Newsweek: America the Ignorant

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by goof2

By whose definition? It seems those who are most vehement about their hate of the "West" would put anything that isn't studying the Koran and plotting the deaths of infidels in the materialistic/superficial category.

Just guessing since I can't read thier minds......., but maybe they feel that anyone with such a high average wealth (like Americans) should be able to afford travelling more, learning more about other cultures, speaking other languages, etc.

Re: Narcisism, the idea that the world revolves around you.

[OneSickPsycho]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

Just guessing since I can't read thier minds......., but maybe they feel that anyone with such a high average wealth (like Americans) should be able to afford travelling more, learning more about other cultures, speaking other languages, etc.

Re: Narcisism, the idea that the world revolves around you.

That thought is well and good, but whether you like it or not our culture is a driving factor in the world. Our cultural influences can be found EVERYWHERE... Our stars are not just our stars... they are international stars. Interestingly enough, I think the one area we have not been able to permeate as well is with sports. Television, film, music, fashion, etc, etc... we have some influence across it all with the exception of sports (for the most part).

[Homeslice]

Originally Posted by OneSickPsycho

That thought is well and good, but whether you like it or not our culture is a driving factor in the world. Our cultural influences can be found EVERYWHERE... Our stars are not just our stars... they are international stars. Interestingly enough, I think the one area we have not been able to permeate as well is with sports. Television, film, music, fashion, etc, etc... we have some influence across it all with the exception of sports (for the most part).

I agree, and I find it interesting that many of the Arabs who criticize us have come over here to live and take advantage of what we have. For instance I'm quite sure the 9/11 terrorists were out hitting the strip clubs and casinos while they were over here.

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Particle Man

Maybe it's the fact, in and of itself, that the "something else" IS poorly defined...

I'm not sure what you mean, but my reply is operating under the assumption that you are saying that part of the problem is we Americans don't care enough or haven't bothered to define it. If that is the case I don't think what you are suggesting is possible. Different people "hate" us for different things. The "something else" will always be poorly defined by us because the concept itself cannot have a set definition.

Originally Posted by Homeslice

Just guessing since I can't read their minds......., but maybe they feel that anyone with such a high average wealth (like Americans) should be able to afford travelling more, learning more about other cultures, speaking other languages, etc.

Re: Narcisism, the idea that the world revolves around you.

So you are saying others "hate" America because we are narcissistic about our country, culture, and language resulting in a lack of interest in the countries, cultures, and languages of theirs? Isn't it also narcissistic of them to think we should care in the first place?

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Homeslice

I agree, and I find it interesting that many of the Arabs who criticize us have come over here to live and take advantage of what we have. For instance I'm quite sure the 9/11 terrorists were out hitting the strip clubs and casinos while they were over here.

I don't think most Muslim extremists would continue to care about us one way or the other if we all turned Muslim and dropped involvement with Israel, and I'm betting that second part is the more important part.

[Papa_Complex]

Originally Posted by goof2

Which nation displays these qualities better than America, especially when compared to those nations who hate America the most?

Well, off the top of my head....

... Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Spain, Germany, Canada, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal as of the Global Humanitarian Assistance 2010 report.

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

Well, off the top of my head....

... Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, United Kingdom, Switzerland, France, Spain, Germany, Canada, Austria, Australia, New Zealand, and Portugal as of the Global Humanitarian Assistance 2010 report.

First of all, that report appears to cover only covers one of the qualities listed, charity. Secondly, I'm not sure where in the report you are getting that from.

So in 2008 we were the top donor at over $4.3 billion, over 4 times more than the UK, the next closest "country" and more than double the entire EC. America accounted for almost 35% of all governmental humanitarian aid donated that year. Who did better?

I would have thought you were going by per capita numbers, but the US donated more per capita than at least a few of countries you have listed.

According to that report the US also accounts for significantly more Other Official Developmental Assistance than any other nation with over $26 billion.

I must be missing what you are seeing.

[Papa_Complex]

It's per capita, which is a better measure of the individual.

[goof2]

Originally Posted by Papa_Complex

It's per capita, which is a better measure of the individual.

From the last table contained in the report the US exceeds at least Canada, Germany, and France in per capita giving (in dollars per citizen US 14.4, Canada 12.5, Germany 9.1, France 7.2). Most of the ones you listed were correct, but I didn't check them all. Of course that also seems to leave that additional $26 billion Other Official Developmental Assistance the US gave and also contained in that table out of the equation.

ETA: That report also only measures governmental assistance. I'm not sure how much control you have over what your government does for aid, but I don't have much control over mine.

[Papa_Complex]

For recent issues like Haiti, our government matched the donations of private citizens.

Recent piece in Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/0...0.html#s136626