Serious question about Brit Bashing on Free Republic...

[BritishBulldog]

Just lately (noticeably since the US election result) there seems to be an awful lot of anti-British sentiment on here (there always was a little but I put that down to a handful of xenophobic kiddies)

What I would like to know is do most Freepers now share the low opinion that some (many) on here seem to have of our nation or is it just a small (but very vocal) minority of morons?

I've enjoyed this forum (for the relatively short time that I've contributed) and have always liked Americans in general, but I now find myself reconsidering my thoughts on both.

If we Brits are not liked or wanted around here, I think I'll probably discontinue my involvement.

[katana]

It's a vocal minority who are sensitive to slights in your press against our intelligence. If the New York Times, oops bad example, say some widely circulated American paper called Mr. Blair and the British people a pack of morons who are too stupid to be allowed to vote there are probably quite a few on your side of the pond who would react very strongly.

I'd respectfully suggest you let it roll off your back or join the fray and reply in kind, but please don't go away. Most of us are pretty fond of our cousins. We do not, however, like being called names especially the European press, British included.

[cardinal4]

I think the bashing is a result of the Guardian, or whoever it was, writing a letter to the people in OH, that angered some. There were also those unflattering front page leads comment on the number of dumb people in America.

[BigSkyFreeper]

I take offense to the Liberal media in Britain that calls Bush voters "retarded". It smacks of the same childish vitriol spewed from the left when they continually called President Bush dumb, an idiot, a chimp, a warmongering cowboy, the bar-b-que king, a drunkered married to a cocaine addict, a sissy cheerleader.....etc, etc.

[latina4dubya]

at first i thought you meant Brit Hume, and i became quite angry...

[RS]

Must have something to do with that ferris wheel you put up that spoils all the nice tourist pictures of Big Ben :-)

[Yasotay]

Just lately (noticeably since the US election result) there seems to be an awful lot of anti-British sentiment on here

When "Drudge" right after the election, headlines a British tabloid saying words to effect "How can 59,000,000 Americans be so dumb?" Yes people here at FR get alittle upset. Afterall the British did burn down our capital .... and gave the Soviets all of our nuclear secrets.... :)

[PajamaTruthMafia]

When Americans attack Brits the way the Brits have been attacking Americans, then you'll have EARNED the right to submit such a post.

When our papers call for the assassination of your PM then you'll have earned the right.

When our people send letters to your citizens trashing your PM and advocating the candidacy of another, then you'll have earned the right.

When our papers ask how so many Americans can be "So Dumb" then you'll have earned the right.

When our press attacks the beliefs of the majority of your people, then you'll have earned the right.

So, I suggest, you ask yourself why so many Brits are so hostile to Americans. When we show you the same level of animosity, then you'll have earned the right to ask your question. Right now, we are the ones who deserves answers.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

Some people go overboard.

However a criticism of British policy or British media should not be construed as a criticism of all British.

Some fail to make the distention.

Also part of it has to do with the fact that both sides hold principles and beliefs that the other finds honestly bewildering. Those who dig a little into the history of both societies will find logical reasons for the foundations of those principles and beliefs even if they are perhaps no longer valid.

We are not the same. That is ok. And if some of us come across as a bit snippy at times, well, we have been under a lot of fire lately.

If I have said anything to make you feel unwelcome I apologize. The British that I know I tend to like, (with one exception but that is a pretty good rating there are dozens of Americans that I dislike)

So please stay.

[IWONDR]

Unfortunately, we don't hear as much from MadIvan as we used too. I miss his insight.

[RVN Airplane Driver]

BritishBulldog wrote: If we Brits are not liked or wanted around here, I think I'll probably discontinue my involvement.

Having spent time in your lovely country in the early '70's I fell in love with it's citizens....because they knew that had it not been for the "colony's" they would have been speaking a different language. The problem with the "Brits" today is they have apparently forgotten that history lesson. The world's bad guys will put your heads on a platter...much faster than Hitler would have. Wake up!!!!

[Rocky]

Personally, I appreciate the British contribution in Iraq and Afghanistan. The UK has been our best ally.

I am well aware that the UK has more than their share of liberal kooks. But I assume that if you want to participate on FreeRepublic you are not one of them.

I am always interested in hearing intelligent opinions from across the pond. Please don't bail out because of a few cranks here. Let it roll off like water off a duck's back.

[Types_with_Fist]

Oh.....I thought you meant Brit Hume...

