What does it mean to be Anti-American these days?

[Raziaar]

Does the label "Anti-American" even have any legitimate weight anymore?

To me it seems it is applied to genuine Americans more than it is real Anti-Americans.

I mean, just take a look at the conservative elements in the United States today. Back when Bush was in office... all the liberals who disagreed with Bush's policies were god hating Anti-Americans. Now that Obama is in office, all the liberals who are supporting his policies, even if just in part, are still labeled Anti-Americans by the conservative right.

I won't put myself in a position to say that liberals never call conservatives Anti-Americans... but I have to say it is an extreme rarity, when compared to the generous applications of the label to liberals by the conservatives.

I once supported but ceased supporting the previous American President... that makes me Anti-American. I support our current American President... that makes me Anti-American. Those are the talking points from the right anyway.

Seriously, what the **** does it mean anymore... it seems to have lost all significance and meaning. Just like the words Socialist, Marxist, Communist, Fascist and all the other things conservatives throw at liberals these days. None of them are used properly at all, I don't think.

The conservative right in this country really seems to have it in their heads that the best way to discredit somebody who doesn't believe in the same bullshit you do, is to attack their patriotism.

Stupidest ****ing thing ever, in my opinion. There's a reason why you don't hear liberals calling their fellow Americans who just happen to be conservative minded, Anti-American... because it's ****ing retarded and totally unfounded.

 

[Mr Stabby]

Trying to understand modern American conservatism, is very difficult. It's the most hypocritical, self-contradicting ideaology, I've ever heard.

 

[jet_porkins]

There is nothing hypocritical about conservatism itself, rather than the people.

 

[CptStern]

ok boiled down to the absolute minimum:

conservatives are traditionally less educated than "liberals". conservative issues are framed with that in mind. therefore fire and brimstone rhetoric galvanises conservatives in much the same way that abstract ideals of freedom and rights galvanises the liberal movement. that said there's little evidence of "liberalism" in the US's poitical parties. they're right of centre. at least the ones who matter



also "anti-american" has become an adjective for anyone who doesnt subscribe to conservative group think

 

[Maturin]

It's not that conservatives think that people they disagree with are Anti-American, it's that they regard themselves as the epitome of American, and that the state all all its most important values reside within them.

So we're just Less-Americans.

 

[<RJMC>]

I think its the same as lets say someone from a country whit a monarch,and there is someone who is anti monarchy so it would be called "anti-country" by supporters of the monarchy since they consider monarchy as the governing body

 

[Ravioli]

I think America is the only country were people can be considered "Anti-Country" towards their own country. I dont think it happens anywhere else, we dont say "You are Anti-Swedish" or "Anti-Italian" or "Anti-Egypt". You Americans are the only ones nationalistic enough to care about that useless patriotism bullshit. Other countries just dont give a shit...if you dont like the current government...so what? We can openly criticise our countries without being called ANTI-Whatever.

Americanism....*sigh*

 

[The Monkey]

For once I agree with Rav.

 

[Eejit]

Brown skin, wearing a turban and worshipping Allah.

 

[Maturin]

I think America is the only country were people can be considered "Anti-Country" towards their own country. I dont think it happens anywhere else, we dont say "You are Anti-Swedish" or "Anti-Italian" or "Anti-Egypt". You Americans are the only ones nationalistic enough to care about that useless patriotism bullshit. Other countries just dont give a shit...if you dont like the current government...so what? We can openly criticise our countries without being called ANTI-Whatever.

Americanism....*sigh*

The fascists who took over Spain in the 1930s called the supporters of the democratic government "the forces of anti-Spain."

The term has been around as long as there have been fearful, hypernationalist chest-thumpers.

 

[Sheepo]

Eejit always beats me to it.

 

[Raziaar]

I think America is the only country were people can be considered "Anti-Country" towards their own country. I dont think it happens anywhere else, we dont say "You are Anti-Swedish" or "Anti-Italian" or "Anti-Egypt". You Americans are the only ones nationalistic enough to care about that useless patriotism bullshit. Other countries just dont give a shit...if you dont like the current government...so what? We can openly criticise our countries without being called ANTI-Whatever.

