[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.

[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

[LarkNeelie]

Actually it was a combination of the British, the Russians and the US. Known commonly as the Allies.

I think "the gathering storm" is appropos today, in terms of the Islamic mission to dominate the world (forcibly and through terror, if need be). WW2 happened because of wilful blindness. The current WOT happened because of wilful blindness.

The pattern repeats ad infinitum - it is only the combatants which change