On Being Disliked: It’s an America thing

National Review ^ | 08/02/2002 | Victor Davis Hanson

[madvlad]

You may not like me...
But you WILL respect me.

Mad Vlad

[tonycavanagh]

re : But you WILL respect me.

You mean I dont care what they think as long as they fear me.

Problem is that people try to destroy that what they fear.

Tony

[Savage Beast]

If people of other countries don't like America, they're not going to. Forget the PR.

America's enemies respect one thing and only one thing: POWER! America's got it, and America had better keep it!

"Speak softly, but carry a big stick."

If you want to be loved, be powerful.

[tonycavanagh]

re : On Being Disliked: It’s an America thing

It sure is, no one else cares what people think about them, French dont care, The German dont care, even us Brits dont care, even when you produce cr*p movies like the Patriot which makes us look like cousins of the SS.

Cheers Tony

[Eric in the Ozarks]

If these people hate us so much, why are we allowing them into this country ?

[okiedust]

I think the US is looked upon more like the cop who is called in to stop a domestic disturbance. The cop is needed, then hated and feared and turned upon. That is the psychological issue it turns upon I would think. It is made up of envy, fear and humiliation that comes not from what we do but what they do. It's human nature as the author states and can't be changed, but it behooves us to understand the dynamic at the very least, and protect ourselves from the inevitable retaliation.

regards

[stop_fascism]

Personnally, I view these people hating us as a complement. If a creep like Arafat liked me, I'd be insulted.

As Mac said, "it's good to be loved and feared, but if you have to choose one, it's better to be feared."

Let's nuke the kaaba and give them something to think about.

[stop_fascism]

It seems like the frogs spend their lives trying to force the rest of the world to worship them, not just like them.

As for the patriot -while your assessment of the movies quality is accurate, Bannister Tarleton, who looks so noble in your National Gallery, was a war criminal even by the standards of the day.

[capt. norm]

You might choose to call it dislike. If it is, then it is the smelliest form of dislike and it's called envy.

They envy us from the moment they wake up in the morning until their last, pre-sleep thoughts, pure and simple.

If they were willing to get off their collective butts, they could do something positive about it in their own environment, instead of trying to destroy ours.

"It is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness".

[vbmoneyspender]

Problem is that people try to destroy that what they fear.

I am wondering if you read the article? Mr. Hanson amply explains that America and Americans are hated for a number of reasons, but not because we are feared. Do you disagree? If so, I would very much like for you to explain what America has done that would cause rational, good-hearted, freedom loving people to be afraid of America?

[madvlad]

I did not say fear, I said respect.

Mad Vlad

[madvlad]

Let me put it another way.

When the 6ft, 3in, 225 lb police officer stops
you and ask you to step out of the car, do you
fear him or do you respect him? There is a difference
my friend. A big difference.

Of course, if you have been stopped for a
reason other than a taillight etc, then
maybe you have CAUSE to fear him.

Agreed. Walk softly, carry a big stick and
occasionally use that big stick.

Mad Vlad

[CIB-173RDABN]

Problem is that people try to destroy that what they fear

And this is different then what they had been doing?

[driftless]

My English girl friend assures me that the Brits hate everyone especially the frogs. I'm sure that's a slight exaggeration on her part, but where there's smoke, there's fire.

[driftless]

"rational, good-hearted, freedom-loving people" ???!!!???

Exactly what should they be afraid of?

[skeeter]

It sure is, no one else cares what people think about them, French dont care ...

Finally, something I have in common with the French.

[A_perfect_lady]

I only know one Brit but he is the epitome of the Jew-hating, Bush-bashing, self-loathing white intellectual who would enforce socialism on everyone while crying that America has no right to enforce anything on anyone... unless it's socialism, under British direction.

[tonycavanagh]

respect is earned fear is instilled.

Chers Tony

[tonycavanagh]

Well you know me from FR, and I have got to know a lot of Americans on FR and some do live up to the differing America stereotypes.

Cheers Tony