Why do so many Americans hate French people? (taxes, living in)

[Visvaldis]

It's too bad that too many Americans judge France by the events of World War 2. France was quickly overrun by the German army. That's true. It's also no wonder...in the years prior to starting the war, Hitler had very successfully, built up the world's best equipped, best trained, most lethal, and most mobilized fighting force in world history. The Wehrmacht drastically changed the style of warfare. Both, on the Eastern and Western fronts, the powerful German army was virtually unstoppable. By being highly mobilized the German army introduced a new war strategy; the Blitzkrieg.
In 1944, after a combined effort by the allies, France was liberated. And the French people celebrated, they were thankful. Also, many should not forget that the allied objective was not to liberate France, but to defeat Germany. There were also many Germans who were just as thankful that Hitler was defeated.
Surely, many French people remember that American fighting forces helped to liberate their country. Since then France is an independent nation and they make independent decisions. It would be a mistake for America to expect eternal servitude from France, or that the French government should always respond with a "Yes, master", to all policies coming from Washington. Did America liberate France to be an independent nation, or to establish a puppet in Europe?
Many Americans can nurse their grudge against France for not participating in the invasion of Iraq, but, as we see now, invading Iraq was (and still is) a disorganized fiasco, for which America has lost many lives, loads of money, and world prestige. Btritain's Tony Blair went along with the propaganda from the Bush administration in spite of a reluctant population. He paid for it by being labeled as Bush's lapdog.

[Victoire2002]

I have a question about WWII history in France. Maybe you can help answer it. I met a French man a few years back who told me that a lot of France supported the Vichy government and that there were very, very few Resistance fighters, and they were limited to certain areas in France. However, as time has gone on, more and more French try to lay claim that their forefathers were Resistance.

Moosqueteer, since your relatives were Resistance fighters, do you find this to be true? (This question is truly based in ignorance, not provoking at all)

Vicki

[rickers]

I've heard that folks in different parts of France have varying views of Americans. I've never been there so ?
They gave us the statue of liberty, I don't have anything bad to say about them.

[Visvaldis]

Why not get off of the World War 2 theme regarding France and move on?
All of French history is not tied up in the events concerning World War 2. The reputation of France does not depend on the situation during World War 2, except for those who despise France...and they will not be open to anything else. They want to hate France, they believe France is an evil country, that France never does anything right, and that the French are a bunch of stupid slobs who should never be liked or trusted. So, it's pointless and a grand waste of time to respond to the convinced France haters.

[Yeledaf]

Originally Posted by Visvaldis

Why not get off of the World War 2 theme regarding France and move on?
All of French history is not tied up in the events concerning World War 2. The reputation of France does not depend on the situation during World War 2, except for those who despise France...and they will not be open to anything else. They want to hate France, they believe France is an evil country, that France never does anything right, and that the French are a bunch of stupid slobs who should never be liked or trusted. So, it's pointless and a grand waste of time to respond to the convinced France haters.

I honestly doubt that you'd find more than a handful of people in the United States who fit this description.

[Cornerguy1]

I second the motion.

Time to move on to fresh ground in the discussion.

[peggydavis]

The governments of nations try to gain advantages for their interests. The US and France sometimes have common interests, and sometimes we have competing interests. Except in cases of natural disasters, governments are not in the business of helping other nations. That is all just my opinion of course.

The only anti-France stuff I have heard has been from die-hard Iraq war supporters. I read plenty of anti-US stuff from the French and other Europeans on other places on the internet, and most of it relates to our foreign policy. I don't relate that to the average French citizen. We have cultural differences between our countries, but those exist between different regions of the US, and I would expect the same is true in France.

[Moth]

Why not get off of the World War 2 theme regarding France and move on?
All of French history is not tied up in the events concerning World War 2. The reputation of France does not depend on the situation during World War 2, except for those who despise France...and they will not be open to anything else. They want to hate France, they believe France is an evil country, that France never does anything right, and that the French are a bunch of stupid slobs who should never be liked or trusted. So, it's pointless and a grand waste of time to respond to the convinced France haters.

