[icantevenhold]

This kind of sums up my sentiment.

All throughout my adult life the US (for all its apparent faults) was to me a shining example of progress and humanity. It was the best large scale implementation of human rights, laws, and democracy. Sure it was far from perfect but “as good as it gets, for now”

Became very disillusioned with that image of the US in the last couple of years. Maybe it’s always been like that - but the recent cronyism, the blatant openly displayed corruption and complete disregard for all the values it used to champion really destroyed the good image I had of the US.

In years to come they will realise what this loss of image (or “aura” as the kids would say) really means in a very practical and blunt sense.

[j_maffe]

> was to me a shining example of progress and humanity.

Which country was the US bombing to the ground at this period you're reminiscing on?

[mrtksn]

You don't get it, the US government could have been bad or good but that wasn't the concern when it comes to America. America was a separate thing from the folks in Washington, some politicians and might have done very bad things or the military industrial complex might have pushed the politicians to start wars but this wasn't what America stands for. Americans used to be the good guys, even when bombing kindergartens in the Middle East because whoever was responsible for that would have had paid for it in front of the American legal system or American people.

[j_maffe]

> because whoever was responsible for that would have had paid for it in front of the American legal system or American people

That literally never happened.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haditha_massacre?wprov=sfla1

> By June 17, 2008, six defendants had their cases dropped and a seventh was found not guilty.[5] The only one of the eight charged to face punishment was Staff Sergeant Frank Wuterich. On October 3, 2007, the Article 32 hearing investigating officer recommended that charges of murder be dropped and Wuterich be tried for negligent homicide in the deaths of two women and five children.[6] Further charges of assault and manslaughter were ultimately dropped. Wuterich pled guilty to the only remaining charge, one count of negligent dereliction of duty, and was convicted on January 24, 2012.[7][8]

[mrtksn]

It doesn't matter, that was the perception and the expectation. Americans themselves were used to seen as blameless, since those things were against what US stands for.

[notabotiswear]

Dude, seriously, what are you smoking? Some nutcases literally flew a plane into civillian buildings as a response to the works of these Washington minority.

[mrtksn]

I think you need to read more carefully, you are arguing against things you imagine I said. Write down what you believe you are objecting to, try to find that in the things I wrote.

[bulbar]

It's really hard to distinguish this from satire, because it's so much detached from reality. I deduce it's not satire from the other posts here.

Labeling 300+ million people as "the good guys" grouping then by nation (I assume with "Americans" you mean US American citizen and not, for example, Mexicans?) but then trying to detach a nation from its politics is wild and the notion of "they are the good guys even when they do terrible things" is some weird circular or contradicting argument (depending on how I've wants to play that).

[ForHackernews]

American soldiers committed the Mỹ Lai Massacre.

American soldiers trained their weapons on those Americans to halt the killing.

America has always contained multitudes, but chose to see the best in itself and the world saw it reflected in that light.

One of the most shocking things to me was visiting Vietnam and going to the Museum of American War Crimes in Ho Chi Minh City and almost the first thing you see walking in is the words of the US Declaration of Independence in enormous letters, printed across an entire wall: "We hold these truths to be self-evident..."

They are throwing America's own principles back in its face, castigating America for behaving in a way that is un-American. The world believed in what America claims it believes.

[SidewaysView]

The constitution is a piece of paper written by dead white men.

Principles have never been about that. The world has never been about that. It's never been something anyone who wasn't "that kind of nerd" could believe in. Not even up for debate.

[ForHackernews]

You say that, but pieces of paper written by dead white men have remade the world for good and for ill. All of 20th century history stands in the shadow of Das Kapital.

[AnthonyMouse]

It seems like a specific thing has changed.

It used to be that when the US did something bad, people would point to the constitution and the American ideals and say "this isn't living up to our promise".

Now instead when people point to the constitution and American ideals people say "those were written by dead white men" as if to justify cynically discarding them in favor of something heinous.

[SidewaysView]

The promise of slavers and slavery? The promise of whiteness and empire? The propaganda of the dying and dead so-called enlightenment?

What other promises have you ever had? What did you think justice meant? You losers talking of WW2 and Rome. Now sit back down.

[mrtksn]

Yes, US was also the guide star when it comes to dilemmas. When not sure, check out what Americans do and they will probably have it figured it out without the bias that we may have due to historical reasons.

I firmly believe that the dominant feeling towards US today isn't anger or hate, its heartbreak and disappointment.

[RetroTechie]

As a kid, I used to regard US culture as a source of inspiration. Be awed by its achievements, innovation & military strength. Have great respect for its founders & various US-based historic figures. Be greatful (to this day!) for the sacrifice US soldiers (among others) brought to help free Europe in WWII.

As I grew older, I'd learn more about bad things US did throughtout history. Downsides of its policies. Some of the burdens it placed on other nations. Shortcuts it took to enhance the American way of life @ the cost of people elsewhere. Examples are just too many. The shining beacon became a grey area. But overall, tended to regard US' influence as a net positive.

These days, it's crystal clear to me why so many people cherish a deep hatred towards the US. Again: reasons are many & complicated. I don't happen to be among them, but understand their reasons.

US has fallen from being a shining example for the world, to a dumb & selfish kid doing damage everywhere. Damage the rest of the world scrambles to route around.

Sadly, this is not the result of external pressures on the US. Nor the (sole) fault of its current leadership. It came from within. It's damage the US is doing to itself, and to others.

This will not improve any time soon, I think. We'll take Lady Liberty's flame on your way out, thank you very much.

[icantevenhold]

That’s a good way to frame it.

It might be different for US Americans themselves and a lot of other countries as well; but for a large part of the west this was/is true