Hey Maureen. Check out the address. Even children know the PM's address in London.
Posted on 11/21/2004 8:23:44 AM PST by Chi-townChief
FLORENCE, Italy -- I sure picked an interesting time to move across the Atlantic. Regardless of the outcome, I knew much debate would ensue after this month's U.S. Presidential election. If Democratic challenger John Kerry had pulled it out, celebrations would have erupted all over Europe for a man regarded by many as the last hope for peace, love and understanding in these troubled times. But since President George W. Bush won re-election, the mood among much of the population here is one of indcredulity. Shock. And genuine apprehension about how the U.S. President's subsequent policies will affect everything from global warming to future world conflicts.
One gets the sense that the citizens of Europe comprise one big "blue state" that surely would have sent Kerry to the White House by large margins.
But on this continent, where so many of the national economies depend on tourist spending from abroad, how will this month's election -- now that the majority of the electorate has spoken -- affect their perceptions of American tourists who will travel here in the future?
I must admit that for me, an American who relocated to Florence less than three months ago, Nov. 3 was a tough day. Despite our Democratic leanings, a fellow American expatriate journalist friend and I were genuinely reluctant to leave the house the morning after the election, wondering how we'd be greeted in the streets by puzzled Italians. So we were determined to stalk around Florence behind our ever-present dark shades, chatting as much as possible in broken Italian, and not calling attention to our American selves. Sure enough that week, we were constantly asked how we felt about the Bush victory. (Many expressed surprise at our ability to vote absentee and at least were pleased we made our voices heard from across the ocean.) In this country where citizens staged massive demonstrations before the start of the war in Iraq -- despite Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's support of both Bush and the invasion -- the Republican president's win was seen as a giant leap back for world relations.
Which really is incredible when one flashes back to Sept. 11, 2001, that horrific day when people worldwide, including all across Europe, proclaimed, "We are all Americans today." Riccardo Zucconi, a 58-year-old owner of four upscale Florentine hotels, recalls a gathering in the city's famed Piazza della Signoria that fateful night. Thousands of people came out to express solidarity with the United States, he said, many clutching American flags they'd bought at shops around town. Zucconi -- whose hotels and wine bars host many U.S. tourists -- remembers giving his small flag to some Americans he met that night.
Times certainly seem to have changed. Says Zucconi: "The spirit of the 11th of September is gone just because of the war in Iraq."
In the United Kingdom, says 26-year-old Tom Harrow -- himself a recent transplant to Florence -- "American stock of being the world leader has suffered as a result of the incumbent president, not in the least because it affects us." A former officer-in-training with the British Army -- and with friends serving in Iraq -- he cites his country's increasing involvement in that conflict as one example. Plus, the recent vote "diminishes faith in the American people -- it seems against reason." Harrow says that to many in the U.K., it's more important who sits in the White House than who lives in the British prime minister's residence at 20 Downing Street. No wonder the Guardian newspaper in London urged readers to write to independent voters in Ohio's Clark County in a much-maligned effort to sway presidential votes Kerry's way.
From trattoria owners to mobile phone dealers, from Italian language classmates to taxi drivers, I'm quizzed daily in both English and Italian: "Are you happy about Bush?" Once they hear my frustration, they feel comfortable sharing theirs for as long as I'll listen. Admittedly, it's much easier in Europe these days for those of us who voted for "the other guy," as we were as surprised and disheartened by the final vote as are most of the Europeans we encounter in the streets. One young American female student says that even the Senegalese street vendors -- the ones peddling fake Louis Vuitton bags that tourists nearly trip over on every corner in Florence -- have come up to her saying, "Man, we're sorry."
And while no one I've talked to has seen overt hostility directed at Americans, nor really expects to, they know Europeans want to engage willing Americans in conversation, wanting desperately to make sense of what seems unfathomable to many on this continent. Of course, no tourist or traveler wants to be forced to talk politics -- or to apologize for or explain their country's electoral choices -- but like it or not, we're all ambassadors when we go abroad. Regardless of where one stands on the "red" or "blue" political spectrum, the recent election offers an incredible opportunity to share a view from the American homeland. And if I can play a small role in helping shed some light on my country, it's a small price to pay for living here during a time of intense change.
"Europeans are much more into world politics than Americans -- they know every single nuance," says Ricki Stevenson, an American journalist living in France and founder of Black Paris Tours, which offers behind-the-scenes tours about black history in the City of Light. It's little wonder they do, as they feel as much a stake in our presidential elections as we do. (Interestingly enough, Stevenson says the French often seek out African Americans taking her tours, wanting to engage them in discussions about the Iraq war and U.S. foreign policy.)
Because many Europeans consider this month's Bush win as a vote for U.S. isolationism, they wonder if this signals Americans' unwillingness to travel, to connect with folks from other parts of the world.
Despite their frequent penchant for fatalism, some Italians actually express hope that just maybe a second Bush term might prove uniting, that somehow the strained trans-Atlantic relationship will be bandaged up and healed. They realize it's in all our best interests for the hard feelings to soften -- and from a very pragmatic standpoint, for the battered dollar to rise in value and spur Americans to return to Europe in large numbers.
"Of course (Europeans) were sorry about the election and Kerry," Zucconi says, "but now they say we must find a way to rebuild a relationship with George Bush and the United States, because there is no other way."
