Ugly Americans: The United States in the Eyes of Europe

Crisis Magazine ^ | February 3, 2005 | Dwight Longenecker

[Jim Noble]

Alterman noted that in Will Hutton's book, A Declaration of Interdependence: Why America Should Join the World, this former editor of Britain's Observer portrays the United States as being in "the extraordinary grip of Christian fundamentalism" that he worries is "very ideological, almost Leninist," and is bolstered by "tenacious endemic racism," with an economy that "rests on an enormous confidence trick," and in which, incidentally, "citizens routinely shoot each other."

Eat me.

[kingsurfer]

If the Tory's get in at the next election we will be able to slow down immigration to a trickle. Either Howard or Blair will be the next British PM but both will have the sense to support the US War on Terror.

There are allies of the WOT in Europe but they tend to be on extreme right wing fringe which does tehir cuase no good (think Le Pen in France).

But places like Holland and Britain are starting to do something at last.

[trisham]

But, as an American, let me remind you: We won the war.

****************

Yes. Acknowledgement from our European cousins would be nice, but it's not necessary. That being said, polite behaviour is all well and good, but it's the bare minimum one might expect.

[NYer]

But there are only two books we should be worried about. THE BIBLE and THE KORAN.

Agreed. And, in that regard, you may find this article worth reading. A professor of ancient languages, has done an exhaustive study on the root languages used to write the Koran, with some startling results. Not surprisingly, much of the text was poorly translated from Aramaic and Bedouin village dialects. The professor assumed a pseudo name, as his life was and still is threatened by militant Muslims.

The Virgin and the Grapes the Christian Origins of the Koran

[Condor51]

*** REALLY small and puny like Mickey Rooney.***

That comment is patently offensive. Not to mention offbase.

FYI, the "really small" Mickey Rooney was in the Army during WWII, is member of the American Legion, was a friend of Ronald Reagen, is a PATRIOT and LOVES the USA.

And as you've already been corrected , Alan Ladd was short. In fact some would say ..... puny.

[Capt. Tom]

It's a good read. It makes me aware that America is alone in the world, as we have been throughout history.

Being alone isn't what it used to be. - Tom

Germany 80 million
France 60 Million
United States 290 million

[kingsurfer]

Aye but Euroland (I cannot belive they called it that) has about 350 million all together if not more.

[APFel]

Of whom? More often than not the vengeful man fall into the pit he has dug for another.

I don't quite understand this statement within the context of my post, but I'll see if I can clarify what I said.

The constant harping of either the European press or individual Europeans (or any nation or group) tends to build stereotypes within the targeted group (in this case, Americans). When a Brit tabloid writes "how can Americans be so dumb", or when the French press has a paper called "The Anti-American", or when someone from Europe writes something online biased against Americans (or writes something antithetical to common American values), the targeted group will usually come to the conclusion that:

A) They (Europeans) do not like us, therefore we don't need to like them, and/or

B) Since Europe doesn't like us, we can dump their opinions, criticisms, culture and values in the crapper. We do not need to respect an entity that does not respect or appreciate us.

This leads to a stereotype (all Europeans hate Americans or Europe is a cultural wasteland)

I will be the first to admit that I have this stereotype. Whenever I frequent an international forum, I just expect that somewhere down the line one of the non-American members will attack Americans or the president for some reason. It is such a common experience that I expect it like the sunrise.

Like I said, the most obnoxious or loud are the ones you remember, but guys like Surfer on this thread will be forgotten in their moderation (Sorry, Surfer). Thus, a stereotype is born.

I hope that clears things up a little. I tend to dance around my point without actually making it sometimes.

Cheers

APf

[kingsurfer]

Like I said, the most obnoxious or loud are the ones you remember, but guys like Surfer on this thread will be forgotten in their moderation (Sorry, Surfer).

..........................................................

: (

Admittedly I am in the minority.

[CORedneck]

Interesting. Back in 1986, there was this guy who was going to school here in the US from the UK. We would be in the dorm TV room watching CNN. It was around the time when Reagan bombed Libya in retaliation to the disco bombing in Germany. The guy went ape$h!t when the bombing was announced. He went into a tirade that we should respect the terrorists and give them what they want. I mentioned to him that terrorist are like school yard bullies. The only thing they understand is force and getting their @$$ kicked. He even got madder and then mentioned the terrorist will get more mad if you don't let them have their way. The guy was a Senior and ended up going into academia in the UK.

[lowbridge]

The reason people get angry when someone says "We won the war for you" is that it negates the millions of people that bravely fought for the freedom of their common man.

How about putting it this way: You never would have won anything without our participation.

[kingsurfer]

To be honest it would be best not to get into it.
If Britain had not held out for so long or decided to join up in alliance with the Nazis the world would be a lot different.

There might not be a Russia or an America left to talk about.

[kingsurfer]

But I am the first person to stand up and say America is our greatest ally for the last 60 years. I will not forget that.

[A message]

You are 100% correct Jagdewehr.

I will be travelling to Germany next week and as a respectful American I will seek to speak German to the limits of my ability. I will be in their country. It is a matter of respect.

We would only expect the same that a foreign visitor to our shores would speak as much English as they can.

All we can do is at least try.

[APFel]

How about putting it this way: You never would have won anything without our participation.

Many military experts think that Germany would have most likely been beaten by the Soviets without American intervention. The Iron Curtain would have extended to the western borders of France and the Cold War would have been magnified tenfold.

So I suppose, in some bizarre way, Britain would have "won" by proxy.

APf

[blanknoone]

"Eurabia" threatens to become a struggle between two failed cultures, fighting over the remnant assets of the West, like two vagrants fighting over a sheltered spot under the bridge.

A truely great turn of phrase. It needs repeating. May I use it elsewhere?

[jla]

Europe had the bubonic plague in 6th, 14th, and 17th centuries. Today's scourge is ignorance.

[Michael81Dus]

As a German, I hope you´ll have a good time here. I wish you to experience kindness and a warm welcome. You´ll see that we appreciate it a whole lot when foreigners try to speak German (well, at least if they´re not from Austria or Switzerland, who speak the same language ;-).

All the best, hope you get the chance to visit Berlin,

Michael

[ichabod1]

THe biggest difference between the anti-Americanism of the 60s and 70s and now is that back then when they called us Ugly Americans we bought into it. Now we say you can take your labels and stick'em where it feels good.