the mainland.

[fab]

No!