Americanism....*sigh*

Yeah, but see... we ENJOY our type of government. That doesn't mean we always enjoy the current administration we have in place, and that doesn't mean we think our government is perfect. But we still enjoy living in America and like our country.

Bill Maher said something along the lines that being a patriot it having the capability of having a lover's quarrel with your country... or something like that, and I think it says it best.

 

[Sheepo]

A mass protest of having to paying to pay taxes with Obama in the White House = Patriotic

Opposing an unjustified and incredibly poorly executed war with Bush in the White House = Anti-American

 

[Raziaar]

A mass protest of having to paying to pay taxes with Obama in the White House = Patriotic

Opposing an unjustified and incredibly poorly executed war with Bush in the White House = Anti-American

Yeah... that's the kind of stuff I'm talking about. When liberals protest, it's un-American, and when conservatives do, it's pro-American.

I wouldn't put either of those things up as being patriotic though. It's just citizens exercising their country given rights to free speech.

 

[V-Man339]

Basically, being anti-american just means you hold a view that opposes a (immature) group/person's remige.
It has lost all of its weight.

 

[Emporius]

It seems to be anything that goes against the personal preference of any person. There seems to be a lack of a bigger picture for many Americans.

 

[ajski752]

Basically, being anti-american just means you hold a view that opposes a (immature) group/person's remige.
It has lost all of its weight.

I believe that V-Man said it the best.
The definition of Anti-American has been flushed down the proverbial toilet..
this proverbial toilet being left winged media...for example CNN

 

[The Monkey]

In what dimension is CNN "left-wing"?

 

[ajski752]

by left, I meant right...

sorry, one of those slip of the tongues... where you say the exact opposite of what you mean

but that exemplifies how CNN is very bias right wing media

 

[Raziaar]

by left, I meant right...

sorry, one of those slip of the tongues... where you say the exact opposite of what you mean

but that exemplifies how CNN is very bias right wing media

CNN isn't the network that the people who call other Americans anti-American watch. It's FOX.

From my viewing of FOX, CNN and MSNBC... FOX is heavily right. MSNBC is leaning left. And CNN is more centrist with maybe the slightest common sense that could be classified as leftist.

 

[ajski752]

In comparison yes. but CNN still would be seen as a right on a global scale...
however i do agree it is to a certain extent centre of the spectrum

 

[DEATHMASTER]

It means being Canadian.

 

[Farrowlesparrow]

What does it mean to be American?

 

[Sheepo]

To be a mother****ing bad ass.

 

[DEATHMASTER]

To be ****ing bad mother ass.

 

[ajski752]

To be ****ing bad mother ass.

go right ahead
we Canadians will stick to the GOOD mother ass

 

[V-Man339]

America.

Oh America.

I personally believe in standing for the freedom that the patriots fought (and died) for, and not for the politicians that have limited/ruined that great freedom.
Noone can ever really summarize what America is or has become in one post.
I at one point said that I believe in America for its people, but the way things are going I've lost faith in them. We love American Idol, reality shows, tabloids, and all other manner of deplorable acts; we set ourselves up to be ruled by the worst "representatives" possible, and I am able to tell you firsthand that our education system has (forgive the language) is going/has gone to hell in a handbasket.

I now only believe in what increasingly seems to be a bygone idea: Freedom.
I geuss 200 plus years is more than enough for any government to lose its Raison d'être.

 

[Maturin]

America.

Oh America.

I personally believe in standing for the freedom that the patriots fought (and died) for, and not for the politicians that have limited/ruined that great freedom.
Noone can ever really summarize what America is or has become in one post.
I at one point said that I believe in America for its people, but the way things are going I've lost faith in them. We love American Idol, reality shows, tabloids, and all other manner of deplorable acts; we set ourselves up to be ruled by the worst "representatives" possible, and I am able to tell you firsthand that our education system has (forgive the language) is going/has gone to hell in a handbasket.

I now only believe in what increasingly seems to be a bygone idea: Freedom.
I geuss 200 plus years is more than enough for any government to lose its Raison d'être.

