Ugly sentiments sting American tourists

USA TODAY ^ | 3-3-2003 | Marco R. della Cava

[buffyt]

As an A-list celebrity, actor Vince Vaughn employs an array of weapons to cope with hecklers, from a Saharan wit to a waiting limo.

But during a movie shoot recently in England, Vaughn found himself repeatedly reaching for the same comeback. Three totemic words from the attic of history: the Marshall Plan.

[buffyt]

We went to Europe (France, Germany, Holland, Austria, Switzerland, Luxemburg, etc) several times. First time, 1980, no ugly American problems. Second time, 1993, no problem. Third and fourth times, 1998 and 2000, my husband told me there was a lot of anti-American sentiment, and to keep my passport out of sight, and be low-key. So the anti-American sentiment isn't new this year. For us, in Europe, it was new in 1998. And my husband's parents toured Europe and South America extensively, and Americans were LOVED in 1980s. I toured Brazil in 2000 and we were told to keep low profile then, too. Americans had been threatened.

[UncleSamUSA]

Can you imagine the stink that would take place if my fellow New Yorkers started harassing any and all Middle Eastern looking visitors to the city and called them "Pigs" and "Terrorists". Believe me, I have been tempted, but I have not done so, nor do I know of anyone else who has done so. Mainly because we give everyone the benefit of the doubt and welcome them as honest visitors.

The venom that US tourists are seeing from the scum of Europe these days goes beyond them just disagreeing with a US foreign policy. It is pure unadulterated hatred, directed at tourists who have come thousands of miles to visit their countries.

It is abominable, it is uncivilized, it is disgusting. Europeans, whose asses were saved from Nazi sadists 60 years ago, are now reverting to form and acting like the scum they have always been. It will be a LONG, LONG, LONG time before I ever go back to Europe again. And I have been there at least 8 times over the last 20 years.

[madrastex]

We have enjoyed travelling around the world. It is always wise not to be ostentatious, or draw too much attention when you are a tourist overseas, no matter where you are. With the current state of affairs in Europe, the lure of the American road is hard to resist!Add to that, no passport hassles, no currency conversions, relatively short flights to your destination, predictable food and lodgings,pleasant folks who actually speak your own language (well, sort of), and a lack of financial support for ingrates abroad...what's not to like?

[homeagain balkansvet]

Tell the Euros to watch Iraq and if they don't shut up they'll be next. Screw them. I've had enough of Europukes.

[AntiGuv]

As someone who's lived & worked in or near Europe most of the past 15 years, I can add that I perceived the "anti-American" turning point came with the Kosovo campaign.

[hellinahandcart]

So the anti-American sentiment isn't new this year

It sure isn't.

On my first business trip to Switzerland in 1987, one of the ad people in the company felt free to introduce herself by saying "I hate everything about the United States except your music." And her comment raised no eyebrows among the company officers, our hosts.

I guess to their way of thinking, she was giving me a compliment because she loved American rock and roll.

And they call US loud, ignorant, and uncouth...

[AppyPappy]

There is nothing I want to see or smell there.

[Katya]

This attitude is definitely NOT unique post 09/11 or a truism whenever a republican is in office. Just two years prior to 9/11 I spent an evening with my cousin and a few of her friends playing a game similar to Trivial Pursuit called "Sophie's World".
I was at some disadvantage as I hadn't read the book the game is based on, which is a sort of primer through human philosophy, history and culture.
Well, well, well....surprising to all of them...I won!!! My cousin later shared that her friends were shocked and surprised, considering they assumed most Americans to be uneducated.

[uncbob]

This wouldn't happen if America had pride in itself and projected a strong feeling of patriotism to the rest of the world

If we didn't have our papers--newscasters--schools and pop culture ( Movies TV etc) portraying America as evil and their spokesman going all over the world dumping on the USA and President Bush this wouldn't happen

America would be respected and FEARED

The real problem is our internal traitors


When Bill Clinton isn't driven from office and he and his wife jailed when Al Gore wins the popular vote instead of being called a traitor the results are what were are seeing today

[MattinNJ]

I was in Madrid back in 98. The city and the people were great. My wife (who was born there) and I went out to get a bite to eat one night. When she left to go to the ladies room three little sawed off runts said something about Americans. I wasn't quite sure what they said, but the tequila in me decided to find out. Seems the little euroweenies aren't so brave when they have a pi$$ed off 6'3 240 lb. ugly american in their face.

