'Intense hatred' of U.S. found in foreign teens

The Patriot Ledger (Quincy, MA) ^ | 11/1/02 | LAUREN F. MAHERAS

[BansheeBill]

BOSTON - Foreign teenagers' negative attitudes toward Americans are setting the stage for future terrorist attacks, Boston University professors Margaret and Melvin DeFleur said.

During a Tuesday press conference, the two journalism professors released a study they conducted of foreign teenagers' attitudes toward Americans.

[BansheeBill]

Not too surprising, considering the crap Hollywood and shows like MTV export to other countries around the world.

[FITZ]

Teens in all but one of the 12 countries had extremely negative views of Americans, according to the study.

I wonder what the one country was. As far as nudity and vulgarity, we're nothing compared to Europeans and Mexicans. Mexican television shows quite a bit more skin than US television and they broadcast outright porn after a certain hour. Latin dancing isn't exactly prudish.

[marvlus]

I saw these people being interviewed on O'Reilly a couple of months ago. One thing they also found is that these teens would really like to live in America. Go figure..

[Sam Cree]

good point.

Also, I remember how I thought I knew everything as a teenager. My son went through it too.

[dfwgator]

Yep we hate that American culture (as they listen to Eminem).

[Mr. Mojo]

'Intense hatred' of U.S. found in foreign teens

Intense hatred = Intense envy

[3AngelaD]

This story has a huge hole in it: which country's teens don't hate us and think badly of us? I find it interesting that, with the exception of Spain, people in the countries listed are doing everything in their power to get to the U.S. and stay.

I'd like to see the questions that were asked and know how this polling was actually carried out. It sounds to me as if the people who did the study have an axe to grind. I would prefer that the media paint such a dark picture of us abroad that none of them want to come here, ever.

[mikenola]

The DeFleurs sent surveys to high schools in Argentina, Bahrain, China, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain and Taiwan.

The teenagers said Americans commit criminal and violent acts,,,,

They would know, being experts on criminal and violent acts

[moodyskeptic]

Interesting: we are told by our own Big Media that the world hates America because of our empirical designs, our bullying and our corporate meddling. Turns out that they hate us because of our moral decline, our abject liberalism and our self absorbtion.... things promoted by.... our Big Media.

So, the architechs of our pop culture are really to blame, not our government or corporations. This is new, and you can bet Big Media will ignore it with all it's might.

[colorado tanker]

"The teenagers said Americans commit criminal and violent acts, lack strong family and religious values, and are materialistic, imperialistic and like to dominate. They also said that American women are sexually immoral."

Sounds like something an American "hard right christian fundamentalist" would say, according the U.S. media. Everybody knows the foreigners don't like us because we're "unilateralists" who won't sign Kyoto. Don't these teenagers read the New York Times?

[rudypoot]

"They also said that American women are sexually immoral."

I had a friend that was a german foreign exchange student and I asked him what he thought of American women. He said they where too "churchy" because they are not promiscuous.

[mikenola]

[bulldogs]

I was thinking the same thing.

[toddst]

Intense hatred = Intense envy.

I believe you are correct. The contrast with their own countries is too great and they know little will change for them - unless they manage to emmigrate to the US (our biggest problem IMO.) Also the "researchers" have an agenda (we should be different than we are.) This thing has no credibility, in my opinion.

[grammymoon]

Quite a lot of this "hatred" is jealousy, plain and simple.

Yes, Pop culture is the pits, but it is mostly envy of US teens and their freedom, lifestyle, way of life, abundance,education, families, vehicles and cash availability that piss these folks off.

Same as their elders it seems to me.

[KC_Conspirator]

I bet its Taiwan. The rest of the countries have been infected with islamofascists or heirs to Germany's national socialism. All except Taiwan have are envious because their socialism and terrorism are failed ways to run a government/society while freedom and capitalism pave the way for human advancements.

[alethia]

I do agree that this attitude can make these (stupid/ignorant/naive)teens ripe for the picking -- witness John Lee Malvo.

I also find that Osama and his followers (many Fundamentalist Muslims) have the same perspectives. AND that it's not true for the vast majority of us (particularly here). These people don't know us -- or what makes us tick. That's probably to our advantage.

[nutmeg]

Bump to read later

[End Times Sentinel]

The DeFleurs sent surveys to high schools in Argentina, Bahrain, China, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain and Taiwan.

Teens in all but one of the 12 countries had extremely negative views of Americans, according to the study.

(Nervously wringing hands, biting quivering lip) Perhaps it's not too late to win them over by unleashing a torrent of aid to their poor countries?

Or, perhaps it might be cheaper to limit access to The United States to people from Argentina, Bahrain, China, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain and Taiwan (and perhaps quite a few other countries as well.)

They're obviously just jealous that their own horrid little cesspools lag far behind The Arsenal of Democracy. 

I don't see what The United States has to gain from granting these types visas anyway.  It's not like we have any shortage of diseases or avarice here as it is.

Here's a little advice for the America hating foreigners:  I hate you just as much so do what I do, stay in your own country.

Owl_Eagle

”Unleash the Hogs of Peace.”
P.J. O'Rourke Parliament of Whores

[RedWhiteBlue]

I wonder what the one country was

This survey is a few months old. When the results were initially released, the one country with the favorable opinion was Argentina.