Its a legitimate topic that was inserted by someone. Nobody, at least nobody I know, judges France soley by a 6 year period of her history. And certainly nobody believes France is an "evil country." I have visited France around 11 times or so and have never had a bad time. Never.

Indeed France is great place and that has been stated by many including myself on this very thread. Nonetheless, France has always been in that elite group of countries that plays a prominent role on the world stage. And with that comes criticism. The world criticizes the US every second of the day. Sometimes its legit, sometimes not. Why would France get a pass from criticism? That implies that she is anything but a normal nation. Criticizing France is simply holding them to the same standards they hold us. Sounds like the Egalite part of Liberte, Egalite, Fraternite...oui?

[joee]

I have not read this entire thread, way too many pages so I did a lil skimming so I probably missed a few things, anyway I don’t know were the americans hate the french thing came from but in my book it’s pretty well rubbish, I think in a way the only people americans hate is other americans.

Let’s turn the tables though and look at life from the other side, this so called superpower united states sticks it’s nose in every country’s business, some ask for help but most don’t and don’t need it but the states for some reason sure think they do.

Let’s say your non american born and raised europe, naturally your country in your mind is good with the exception of a few we’ll say, now the US comes along and they’re going to tell you how your living wrong, doing things wrong, why heck you need to do things the american way it’s better the american way, then they want to Americanize that country.

Let’s say france but in general europe, some US changes within france are ok with the french but when it comes down to too many changes you bet there is going to be some resentment within the french, the french have there own way of life be it slow and easy don’t shove your american ways all over our country, same holds true for the rest of europe, most of europe says leave us be to our way of life, they are proud of what they have and you bet no one is going to change it.

Do the people of the states have a snobbish attitude about themselves, you bet and it shows all over europe, get off the beaten path overseas it’s rough in areas but that’s how the people were brought up, it’s there culture and when someone comes into that and thinks they are going to change it to make it better in their eyes then it’s time for the american to beat a path home, and you can bet the europeans dislike bush, if there was a bullfight between bush and the bull you can bet they’re going to be rooting for the bull.

There were a few posts about war also, no one knows war better than europe they have had it in there backyards forever, I read a few threads in here also from a few note I said a few speaking negative towards french/europe and some were pretty disgusting is there really a need to be such a way, most in europe are going to say the americans are spoiled, selfish, snobbish, they may not openly say it but you bet they are thinking it and most of it if you think about it is true.

There are some things the americans could learn from the europeans, the US may call itself a superpower but they better be watching there back, we want to tout how great we are and we’re the best well take a look at japan & china they are ahead of us in many things, we showed Vietnam and now iraq didn’t we, don’t get me wrong I tend to get on the soap box at times but I’m not bashing the states, keep an open mind europe has a lot to offer and learn from, we have to keep in mind that the other big players china, russia can also kick back if pushed, but back to cultures, what if (pick a country) came over here and started telling us to do things the way they want and pushed there cultures upon us, it wouldn’t be so great would it, here’s an idea what if iraq had invaded the US, ousted bush then tell us they are doing us a favor they are going to make it a better place, hmmm, never happen but what if.

[Moth]

I am at a loss to find where anybody wants to "Americanize" Europe. How does one do that? What is it? America itself is an offshoot of Europe (it was founded by Europeans). So considering the obvious, the notion of Americanizing anything is not only impossible, but pretty daft. Does my collection of Beatles LPs or drinking Guinness constitute a "Europeanization"? Hell, most Americans are shocked to visit Europe and find McDonalds there with its legions of Europeans gulping down Big Macs.

As for the experience of war, Europeans might benefit from setting aside their movies and researching the American Civil War. Perhaps a visit to Antietam or Gettysburg might elucidate how the scars of war are very real over here. And then there are the thousands we have lost in WWI, WWII and other conflicts.

Finally, if Europe is that uncomfortable with the US, then they should end their formal alliance. 1) Leave the NATO Alliance, 2) Ask US forces to depart, 3) Declare neutrality.The proverbial put up or shut up. Anything less is just vapid posturing and not to be taken seriously. After all, even France is an American ally by treaty as well as tradition.