Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[asterix]

Saying, ''I love the American people but I hate the American government" is a cop out.
It is the American people who elect the American government, and therefore are responsible for its actions in the world.

[hitman]

Ass-terix, calm down. Yes, a majority of the population of the U S voted for Bush. But that doesn't mean that because they voted for him, they are all bad people. In a country, some people vote for jerks. Just like I shouldn't judge the entire population of your country because your such an ass-terix, you shouldn't judge the whole population because Bush was voted for. I don't hate Ast�rix the comic because of you.

And a government can be seperated from the people if only 51 % voted for the ass who did all the damage.

[Bob S.]

I didn't see it as a condemnation at all, but rather a statement of fact from the philosophical principles of a democratic government: a state derives its right to rule solely from the consent of the governed. Then for good or ill, the people are collectively responsible for the actions of the people they put in power (and can remove from power if they so choose). It is an alien concept to many here who reside in nations governed by totalitarian dictatorships. (Though even then I would say they are still governed by the Will Doctrine: a people will get the government they deserve.)

[mitsuaki hayase]

[flying_pig319]

[Rangi-nui]

Well I really like the american government but hate the american people. The people are lazy and fat, but the government has the balls to go out and kick arse when it counts! I wish Russia and America would go back to the good old days, but this time have a really good nuclear war!

[4yuan]

america is not safe now...i don't like it

[jarczis]

I love america this is my dream .music basketball this the best in the world and I love this very very much.People I will be training and maybe i will be in the nba please give some people conectet with this environment.

[BourneNOIR]

I'm not sure if this is adding fuel to the fire, but I thought that I should bring this up since this forum seems to have people capable of civilized discussions.

I don't know, but it seems like the world sometime takes the positive things the US does for the world for granted (I know many will disagree with this, because this is just an opinion), and only points out the negative impacts. And that the negative impacts alone is a good enough reason to be angry with the US.

Just like some people would agree that the anger against the US stems from the results of the US butting into other people's affairs. Thus the hostility towards the US was provoked. Same thing could be said of the US. Remember, the US tried to stay out of WWII until the attack on Pearl Harbor. Remember, the U.S. was attacked many many times during the Clinton administration by terrorists and did nothing. 9/11 was the first time an attack of that scale was made on U.S. soil (unless you want to count embassies abroad), and that gave Bush an excuse to go on a rampage. Yes, the leaders are responsible for the negative image the world have on the US, but we have to consider all factors leading up to the actions.

Just my $0.02

[BourneNOIR]

[flying_pig319]

[Manuel]

The only American girl who I met was a very good friend. However, when she returned to her country, she was crying. She said that she had become Argentine in seven years.

[flying_pig319]

[Mitchy]

I'm terrified in the ways U.S. government deal with things but can't blame people for their governments' bloodlust... They're being manipulated by their governments, I don't recall meeting any American babies talking like "Let's rain down bombs on middle east!" So, by all means, Americans are OK but can't say the same about the U.S.A...
And about those elections... Do people really choose whom they should be governed by, or are they chosing what had already been chosen by propoganda tools like the press, tv, etc. ?

[flying_pig319]