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 Oct. 10 2010 at 12:13 am
spiritualrevelationrevealspainandrevolution PLATINUM, Eugene, Oregon
23 articles 0 photos 212 comments
im smellin apocalypse, lets go for it buddy!

on Sep. 18 2010 at 12:54 pm
spiritualrevelationrevealspainandrevolution PLATINUM, Eugene, Oregon
23 articles 0 photos 212 comments
awesome man, but doesnt some of india have a class system? you guys should riot against that!, but again im not sure

on Sep. 18 2010 at 12:48 pm
spiritualrevelationrevealspainandrevolution PLATINUM, Eugene, Oregon
23 articles 0 photos 212 comments
wait but yeah, if you live in the uk.... COMPLAIN ABOUT THE UK DUDE! not to say your as bad, but pretty close and your prime minister kissed the butt of bush althrough his hostage of america

SakethBalaji said...
on Sep. 18 2010 at 5:34 am
SakethBalaji, Chennai, Other
0 articles 0 photos 5 comments

its because of your great government that you faced recession and your government is so afraid of indians and chinese stealing allthe jobs that you have to impose laws on companies to stop outsourcin

BTW indias government is not based on USA s and we are the worlds largest democracy


SakethBalaji said...
on Sep. 18 2010 at 5:31 am
SakethBalaji, Chennai, Other
0 articles 0 photos 5 comments

Is it true that UK has only 10 warheads?

yay!!! indias got about 70


on Sep. 18 2010 at 2:47 am
spiritualrevelationrevealspainandrevolution PLATINUM, Eugene, Oregon
23 articles 0 photos 212 comments

1.50s a disgrace to rap(only writes about money, women and power), try immortal technique, eminem(some), common, some jay z, tupac, nas, and maybe scarface and tech9

2. would you honestly want to test out the aim of terrorists, not defending them or any violent factions but seriously dude


on Sep. 18 2010 at 2:41 am
spiritualrevelationrevealspainandrevolution PLATINUM, Eugene, Oregon
23 articles 0 photos 212 comments
as a majority were definitely spoiled monetarily, but no matter how many nice things we have the blood of thousands of innocents still stain our flag

on Sep. 18 2010 at 2:39 am
spiritualrevelationrevealspainandrevolution PLATINUM, Eugene, Oregon
23 articles 0 photos 212 comments
Right! so we should blow them up to prove a point! britain watch out, were about to cement the fact that we are the most secretly corrupt, and war obsessed nation that has been written in history!Woooooooooooohhhh! yeah!(p.s. serious about the nuclear war thing, if we invaded an impoverished country for largely monetary purposes think of what redemption well need for that unfortunately true insult!)

on Sep. 18 2010 at 2:33 am
spiritualrevelationrevealspainandrevolution PLATINUM, Eugene, Oregon
23 articles 0 photos 212 comments
BEST THING ON THIS WEBSITE! I swear  iv been waiting forever for someone to say this as a fact:america lives by the sword, and can be blindly ignorant. read adbusters, check out billboard liberation front, and try anti flag and immortal technique

on Aug. 30 2010 at 7:45 pm
starryeyed10 GOLD, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
17 articles 29 photos 9 comments

Favorite Quote:
if you don't get into it, no one will

I know from personal experience in Europe that not all europeans have the greatest view of Americans.  That, I accept. America does earn its reputation of the overpaid higher class individuals that the normal class seems to give into and let them absorb not only capital, but conversations and influence on youths. I am however and American, that lives in America, that has actual experience here.  If you'd like to judge our country, why don't you try living it first?

on Aug. 27 2010 at 10:44 pm
1fitzy17 BRONZE, Not Telling :p, Other
2 articles 0 photos 44 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary."- Vince Lombardi

Who would win in a fight: 50 Cent of a guy from Al-Queda? Definetly 50, since after being shot 9 times from the hip, might I add, and considering terroists can barely aim (hahaha), I'll put my money on Mr. Jacksin.

on Aug. 27 2010 at 10:43 pm
1fitzy17 BRONZE, Not Telling :p, Other
2 articles 0 photos 44 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary."- Vince Lombardi

Right! Our majority is wprking class people. The writer only says aristocrats because they have only seen our pop culture. Sadly, that's our day and age now. Has this person ever even BEEN here? If not, they they have NO business writing off the BEST AND MOST POWERFUL NATION IN THE WORLD!!!

on Aug. 27 2010 at 10:40 pm
1fitzy17 BRONZE, Not Telling :p, Other
2 articles 0 photos 44 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary."- Vince Lombardi

Right. But we're the policemen and women of the world.

on Aug. 27 2010 at 10:40 pm
1fitzy17 BRONZE, Not Telling :p, Other
2 articles 0 photos 44 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary."- Vince Lombardi

Thank you! Many people here in the US feel we aren't great. But we're spoiled! Almost every new government is based on ours.

on Aug. 27 2010 at 10:38 pm
1fitzy17 BRONZE, Not Telling :p, Other
2 articles 0 photos 44 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary."- Vince Lombardi

Absolutly true. the US and UK are the greatest allies in the world. Don't forget: We've bailed your butt (wish I could say worse) in wars and conflicts so many times! Also, the UK has like 10 nuclear warheads. We have 1,200, and are the most powerful in the world.

on Aug. 27 2010 at 1:25 pm
StarlightStormcloud, Pasadena, California
0 articles 3 photos 34 comments
I can't believe you're from the UK.  This is pretty disrespectful in that it makes huge generalizations that lack analytical and factual backup.  It's theatrical and also very stupid.  Okay, so I let my legs stay hairy and this is supposed to save the world how?  I am sickened by the lack of faith in the country that has provided so much for us (us living here, that is).  Using "America" in your title was inappropriate and ignorant.  All of the stats you gave and points you discussed had to deal with "Americans" and "American consumption" and only certain Americans at that.     

saimne SILVER said...
on Aug. 27 2010 at 1:13 pm
saimne SILVER, Cerritos, California
5 articles 0 photos 60 comments

Favorite Quote:
I see humans, but no humanity.

thank you! i was very irked when i saw the author was from outside this country!!

saimne SILVER said...
on Aug. 27 2010 at 1:08 pm
saimne SILVER, Cerritos, California
5 articles 0 photos 60 comments

Favorite Quote:
I see humans, but no humanity.

and the middle east isnt?! you're kidding right ?

saimne SILVER said...
on Aug. 27 2010 at 1:06 pm
saimne SILVER, Cerritos, California
5 articles 0 photos 60 comments

Favorite Quote:
I see humans, but no humanity.

Oh my goodness!! i just saw where you r from! its one thing to have an AMERICAN complain about america, but a FOREIGNER?! great.

saimne SILVER said...
on Aug. 27 2010 at 1:04 pm
saimne SILVER, Cerritos, California
5 articles 0 photos 60 comments

Favorite Quote:
I see humans, but no humanity.

this is absolutely RIDICULOUS! this nation should not be held as responsible for the consumption of oil, when there are other countries, cough cough China, are consuming at the same rate! iraq has NOTHING to do with oil since we get more than enough from canada and south/central america! trigger happy? ha! other countries strike back? what have we done to them?! the only enemies we hav are authoritarian, corrupt, dictatorships who envy our DEMOCRACY!