Buzz
It’s easier than ever to criticize the United States right now. But why is that? We played a critical role in D-Day, helped rebuild Europe with the Marshall Plan (big thanks to Norway for repaying their loan), created the Internet, toppled dictators, and handed out foreign aid like it was candy. We’ve always aimed to be the heroes, but somehow, we can’t seem to earn any affection. So, how did we get here? Well... [JFrater: As the voice of Mytour, I want to clarify that we don’t hate America – I had one of the best vacations there! This list may stir up some debates, so let’s stay calm and respectful.]
10. The Hub of the World
The first reason: we often act like everything revolves around us. America makes a lot of bold assumptions for a country that's only been around for 300 years. China, for example, has structures far older than that. A simple illustration: many countries play baseball, but only we have the ‘World Series.’ We’re improving when it comes to our egocentric ways, but it’s been a slow process. And don’t get me started on our tourists. Just smile and take their money – they’re loud, but at least they’ll be gone in a week.
9. We Dominate Everything
Alright, I’ll admit defeat on Vietnam, tennis (but honestly, we don’t care), and Kenyan marathoners. However, when it comes to pretty much everything else, we win. Eventually. The Space Race. The Cold War. The Tour de France. The list could go on. Even the Olympics have become dull now that we’re competing against doping and underage athletes from communist nations. As a lifelong Red Sox and Bolton Wanderers fan, I understand the agony of constantly losing to better-funded and superior teams. But hey, if we don’t have the best athletes, scientists, or entertainers, we’ll make sure they get a chance to immigrate while others are left waiting. That must be frustrating. Oh, and by the way, Yao Ming and Ichiro say 'Hi.'
8. We Consume Everything
Why? Because we can. Americans rank as the second fattest industrialized nation per capita (sorry, Australia). But we compensate by sheer quantity. We own cars, so we don’t walk or bike anywhere unless it’s for fun. Thanks to our surplus of agricultural products, anything we crave is just a call away from fast food joints and convenience stores. Some of our fridges are big enough to hide a body. And we have a particular fondness for fatty foods, because, well, fat tastes good. This isn’t a good trend, and our global chains (KFC, McDonald's) are spreading to countries that used to have healthier diets (are you listening, Japan?).
7. We Created and Possess Nukes
The United States is both the creator and sole wartime user of nuclear weapons (don’t forget that using them likely stopped an invasion that would’ve made the Iraqi insurgency look minor. The declassified 'Operation Downfall' plan to invade Japan projected over 1 million American casualties). Lax security and espionage spread the secret to the USSR, and once it was out, the world changed. Now, many countries possess atomic weapons, and without a clear Cold War adversary to counterbalance American power, the global peace balance has shifted – and post-9/11, the peace dividend hasn’t been kind.
6. Natural Resources
Though Americans make up just 5 percent of the global population, we consume 26 percent of the world’s energy. (American Almanac) We’re also the largest single emitter of carbon dioxide, responsible for 23 percent of energy-related carbon emissions worldwide. (U.S. Department of Energy) Meanwhile, 2 billion people across the globe still have no access to electricity. (U.S. Department of Energy) The silver lining is that, among industrialized and developing nations, Canada leads in per capita energy consumption, with the United States coming in second. Italy uses the least energy of all industrialized countries – probably because their Fiats 'conserve' energy by breaking down so frequently.
5. International Interference
The United States possesses the world’s most advanced military. We station our forces in other countries at their ‘request,’ which often stirs resentment and undermines national pride. From interventions in Banana Republics, to the Cold War, to the War on Terror, we frequently involve ourselves in other nations' affairs to protect our own interests, even if no one asked for our help. Even when our intentions are pure and just, many countries resent our meddling on principle – they’d rather mismanage things themselves. Are you hearing this, North Korea?
4. We Export a Culture of Trash
In a thriving market economy with nearly unrestricted freedom of expression, Americans are free to explore nearly every possible pursuit, resulting in some of the most remarkable advancements in human history—ranging from the invention of the light bulb to powered flight, the polio vaccine, radio, television, space exploration, the internet, and unfortunately, everything in between. This means that lowbrow phenomena like Jerry Springer and Britney Spears are also shared globally. Well, I’m being too generous—it’s more like these things are ‘force-fed’ worldwide. Other cultures view this with a mixture of fear, jealousy, and disdain. They can’t seem to separate the good from the bad in this constant stream (we can’t either, by the way). But once this influence takes root, it’s almost impossible to dislodge. This is the fear of the Islamic world: they understand tanks, but a well-educated, employed woman out at a nightclub on a Friday night is something they cannot comprehend. And it terrifies them.
3. We Act on Our Own Terms
We are a nation of doers, and when we make mistakes (if they happen), they are typically due to action, not inaction (Hypocrisy Alert: Darfur). Sometimes this is a positive thing, such as sending Khrushchev’s missiles back to their source, dismantling Gaddafi’s nuclear ambitions (his nukes are now safely stored in Oak Ridge, Tennessee), or winning the Cold War. Other times, it backfires in our face (and often yours too). Our efforts to spread democracy, with the goal of allowing others to enjoy the freedoms and opportunities we have, sometimes end in innocent lives being lost. We must pause and remember incidents like the Somalia embassy bombing, the Madrid and Fiji attacks, and the Lockerbie bombing, along with countless others in countries where freedom is absent. The US is the most active nation standing against these injustices, but our allies often shoulder the heaviest burden of our “foreign” wars because the enemy can’t reach our shores. That has changed recently, and while it has shifted our perspective, it has not changed our determination.
2. We Never Complete What We Start
From Vietnam to Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, from 'Mission Accomplished' in Iraq to the pursuit of Osama Bin Laden, we often do much of the heavy lifting, but leave many things unfinished, never quite seeing them through. Eventually, the answers come to light, but they usually require time and support from others after many (necessary) passionate debates. Maybe we should consider making this a primary approach from the start...
1. It’s Trendy
Despite the exaggerations circulating online, having strong political views won’t lead to a midnight knock on your door like in the days of the Gulag Archipelago. There are no Stalinist purges or mass executions in this country. The FBI, CIA, ATF, DEA, or PTA aren’t going to take you out just because you oppose The Surge or protest the Economic Stimulus Plan. But claiming to fear these things can be quite thrilling! It turns you into an instant revolutionary, making you feel intellectually superior– because patriotism is a thoughtless, automatic response, right? Only someone truly deep would criticize their country (and stay here to enjoy the benefits). And don’t worry about facts; accusations are all that matter. Volume and certainty are what win the day—forget the bibliography. Just grab half the facts and make up the rest. If you end up in a logical corner, simply claim it's satire. Other nations see this disregard for consequences and take advantage of it.
