The people in it. I never think in terms of countries, only in terms of individuals. So I don't equate hating what a certain political group or government does with hating everything about a country. So when I dislike a certain aspect of the world I live in, it usually has nothing to do with countries - it may HAPPEN to be something that originated in America but that doesn't change my views about Americans as a WHOLE. Of course, there are always some generalisations that are rooted in truth, but I try to avoid most of them - it won't do to apply absolute adjectives to "the Dutch" or "the Americans" or "the Muslims" or "homosexuals" because they are bound to be inaccurate about a number of people within that group. I realise that sometimes you can't have a debate without generalising things, so I'm well aware that I might use them myself, but they shouldn't be taken absolutely.
So, to me America can be just as good or bad as any other country - I have friends there, I have friends in other countries... to me it doesn't really matter. I think there's good people and bad people no matter where you go.
Edit: BTW, I realise it's precisely this way of thinking that must seem alien to some Americans (see what I mean about everybody making these assumptions about other nations? You can't avoid doing it, and they often are, as I said, rooted in truth
). As I was saying, some of the Americans I've met here will not understand what I mean since they very definitely think in terms of countries, it's a cultural difference that can cause quite a few misunderstandings sometimes.
[ 07-07-2002, 12:37 PM: Message edited by: Melusine ]