Anyone here embarrassed to be a US Citizen

Xueli, I completely disagree with you. As I have many Chinese, Mongolian and Japanese friends at this school, they get along just fine. They love their home countries, and they love talking with me about them. We're polite to each because we're friends, not because I'm white and they're Asian. You're generalizing all of the wonderful people I met in China, and I take offense to that. I don't care that China's communist, its better than it used to be and thats what matters to me. Sure, Japan and China do not get along, but I would sooner move to Hong Kong than mainland China, Hong Kong doesn't seem to dispute Japan. And bribery is everywhere, in my hometown white and black teenagers alike would bribe the cops, teachers and store owners to not snitch on them for underage drinking, or marijuana use. I saw it happen a lot in my hometown. I'll deal with it. It is fine for you to have a different opinion but you need to back it up and not generalize the people I have met.

Look man, if your only experience with asian people are in the US and being a tourist in major tourist cities in asia, I'm not expecting you to understand or believe me, but it's something you'll see if you do move to asian, even if it's a more progressive city like Hong Kong sooner or later. If I'm generalizing people in asia, then you are too. And I'm pretty sure that my sample is bigger than yours. You can have all the asian friends you want or go to as many asian countries as you want but you won't understand until you become closer to us. Until you live with us or have a closer connection than just friends, you won't get it. You actually might not even understand if you're closer. You might not ever understand since you weren't raised in this culture, it's not something that's against you, but you just can't understand that mentality

I do understand where you're coming from, but thats not my experience and I don't want someone scaring people off from China, or Japan or wherever. My experience was anyone who obeyed the customs, manners etc. were regarded very respectfully. All of the locals in all of the cities and towns were immensely helpful, especially Wuzhen's hotel staff when I was locked out of my room and my hotelmate was out partying with the locals. Anyone looking to move there should visit and stay awhile and see what life is really like. But I, for one, have Chinese-Filipino cousins and they tell me about the Philippines and China when they visit and have lived there for months at a time. As half-white, half-asians they aren't discriminated, they can speak Filipino and some Chinese. I am not a stranger to Asian culture, but I am making it clear I don't want people on here discouraging others. I respect your opinion, even if I disagree with it. I plan on not living anywhere other than big cities, I hate rural areas for living. But I did visit some small towns outside of Xi'an and I wasn't regarded as something out there, by any means. I spent a night out there and loved it, the guys my age and younger were very interested in talking with me and others, especially about football, and they were just so friendly and helpful. If I have to be regarded as a foreigner or Gaijin or what have you, I am fine with that. Clearly, I was societally rejected for much of my younger years and I want to find myself and make my own name.

You have your opinion, that's cool. I can even understand how you formed your opinion. But as someone who is chinese and was raised chinese, there's things I know about the culture that you wouldn't because you haven't lived that kind of traditional culture. A lot of asian americans, especially if they came to america as a child or are first generation have to walk a strange balance between the values of our parents and family and the environment we're in now. The fact that you have Chinese-Filipino cousins already tells me that your family isn't as traditional as the mainlanders are. When people come to america and are willing to mix a lot with foreigners confirms that they're not of the traditional set. But believe you me, they are very traditional in the mainland. I'm not stating this as a discouragement for people to live in asia but as a reality check. Asian society doesn't like to mix with foreigners. We're (general people, not your friends) polite to your face, but it's not an indication of what we really feel about you. As a society, we're not much better at acceptance than the US is. We just not as abrupt about it as Americans are

There's plenty of things to dislike about asian culture, just like there is with American culture. It's not really the promised land. Every country has it's flaws and areas where it excels. There's a lot of things in America that many people take for granted and it's a shame

China is rough dude, my friend moved over from there at age 8. There is a lot behind the scenes that national geographic doesn't show. I went deep sea fishing with my friend and we were on a head boat. I tried talking to a man who happened to be from china as well. He didn't say one word to me politely and acted as if I was dog shit. My friend from china had a 3 hour long conversation with him on the way back to shore. I didn't even get a good bye or nice meeting you. Now imagine being in communist china trying to be an American finding a job. Your options will be slim to none besides an English teacher. Which the students will degrade you and not have a care in the world about learning English.

I'm not exactly embarrassed to live in the United States, because I am not associated with the things that others do or decisions they make. If it were me making a fool of myself, then that is when I would feel embarrassed. What other people do in their lives shouldn't lead people to believe that we are all the same in our traditions, personalities, and behaviors. People have this unrealistic view of the United States as a whole. As I said before, are not all the same. You may find more people here who are more respectful and courteous than in other countries. It all depends on the individual and their choice, not society as a whole. Being a "U.S Citizen" doesn't define who I am as a person and the decisions I make. That is all. ღ Peace

As a citizen of Denmark(one of the US closest allies) Most people over here will admit that they favor the alliance for 3 separate reasons: 1: you guys have such a huge military and you invade whatever you want, whenever you want, and if there is one thing danes love its being on the winning side(we instantly threw down our weapons when the Germans came in WW2 and as soon as the brits started routing them in northern europe we switched sides). 2: Since all media is controlled by your cooroperations, we might aswell buddy up because our cultures are similar due to the same media influencing us. 3: Our biggest taxpayer and industriholder gets 1st rights to container shipment and harbor constructions in newly invaded/Annexed/occupied/liberated areas, this gives us tax breaks, and we loooove our tax breaks. However, if you ask the average dane of their oppinion of americans as a people... i dont even wanna go there... but know this, Danes will lie like Pinnochio to please you and get on your good side.

I am not embarrassed. I do believe that leaving things in the hands of idiots is repulsive, however as a whole, what America was meant to stand for is awesome. Yes there are problems here, yes unfortunately the limited government officials make stupid mistakes with etiquette and make the rest of us look bad. However, we have a freedom in the US that most countries do not. Yes we have to fight our own government to maintain some of the freedoms, but for the most part it is not bad.