That's what I thought too...LOL. But, I haven't seen anyone here bash either Brit.

[rstevens]

For the most part we love the Brits, but we just don't like them, or the French or anyone else telling us how to run our affairs, especially our elections.

We Freepers love and respect our President and don't appreciate Eurpoeans who call him stupid or cowboy etc.

For the most part, we Freeper respect and admire your Tony Blair and will and do defend him if and when he is attacked here. We especially love "IVAN".

[AdamSelene235]

Brits are some of the most entertaining folks on Earth.

HOWEVER....Britian is ground zero for Marxism. The Communist Vampires didnt get their ideas from Russia or China, they got them in the finest universities of England and Germany.

British Fabian Socialists really pissed in the ideological well. Their thinking pervades both the right and left in modern America. The Fabians dug the grave of the British Empire and turned the greatest nation on Earth into a hideous parody of it former self.

Britian serves as a warning as to what may befall America if we do not rid ourselves of the Government Supremacists.

Nothing personal, mind you.

[zwerni]

agreed - we are a little pissed off at the brits. and "old europe" on the whole. basically for the overall lack of respect to americans and the current administration.

We see the media and we pay attention to the polls of the british people indicating their disdain for us "dumb" americans.

[savagesusie]

Tony Blair's speech after 9-11 about the war on terror was fantastic and so Churchillian that I won't say anything negative about your country. Your Muslim population has me worried though.

[MEG33]

We were pilloried in the British press, the SUN asks how almost 60,000,000 of us could be so dumb..There was a thread on the Guardian "How to assassinate Bush and Cheney.".a writing campaign by the Guardian to interfere in our election...
.I love our Brit allies, respect tremendously the political cost to Blair for his support of us, mourn the deaths of Brit soldiers and am grateful for their service but the nasty press and condescension has had negative effects.

[JaguarXKE]

Don't take it personally just 'cause you got a weird accent and walk funny.

[Bon mots]

You are WAAAAYYY too sensitive.

We love Brits.
We just hate the ones who read "The Guardian" and other such drivel.

Don't forget, we also had 45 million Americans who voted for Lurch, so we can't stand some of our own either.
Please stay!

BTW - Your food still sucks ;-)

[HitmanLV]

Dear friend across the pond,

I don;t think there is any such overwhelming sentiment on FR. If anything, FReepers tend to have been big boosters for Tony Blair and thankful for his commitment to the war on terror in the last 3 years. (Tony Blair was certainly no favorite before then, though certainly not vilified by Freepers either).

I think what you may be seeing is some disdain towards the reaction our election, our President, and his constituency (that is Freepers, to a large extent) as witnessed by your nation's newspapers, broadcast media, etc. They have routinely said unflattering things about all of the above, so I hope you understand a natural reaction to that on some folks part.

Most notable was the Guardian (I think it was the Guardian's) letter campaign to voters in Ohio, warning them not to be stupid and vote for Bush. Any way you slice that, friend, it tends to not go over well in the colonies. Indeed, as I am sure you know, Brits telling us what to do caused a bit of a ruckus here 200+ years ago, before and during our successful revolution and most recently in 1812. :-)

In no way should you feel any hostility to the fine folks of the UK - if you see any, consider it residual bluster as a result of that image your media has been generating.

I for one am a fan of your nation - I particularly like Prince Charles (tho almost nobody on God's green earth seems to), for example. He is so homely he is handsome, so goofy he is suave, etc. I am a fan.

The UK has also given us the gift of one of the greatest funnymen of all time, Mr Benny Hill. I am a huge fan also particularly whenever he would tap upon the head of Little Jackie Wright. :-)

I have also had the thrill, via my Italian charm and gift of gab, warming up a lovely young British bird to get her blushing that classic red which I think most of us men find appealing!

Chaplin, Churchill, the Beatles, Dr. Who, The Goodies: the list goes on and on - I for one never seriously disparage the crown, nor any of its subjects.

Freepmail me if you wish and try to be understanding - I think in that context you could see why some folks might take a friendly jab or two at our cousins across the pond, particularly in the context of your nation's media coverage of our election.

Imagine if we opined loudly and often, in our media, about how 'stupid' you folks would be to elect one candidate over the other. It wouldn't go over well, I think. Same thing here, that's all.

Your friend across the pond,

HitmanNY

PS - There is also a bit of a grudge about you blokes burning down our White House once. But, lets let bygones be bygones. :-)