To Anyone Not From America, How Do You Look At America?

[JadeSpeedster17]

I am legitimately curious on how people not from America view us and our politics, or even our society in general.

This is just a fun topic for someone like me who is curious about how the world views the somewhat 'egotistical' America.

Be them good or bad, because all I have found is the bad and somewhat good.

[Narahs_stark]

Hmm so I'm of Indian origin, living in the middle east.
Indians tend to look at america as the educational and professional finish line- it's where everyone wants to end up. The middle east has ambivalent feelings towards USA; they view it through a mix of reverence and contempt (due to political reasons).
Personally, when I think of America, I think of 1. Consumerism 2. Extra-large drinks at McDonalds 3. Diversity, and a mix of socio-political beliefs and a variety of interesting people to meet && 4. BASEBALLLLL

[Mateo3112]

I'm from South America, and as of now, people here see the US as a joke, mostly because either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump might get elected as president. When most of us think of the US we think of capitalism, consumerism and war. And the fact that the radical feminism, black lives matter, and SJW movement is getting so much attention and acceptance doesn't speak very well of you either. People here tend to look at the dark side of your country, which is truly a shame, since the US has some pretty good policies that if we were to apply here could save us from going through a lot of unnecesary bullshit. The US is full of oportunities and jobs we don't have here in South America. Also, as Narahs_stark said, you've baseball, i freaking LOVE baseball.

[miniboes]

I'm from the Netherlands. Most people mock Americans for obesity, religiosity, rudeness, etc. Most people, even on the right, think the republican party is far too conservative.

As for myself, I think your electoral system is terrible, and your justice system has a lot of flaws too. I think those are at the root of many of the US's problems.

[Jebus]

I'm not American but my family moved there when I was four years old so my first sport was baseball and most of my earliest memories are from there. I still know how to pledge allegiance and most people guess that I am American when they hear me speak English. I rarely visit these days but still have a feeling of home or belonging when I go there.

During the conventions I heard over and over again how America is the greatest country in the world. I agree with this statement if one defines a country's greatness by its accomplishments in arts and science. I also think the U.S. has a uniquely wonderful geography with oceans on both sides and a plethora of beautiful landscapes in between. The country's history is shaky with much to be ashamed of, but so have most other large nations.

Having written that, shouldn't a country's greatness be measured by the greatness of the people who inhabit that country? The American people are not only the most obese among industrialized nations, but they also have the lowest scores in most if not all sciences. They are on average stunningly unaware of what's going on elsewhere in the world. Add to this a high number of people who have supernatural beliefs and it's not surprising how they can push forward people like Palin, Bush, and Trump as their best and brightest.

[Mateo3112]

Also, this is just some minor nitpick, but you are one of the only 3 countries that don't use the metric system. This can be somewhat of a pain in the ass sometimes xD

[Eqeuls]

Hello JadeSpeedster17,

I'm from Switzerland and to be honest haven't met any American so far nor spoke with one face to face. So all I know is from the Internet and the news.

As someone above stated, north america has a very versatile landscape and some beautiful sights I want to visit when I ever have to chance to go there. The USA in particulary seems to be an interesting construct of different cultures within one nation - which must be difficult to manage properly. And It always occured to me very weird, that your states are rectangle shaped - which isn't the case in most european countries from what I know.

When I was younger I watched all those "teenage" movies, which show those college campuses and these interesting stereotypes of people. f.e the cheerleaders, and quarterbacks and those wild college/universitie parties with the red cups. To this day I cannot confirm if that is how college is over there but in my mind it seems to be like that.

Well let's start; but I want to add that I cannot confirm if it is really true or not, but this is what I heard and picked up during the years:

I think the USA has a very strange educational system, from what I've seen it is very linear and your options are limited:
primary school > high school > college > university > job
primary school > high school > job
I don't think you guys seem to have a good transitioning between school and job.

It also troubles me that you cannot fund public education via taxes, as most european countries do. From what I've heard the good schools are private and the public schools are a mess. I heard of a teacher who was prosectued because the kids in his school found out he is an atheist, and the parents of those kids wouldn't let their kids be teached by an atheist. (Jf you're interested his channel is grappling ignorance on youtube)

How did obamacare play out by the way? Is it a good thing or rather a bad one? From friends that visited the USA and talked to people I've heard you're usually insured by your Employer - and if not - obamacare kicks in.

The contra gun law and pro gun law dispute is crazy. It actually baffles me as an european that you guys are such gun nuts and even teaching your kids how to handle a gun from a very young age on. Although on the other hand I'd think if you're living in a country which is so gun orientated, it is necessary to teach your kids how to use them properly. But what the heck - if you can't get rid of your guns, atleast get some working gun laws set.
I also think getting rid of your guns would massively help to reduce your problem with school shootings and gang vs gang violence ect. Of course it would take around 2 - 4 generations until it gets to a point where it isn't normal to carry a gun.

I'm also concerned about the low income the middle class and lower class citizien of the USA have. When I watch some of Obamas or Michelles speech on this matter, they always talked about how they are trying to get every american to earn a decent living. But then you guys seem to vote for Hillary or Trump, which aren't exactly the best options to help in that matter.

In Switzerland, there is a saying that America is the world-police. And it feels kinda good to have such an reliable and democratic country to do this task. But I aswell think, it isn't their job to police the world and we would all be better off if every country would commit more to work towards something like global peace. Not via violence but with diplomacy.
I also think alot of the problems we face to day are due to the intervening of the USA in the middle east, although they're not solely to blame for this. I think that democracy has to evolve within a country, and mesopotamia was a cradle of democracy before religion intervened. But we aren't talking about this area here so let's move on.

As someone above mentioned, the usual stereotype is the obese american. If I'd have to compare it to Switzerland, i'd have to drive trough my whole country to find one as obese person as some of your typical american. This seems to me to be absolut surreal.

What i've always wondered, is your law system really "guilty until proven innocent" or is it vice versa? Because people here think it is actually "guilty until proven innocent".

The thing with police violence is absolutely disgusting. I cannot comprehend how both sides act in that matter. I think a police officer has an troublesome job to do in your country. You can tease/ridicule a police officer until he is forced to intervene and then pull out a smartphone and videotape it - to lable it police violence. Which could end a career to a perhaps very good officer. On the other hand a police officer always has to worry if his suspect is carrying a gun or not and therefore has to react more determined and maybe even rough.
Although I am not denying that the US has a problem with police officers abusing their power.

The SJW, feminism and BLM thing. Why is the media pushing such an agenda, it seems to me to be a absolut ridiculous thing to take serious.

Well this turned out to be rather negative than anything else, I am sorry
I hope my english wasn't to bad, i'm not that fluent in it

And after that last sentence I wonder, do you guys learn foreign languages in School?

[brimstoneSalad]

What i've always wondered, is your law system really "guilty until proven innocent" or is it vice versa? Because people here think it is actually "guilty until proven innocent".

It's "Innocent until proven guilty".

[Red]

What i've always wondered, is your law system really "guilty until proven innocent" or is it vice versa? Because people here think it is actually "guilty until proven innocent".

It's "Innocent until proven guilty".

I think people get the guilty until proven innocent from cases like when a dude was accused of rape, and his life was essentially ruined. I think they fail to realize that if you're guilty, your jail sentence is already in place.

[Narahs_stark]

Also, this is just some minor nitpick, but you are one of the only 3 countries that don't use the metric system. This can be somewhat of a pain in the ass sometimes xD