Why don't the French like Americans?

Answer 1

Well first of all, not all French dislike Americans. Anti-American sentiment in France is more popular in some areas and among some ideologies than others. Just like America has red states and blue states - France has red areas and blue areas.

So why do *some* French dislike Americans so much? I think a lot of it is disagreements about foreign policy. France opposed the war in Iraq, of course, but France also opposes America's alliance with Israel.

There's also a strain of thought in Europe that despises traditional religion and thinks that all Americans are Christian fundamentalists, thus hating us. The idea that a person can be smart, rational, and democratically minded and still hold traditional religious beliefs, is completely foreign to many folks in Western Europe.

And frankly I think some of it is jealousy. France used to be a superpower, it got humiliated big time in the 20th century, and it's trying to deal with what it's new identity on the world stage is. It's tough not being on top anymore, especially if you're replaced by a country you consider stupid and uncultured.

Likewise, I think Americans dislike the French because we see the French as snobby and looking down on us.

Answer 2

Because the Americans are picking on them for not supporting the war in Iraq and nobody likes a bully.

It's easier for the Americans to pick on the French, who are an entire ocean away then to pick on us Canadians, who don't support the war in Iraq either.

It would be seriously unwise for the Americans to pick on the Canadians seeing we are currently supporting the American war on drugs in Afghanistan.Oh yeah, and the fact the Canada is the biggest trade partner that the States has. In one year alone, the single province of Ontario does about one billion dollars worth of trade with the US. I would hazard a guess that the province of BC does considerably more than that with it's...um...agricultural trade.

If they picked on us, we might get huffy, close the borders and trade with Cuba instead. We like cigars. Castro is not looking so good these days, maybe Cuba would like to become our 11th province. That would be nice. It's a little chilly up here right now, a tropical province would be a nice change. We'd rename them Cubanada and build a couple of hockey rinks as a "welcome to our country" gift.

Answer 3

OK in reality its not just the french that hate us Americans. However, the french and the Americans don't like each other because we are alot alike. Both countries are very prideful as well as they both think their way is the right way. They can't get along because both refuse to accept that other countries have different ways of doing things, but one way isn't necessarily right or wrong. I guess what I am trying to say is both countries are ethnocentric to a fault. That is why they bash heads.

Answer 4

Well actually, not all French hate Americans and not all Americans hate the French. I went to France last June (Paris,Versailles,southern France to see some Chateau's....) and there were some very nice people. We would try to talk to them in french...and they could tell we were americans and just start talking to us in english!! We just started to laugh.

Its just because of what's going on in Iraq and the surrounding areas. Some don't like what we are doing over there, and some americans don't like what we are doing over there.

Answer 5

I think it would be more fair to ask why don't the French and Americans like each other because it is no secret that the Americans dislike the French very much.

As to why, I don't know. It's unfortunate.

Answer 6

Favre hails from Kiln, Mississippi and the name is French in origin. Since Louisiana was where a lot of French Canadians- known as "Acadians" and, through mispronunciation, as "Cajuns"- settled long ago after being expelled from Canada by the Brits in 1755, and Kiln is essentially that area, it's distinctly possible that Favre is a descendant of that original migration.

Answer 7

I've been to France and the people there were extremely nice. Americans make the mistake of going there and automatically speaking english, expecting everyone to speak it. If you go there and try to say a few words in french and then explain that you can't speak it that well, they'll be a lot nicer to you.

Answer 8

The French don,t like any one, they have never got past the fact that England gave them a good beating

Answer 9

The French and pretty much the rest of the world, hon. The stereotypical Yank is pretty arrogant and obnoxious and unfortunately there are a lot of stereotypical Yanks...

And GWB's foreign policy has a LOT to answer for.

Answer 10

Jealousy?