Why is there so much anti-French sentiment in the US?

Question

Imagine replacing "French" with "Jew." How long would you get to talk like that?
I mean isn't hating the French the same as hating any other group of people?

In any case, its wrong.

Answer 1

Hating people is wrong, except in the puerile-seeming-but-actually-perfectly-mature case that they hate first (for example, queer little me feels quite justified in hating the religious right).

I am particularly amused by the fact that the French-haters have no problem with the Statue of Liberty as a symbol for America. Hullo, that was made in -France- by a -French- person.

Answer 2

Americans who follow international political events resent the French response to almost all actions America takes in the political arena. Of couse this is not speaking for all people, but those who seem anti-French may very well be angry about French support of Saddam in Iraq, lack of French support for the war on terrorism, lack of French support fighting the spread of nuclear weapons to dangerous dictatorships like Iran and North Korea, etc.

Answer 3

There are several reasons, I think.

1.) For decades, the French have been intolerant of tourists who can't speak their language. Those tourists come home and tell their friends about how rudely they were treated.

2) France was defeated by Germany in only six weeks during WW II. Thousands of Americans died freeing the country.

3) France was involved in the oil for food scam with Iraq. They did everything they could to keep Saddam Hussein in power, and when we took him out anyway, they have opposed virtually everything we have tried to achieve in the U.N.

People tend to forget that if not for France, America would probably have lost the War for Independence. That was a long time in the past, so I guess the attitude is "What have they done for us lately?"

Answer 4

I really don't see anti-french sentiments in the US...well at least not in California but when I went to France about a year ago there was definitely some hostility toward us seemingly because we are from the US.

Answer 5

I wouldn't even know the French exist until just you just brought them up. I don't particularly think about French people at all. Or Jewish either really. I have a life filled with much more to think about. You might want to get a life too...then you'd whine less.

Answer 6

Good point. I don't hate French people; but even my mother is irritated at the thought of them- she attirbutes this to being pompous of themselves.
But really, Americans are more arrogant, and with a far worse track record as far as international relations is concerned. At least France doesn't bully other ountries to do things that benefit THEM....

I woulsnt accept ANY "reasons" for this behavior- these are instead excuses to allow poeple to extend that omnipresent mentality of "us" and then "them" which is projected toward ANYTHING 'non-american'. Bogus, to put it nicely.

Answer 7

Because the French didn't back US foriegn policy in relation to nine eleven. And because in earlier times, the US saved France's butt.

France is presently, by many, viewed as disloyal.

Answer 8

I don't hate the French. Why would I?

Answer 9

i know one reason is because of when we invaded Iraq in the early 2000's, france refused to do so and alot of americans started showing a dislike to them for being "cowards".

Answer 10

The French sucks!! They are p----s they couldnt beat theirselves out of a wet paper sack!!