The USA is a bit like the definition of democracy, 'not perfect by any means, but better than the alternatives'. Sure, the U.S. often messes up; the support of right wing despots throughout the sixties and seventies by the CIA was pretty cynical and Bush's current environmental policies are disgraceful. However what the USA must not do is to deviate from the path it has chosen in defending freedom. Remember how the world hated Reagan for his opposition to the USSR, Star wars, etc? According to Gorbachev, the best thing that ever happened to communism was ....Ronald Reagan. Remember that the voices you hear loudest are the ones that disagree with you and they're mostly able to shout because of the freedoms your great country bestowed to us here in Europe in WW2. The world is threatened today with another evil, that of fascist islamism. Never forget that your enemies and their apologists really are your enemies. They despise you for your democracy because their world cannot survive it. Ultimately the USA and its supporters will win as long as you remain commited to freedom and the price that freedom costs. Those that love death can never be defeated by those that love life and your enemies today respect your power but exploit your weakness.........and that weakness in their eyes, is democracy. Left leaning newspapers here in Europe write that Castro has seen off 7 US Presidents! 'Seen off'..? Is that not something to do with democracy? We're told again and again that Israel's support by the U.S. and Israel's refusal to give up land to the Palestinians is the main barrier to peace in the Middle East. It's not true and you know it, I know it and those that hate you also know it. Don't fall for their lies. The USA is the only country in the world that has the means to spread true and lasting peace. You may not have much idea how to do it for the best because you seem to think those of different cultures actually have the same values as you, but one day, hopefully, they will.

— jonathan, England (8/7/2006)

No surprises here. The less powerful have always resented the more powerful. As BRIC(Brazil, Russia, India, China) develop, they will get the same reaction around the world as the U.S. now enjoys. It's just human nature. In 1980 I was in South Africa for six months. The goverment ran apartheid and favored Reagan. The new government is more liberal and doesn't like Bush. No surprises there.

— Gary Boyer, Branchburg, New Jersey (7/6/2006)

Great power and prosperity breed animosity. I do not approve of any efforts to export democracy. Those who are dissatisfied with their circumstances anywhere in the world should take responsibilty for initiating change and in the process,create something which they can call their own. Anti-Americanism is a waste of time and energy because all nations who are major players on the world stage pursue their interests whether actual or perceived. It has been so throughout history.

— D. R. Tirado, New York city (7/6/2006)

America is the new Roman empire. It is a political empire largely of economics and back room powerplay that only occasionally becomes visable in events like the war in Iraq. Although the facade its people like to contemplate is that of a democracy, this country is ruled by a wealthy elite who control opinion through media and the techniques of Madison Avenue in the politics and policies of those who nominally rule. Freedom of speech is tolerated as a ventilating escape valve but has no real power. The people of this country are far more complex than either they or those of other countries take us to be. We do hold values such as individual freedom and opportunity that every person in the world would like to see us exercize and promulgate. But we also hold "values" such as racial bigotry and selfishness that even we decry. People of other nations see these dichotomies and cringe with fear when they perceive the "dark" side of America in the ascendant, and they are right to do so because we are the new Rome. However, if any of these other countries were to become the single superpower would they be any better? I think not.

— Bonnie Gill, Los Angeles (7/6/2006)

The thing I heard most from the people on these videos was the ignorance of the American voter. Not only does this pertain to foreign policy, but also national policy. There is so little talk of government and laws in our communities. You ask someone about politics and you mostly hear outspoken people who do nothing about it, or phrases like what does it matter to me. This is a momentous time in the United States, a lot is going on nationally and worldwide. Many laws are being slipped in without our knowledge. I think more videos and shows like this would be very beneficial to us, get people talking, thinking, and acting.

— Jen, Indiana (7/6/2006)

I agree with much of what they say. We have no right to be so ignorant of world affairs if we want to be the one superpower. I picture the American Government like the Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man from "Ghostbusters", walking through the world, smashing everything in its way, oblivious to the damage for which it is responsible. We, the Americans who pay attention to world affairs, need to organize and shake up our fellow countrymen. But I don't know how.

— Jeanne Brown, San Diego, CA (7/6/2006)

I am a foreigner and speak french, so I can hear some pretty nasty stuff about the politics of the USA. As many peoples wrote up here, an important basis for these feelings is because USA stands as the only superpower. But, there is something else. The american foreign politics is driven by its own interests which can be in opposition with others contries one. And there is this american feeling that "what is good for America is good for the World" which hurt the feelings of foreigners. When your president stated "You are with us or against us", the rest of the world understood : "Just shut up, no matter what your own interests are". So, today anyone arguing about any part of your government politics is labbelled "anti-american". This label is often used in arguments within Canada and also within France. When I see the way your administration accuse many americans of treason or anti-patriotism, I don't wonder why so many foreigners are labelled "anti-american". Politics in your country is slightly polarised right now. How could it be different when dealing with foreigners ?

— Yvon Veilleux, Quebec Canada (7/7/2006)

To me this just shows how pointless it is for America to try and "help" other countries around the world. No matter what we do, we will always be exepcted to do more, and the countries we help will never really appreciate all we have done for them.

— Brendan Raftery, Boston, MA (6/29/2006)

The american government interacts with its neighbors as most american individuals do: they interact only when something is wrong. Fortunately most american individuals are incapable of torching every lawn with a barking dog. I understand the complaints, even the hatred of the people in other nations. Personified, America is an all powerful brat, reacting with fury at any annoyance, demanding its perpetual way. But Americans, even those who contribute most to our brattiness through over-consumption, ignorant voting, and agressive jingoistic speech, do not embrace the suffering they cushion. None of us really embrace it, but there are moments in american life when the periphery of our pleasure whispers its consequences: the poverty of others and our own deprivation of what our lives really mean. Citizens of any superpower will always have these moments. Some choose to live within them, and act with consequences in mind as often as possible. But most of us (including myself) usually live with the desire for radical change as a distant ambience, and feel great fear or respect for those who adopt it as an anthem.

— Jay P. Outhier, Stillwater, OK (7/6/2006)

I used to wonder how Hitler managed to derange an intelligent nation. It seems to come down to his Rove . . . Himmler. Lies repeated constantly to the decent but nescient obviously do become virtual truths. And then what about concentration camps/rendering sites . . . subject to neither man's nor God's laws? It is my understanding that Hitler too believed that he was personally directed by some god or other. In America, this is the Age of Incurious—celebrating ignorance and rationalizing increasing subservience to corporate shill tyranny. It seems like Americans do not realize that America is politically malignant and probably dying. Devil-in-drag pseudo-Christians again, following the golden rule—them as got gold rule. Golly, who would Jesus bomb . . . or torture? I am profoundly afraid of our Viagra driven war science— not of death (I'm old and disabled and poor,)—rather for my children's future safety and happiness (despite their having acquired dual citizenship thru their mother)should WWIII—us (US?) against the world start before environmental disasters render it moot.

— John Bland, USA (7/6/2006)