How Many Of You Hate America? | Teen Ink

How Many Of You Hate America?

August 21, 2009
By Eilina Sealtman SILVER, London, Other
Eilina Sealtman SILVER, London, Other
7 articles 0 photos 15 comments

The common view of things is often different from the reality. They can be twisted, beautiful images that shield us from the truth. Sometimes people should think of it not as a shield, but as a blindfold. Because a world superpower is taking steps too far. By consuming more fossil fuels than is necessary, by standing still and making no military progression when it was needed, and by waging war on a country and attacking soldier and civilians over a mere dispute for oil. This “great” country, is America.

Many people look to America and sigh with envy at “the American Dream” . However, that dream cannot last long, while America is guzzling up precious resources left on a rapidly crowding planet. These figures speak for themselves about the evident greed of America:



Coal > Production
531,822,000 ton


Coal consumption
1,060,000,000


Commercial energy use
8,148.38


Electric power consumption > kWh
3,920,613,000,000 kWh


Electricity > Consumption
3,892,000,000,000 kWh


Gasoline prices
0.77


Geothermal power use
5,640


Natural gas > Consumption
652,900,000,000 cu m


Natural Gasoline > Production
12,275,000 ton


Nuclear electricity generation
780.1 terawatt-hours


Nuclear energy consumption
821.1 terawatt-hours


Nuclear reactors operable
104


Oil > Consumption
20,680,000 bbl/day


Oil > Exports
1,165,000 bbl/day


Oil > Production
8,457,000 bbl/day


Oil imports > Net
10,400,000 barrels per day


Oil reserves
22,450,000,000 barrels


Usage per person
8.35 TOE per person


Wall plugs > Voltage
110 V


Wind energy installation
6,740 MW






These crimes are forgivable, as other nations are guilty of many similar crimes, such as Brazilians chopping down the Amazon. But global warming is not the most important aspect that we can hold against America. America has extorted countries beyond the point of recovery. Equador, for example, was reduced to a poor scrabbling wreck once America dealt out loans to them. Now Equador only has 5% of its national budget to spend on public services, whilst the rest of the money goes into paying off foreign aid, almost all of which goes to America. Is this right? Is it fair that Americans can bully nations? Furthermore. America threatens, assasinates, and then goes to war with the presidents of countries who refused to run their countries as they like. The war with Iraq is a simple example. America wanted oil. Iran refused to give for no good reason. Why should we just let them do this to us? Us as a world?
Oh yes, because they have guns!

The U.S.A government is a trigger-happy collection of murderous power figures, They do so much to the world, and yet they have nuclear arms and their military to point at other nations, and say “give me your money!” They succeeded for so long due to pure fear, but now other countries have the chance to strike back. America doesn't have all the power anymore. A single grain of rice can tip a scale. Somehow, America has set in a system which everybody likes. A system where people don't think. Where they impulsively buy items that will break very soon. In America, only 10% of items bought for a house are kept for more than a month, and only 5% of those remain for 6 months. America designs products to be made so they break as soon as possible, but will still leave the client with faith in the product, enough so to buy themselves more.

But who benefits from this system?

The aristocrats do. Right up in their trees, lording over us. There are bankers who awarded themselves millions of dollars in bonuses whilst creating a recession that would cripple thousands of struggling individuals around the world. This doesn't cause stress for people living on government benefits, but for the people who are just above the poverty line. America makes those people struggle and work every day. It does so by enforcing a system where the elite (namely money-posessing) people take hold. Can nothing be done to create a fair and happy world?

Well, there is something you can do. You can be fair. You can be smart, and you can think before reaching for your credit card while watching an auction channel. You can PAUSE and WAIT before buying that “wonderful new shave”. We have to know our limitations, and stretch them. Whoever is reading this, YOU are the workforce. You are the people economically enslaved. There is hope. You can work together towards goals such as Project Venus, Save The Forests, Oil Conservation, and Fairtrade. These small lifestyle changes will help you sleep at night. How can we sleep after reading this, knowing that we are only here through the turmoil and suffering of potentially hundreds of other men, women and children.

When a child reaches to the future, who will have the heart to say, “we've used it up, son.”


The author's comments:
Many of you will be enraged by this article. I mean no offence to any human being, merely a minority's actions. And if you can condemn a terrorist group, can you condemn a group of terrorist that don't use guns and use the American people to shield themselves?

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This article has 392 comments.


on Jun. 22 2010 at 3:31 pm
Seabosking05 BRONZE, Upton, Massachusetts
2 articles 0 photos 16 comments
We truly are just the gangster of the world

on Jun. 22 2010 at 12:13 pm
BlueRain BRONZE, Clarkston, Michigan
2 articles 5 photos 254 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Meeting you was fate, becoming your friend was a choice, but falling in love with you was beyond my control."

