Anti-Americanism confuses me a bit.....?

Question

wow.. i've been reading a lot of questions on this u.k./ireland forum and have been shocked to see such broad hatred towards a country and it's people. You would never in a million years find a forum full of hatred towards the U.K. on any American based website. You take pot shots at our culture (or lack of as you seem to believe), our cinema (which you watch), our weight (i do believe you can find McDonalds in the U.K.) our Military (didn't seem to mind it much in the second world war), our government (as if yours is perfect? Tony Blair is less popular than Bush in your country), occupation of Iraq (you're also there), our Super Power abuse (I believe England knows a little something about this themselves.. ), our humor (mr. bean!) our vocaublary (we're not all rappers and hicks, just like you're not all chimney sweeps and butlers).... the list goes on and on. The truth is we could make as many insulting claims about the U.K.... (i won't mention them out of respect). On the contrary, America has a holiday in which the entire country celebrates the mere existance of Ireland.. if you're british you're bound to be bought a drink at any bar your accent is heard in. We're generally kind people, we have flaws... but we're excited to meet anyone (barring the french). I'd personally like to talk to and meet all of you, let's build bridges!! find me at myspace.com/saintmark or email me.

P.s. some people have replied with the suggestion that we Americans not take it so seriously. We really don't as a whole.. most Americans don't even realize it. I personally want to visit the u.k. but read about americans being harassed in pubs and taxis... not what i need on my time off.

P.s.s. In response to me mixing up England, the U.K., and Ireland... i believe the U.K. is comprised of Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and England.. and that Great Britain is pretty much the same but without the inclusion of Southern Ireland.. if i'm mistaken somebody please clear this up.

Answer 1

I like Americans. I have had one as a boss and a Canadian who was educated in the USA for another.
We British are a failing nation. Our Industry is going down the plughole and we have a massive balance of payments problem.
Put simply - WE HATE OTHERS BEING SUCCESSFUL - like you Yanks.
That little green demon of jealousy rears it ugly head!
RoyS

Answer 2

As a Brit I am very aware of what you are concerned about. The United States is the most influential force on this planet. Power corrupts and people are also jealous of power. Some American foreign policy has been illegal, immoral and inexcusable. On the other hand the response to the 911 tragedy in the UK and the wider World was very empathetic. Half British television is American, now, and South Park and The Simpsons are an example that America really does have a culture, especially when you add so many great films to the culture pack. All the Europeans seem to do is go on about misery-guts Bergman (Truly a Russian at heart, don't bother checking out Chekov).
But I think that this "saved your asses" business wears a bit thin sometimes.
It wasn't the Americans who made the D-Day landings. It was the Americans, the British AND the Canadians, who rarely seem to get any credit for seriously hurting the Germans before the US was ever involved in WWII.
It wasn't the Americans who won WWII, It was the Americans, The British, The Russians and countless Europeans, and people from all over the free-world. Anzacs and Indians fought in Africa and hundreds of nations were represented in the war against the Axis powers. And after the "Freedom Fries" Bullsh*t, I have to point out that the French tipped the balance in the US war of Independance by lending the infant USA crucial naval support.

You are obviously an intelligent and eloquant individual and the more such Americans speak up for your country, the more negative opinions will be affected. People often knock the US as it makes some pretty dubious mistakes, but at the same time, Europe would be a much more vulnerable place without your country's power and alliance. How would we have dealt with a superpower Russia without the USA's constant restraint of that massive political and military entity.

The truth is that history, the present and the future is not about Nations. It is about those with great power and the way that they use that power, be it just or unjust. You cannot blame a people for a country's behaviour, nor can you absolve them for the same. And for the British to criticise the USA when we are relatively identical to America culturally and politically is more than a little naive.

About UK and Great Britain. Most Brits don't know this one exactly, either.
The United Kingdom is the 4 cornered political entitiy of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Great Britain is the big chunk of land comprising most of England, Scotland and Wales and is a geographical term. A lot of Brits, wrongly think, that Northern Ireland is part of G.B.
If we were to include the whole of Ireland as well we would be talking about the British Isles, again, geographical.

Answer 3

The problem is that every time someone calls you, the Americans, to task for more global military action by your government most of you trot out, "You would be speaking German but for us" , sorry but we had contained the Germans without your help for 4 years and your government only joined the war after Pearl harbour.

We in UK think that the Iraq debacle is just that and that nothing has been learnt from past wars. Also your government's continued and unquestioning support for the state of Israel, which seems to be another terrorist nation and is probably contributing to the Arab terrorist movement, is another factor.

Your quote that we are also in Iraq is not because the British people wanted it but because Blair thought that it was a good career move, big mistake, and now llike your governemnt having destablised tha area will have either stay and hope to clean up the mess or get out and watch as the whole Middle East disolves into chaos. I am suprised that your past mistakes in this type of venture were not taken into account before invading.

