Baffled over Bush win, Europeans engage expatriates (BARRRRFFFF!!!!)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | November 21, 2004 | MAUREEN JENKINS

[Don Corleone]

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?

The answer is simple..."We ain't a'goin' to Ur rope.We'uns is a goin' to spend our bucks at home in the Red States of Amurica. Gonna go see me some more NASCAR!

[LibertarianInExile]

That's what all good liberals think--only foreigners are smart. Americans are dummies.

And any foreigner that disagrees with them must be part of a xenophobic hard-right party. Review the articles. If the foreigner AGREES with the left, the party they are affiliated with is never mentioned. If the foreigner disagrees, they're always members of a Nazi-wannabe hate group.

[LibertarianInExile]

"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."

I used to worry about this--but I think people get wiser about solving problems via bureaucracy as they get older. It's easy to get more cynical about government the older you get. That drives most voters into the GOP by the time they're actually voting regularly.

[tkas]

I recently spent some time with Swiss friends. They are very supportive of Bush, conservative philosophical principles,as well as this country. I don't know how representative the lib Europeans are, but just like here, both red and blue exist without realizing exactly how large the other side is. It gave me goosebumps to hear my friends talk about the founding principles of our nation. They recently found out that the have been awarded permanent resident alien status, and hope to become citizens one day (note that they made their approach to this country legally).

They tell their Euro friends that Americans aren't afraid to pursue their dreams, that their is an American character that they want to be a part of. They told me that one of the beauties of this country is that if you adopt a system of values and ideas, that by becoming a citizen, you are a true American. Thomas Jefferson then belongs to them as much as me. I was getting misty, and was so thrilled that my children heard the love and patriotism of future FReepers! After the election, I sent them an 8x10 glossy of GWB, a copy of the Declaration and Constitution along with their green cards that they had sent to my address. Isn't this the kind of new American we could use more of?

[BunnySlippers]

This would have been a much more intersting article if the author has been a Bush voter.

[F16Fighter]

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.

And to think -- Jesus Christ almost needn't have had to come back.

[sevry]

"Europeans are much more into world politics than Americans -- they know every single nuance," says Ricki Stevenson, an American journalist . . .

Because many Europeans consider this month's Bush win as a vote for U.S. isolationism,

Gee - there's insight for you. 'Euro's are SOOoooo into . . politics. And the nuance is that the President is an isolationist.

So why are the 'euro's complaing about Iraq? That's halfway around the globe from the US. Or maybe this essayist is misrepresenting the 'euro's when only she believes that, not them?

[Baytovin]

All these self-proclaimed 'Americans' living/working in Europe and trying to appease their hosts remind me of the masses of French who must have welcomed the Germans into France in WWII. "...don't let my place of birth fool you....I'm on YOUR side".

[ChadGore]

10, 11, 12, 20 whatever it takes.

[Natural Law]

The Europeans are just now coming to grips with the fact that the 60 year post WWII vacation is over. They are going to have to defend themselves and work competitively in a world market. Bush has given them notice that the US will not bend over backward for their approvals and votes in the UN or posturing against a now non-existant USSR. The bitterest pill for them to swallow is their complete irelevance.

[Tench_Coxe]

I'm glad for another ad nauseum article about what Europeans think. I mean, that really has an enormous effect on my sense of purpose and well being.

[foolscap]

"Europeans are much more into world politics than Americans -- they know every single nuance," says Ricki Stevenson, an American journalist living in France

If they understood every single nuance they would understand why Bush won. What bull. I am expected to believe that Europe is a better judge of US politics than I am. Sorry Europe I live here and your opinion means nothing to me. Get over it.

[guitfiddlist]

This would have been a much more intersting article if the author has been a Bush voter.

Well, let me try to fill the void. The author of this Sun Times article attempts to pass off cowardice as a virtue, rhetorically selling out her country to be in solidarity with the spineless and corrupt European Leftists.

I'm here in Shanghai - and there's a boatload of European ex-pats in the city. I'm playing guitfiddle at an Irish bar ("We have Country AND Western Gaelic")- and after a few incidents - I keep reminding all of the would-be debaters - "Didn't your mama ever tell you - never discuss politics or religion at a bar? And especially... an IRISH bar." This I learned from several Irish bars in Boston and San Francisco.

However, the few times I did engage - were pretty fun. These people are completely unarmed - both physically and polemically. Sorta like 'Rats - except even more out of it. I've enjoyed telling them things like "You people are parasites on the world civility we enforce", and "Yes, I play Grateful Dead stuff, and I'm a Republican - you think that's impossible because you are clueless as to the cultural movements in the US. We've realized it is not necessary to be stupid to be cool. You need to update your slavish attentions to our cultural fashions." All this with a big smile...because it IS fun to buff their little brains.

My favorite line to people who insisted they should be taken into account in our election process was "Well, the last I checked, England and Germany aren't states of the Union, but I've been away for awhile and maybe we've invaded and taken y'all over - so maybe you SHOULD have a say."

In general, though, the proper way to look at Europeans is as wayward children - who look to big daddy USA to lead the way. They don't admit this to themselves - and are truly relieved deep down when you have the gumption to look them straight in the eye and say "We ARE a superpower - and that involves responsibilites that you have the luxury of not having to be responsible for. We do, and we're going to deal with them."

[Rahmulus]

It is a special time these days annoying euros. I'm in Xia-men and the expat crowd is a wee bit smaller. Been here about 6 months with both guns blazing the first couple months. I'm now known as a right wing nut job, which is great. I've heard rumors about another guy out there that may be a tad further right. I've yet to run into him but if I do I'm afraid

"This town ain't big enough for the both of us"