Ugly Sentiments Sting American Tourists

USA TODAY ^

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

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.

"I'd say one in three conversations wound up the same way, basically that 'America is the devil.'

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

More and more, with each passing day, America stands alone. I think it is great! Perhaps this is what we need to rally around the flag and defend this great land. Screw the rest of the world if they don't see things our way!

[laconic]

Watch the Germans in the documentaries on the 1948 Berlin Airlift which saved their parents and granparents from starvation. They weren't cussin' at the American pilots risking (and many losing) their lives to fly food to Berlin. They were begging for any crumb they could get from the US taxpayer and the pilots with the courage to fly them in.

[onedoug]

Visit Israel.

[Mike K]

Vaughn found himself repeatedly reaching for the same comeback. Three totemic words ...

My initial thought of what his response might be was rather vulgar but it fit.

I've had my fill of "intelligent" Europens telling me that Americans are ingnorant in world politics. They don't seem to undersatnd that we set the pace and they follow. From cabbies to CEO's, they're all so ... intelligent. This doesn't include many in the UK, who by and large have the same thought processes that we do.

[Ciexyz]

Visit the US Virgin Islands: St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John.

[Ciexyz]

NYC cabbies could tell those Europuke cabbies where to stuff it. (The homegrown ones, anyway.)

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

I have never been to Israel, but I tell my wife that we should take the kids and go someday. Are Americans appreciated over there?

[EBUCK]

Boycott Europe entirely. Let them defend themselves, feed themselves, make their own cars-airplane....we don't need them in the least.

[Constantine XIII]

We could always do like the Swiss, take our toys, and go home. Keep a big honking military/militia to scare off the coyotes, and make lots of knives and CHEESE! :oP

[Alamo-Girl]

I can't help but wonder if this is one of those Bush/Rove - misunderstimating strategeries.

After all, the net result is we will spend less money in the U.N. and N.A.T.O. and on overseas military installations and peacekeeping missions - they'll have less influence on U.S. politics and we'll be more secure and more influential in the countries that have huge natural resources that can benefit our economy. Hmmmm....

[AdamSelene235]

Oh man, they posted "Tips for blending in".

Here's my favorite shirt for travel.

[syriacus]

'America is the devil.'

Funny.

I though Saddam's the one with the name that means essentially the same thing as Satan. (Opposer)

[Shermy]

A lot of it has to do with Bush's decision to go to the UN, and delaying the war. Everyday we are bombarded with "news" that tacitly projects the UN as a fair and reasonable institution, or one that must be listened to regardless, rather than just another forum for countries, like France, to impose their political and monetary interests. American govt. should be inducing the Euro press, for example a self-examination of those countries own monetary interests tied to Saddam, but this has not occured. Even here, why is the govt. putting forward Iraqi voices supporting the removal of Saddam?

Also the French and Germans are whipping up anti-Americanism to scare up support for their version of a extremely centralized EU. for example, yelling about the American "hyper-power" and the need for "Europe" to "balance" America. The Euro press, and our press for the most part, does not examine the interests, lies, and motives behind various Euro positions. Rather, the affect is to treat "European" opinions as monolithic, reasoned (in the american sense of being just), and "wise." Indeed there is about zero examination of Euro interests, except recently to label Eastern European govt. opinions as subservient to the US, French and German opinions as better.

For the most part American analysts of the situation ignore various Euro motives, prefering broadstroke interpretations about "Atlanticism" and the like. US Academia is totally out of the loop, or waiting for the time when public cares less about foreign policy issues so they can make their wordy, ignorant analyses without much debate. Tell me, how many academics have you seen on TV discussing anything about Europe and their interests? Zero.

The anti-Americanism will increase. The American media for the most part privileges anti-American biases as presumptively true and reasoned. Our govt. is clueless (preime example - Turkey), and anti-Americanism is profitable to various European interests.

[Argus]

When Tony Vitanza, 42, of Fort Worth unleashed his Texas accent on a shopkeeper in Belgium, she immediately asked what state he was from. "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.

Hey Tony, do us a favor and stay over there.

[caisson71]

That's only in the movies. I lived in Europe for 3 years and put up with their arrogant ignorance many times. I believe they are embarassed by their ineptness and are too proud to admit it.

[KC_Conspirator]

So what? Vince Vaughn no doubtedly hung around with the Hate-America crowd on the entertainment industry, i.e. a bunch of Leni Reifenstahl's.

[Born to Conserve]

Yes, Americans are appreciated over there, by a few, and the rest want to kill you.

[albertabound]

It is my opinion that what we and I emphasize "we' are dealing with is a clash of cultures which transcends geographic boundaries.It is more a liberal verses conservative battle and not anti-Americanism. Due to America's position in world affairs Yanks are the obvious target for liberals to attack.The upside is that these libs are getting worried and are lashing out. Stay the course and keep cool "we" are winning but the battle will take time and GWB is the man.

[winner3000]

There's a vicious circle going on here. The European media is 100% anti-American, causing the people to get brainwashed. Once that happens, the media becomes even more anti-American because that's what the people want to see.