Yes, I agree. You are correct, there are many many flaws in our country. But as a human race, everyone in the entire world has flaws. Some are more obvious than others, but they are still present.

Please don't blame America as a whole. Don't compare our government to the entire country like you compare one to tree to the entire forest. America is not bad as a whole. The people are not all bad. The reason why it looks so is because the government has been ignoring the will of it's citizens lately. I as an American adolescent have no control over what goes on in our government. I am very upset with what our leaders are doing with oil and other pollutants, but we are not the only ones. China and almost every other country is contributing too.

Until you have walked on American soil and seen some of the beautiful things we still hold on to here, do not judge us.


on May. 9 2010 at 10:09 pm
RipponLeaEnergise BRONZE, Clayton, Other
1 article 4 photos 76 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;how wonderful it is that nobody has to wait a single moment before starting to improve the world&quot;<br /> <br /> Anne Frank

me too! i think every counrty has problems, but we can start a generation of ideas to help with the problems and then the next generation can put those ideas into motion.

Cakai SILVER said...
on May. 9 2010 at 7:24 pm
Cakai SILVER, Houston, Texas
7 articles 0 photos 3 comments

Favorite Quote:
Tu hablas cuando la gallina mea

I suppose that Ignorance is International

on Apr. 1 2010 at 5:32 pm
DayofRain50 GOLD, Robbinsville, New Jersey
14 articles 0 photos 48 comments
I live in america, and i think our country has way too many problems, but so does every other country in the world. Really, the whole entire planet is just a huge mess so America cannot be the the only country to blame. Still, once i graduate i just wanna move somewhere else that isn't on a serious debate or the news every single day.

on Apr. 1 2010 at 5:29 pm
DayofRain50 GOLD, Robbinsville, New Jersey
14 articles 0 photos 48 comments
Just to the environment part, they're also killing thousands of animals and destroying their homes and lessening our oxygen so its not really helping our environment

Anyone said...
on Mar. 26 2010 at 5:41 pm
Tell me where complaining is gonna get you?

on Mar. 26 2010 at 12:59 pm
Silevryn BRONZE, Osceola, Missouri
3 articles 51 photos 58 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;The world hasn&#039;t become more violent, it&#039;s become more televised&quot;

Loved the article. Im finally glad to find someone else that supports my opinons about this place.

Le Bron SILVER said...
on Mar. 26 2010 at 7:56 am
Le Bron SILVER, Roslyn, New York
9 articles 0 photos 8 comments
Also relating to the Amazon and Global Warming. The Brazilians actually cut down most of the Amazon in order to make larger sugar cane farms so that they can power their entire country off of sugar cane ethanol which is good for the environment. For Global Warming, you can blame Australia who was the largest Ozone "bubble burst" over their country or China who's energy is powered by 83% coal, which is awful for teh enviornment.

xoxSHOP SILVER said...
on Mar. 26 2010 at 7:54 am
xoxSHOP SILVER, Roslyn Heights, New York
8 articles 0 photos 2 comments

"The aristocrats do. Right up in their trees, lording over us."

I'm just wondering, at what point does one go from the "economically enslaved" to an "aristocrat" lording above? As Americans, we don't even have aristocrats... those bankers you are referring to are singular cases, not everyone who has money and is in a position of power in America abuses it.

America has many problems, I will give you that and our political system is indeed flawed, but who are you to criticize a country you don't even live in? Perhaps you should focus instead on your own country's problems, as I’m sure the UK is not perfect. I also don't really understand why exactly you wrote this article without having any firsthand knowledge of being American, or how you "hate" America so much. We are not the sole contributor to the pollution of the world nor is our political system the most flawed out of all the countries of the world. Concentrate on making a difference within your own country before you come moan about how America is the sole root of everything bad.

The statistics are interesting, but I’d like to know the source. Statistics are not always accurate and can be manipulated to show what one wants them to show.


Le Bron SILVER said...
on Mar. 26 2010 at 7:52 am
Le Bron SILVER, Roslyn, New York
9 articles 0 photos 8 comments

What gives you the right to bad mouth America. America is one of Britain's largest allies and if it wasn't for America then you would probably be living under a Facsist regime right now. There is no possible way that the UK would have won WWII by themselves without the help of the US and the USSR, who didn't even fight for the better of the world, but for the better of themselves. So before you make ludacris statements and opinions you should see how intertwined the US and the UK are and how if it wasn't for the US then you would probably be living in a different England. Lastly, if you have never lived here then you have no right to bad talk America because we support the world in so many ways that making a list of it would be impossible. So before you bad talk something you should make sure that you look at history and you look at all of the positives that thing does.


Montherieth said...
on Mar. 13 2010 at 4:03 pm
Montherieth, Hyattsville, Maryland
0 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
I have many favorite quotes, but I&#039;ll list just one for this site...<br /> <br /> &quot;The whole thing is a f**king illusion.&quot;<br /> -Peter Joseph

I enjoy this article, and the statistics are definitely confounding. Good work.

