or is prejudice against America considered OK by most of mumsnet?

[VajazzHands]

Comments about America on mumsnet, really ridiculous comments (basically that all Americans, are fat, stupid, god botherers bent on taking over the world) seem to be largely ignored and accepted as fact in a way that comments about any other country never would.

Blatant sexism, racism, xenophobia, disablism would never be tolerated on MN in any other circumstance. Why do people let it go about Americans?

NCT classes are optional cos the NHS does free ones.

the purpose of NCT classes is for meeting potential mummy-friends as much as it is for learning about childbirth.

I wouldnt personally insult an American, every individual is different. But I am quite happy to criticise America. This is not prejudice, it is making observations based on fact.

Just a small selection of where America is not such a great country:
Affordability and availability of healthcare. (Leading cause of bankruptcy in the US)
Workers rights (even Amnesty international has spoken out on this in the US)
Womens rights
Obesity ('fat')
Crime
Creationism (40% dont believe in evolution - 'stupid'?)

I think its very important that people read about these things and educate themselves on things that are important to them.

OP, dont take these things personally, they just point out areas for improvement.

Im impressed that the US elected Obama, he will do you the world of good.

Vajazzhands you should see what some of them say about us in Scotland and we don't have an ocean between us.

I could get really upset but it is borderline racism by any other name.

makes me lol that people complain about american bashing but then make sweeping statements about the british

40% of Americans are creationists? Fuck me.

No idea about most of MN but I love America. As a country they don't get everything right. But in the parts I have lived in and visited, and the members of DH's family who come from there, they are enormously enthusiastic, positive, go-getting people who are proud about who they are and where they are from. Admittedly there are huge tracts of the US I have never been to (most of the bit in between the coasts), and generalising about any country is pretty silly, but in my experience, I love the US.

The bit in between the coasts is the best part, kartell !

Erm, no, sorry, the West Coast is clearly the best :o

America had been a great example to the world of democracy and rights. It is still better than many countries on the planet. However it has the death penalty and it lost a lot of credence because of G Bay and extraordinary rendition. It is still way above many countires but it has sunk a little because of how it's behaved in the last few years. Hopefully it will return to its previous higher standards.

Of course you cannot generalise but I was the one who stated that more Americans than not believe in the literal truth of the bible which is an appalling statistic as it means they discount all the science of the fact dinosaurs existed and the like. That is not being anti american. It's reporting a statistic which is appalling. I also have problems with their love of their guns.

HHLimbo I love it that you don't see that most of your 'facts' are issues that affect every Western country and that some of your facts are wrong! There is no way that 40% of the population of the US does not believe in evolution. You will probably find that 'fact' is the result of a small survey done in an isolated community. I think you could do with re-educating yourself on American society.

Agree OP.

North America is majority white so its "ok" to have a go.....just like if you're English its "ok" to slag off the French.

However, we do need to realise that since the year dot...people have always made jokes about the people from "other there"......years ago I went to really interesting lecture at LSE re wit as a political weapon.....talked about jokes between those in North and South Poland in the 17th century (of course it wasn't called Poland then), jokes within Greeks and Roman society about those "in and out".

I'm not excusing it. You're right to challenge it.

It'll change and in 400 years time we'll be slagging off the Nepalese when they have managed to take over the world .

My DH works for a Texas oil company. We had dinner with the boss and his wife in London. The topic of atheism came up, and creationism. They said after the dinner, "We just could not have had that sort of conversation back in Texas."

Now I know Texas isn't America, but it does raise the question about who has real freedom of speech.

I may sometimes be guilty about slagging off British people using Americanisms. I am not slagging off Americans/America per se - it is fine if Americanisms are used by Americans as it is their dialect. However it riles me a bit when they are adopted by British people as we have our own vocabulary IYSWIM? I hope this doesn't offend anyone...

"Im impressed that the US elected Obama, he will do you the world of good."

Maybe I'm just a bit behind the game here, but what is this supposed to mean?

There is no way that 40% of the population of the US does not believe in evolution.

Close enough....

'According to a study published in Science, between 1985 and 2005 the number of adult North Americans who accept evolution declined from 45% to 40%, the number of adults who reject evolution declined from 48% to 39% and the number of people who were unsure increased from 7% to 21%'

I rather doubt Science would publish a study based on a few Bible-belters.

In a poll conducted of weirdos who like talking about their religious beliefs over the phone 40% belive in creationism.

Personally I don't remember being asked.

Also one last time for the record, our schools do NOT teach creationism. God is never discussed by teachers unlike in the UK. Although just because the UK has CofE schools I don't assume you are all bible beaters who belive in creationism

GimmetheNome - Statistics are always based on a restricted number of people, never EVERYONE. I thought every idiot knew that.

Very funny Vajazz, I like it.

I know about statistics and sampling, thanks very much. So, I suspect, do the editors of Science. I wouldn't cite a poll cited in the Daily Mail.

No, creationism isn't taught in US state schools; neither is ID because one of the truly GREAT things about the US is that despite its religiousity it is secular. The Dover court case squashed the attempts for teaching ID, for now at least.

Capricorn - I think Reagan may have started it, actually - Bush just made it worse and for new generations.

Genuine question, borne out of the creationism discussion (or not) - when did America stop searching for Commies a la McArthy? Or is there still a covert seeking out of Communists?

DarthNiqabi are you Riven? Your posting style is very much like her. Are you back in disguise>