No the response that you find in the forums is against your government and not individuals, although there are some who seem to perpetuate the feeling that the government thinks like the people. If you want to build bridges then get your selves a President who does not address a foreign head of state "YO Blair".

Answer 4

Wow, thanks for celebrating St Patricks day. It's just a pity that the majority of Americans can't find Ireland on a map, or indeed England never mind Iraq or Afgahnastan. Maybe that is because the globe in the US only has the US on it!!!

Regarding taking pot shots at America, I have often stated that nobdy should hate Americans! Truth. All the Americans that I know are just like me or anyone else I have ever met. As for criticising the US govt, I don't think that there is anything wrong with that, especially as it was they who dragged the UK into Iraq and fed lies to the UK and other nations to justify a war which was really about which currency oil should be sold in.

American citizens are fine by me but your govt and politicians suck... just like politicians everywhere else in the world. US politicians, however, seem to have perfected the art of acting without morals, ethics and humanity!!!

Answer 5

Who are you directing this at and maybe I can help to clear up your confusion.

Many people that waste their time on this type of site (yeah, I'm unemployed and bored so I'm wasting my time also) are younger folks with very little experience in the world. They are stretching their legs so to speak, by exercising their right to show their ignorance on a grand scale. The Internet, to an old fart like myself, is truly amazing and I would love to communicate with some folks from the UK. Sharing thoughts and ideas in an open way would be great but how do I know that you're not some 9-year old sitting at mommas computer, eating a snickers bar and trolling for trouble. See what I mean. The problem with this forum is that there is no restraint from some people. So what, they get kicked off, they just get another log-in and start over. You definitely can't take what people in the US are thinking by getting it off from this site and I doubt that you can understand what people of other nations (if that's who they really are) are thinking.

Answer 6

I was shocked to discover the same thing after 9/11! We have days in school where we celebrate cultures from around the world and all I ever grew up with was how we should appreciate each others' cultures... so after 9/11, I was so shocked (and dismayed) to see how many Europeans felt that we Americans "deserved" the attack. Every Internet forum I've ever participated in since then has had no shortage of Europeans taking potshots at Americans. All I can figure is that the ones taking the potshots are folks who buy into whatever their media is telling them. It became such a sad reality (the hatred of the rest of the world for us) that I kind of hardened my skin to it, and figured that ignorance was their loss. Still, over here, we teach the children to appreciate other cultures and to build bridges. Maybe the next generation will fare better with the neighbors.

**EDIT I'm 45, and many of the folks I e-conversed with were middle-agers like myself... It's not about taking ourselves too seriously. Not when the criticism comes from so many people and so many directions. Anyway, like I tell my students when they tease and/or bully each other, it's only fun and games, if EVERYONE involved sees the fun and game of it.
Cowboys... is that about Bush? What were we when Kennedy was president?

Answer 7

Actually, I like many things that come from America. I enjoy Hollywood films and American products. I don't like Motorola however, thier V3s suk.

The only thing that I don't like is the way America has been handling the Middle East for the last 15 years.

And it often engages in unfair trading practices.

I think that the UK could have done a lot for the Middle East and the world. But, it looks like Blair made Great Britain into Mockery Britain. Sad.

Answer 8

Folks, it need not be so very confusing an issue. One word answer: Bush. You may recall the world's sympathy and compassion after 9/11. Since that time George has summarily squandered every bit of it. His arrogance compounded by his utter ignorance has embarrassed AND shamed this country. Most people I meet in Europe are confounded as to how we elected him the second time, as the first was indeed a fluke.
I visited Europe during Kennedy as well and people would stand up and applaud when his picture appeared on TV. Clinton gets accolades and adoration when he travels abroad.
Now we have an inarticulate moron representing us but mostly corporate interests. Sad, very sad.

Answer 9

You have a day celebrating the Irish well its southern Ireland you support along with the fact its common knowledge that the majority of the American/Irish fund and support the I.R.A. (a terror group that has plagued our country a lot longer than Osama's lot so don't tell us about terror attack we know) yes we do hate our own leader he is an @ss but yours is worse. And one of the reasons why there is a bit of animosity at the mo is the fact most of America are gun ho and think they are the best in the world wake up and smell the gun oil oops sorry coffee and the reason you don't get our humour is you get sarcasm. And Mr bean is renowned the world over which crosses so many language barriers.

Answer 10

I didn't get the question, but I can say most British & Irish people I've met were very nice people. The only foreigners I've had problems with are the French and I generally tell them to kiss my *&!. I have a feeling the French like being treated badly anyway.

Answer 11

I wonder if it has got anything to do with the fact that while England was under terrorist attacks from the IRA ,America did nothing but encourage their fight I know two wrongs dont make a right but a lot of people were killed while England stood alone against these murderers.Also I have read plenty of derogatry remarks about the British and the WW2 on how you won it and their soldiers not being as good as yours in Iraq so you must be reading different questions than me.One thing though some of you need to develop a sense of humour and learn not to take things so seriously