As a generalization, why are most nations (ESPECIALLY) the English andAustrlians xenophobic towards Americans?

Question

Please no generalized predictable answers like "stupid foriegn policies", "loud and ignorant", "forcing there will on the rest of the world", etc. I am talking about America and Americans as a whole and not particularly their government's foreign and domestic policies or the number of racist and neo-con citizens. Again this is like saying a person doesn't like the British because they are football hooligans or snobby and Australians are literal (generally more than Americans) and uncouth. I feel I have the insight here as someone born in Australia, lived extensively in America and currently reside in England (where my mother is from). As the 2000 elections showed, more people voted other than Republican, and more embarrassment and anger over Iraq and some dubiosity over certain cliqued small mindness (ie the preconception of mindless views, founded and unfounded, from certain "bible-belted" areas) come from a large number of ration citizens. Please discuss.

Answer 1

I am English and have lived in the States and Australia.

The Aussies hate Americans because many of them also fought in the Vietnam war! Like all soldiers in war time they have seen and done terrible things and an American accent reminds them of those nasty days!

I found Australians to be extremely racist people. The Aborigines do not go in the same pubs (bars) as the whites because its too dangerous for them! They also hate the British with a ferocity that's pretty scary!

I lived in New Jersey for a year. I fell in love with the United States and did not want to return home! But my visa ran out! You people are the most generous and so friendly. September the 11th was for me as if we also had been attacked!

The war in terrorism is losing the UK a lot of good solders. My brother is in Basra. People fear war and many here think its an in just war.

My American family (who I nannied for in New Jersey and who are like part of my own family) came over to the UK this summer. They also felt the strong anti American feeling here.

I love Americans but I lived there. Many get their veiws from biased newspapers who have their own agendas and from the TV news. We do not all hate Americans! Some of us will always be extremely happy to call them Friends! me included!

Answer 2

I think it's an interesting question. If you'd have asked me 10 years ago, I would have said that most Americans seem to live in a bubble; that they reign supreme, that no one else matters, that they are generally pretty naive about the rest of the world's issues. Then 9/11, then the Iraq war...I'm sure it's made the average american more aware of his position within the world. ALTHOUGH the fact that they voted Bush back in absolutely astonished me. And I'm also aghast that most american citizens are not feeling more guilty about their apparent lack of environmental awareness and action.

Answer 3

Jealousy caused by propaganda and misdirection. There is an opinion of Americans that has been ingrained in the European community and it is hard to shake. The amazing thing is that one of the things that Europeans seem to go on and on about is the bigotry in America, but their very attitude towards Americans shows very high levels of bigotry.

Basically, politicians make a lot of hay by being critical of Americans, just like American politicians make a lot of hay by flinging verbal mud at each other.

Answer 4

Its the few who spoil it for the majority
Meaning (& you see it on here)
We won the war for you .... fair do's USA helped out
We are telling you that country is no good
We dont believe theres global warming so we're not going to do anything about it
We have everything you have but its bigger & better

I could go on but as I said its the few who spoil it for the majority & I know the UK has its own fair share of we're better than USA

Answer 5

Your statement is filled with so many generalizations of Americans, American subcultures, and generalized predictable observations that it's hard to know where to begin. Yet, you ask for others not to give generalized predictable answers. It is uncommon to see so much prejudice in one paragraph, especially one that implies xenophobia and generalizations to be a bad thing.

But, you ask for a discussion and even say please, so after that introduction to the many fallacies in your question and comments, here are some of my thoughts.

Patriotism is ingrained into the people of most nations who are at peace within their borders. Patriotism breeds nationalism or jingoism. (people from my country are better or more important, than people from your country.) This is self-evident. Nations provide great assistance to their own citizens who are experiencing rather minor inconveniences while people starve in other countries. A nation is an extension of the individuals in it. The individual seeks protection, comfort, etc. in a very self-seeking way. One important and effective way is to align oneself with a similar group that will identify with them. Nations are the most common way that people associate themselves especially for defense.

Once a person has identified themself with the nation, more human nature sets in. The nation is seen as a personality itself, both by its citizens and the citizens of other nations. For some strange reason, it is important for each individual, or nation, to feel superior, or at least equal, with other nations/individuals.

Think of a kid with a new sports car. Does he drive through the poorest sections of town to show off his car? No. He shows off to people of similar socioeconomic backgrounds who have similar or slightly less nice cars. If someone has a more expenseive car, then it's "not stylish, or not as fast, or not as something." Or, they may use other ego defense tactics like, "that guy has a nicer car, but his old man's rich and he's stuck up, or whatever." It's all stupid.

But, nations and tribes have always assigned a higher value to their own people than the people of other lands. The biggest word battles occur between nations which are most similar. The images we use to lash out against the other's nation is usually propagated and perpetuated by literature and film. Even within a country, like the U.S., you have Californians who think that the "Bible-belt" is filled with small-minded individuals, and "Bible-belt" people who think that California is full of hedonists.

Americans are fat, Brits have bad teeth, French are spineless, Australians are rowdy, the Dutch are drug addicts, and the Germans are Nazis. American Indians are alcoholics, Arabic Muslims are treacherous, Israelis are Zionists, and the list goes on and on. There is a hint of truth to much of this, but you can change the adjectives and nations around and the hint of truth remains.

Wouldn't it be better if we defined ourselves a bit less by our nation and it's collective image, and associate ourselves with our morals and worldviews more? Humanity has much in common, yet we strive so hard to look for differences, especially if it makes us feel superior in some way.

Like a Brit once told me, "If you can't hate your neighbor and friend, who can you hate?"

Answer 6

I'm English and I don't mind the Americans at all........personally I can't stand the French

Answer 7

naaah....notwithstanding that's gonna be extraordinary....i do not care what u confer with God with as lengthy u propose the author of all existance...anywhoi do not imagine that the call of God must be printed on any form of money....we ought to continuously concider the sentiments of no believers...and we bypass to grimy places with all of it the time....and it would fall on the floor....

Answer 8

Sorry, I read what you wrote but the answer's still George Bush (PS don't leave the Irish out)

Answer 9

I dont care where your from if your a dickead your a dickead

even a great city like Liverpool UK has a few dickeads

Answer 10

The question's based on a false premise; we don't !