[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?

[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

[jpl]

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

[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?

[ZULU]

Dogs will bark.

My advice: See the U.S.A. and spend your travel dollars here.

[skeeter]

You have to keep things in perspective and listen," he says. "At its best, travel remains a vital force in promoting understanding."

"Listen" my arse. Remind me not to book a tour with this clown.

[Dont Mention the War]

As usual, the bigoted haters are just digging their own graves. Their countries need our tourism dollars, and as word of anti-American harassment spreads, the more Americans will just stay at home. We don't give a damn either way, but a lot of them will be out of jobs. And that will make me very happy.

[Byron_the_Aussie]

Australia, Buffy. We love you. We **need** you. C'mon over.

It's like walking on clouds. Because Whitehaven Beach is 99 percent silica, the sand on the three-mile-long stretch is softer than anything you've felt before.

[DensaMensa]

Just pretend to be a Canadian and tell them how much Canadians love America. Confuses them good.

[demosthenes the elder]

let them hate us, so long as they fear us.