There's nothing wrong with America. You are merely pointing out vague statistics to try to drive your point home. This paints an unfair picture of the "average" American. Yes, we do drive SUVs, yes, we do watch a lot of tv, but yes, we also try to help other nations other than ourselves. You're welcome.

Considering that only 86 countries report their murder rate out of a total of 200 countries I do not see how you can say that the US rates as one of the highest, your figures like your article just don't make sense. Accusing the USA of going to war for oil is down right bull**** . Would you prefer to allow Saddam to continue murdering and raping his own people. Thank G*D for President Bush. Look at Lebanon , Syria is finaly leaving them alone and some ARAB Countries are even allowing women too vote. On teh subject of weight look at the arab population they for the most part are a good 25 lbs overweight. I find your article insulting to the United States and her people. You should be ashamed. I understand that this is an op-ed and you are entitled as such to your opinions, but I suggest in the future before you write something like this again that you do a bit of research. It would make for a more informative piece.

WRITE ABOUT THIS.... STOCKHOLM, Dec 7 2004 (AFP) - Thousands of women are murdered by their fathers or brothers each year in so-called honour killings, a practice which can only be fought by improving women's role in society http://www.turkishpress.com/news.asp?ID=34722

Stupid article. Particuari;y distaseful when American boys are dying in Iraq- and removing an existential threat to Israel's existence. I would also suggest that the 500,000 Israeli yordim that live in America feel somehat differently about the USA than you. Next time don't visit us. We don't want or need you here.

I see this article a bit with humor. Isn't it that everyone in the world want's cheap gas. While traveling in Europe, I could hear from it's citizens everywhere: "Mon Dieu, wie teuer"! Also in regards to TV watching I belive that the statistics are similar worldwide. That also arrives to obesity. Mexicans are now proportinaly more obese than Americans. Only one thing: People do underestimate the intelligence of the average American. Don't get fooled. They are smart people! And to Ray Hanania , the article writer: If it wouldn't be for the Americans you would no be working out of an office in Israel and be able in writing a lot of nonsense.

USA never invaded a lot of coutries which are oil producers: England, Norway, Mexico, ... As a matter of fact they don't use to invade countries which don't pissed them off. That's usual Arab propaganda: they want to steal our oil. If you don't want to be invaded, stop pissing off the unbelievers.

Sarah time to wake up All that Ray has said is true. The Americans and Bush live on and for oil/gasoline. Why do you think the biggest perpetrators of terror - Saudia Arabia - rides scot free of American retaliation? After Iran and her blooming nuclear industry, Saudia Arabia fosters terror groups/hate/death/no woman's rights etc etc more than any other country. But they are a protectorate of Bush's. If we declare war on the US and lose maybe they can rebuild us like Japan and Germany. All the funding we get is only to buy back their armaments and Israel has a billion $ arms industry so our good name (sic) continues. It is time for all of us to wake up before we lose Israel and before there is another war of collosal significance.

particularly when this article makes you stop and think that, the biggest defender of Saudi Arabia is the United States. The biggest exporter of oil is Saudi Arabia. Most terrorist come from or are funded by Saudi Arabia. If we did have oil in Israel, maybe the U.S. wouldn't invade us, but they sure would find a way to control us and then protect their interests. Keep writing Ray. It is refreshing. Some of us understand the humor and long for it.

use your intelegance and befor thinking use your eyes the matter is a cu half empty . half full when yo are looking from down it is empty from up . and if you are looking from up it is full from down .the fact is all are human all looking from down from the earth judge .and the funny fact we thinke that we are looking from the up

this is the truest thing to come from Ray in awhile. yet we forget that we are not the only ones, America is not the only country to be like this America just does it the American way while others put their own spin on it, just open your eyes and look around you no matter what country you are in ,,,,

Having lived 7 years in the US as a student and worked there for a few years, I was able to live in the east, west coast as well as in the heartland. I agree with the article as a comic exaggeration in self-criticism. Americans, in my opinion, are among the kindest and most friendly societies of the world. Their troubles and concerns are not unique to them but are common all over the world. The perception is that being a superpower the US should have been able to solve these problems and therefore it is the target of ridicule by other nations. But as my friend from Gaza said; this is half or a third of the cup. I know many nations who would love to take on the US problems for the other full half. I would, however, recommend that more Americans learn more about the world, its cultures, nations, religions and customs. This was my conclusion as USA’s single most important challenge. If the US is taking on the role of the undisputed global power and change agent, it must be more educated in the diversity of the world. Here I am talking more about the US people than government. Life is a two way exercise where values are given as well as adopted from other cultures. After all, this superpower nation is land of the free and home of the brave who are a collection of values, cultures, religions of almost every nation on earth. Thank you Ray.

All you guys...esp Clayton, Sarah and Mike......will you just cool dowd. For God's sake, this is just a humourous article, not to be taken so seriously !! Learn to laugh sometimes