[Rebel]

the japanese have several reasons for bash the US and we can't blame them, who can say that there isn't a strong anti-american sentiment between them?

And depending on what reasons your refrencing, americans have just as many reasons to have anti-japanese sentiment. That dosent make it right or justified. Japan pulled a good move in WWII, we pulled a bigger stick to end it. We took away Japan's emperor, in turn set Japan up as an economic power. In return, Japan has purched and still controls a number of American companies and if they wanted, could strip the US of the ability to buy/obtain many well-used computer and electronic products. Of course in return Japan would likly be in a militarily fragile position.

Yes there are plenty of reasons for not liking each other, but acting on any of them would be stupid and petty.

Australia is critisised a lot by countries like Indonesia, etc... we get as good as you get. But your country is in a position of power and a lot of focus is in your direction, both positive and negative. Don't forget that there are positive things being said about your country too along with the negative.

Yes, but the positive is usually said by Americans, and is dismissed by the world as ignorant patriotisim. We wouldnt have Germans of all people comparing Bush to Hitler if the world thought anything good came out of the US. Yes, and it's true that the US will get alot of criticisim for being the only technical world power.

In the case with SAC, they needed a reason for certain events to take place and they couldn't do it without the most powerful country of this generation to have a big part in it. They needed to create a world where people have suffered and there is much unrest, what better way to do that? You wouldn't get the same results if it were any other country. I'm sure if the Soviet Empire was still going strong it would've been them instead of an "American Empire" in SAC.

Both the fact that it's set in the future, the economic power that is China and India, I would argue that there are at least half a dozen countries, the US included(EU, China, US, India...) that would have worked just as well. But thats really off the point. As is sorta pointed out below, the US idea partly plays off any remaining fears and memories of the atomic bombings.

Also remember that many animes have dealt with corruption of societies and I know that you know that a lot of animes have set a scene where Japan has become corrupted and is decaying in a pit of human misery...

yes, and just like the bad joke where you yourself are the butt of it, it's always acceptable to paoke at your own country. It's not always aceptable to poke at other people's countries just because they're "big" and "there".

That and it's set in the future... so how can Americans take offence at something that hasnt (and probably wont ever) happen?

It's more the point that ALOT of people, from normal people who watch too much or too little TV to raving conspiracy theorists all end with "The American Empire" blah blah. It's not that offensive, and that wasnt even my point. my point was that it's tiring seeing the same thing over and over again. I never said I was offended to my memory, I said I was annoyed that people cant get a new scapegoat for a change. Though I admit FMP did use the Soviet Union.