It may have taken three long years for the historic European-American bond to weaken, but I'll bet it takes more than a little time to restore the bruised friendship and trust. But for those of us who believe travel is one of the best ways to shrink not only physical distance but also global misunderstandings, we can only hope.
Over the next year, Chicago native and freelance writer Maureen Jenkins will write monthly about her expatriate experiences in Europe for the Chicago Sun-Times Travel section.
mailto:travel@suntimes.com
Part of me thinks that we are just one again a decade or so ahead of the Euros, that we will see a trending to the right and to tradition over there too in the next 10 years. That may just be wishful thinking on my part.
The political control of the media has and the bias has reached levels not seen since the Nazis. It is, however, so at odd with reality that I wonder if they can keep it up.
The one thing that is deeply troubling is that they have substantially brainwashed a large part of s generation of young people. I do not see how to counteract that at this time.
It is my guess (and hope) that as the US starts to turn around and the Euros have to come to terms with the fact that we are a highly competetive and leading nation then they will sober up a bit. We saw a glimmer of this in this years Olympics. I think that we will see the that all the bright hopes pinned on the EU will fade a bit. RIght now they are believing their own PR.
good story
Europeans like to talk to Americans to a) practice their English, b) sell them trinkets, c) grind their own political axes about America in general, pretty much in that order. If the American is a girl, there are additional reasons. The election just gave them an opening to start talking and open a conversation, so for them, it was a blessing, regardless of the result.
I was approached by two people in Frankfurt recently and both wanted to know why we re-elected Bush. To keep the conversation short and simple I told them that Europeans can't fathom the effect 9-11 had on the US. One was a woman and she wondered why Farenheit 9-11 hadn't changed my mind. When I told her it was propoganda she just stood there with her mouth open.
"Europeans are much more into world politics than Americans -- they know every single nuance," says Ricki Stevenson, an American journalist WRONG Ricki, They know the garbage fed to them by their one-opinion leftist or left-leaning press for the most part. There are "ignoranuses" everywhere, even in Europe.
The Euros and others abroad are always under the impression that something crazy is happening here, cuz all they meet are Dem-left ex-pats and Bush(or Reagan) keeps getting elected here. Hey sophisticated Euro-morons: the ex-pats are NOT representative of this country. They are State Dept officials, Academics, and artists all overwhelmingly skewed politically to, you guessed it, the LEFT (which you guys think is the center). Some are also cowards who disagree with the Euro/Left but won't tell you.
Finally, genius ex-pats and Eurons: FACT 1: America is successful (by many counts). FACT 2: America is different. Is there a chance these two things are related? Ya think? Do you understand that most Americans do NOT want to be like you?
Her idiotic editor at the Sun-Times also.
Language evolves, Kerry is 'nuanced', eurotrash are 'nuanced',
hence, nuance = delusional and able to sell out at the drop of a hat.
Exactly. We are Americans because our ancestors did not want to live in Europe (and elsewhere) anymore. And that's just the way I like it.
Hey Maureen. Check out the address. Even children know the PM's address in London.
"Europeans are much more into world politics than Americans -- they know every single nuance," says Ricki Stevenson, an American journalist living in France and founder of Black Paris Tours, which offers behind-the-scenes tours about black history in the City of Light. It's little wonder they do, as they feel as much a stake in our presidential elections as we do. (Interestingly enough, Stevenson says the French often seek out African Americans taking her tours, wanting to engage them in discussions about the Iraq war and U.S. foreign policy.)
Now, now, didn't you read? The British PM must of moved. We Americans just aren't keeping up with world events.
Pot. Kettle. Black.
My response to this, when asked by folks outside of the US, is that their media isn't telling them the truth. Usually a few examples (calling the greatest advance in military history a 'quagmire') illustrate the point.
"But since President George W. Bush won re-election, the mood among much of the population here is one of indcredulity."
Something else that really bothers Europe is America's growing attitude of anti-Europeanism. In the past, Europeans who were anti-American were safe in that attitude since Americans usually reacted like a Golden Retriever whose nose was smacked. Not any more.
It isn't isolationism since no one I know has cancelled trips and we certainly are more engaged throughout the world politically and militarily. It's the idea that Americans can voice a loud FU at the Europeans for the first time, and they don't like it.
What parts of Italy did you visit?
Wait....let me see if I understand this. They spout anti-American hatred at every turn, their papers and televisions spew all kinds of vitrol about us, and they wonder if it's going to affect their tourism? And they think WE'RE ignorant?
I would love to be in europe these days I could have some fun with this."Of course we voted for bush we love war it's what we're good at""Once we finish with the middle east we're comming to europe you'll all be Americans soon""you don't like Bush? wait till we elect Cheney"
You always seem to have such thoughtful and knowledgeble posts. Thank you!
Europeans are ignorant. They do not have the same access to information that we do in the USA. The notion that europeans are more knowledgable about world affairs is absurd. The more correct statement is that europeans are more vocal about imposing a socialist agenda on all international relations.
I like how the author says everyone asks "Are you happy about Bush?"
Because if the American says yes, the European either shuts up or agrees. If the American says no, the European either shuts up or agrees. Why? 90% of the people the author speaks to are SELLING SOMETHING.
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