We have given up our freedoms regularly, education has only been compulsory for a hundred years, racially equal for forty, we have always been frivolous and short-sighted when given the chance, just like the rest of the globe, we have had gangsters and drug dealers and slaveholders for representatives. What makes you think we're worse today than we were in 1900?

 

[V-Man339]

We have given up our freedoms regularly, education has only been compulsory for a hundred years, racially equal for forty, we have always been frivolous and short-sighted when given the chance, just like the rest of the globe, we have had gangsters and drug dealers and slaveholders for representatives. What makes you think we're worse today than we were in 1900?

Clinton. George Bush. George W. Bush. Obama. Nixon.
I'd prefer not to make this list longer, and am rather sure you wouldn't wish to debate on how these men are worse than the previous gentlemen upholding our country through idealism like the original founding fathers did.


P.S.
"Change" would not count as an idea categorized within idealism.

 

[kineaesth]

Oh America.
I now only believe in what increasingly seems to be a bygone idea: Freedom.
I geuss 200 plus years is more than enough for any government to lose its Raison d'être.

ITT: Faux-intellectual blanket statements.

 

[Warped]

CNN isn't the network that the people who call other Americans anti-American watch. It's FOX.

From my viewing of FOX, CNN and MSNBC... FOX is heavily right. MSNBC is leaning left. And CNN is more centrist with maybe the slightest common sense that could be classified as leftist.

I fully agree with you, and my two favorite new sources are ABC and CNN. Also I don't care what people label me, I play video games and sleep in till noon. I'm just as much American as the rest of the Americans out there

 

[Saturos]

Americans, both liberal and conservative, have lost sight of what it means to be "anti-American" or "American" (whatever). Beyond US borders are plenty of groups who hate Americans just for being American, and by that I mean everyone who is a citizen of the US.

Doesn't matter to Al-Qaida extremists whether or not your liberal OR conservative, the fact remains people living in the US are "American infidels". Doesn't matter either if your gay, straight, religious or atheist. (although being a christian or a gay doesn't help)

This is what it truly means to be "anti-American" imo.

Americans these days (every legal citizen residing in the US) are seemingly too spoiled to realize this.

EDIT> N. Korea is another example of a group who is truly "anti-American".

 

[The Monkey]

Clinton. George Bush. George W. Bush. Obama. Nixon.
I'd prefer not to make this list longer, and am rather sure you wouldn't wish to debate on how these men are worse than the previous gentlemen upholding our country through idealism like the original founding fathers did.


P.S.
"Change" would not count as an idea categorized within idealism.

Your precious founding fathers' talk of freedom and justice sounds pretty empty considering they were slave owners.

 

[Saturos]

Your precious founding fathers' talk of freedom and justice sounds pretty empty considering they were slave owners.

It was freedom for the "whiteman only" at the time.

Just look at how the native Americans were steamrolled upon.

I agree it was a hypocritical thing for them to say, but the mass majority of people didn't think in terms of the entire human race back then, only certain groups within the human race. Many still do today. Does the term"racism" ring a bell?...and to think many of the colonists were European. LOL

BTW, it was impossible for the colonists to enslave the natives. They just had too much pride. That's why many tribes were pushed out west.

Just some historical tidbits.

I don't feel sorry for them though. There's just no need anymore.
They got the last laugh as many of them are probably wealthier than even me today what with their casinos and all.

 

[Maturin]

Clinton. George Bush. George W. Bush. Obama. Nixon.
I'd prefer not to make this list longer, and am rather sure you wouldn't wish to debate on how these men are worse than the previous gentlemen upholding our country through idealism like the original founding fathers did.

Clinton lied to a kangaroo court. George Bush was a politician somewhat lacking in vision. George W. Bush has plenty of company in the awful presidents category, but he had a larger army, more spineless congress and ideological movement of deranged cronies than his failed peers. Have you idealized every politician that served before 1950? It's clear that you've idealized the founders who bickered and used dirty tactics and fought wars for political points just like everyone else.

 

[V-Man339]

I idealize the fact that they founded the country on freedom.
Sorry, but after having so much taken out of our history books, we can only learn so much about them.
*wishes that was a lie*