Why do so many Americans hate French people? (rent, approval)

[OneDayInSomewhere]

I absolutely do NOT hate French people but for me, it's more of a reserved nature toward France and the other countries. I've always "heard" and "read" that France doesn't like us. Media, polls, and rotten people in general (who don't get along with anybody) have created these divides amongst countries. You have probably found yourself defending your country and your people just like I have found myself defending my little town that I live in. The media is rotten for that.

While I've never had a desire to go to Paris, I would love to tour around France, as well as every other country in Europe. It's just this view of America that the media claims the world has of us. It's kinda scary.

[Lillietta]

Many French and Americans dislike each other because each believes their country is better. That same attitude demonstrated by our president simply exacerbates the opinion some already have.

The Brits and French have a history of hating each other. The Brits even named a train station in London Waterloo that goes only to the continent to remind the French of their defeat and the Brits of their victory. Most Brits, I find, really like Americans and vice-versa.

[Brooklynite]

One of the reasons Americans hate the French so much is because after WWII the French did their own thing and opted to practically kick out the Americans from its sovereign territory, instead of becoming the "eternally grateful" colony the US had hoped for. "Sorry mon ami, no military bases in my country pour vouz".

Moreover, the Americans hate the French out of envy because the French have a culture & civilization that pre-dates Americas by CENTURIES.

Another reason is that when the USA gets all fascist and starts invading other countries on flimsy pretexts (think Grenada, Panama, Iraq, Vietnam, Korea etc etc etc) the French sometimes criticize it, instead of automatically rubber-stamping its approval ..like England always does.

Another reason is that Americans have a very poorly developed idea of foreign cultures & history ..and the French hate ignorant people.

More envy; maybe its because the French have excellent table manners and the Americans on the other hand are mostly slobs.

Americans also hate the French because French woman are extremely more attractive, feminine, well-groomed and infinitely more sensual than American 'woman'.

Americans hate the French because they were smart enough to haul tail out of Vietnam alot faster than the US was.

Americans hate the French because they can't understand WTH they're saying. Actually, Americans hate anyone who doesn't speak English anyway.

Americans hate the French becasue France has done a MUCH better job of assimilating its black population than the US has.

I could go on & on but basically Americans hatred of France boils down to:

1) Envy
2) Envy
3) some possible envy

[Tama]

I can't help but wonder what would the generations (both French and American) buried in the ground after fighting together to save their respective countries think about the disrespect and nastiness those they fought for are hurling at each other here. The ones who shed their blood--what would they have to say?

[Cornerguy1]

Well folks, after 32 pages and 314 posts is there any fresh ground to cover vis a vis why Americans hate the French, if indeed they do?

Lately the thread seesm to morphed more into a discussion about the events of WWII and who owes what to whom.

If new ground isn't covered shortly, perhaps this thread will have run its course.

[trying2know]

it looks like the moderator wants to see some mre action. I have a question. What do MODERN French and Americans have to be proud of. This excludes anything older than hmmmmmmm 5 years. Wht still makes each of these countries think they are on top?

[Moth]

Wht still makes each of these countries think they are on top?

I suppose that were I French, I would cite world class corporations, innovative technology such as nuclear and high speed trains and lovely cities and villages brimming with great architecture.

As an American, I would cite world class corporations, innovative technology such as medical and IT and lovely scenery brimming with rain forests, deserts, mountains and coral reefs.

Do I think the USA is better than France? Impossible to answer. I was born here. Its what I know. My opinion is inherently biased and thus not objective. I will say that I would take both over such places as North Korea, Zimbabwe, etc.

I reckon if your average French citizen is honest, he or she would think the same.

[ThatBearsGuy45]

I am American and I hold no grudge what-so-ever towards French or any other ethnic group for that matter. To each is his own. Please meet more Americans before you judge us all. Take care!

[Visvaldis]

The moderator deleted my previous posts about World War 2, and, rightly so, because this is not about World War 2. I have no objection.
There are differences between France and America. Not long ago Bill Maher mentioned several differences.
These are generalizations (and there are exceptions to everything), but from my observations...
America is a hollow, materialistic, consumer oriented society. Quantity trumps quality. Try googling "Quality of Life", and you'll find next to nothing. Americans have little interest for quality in life, but have a passion for quantity. Accumulating possessions makes it, something to live and die for.
Americans live to work, the French work to live. Americans are content with one week vacation per year. The French get much more vacation time, plus more benefits. Obviously, Americans think it's wrong.
A large segment of the American population is openly, and proudly, anti-intellectual. Intellectuals in America are scorned. Can anyone name any American intellectuals? America's heros come almost exclusively from the fields of the sports or entertainment industries. Both, France and America, apply their intellect. The French have a history of intellectuals in culture, such as art (too many names to mention), music, literature, philosophy, and film. Americans prefer to apply their intellect for financial gain, developing more efficient computers, business systems and investment strategies.
France is where the Impressionist art movement began, also Surrealism, plus, names like Voltaire, Descartes, Sartre, and Camus are known the world over. America has Dr Phil, Britney Spears, and Rush Limbaugh. Being fair, I would mention American names such as Poe and Thoreau. America is also a gun culture.
One big sore spot is religion. The French are about 80% Catholic, but religion doesn't have such great influence in government, and society, as it does in America. This causes Americans to view France, or any non-religious country, with mistrust and disdain.
In France, being patriotic is loving the nation. In America, being patriotic is carrying a chip on the shoulder and belonging to the Christian Right, ready to fight at the drop of a hat.
America is a prude, puritan nation. The unintentional brief exposure of a woman's breast during the Super Bowl halftime show brought the nation to a state of several days of outrage. In America, nudity in film or art is considered as sinful filth, immoral, and degenerate, something that only perverted slobs would accept. In France, the naked body is natural, not something to be despised. Again, this earns America's contempt.
As opposed to nudity, Americans prefer brutality and violence (explosions, fist fights, shoot outs, etc), this is evident in films.
Among the industrial nations, America has the highest rate of poverty. If you're down and out in America, you can go to hell, you're no good and deserve to be kicked. France has a much lower rate of poverty.

[northsider]

Visvaldis. Maybe we disagreed on the WWII posts, but I wholeheartedly agree with everything you say in the above.

Bravo!