Ugly Americans: The United States in the Eyes of Europe

Crisis Magazine ^ | February 3, 2005 | Dwight Longenecker

[Citizen Tom Paine]

I am not a foreign affairs expert by a long shot, but I have traveled extensively on official business and as a tourist. The first thing to remember is that all genera lies are false. Every place has fanatics and every place has reasonable people. You have to appeal to the reasonable persons and avoid the fanatics. When it is unavoidable, speak the truth and defend you country and your position. Many times a reasonable view will prevail maybe not immediately, but it will prevail. When it doesn't discretely retreat to present your position again.

I have found that Europe has a good technical base and the capability to produce in many areas. The trick is to tie into their capabilities and to use them wisely.

I also think that Europe is ready for a Christian revival. At the present time the glory has departed from the cathedrals, but I believe that it will soon return. Maybe not in the same form as it was, but it will return.

[APFel]

Just because a Socialist is British does not mean the whole country is bad.

Perhaps not, but all we have to work with is what we read from their press and how Europeans behave online. Of course, the loudest and most obnoxious of them garner the most attention, and this is where we base our stereotypes. This is not an unnatural behavior.

For example, have a look at what a Brit said on an online PC gaming forum. To preface this, he was lamenting the fact that people with better PCs are better at the game simply because they have better PCs. While the validity of this fact is up for debate, his sense of entitlement shines through like a 400 watt bulb behind tissue paper. And I quote:

yeah, whatever.... but what do you think about the whole thing of MONEY = POWER on pc games & the unfairness of that?

For reference and context:
http://www.ataricommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=447016&perpage=30&highlight=&pagenumber=1

This statement, coupled with the dozens if not hundreds of statements and complaints by Europeans about cultural values or America and Americans tend to build up stereotypes. Of course I would be foolish to believe that that quote represents all of the UK or that an American would never have typed such a thing, but this is the most recent example of the European cultural "flavor" that I have seen.

Yes, our cultures are different, and I think the rift that has formed won't be healed anytime soon, no matter who is perched in the Oval Office. So let the culture war rage on and perhaps we can have a victor without a shot being fired.

APf

[kingsurfer]

Good post. I hope what you write does come true.

[Jagdgewehr]

I DESPISE rudeness and arrogance from anyone regardless where they are from. If I'm a visitor, I appreciate being treated like a welcomed guest. In turn, I conduct myself as a considerate and humble guest when visiting.

Thank you for your kindness.

[marty60]

OH......never mind

[kingsurfer]

Yes, our cultures are different, and I think the rift that has formed won't be healed anytime soon, no matter who is perched in the Oval Office.

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

Dunno about that. Everyone over here seems to love Bill Clinton.

Maybe I should emmigrate....

[ghostrider]

The Brits are located in the Western European region, but they are not yet totally assimilated into the European Culture. The same goes for the Poles and the rest of Eastern Europe. However, you are what you hang with, and they are hanging with some of the most culturally decedent countries to pollute the earth. In the culture war that Europe started, you are either for us or against us. If we don't fight them, they will eventually destroy our culture and "enslave" us as they have themselves. I would rather deal with them now while we are strong, rather than to wait until they have infected our country with the vile virus of their 21 Century Arabia. They must be dealt with, and now is the time. They may eventually find that we have once again freed them from themselves.

[NYer]

While visiting Paris, a friend of mine attended Mass at Notre Dame. He and his wife were surprised to find that there were but a score or so of worshipers, and all were Americans.

There was a thread on this topic a few weeks ago, over in the Religion Forum. Secularism has so pervaded France and much of Europe, that only in the small villages does one find catholics still practicing their faith. In fact, the number of priests has diminished to the point where they are now brining them in from Africa.

One Nigerian priest, now serving in France, mentioned that he left behind a parish of 5,000 to say Mass for 5. He was dumbfounded over the notion that France, a country from which came so many catholic saints, had sunk so low. He summed it up by saying the secularists were so self-sufficient that they believed they no longer had a need for God in their lives.

This is indeed tragic, for it is God who provided for them and can take it all away tomorrow.

[GVnana]

..the growing divide between Europe and America is a divide between theism and atheism.

Rummy was right to call them "Old Europe". I don't worry about a US/Europe divide because the Old Euros are stultified in moral relativism.

[starfish923]

FWIW, Alan Ladd was small.

Sigh. You must be very young.
We ALL know that he was short...yeah, yeah, he stood on a box. We've known that for DECADES. Bid and bad in the Hollywood sense; Ladd always played the big, bad hero. Rooney usually played the buffoon.
It was phraseology, nothing else.

[o_zarkman44]

In the article there are several books and publications mentioned that convey anti- Americanism. But there are only two books we should be worried about.

THE BIBLE and THE KORAN.

Christianity has been attacked since it's inception. Our ancestors migrated to America for opportunity and religous freedom. In the "world view" Christianity is openly attacked because the principals like morality and freedom are strictly defined. Europe has dispised America since we beat back the Brits and the French and took control of our own destiny. I am sure Eurpoe has been meddling in American affairs ever since, but unlike in the past, we have the internet to inform us, where before they were just ignored by most of us.

Unfortunately, there are many vain Americans who let foreign public opinion dominate their mindspace.

[expat_panama]

"overpaid, oversexed, and over here." I countered by saying, "But we bailed you guys out not just once, but in two world wars."

During the war, the retort was that Brits were "underpaid, undersexed, and under Ike."

[starfish923]

Only one problem with your thesis. The liberal media LOVES Marxist authority, such as Castro. Otherwise you are correct.

You are correct.
Considering that they idolize such authority figure-assholes as Fidel Castro, Mao and Che Guevarra, it's easy to see why they have so MANY problems with reality.

[rogator]

"Screw the Europeans! They started a secret culture war with us many years ago."

Whew!
You scared me for a moment.
I thought you were talking about the folks in Berkely and the rest of Blue America.
At least all the bad guys are over across the ocean.

[ghostrider]

That priviledge goes to the victor, and could be another reason to win this war. If that eventually happens, it would not be the first time. However, our standands of hygene are above those of Eurarbia, so hold your nose.

[NYer]

I always go out of my way to extend the warmest welcome to Americans in London and find them to be polite and considerate tourists unlike the French who are rude.

And I do the same for tourists visiting over here. It is not the commoner who is rude but the pretentious aristocrat or, in America, the politician ;-D

[Lazamataz]

The war is always a touchy subject. Often the debate boils down to the American saying "We won the war" and the British saying "No you bloody well did not" instead of both sides saying "Hey we kicked Hitler's ass. We rule!". I always go out of my way to extend the warmest welcome to Americans in London and find them to be polite and considerate tourists unlike the French who are rude.

I appreciate your sentiment. But, as an American, let me remind you: We won the war.

[kingsurfer]

Actually it was a combination of the British, the Russians and the US.

Known commonly as the Allies.

[yankeedame]

...hundreds of statements and complaints by Europeans about cultural values or America and Americans tend to build up stereotypes.

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