Does Europe hate the U.S.A.? (England, Italians, culture)

[gv0928]

I think there's very much a one-sided view of America across the Atlantic, and they're content to lump us all together. There's so much diversity here, it is ridiculous to pretend we're all the same. I think a great example is the notion that there's an American accent. We have hundreds of accents in this country, some even changing within a single city.

I wouldn't blame them for hating us though. It seems like a lot of Americans are selfish and disrespectful, ignorant even. And with Bush as the leader? I'd definitely have a few comments to make, myself.

[Tony from Europe]

I Love Americans And America !!!!

[McGowdog]

Vive la Europe!

Flash forward to Bordeaux; "Millions of years ago into the future..."

Not according to the English/French translator that I used. Blame Google. I would have used the English/Italian translation, but they didn't have one.

And it's it's, not its. But thanks anyway.

[Bordeaux]

Originally Posted by McGowdog

Vive la Europe!

i'll correct this one for you its:
Vive l'Europe

[anonymous]

I wonder what Europeans think of southerners? I'm sure we're lumped in with the rest of America.

I really don't think I could take being called a "Yankee."

[Mississippienne]

Wow, look at the size difference between this and the complimentary "Does USA hate Europe?" thread. Four pages compared to two.

I don't think either side hates the other, but both are defensive and lack perspective. Europeans dislike our war-mongering, foreign policies, ignorance, and cultural dominance. They find our tourists crass and rude.

Americans, on the other hand, think that Europeans lecturing anyone about imperalism is a joke. Americans tend to think that a lot of the stuff Europeans take us to task for (such as our monolingualism) is none of their business. We find their tourists crass and rude.

Here are some thoughts on perspective for BOTH sides.

For Americans:
-- Europeans may seem like they are jumping on us about our foreign policies. Keep in mind this is their world, too. And they may want us to avoid the mistakes of ours and their past, and use our wealth and power responsibly.
-- Europe is a huge place, without a single "European" perspective. They are not a snooty disaproving monolith.
-- French movies are really pretty good. Watch Sur Mes Levres sometime.

For Europeans:
-- We are predominantly English-speaking because, for most of us, that is the only language we will ever need. Without compelling reason, few people will learn a second language fluently. Look at the Japanese. They study English for like 9 years and your average Japanese can barely introduce themselves in English.
-- It's easy for you to hop the Eurail and ride through several countries. Most Americans would love to travel abroad, but have neither time or money. If we have both, lots of us prefer to explore our own huge country. The state of California, for example, is larger than Norway.
-- We still feel isolated, wedged between the Atlantic and Pacific, perched atop a lot of smaller South and Central American nations and bordered by Canada and Mexico. The affairs of the rest of the world can seem very remote to us sometimes. And sometimes, when we try to help, it just seems to make things worse.
-- We say our country is "the greatest nation on Earth" because we so want it to be. I think the vast majority of Americans, in their heart of hearts, dream that the USA will be strong and beautiful and admired, and lead the rest of the world into happiness and prosperity. That we really will become the best of every culture melded together, the success story that our ancestors sought out, and overcome the darkness of our past. We don't know exactly how to get there, and we stumble and fall and get lost, and perhaps it's all a pipe-dream anyway, but we don't care because there's a bit of the hopeless romantic in us all.

[Hasdrubal]

Originally Posted by KRaZy

I dont think all European hate the U.S. but I know that France doesnt really like americans. The French practically hate americans. Other than that...well...a few Germans just hate the Bush.

lol, thousands of French students learn English each summer in NYC. and millions of American tourists flock to Paris each year.

[Hasdrubal]

allright, I am an Euro and I don't hate America (going in one week, lol). However, the behavior of some Americans ranges from rude to laughable. they don't try even to say "bon jour" or "danke schön" when abroad, they just speak English like if they were in Oklahoma. they are loud and sometimes they act like retards. I always get a laugh when I see Americans at McDonald´s in Italy, the country with the best food in the world.

but that's only a part, and even those are still nice and kinda gullible people.

[Coffee Mate]

Europeans don't hate Americans....In all the travels I've had only in Russia did I experience some concerted Anti-American feelings...but I just chalked this up to being the nasty dregs of the Cold War. A little child in a small town play ground were we were having a pick nick was pretending to vaporize American cities with atomic weapons....My friend was really embarrassed but I said to let it go...a child does not know better and years from now that kid may be LIVING in America with more money than I can imagine....so...what ever....
Europeans...and any other National I have had the pleasant opportunity to meet while they were touring the States have been really nice people on the whole. On numerous occasions I've found them stranded in strange places....the desert or the mountains...and helped them out...even guided in some instances.....Some were afraid that I was going to send them off in the wrong direction.......quote..."into oblivion..." I was not sure why a person would feel that I might do that but to ease their fears...I personally guided them out....Perhaps they had seen too many American movies about crazy Americans living in the woods....This was a British couple...
A German family I met was going on a HUGE tour of the States....and had some fairly dicey cities on their 'to see' list....so I helped them out by steering them clear of the less desirable areas in those particular places...for their own safety....
I knew a Japanese kid....exchange student....that had some strange views...particularly in regards to people of other backgrounds....I let him keep his views and maintained my own with out trying to convert him to mine...or letting myself surrender to his. Hey...his life....Yet when I was in Japan...I was refused admittance to some stores. Why? Because I was not Japanese...Did I cry about it? No. Their loss...I simply went to another store with better policies and spent my hard earned money there...and the store manager was the happier for it...
As for Americans being gullible....perhaps....but remember....America is a very different place.....America is NOT Europe....When I first started traveling I was often overwhelmed by the beauty and the vast differences....the very thick history of the European Continent....So I must have looked dazed and confused....To be in Europe for the first time...to see a ROMAN city...to be in a Church that is SIX HUNDRED years old...to see THE Gates of Babylon...to see the Louvre, Reich's Museum, Prado, Hermitage, British Museum, etc etc.....all of that is a bit of a shock...an overload...so to you all out there in Europe reading this post...yea....we Americans look like fools a bit at times....
But...really no more than a used Ford station wagon full of European kids diving across the U.S....looking at me a bit stunned when I told them how long it would take them to drive to New York....from San Francisco....how much food gas and sleep they would need.....

"um...nope...ten hours won't be enough....unless you really 'fly'....."

[Yeledaf]

Originally Posted by anonymous

I wonder what Europeans think of southerners? I'm sure we're lumped in with the rest of America.

I really don't think I could take being called a "Yankee."

Hmm. My southern friends tell me there are two kinds of Yankees: "damnyankees" and "the ones who don't come down here"...

Southeastern NC, as in Wilmington?