Why is it OK (in the UK) to be Anti-French - or anti any nation you want... EXCEPT anti-American...???

Question

I live in the UK - and it's quite clear that while the print media and TV think it's OK to poke hostile fun or make jokes at the expense of the French (called "Frogs") the Spanish ("Onions") or the Germans ("Schwienhundts") - it is definitely NOT OK to make public comments critical of the Yanks, because to be branded Anti-American is tantamount to being called a communist.
Why can't you simply dislike most (but not all) Americans - like I do...??? After all, no one in Britain would so much as bat an eyelid if anyone says they don't like the French...!!!

Sure - I know very well there is lots of anti-Americanism in Britain - it's just that (shhh...!) you're not supposed to say so openly in public and the brown-nosing UK media tries desperately to pretend it doesn't exist

Answer 1

we are anti american

there fat and ignorant

Answer 2

They Don't want the UK (Communist Party) Government to censure them. Remember even the BBC is a Government Mouth Piece!
Brit's, don't actually hate anyone. We Pity you all !
So Smug and self assured. If we could show you - "The Truth Is Out There!"
All people from all counties are lied too by their Media and Governments. In the UK it is no different, everyone has an agenda! However, we Brits do try our best to show as much "Truth" as possible. Even to the detriment of our own self esteem.
It is Blatantly obvious from watching Fox News, CNN and NBC that the American Public are treated as Children by their Media and Government. "Truth" being an exception not a rule.
We can be Anti anything we want, as we actually have the American Dream of free speech.

PS Why has the American Government Mistaken Kindness for Stupidity! It is not Policy for Us Brit's to put up with American 'Snatch and Grab Squads' on our side of the pond. So Pi55 0ff as we are not a State of any Union!

And for the record we are only anti oppression and America seems rather oppressive at the moment.

I actually like the French and Germans. As a family, we will be spending our entire Christmas with German Friends in the heart of Germany. (Where they live, had the crap bombed out of it by us Brit's in WWII as The Third Reich had headquarters and Logistics there.) We have never had the fortune of meeting nicer people and they show no animosity to us at all.

Answer 3

I would agree that it is oddly acceptable, or should we say common practice in the UK to bash the Germans (this has been the most pittiful & most savage I feel), the French, the Russians, the Irish and the Pakistanis.

I am not so sure that we do not also bash the Americans - I feel, nay experience that we do - though on some issues this means also bashing our own govt.

And I feel that we even bash our own government & its key miltary decisions a hell of a lot more than any other country does. it's as if ordinary people here feel that they are the last thing their govt would ever listen to.

So in summary, everything gets bashed in the UK ... the Americans are less pessimistic because their news media is that little bit different (just as isolationalist but it does not refuse to cover things that are going well / are improving / according to plan the way ours does).

Answer 4

The sooner the anti-American lobby in Europe grows the better. It's time the European governments listened to the electorate and stood up against the USA – USA would suddenly become very insignificant without the European lobby. Let them fight their wars alone. No country in Europe needs American culture (the debate as to whether they have any is something else again). I’m anti-American and proud of it. No doubt the Americans will complain, but, just as they judge a nation on the actions of a minority, we Europeans have learnt from the Americans and judge the USA on the actions of a minority. The anti-American movement was much smaller with Clinton in power. Think about it! A message from Europe.

Answer 5

We CAN be fairly anti-American in our ways - especially the media. The media have a frenzy over President Bush, and the Americans electing him for the second time. A huge number of people I know despise America and anything that she stands for. Our government is quite pro-American because we are allies. Our government is pro-French, pro-German and pro-Spanish too I would imagine, although maybe not as much as pro-American.

However, it's comments from Americans such as "We won the war for you" and "America is the best country in the world" that cause not only British, but most other countries across the world, against them. Hence, the country is now one of the most controversial nations in the world.

I would think that being anti-American is much more popular in the UK than being pro-American though.

Answer 6

Some of us are anti american, the reason most of us are anti french is simply because of the arrogant way we are treated by the French, this after we lost our entire empire saving the french from the Germans...Twice!!

Answer 7

I didn't know that it wasn't OK to be anti-American in the UK. By the way, I'm a Yank who loves the UK.:)

Answer 8

theres always been that rivalry between england and france or england and germany but does anyone really take it seriously? i can understand if its a sporting event and we want england to beat india/pakistan/australia at the cricket or new zealand/australia/south africa/any of the other 5 nations at rugby or what ever but thats as far as it goes with this englishman hating another nation, yes theres people from france,germany,america that i dont particulary like but i woulnt say i hate them as a nation...i probably dislike the yanks more but hate eh?

Answer 9

It is ok to be anti American. It's practically compulsory to be anti French, though

Answer 10

Hmmmmm.

There are plenty anti-American people in the UK........can't imagine why you don't know that.

Don't you read the papers, ot watch TV, or use Yahoo Answers?

Or maybe this is a trick question.

Bored now - byeee!

Answer 11

Completely wrong mate. Lots of stupid English are anti french, lots of stupid Scots and Welsh are anti English, but all the stupid people get together to hate the Americans.