...what, am I supposed to answer "no"?

Nope. Because I know that I'm not a gun-toting (I don't own a gun), warmongering (I don't support the war at all), idiot (I have a pretty high IQ and do very well in school.). However, I do know that our leader is an imbecile.

It does. After all America has done for poor, desparate people for decades upon decades, responding to floods, famine, disease, earthquakes, tsunamis, and every other kind of disaster you can imagine with people, money, food, comfort, medicine, any aid they could possibly give and then be spat in the face.....yes it bothers us. If we were not the beacon of freedom, goodness, charity and kindness we would tell you to go f**k yourself, but we will not do that. You can spit in our face here, or elsewhere, and we will still come to help when you need it. It's who we are.

No, I'm am bothered at what the world is willing to believe.

As a non-American I would dispute your alleged 'worldwide perception'. My perception of Americans, from those I have met, is of a warm and friendly people. My perception of guns in US society is that they have considerably more than I would be comfortable with and, whatever his faults, President Bush isn't an imbecile.

Not as much as it bothers me that *some* people have to post questions like this, and like the ones about killing this one or that one, or the ones hinting the USAF are a bunch of killers, or the ones questioning if an American life is worth more than some other countries. It seems that *somebody* hates the American country, the American government, and the American people. *Some* people need to grow up and learn tolerance.

Emmaengine, I like most of your questions except when you get into America-bashing mode. Every now an then you seem to do this. No, not because I am an American, just because I hate bashing period. I would hate Laos bashing just as much. Now to answer the question: I have not heard that the "general worldwide perception" of us is as gun-toting, warmongering idiots. I speak with many people from many nations, from Romania, to Poland, to England, to Scotland, to Australia, to Canada who think of Americans just like any other people. Most people from other nations actually discuss with me the horrors of our healthcare system. I am asked all the time if it is really that bad. Another common topic is how the education systems of the nations compare... America comes up short every time. Basically, it is folks getting to know folks. Now... "imbecile for a leader". Yes. We have an imbecile for a leader. Assuming that people did think that we are all "gun-toting, warmongering idiots" I would not give two squirts of owl poop. I do not care. If the person who believed this wanted to discuss it with me and learn what we are really like, without being rude to me, I would be happy to discuss it with them. If they mentioned the imbecile for a leader I would join them in ranting about said leader.

That's ok. I think people have missed the point I'm making. I support Americans. I support the average person trying to get by raising a family, holding down a job. I've lived in Asia, Europe, Africa and the Americas (never the US) and most people despise, yes despise, the US. Whose fault is this? The people at the top-leaders and businessmen who use the patriotism of others to further their own goals. They don't care about America-they merely pretend they do to make more money and hang onto power. I was merely wondering how ordinary Americans feel knowing that the world is against them because of the actions of their government. I, personally would be angry if Iknew that people in foreign countries had a preconception of me merely because of my nationality. The fact that people automatically assume any criticism of America is 'America bashing, is merely an indicator of how the government has succeede in blinding people with patriotism

Well im not American and it definitely isnt my perception, nothing like it in fact! I would go as far as to say nobody i know thinks this either, I think Americans are friendly people, gun-toting can apply to any country as can warmongering, as for the imbecile leader, have you noticed the leaders we've been lumbered with in the UK??? Including the Queen i have to say! Sorry if im offending anyone here, but thats my opinion.

Yeah it bothers me because I don't own a gun, I'm not even pro-gun (even though in this day and age....) sure, I support our troops but not the war itself, and I don't care if Bush is an Imbecile or not, his term is almost done and I didn't vote for him anyways.

Yes, it bothers me that you people can't seem to get the difference between american foreign policy and leaders and the american people. The only thing I am on that list is a gun toting guy, I don't acknowledge bush as my 'leader'.

It bothers some. Others continue to slap their genitals, yell 'yeeha', go to McDonalds for dinner and say 'we support our troops because we're the best country in the world'.

Better that perception than a nation of sheep led by a family of despots

You get the impression that most Americans don't really care much about the rest of the world. :P

Likely as much as other nations sweat the sterotypical things they are perceived to be. Which means, not much.

It doesn't bother me, because I know that this is not the general worldwide perception of Americans. Yes, the world wide perception of Americans is that we have an imbecile for a leader. That's pretty much the perception that Americans have of him right now, too. Other than that, I've not met a general perception of me, or my countrymen, as gun-toting, war-mongering idiots. (This is from someone who hasn't been inside her own country for more than 11 days in a row since Feb.)