That being said, I heartily recommend Madrid. Aznar has been behind us from the start and the city and people are great.

[jpl]

No matter where you are in the world, losers always hate winners. Always have and always will.

[thescourged1]

If you've got the urge to visit Europe, visit our new friends there; i.e. Poland, Hungary, the Baltics, Romania, etc. More bang for your buck and the people like Americans.
True, there's no Louvre or Dutch dope cafes, but what the heck?

[Pete'sWife]

I so wanted to visit the beaches and gravesites at Normandy next year for the 60th Anniversary of D-Day.

If anyone knows how I can accomplish this without actually standing in France, please let me know.

[ladyjane]

Wait till this summer.They'll be mad that a significant number of Americans chose not to travel to Europe. They'll be whining - just like the Turks.

[expatguy]

Every single day I run across this here in Malaysia to the point when it is just simply stupid. The majority of people just seem to hate Bush and yet when quizzed they repeat the same canned mantras over and over.

Hating Bush simply appears to be fashionable I suppose.

[DAPFE8900]

I hope when i go to france in 2004 the french say something to me...I will just point to the beaches i am visiting and tell them" See those ten thousand plus crosses on the bluff over looking Omaha beach? That is what americans are about."
Just let them say anything to me...

[glory]

"But I have never seen this level of frustration in my lifetime. They just can't understand our push for war, especially the younger generation.">>

Well then they have to understand our level of frustration as to why they are so anti-American "especially the younger generation".

But we shrugged it off. It wasn't personal. It was just because we were Americans."

Is this woman a twit? Not personal? Ok, so I guess she would think it proper if say an American called a Mexican a pig for being in this country?

I'm sorry, but I am having a hard time with this on a personal level. My mother's father just passed away(England) and we are trying to make desperately sure she gets a lawyer that settles the estate who does not have this demeaning attitude towards Americans and tries to rip her off(see, she's been in the states for 30 yrs so in their eyes she is not "really English" anymore even though she's still a citizen of that country). Already, my grandfather's "lady friend" is treating my mom with disdain and saying he promised her the equivalent of 150,000 dollars in stocks(there is no such provision in his will--it is the same will it was back in 1986 shortly after my grandmother passed away and my grandfather updated it). Thank goodness my grandfather had the sense of mind never to marry this woman or let her stay in his home for any extended period of time.
I think the only thing that helps her is she still has a british accent so at least in common dealings, she doesn't have to deal with this attitude. Needless to say, save for the few relatives she still has there, my mother is more than happy to bring her inheritance to the states and invest and spend and enjoy it here--she has no intention of leaving it in the hellhole of Europe where they can pick apart his personal effects and sell them to the highest bidder or dispose of them.

[glory]

"I made sure to tell her I didn't vote for Bush," says Vitanza, a flight attendant who was careful to pluck all the pins off his jacket before heading outdoors. "But the woman said she was interested in my accent, not my politics.">>

Can this idiot stay in Europe..please?

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

Seems the little euroweenies aren't so brave when they have a pi$$ed off 6'3 240 lb. ugly american in their face.

Yep. When I was 19 (seems so long ago!) and in Paris, there was a smart-mouthed typical Frenchmen (booze on his breath, foul smelling turkish cigarette in his hand) well in his 30's mouthing off about America. Not as laid back as I am today, I offered to take him outside and experience firsthand why America beat the Nazi's and the French buckled under so quickly.

To prove my point, he gulped, and turned back to his dinner. My waitress told me later that Americans were always her nicest customers and tipped very well. Of course, she also didn't mind speaking English to them and smiled all the time. Not all French are Le Idiots, but there are enough of them to almost spoil the rest for me.

[glory]

Absolutely and I agree with you. We have the money with which to travel and we will be exclusively spending it to travel in the good 'old US of A.