Montherieth said...
on Mar. 13 2010 at 4:02 pm
Montherieth, Hyattsville, Maryland
0 articles 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
I have many favorite quotes, but I&#039;ll list just one for this site...<br /> <br /> &quot;The whole thing is a f**king illusion.&quot;<br /> -Peter Joseph

Our "efforts" to go "green" include the rapid erosion of arable land to grow corn for biofuels, the production of an entirely new fleet of cars that are "fuel-efficient" or "eco-friendly" when the production of such cars actually uses well over 20 barrels per car, and the war machine here certainly doesn't look like it's stopping anytime soon. And those are just three examples. The U.S. is far from "green", my friend.

As for our oppression of other regions of the planet... Honduras, Cuba, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Chile, Peru, El Salvador, Ecuador, Argentina, La Republica Dominicana, Haiti, Jamaica, Granada, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Mexico, Costa Rica, Brazil, Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Palestine, etc. etc.... I don't feel like listing any more nations that have been politically opressed, economically demolished, and forcefully attacked by the United States.

You are indeed entitled to your opinion, and I hope mine entertains your thoughts for a time.

on Mar. 4 2010 at 2:54 pm
Phoenix97 PLATINUM, Minneapolis, Minnesota
29 articles 4 photos 62 comments

Favorite Quote:
See lyrics to &quot;Let the Waters Rise&quot; by MIKESCHAIR and &quot;Everything&quot; by Lifehouse

"The U.S.A government is a trigger-happy collection of murderous power figures, They do so much to the world, and yet they have nuclear arms and their military to point at other nations, and say “give me your money!” They succeeded for so long due to pure fear, but now other countries have the chance to strike back."

This is nothing but bad-mouthing America, a country you do not live in and probably have never experienced. Why don't you come visit and see the efforts we common people are making to go greener. About the war issue you discuss, the United States has never oppressed colonies, as Britain has, might I add, and is, in general, a beacon of freedom to the rest of the world. Perchance you might google the verse inscribed on the base of the Statue of Liberty? Anyways, you are entitled to your own opinion; I am merely stating mine. God bless America!

jeanines GOLD said...
on Feb. 10 2010 at 5:24 pm
jeanines GOLD, Stony Point, New York
19 articles 0 photos 24 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;the only thing to fear, is fear itself.&quot;- theodore roosevelt

i completly agree with some things that you have 2 say, but the fact is america is not perfect nor is any another country. but america is great in the ways that anyone from anywhere can achieve what they want on earth if thats they want but only in america is this most posslible to accomplish. but this was a great peice in the way the you put what you believe out there for people who proably dont agree with you.

on Feb. 10 2010 at 4:32 pm
SarahVanS SILVER, Blakeslee, Pennsylvania
8 articles 3 photos 30 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Confidence is the key to all the locks&quot; -- Joe Paterno, Penn State Football Head Coach

1) Fix up your punctuation. It's rather atrocious in areas.

2) You live in the UK. Though I agree with many of your opinions, I truly believe you need to get the actual facts first before you point fingers (and cite them, please).

3) Double-check your grammar before you decide to submit.

on Feb. 10 2010 at 11:07 am
Dandelion PLATINUM, Franklin, Massachusetts
20 articles 8 photos 173 comments
Every country has a it's cons, but America has more pros than most. "Hate" is too strong a word to describe America's down-sides. As a strong-willed female, I know that I would be killed or bitterly shunned in other countries of the world. Blame the war in Iraq on those who started it, not on the innocent country itself.

Henry said...
on Jan. 27 2010 at 4:09 pm
I think we're all forgetting that the "evil aristocrats", as opposed to "sitting up in their trees, lording over us," are actually the people that make jobs! Job providers are those that can afford to pay wages because they have enough money! Far from cheating the working class, they support families and workers out of their own (admittedly deep) pockets! This sounds like a union propaganda piece to me; we're forgetting that the people who run the companies are the people who pay the salaries. Many families would have no money were it not for the CEOs of companies, yet some people still have the audacity to call them evil!

...but although I disagree with it wholeheartedly, this piece was very well-written. Nicely done.

on Jan. 26 2010 at 11:36 pm
TxDragon BRONZE, Saratoga, California
1 article 0 photos 61 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Come and Take it!&quot; -citizens of Gonzales, Texas, when the Mexicans tried to take away the cannon used to defend their town.

That's a good point. Still, that's one thing. You don't have to say you hate the American government for that. You can say that you disagree with their policies.

Henry said...
on Jan. 26 2010 at 4:55 pm
I was thinking the content of the healthcare bill that's being forcefully pushed through Congress. It's been kept a secret from the people as to what it actually says. Can you tell me?

...no??