Do you hate the British?

Question

Why do some Americans dislike the British? What did they ever do to them?

Answer 1

No.

I am 64 y/o and have never heard anyone say anything negative about the British people. We have a different culture and a different type of government but so what?

What makes you think that Americans don't like the British? You say that some Americans dislike the British. How many is some? We have about 300 million people in the USA. Do you expect that every single person should feel the same about anything?

Answer 2

Of course they do: the movies kids, the movies: Mel Gibson has based his entire career on Brit-bashing for American audiences, and in the majority of American movies- and I'm only taking the action/romantic movies made for the brainless masses here- the 'bad guy' is ALWAYS foreign and USUALLY British. British actors in Hollywood invariably make most of their money playing bad guys: Malcolm McDowell in Blue Thunder (ask yer grandad), Alan Rickman in Die Hard, General Montgomery in Patton, ... alright, I don't get to the movies enough but if there's a Pommie in screen, he's the baddie.

The Brits do have an inferiority complex- that's the problem with having until recently run the whole world, but then stupidly giving your wealth to the USA in two wars- but on the whole I think the 'hatred' is quite good-natured. The problem is when the distortions masquerade as facts: as in Mel Gibson's movies like 'The Patriot' and 'Braveheart', which were both pure horse manure. Mel is, of course, Australian-born but that's another story.

I think more recently the Brits tendency to stick to reason and facts could be offending Americans and Americans become more whako- for instance most Brits knew Iraq would be a disaster, because they referred to history and not to 'Christian values'. And people like Richard Dawkins challenge America's 'I believe in Jesus and science can bugger off' attitudes.

Answer 3

Where do you get the idea that Americans hate the British? It simply isn't so!

For all of the people from all over the world who have immigrated into America, its cultural roots are primarily British. Its laws are derived from the Common Law and that was first formalized in Magna Carta.

For Americans to hate the British we would have to hate ourselves..

Answer 4

I guess some are still upset over the revolution and king George. i don't know if king George is actually respected in Britain, but in the states he most certainly is not.
however, most Americans are fascinated by Brits. just see how many go to Britain every year! and they all adore harry potter (who is British) and the chronicles of Narnia (which are British) and j.r.r. Tolkien, who was British , even if his books don't take place in Britain at all. Americans are also fascinated by the Queen and the royal family. There are many Princess Diana fans and what not. Americans also eat a lot of fish and chips, so maybe it is so that those who hate the British are not thinking clearly.

Answer 5

Americans are jealous of the British because they seem so much smarter. Another reason is that in American comedy it is an easy joke to make fun of the British so it is used in many different places. Since so many Americans' personalities are based off of entertainment they pick up little things like making fun of British people and eventually this can turn to dislike.
The British aren't really hated that much. They are just constantly poked fun at by Americans.

Answer 6

I don't know if Americans dislike the British. But if you look into why the Irish generally aren't too fond of them , I think you'll understand why.

Answer 7

Some Americans, especially Irish-Americans claim to hate "the British" because Ireland was occupied by Britain for centuries. Also, the Btritish dominated other countries and pretended to be morally superior. But really, this and almost eveything Americans know about imperialism is from folllowing the example of the "mother country." We're the same way.

Answer 8

Because some British people hate Americans. It's a back & forth thing that's been happening since the Revolutionary war. Over all, the American people are great, SAME with the Britians.

Answer 9

Steve S:
Just because their government thinks it can recapture its past imperial power by blindly following the US is no reason to admire them. No one likes a lackey. The British people, on the other hand tend to be more critical and suspicious of their leaders than Americans are and that's something to admire.
People who hate entire groups of people are just stupid.

Answer 10

I don't hate the British at all, in fact, I admire them. The British are and will always be our closest ally in this crazy world.