Why hate americans?

Question

I took 7 french classes in highschool, I've always wanted to go. I remember my french teacher telling me I would be treated rudely by many while I was there. Since then I have gone to the beautiful Canada, to see snow for my 1st time, I was excited. I got to vancouver and walked into a restaurant and asked politely if they take my american dollar as I hadn't had chance to exchange. The guy told me "yeah, we take your BLOOD money." I live in Orlando, in a part that has a lot of latino culture. I love their food, I admire their sense of family. Rarely have I been treated nicely by any of these groups, I am not rude, I don't judge people. My trip to canada was awful as I was consistently being labeled "american" like its a disease. I'm 24, I'm a kind person, why can't I be treated as such? I had to have been born somewhere, it happened to be florida. I treat people on an individual basis, latinos/canadians/middleastern/3rd gen Floridians. All the same. Why be nasty because I am american?

Look at the mean answers! You should be ashamed! I did meet some very nice Canadians on my trip, there was just an astounding amount of hatred as well, unfounded, based on my unchosen background. I'm sure there are nice French people too, I don't know any really (french people I meant, nice or mean) There is no hope! Why is everyone so mean?

I live in a tourist area too, Orlando. Florida is not considered part or the 'south' when it comes to 'suthun hospitalitay' around here, we just garner the hate from all sides. What a weird state to live in. What a weird city of this weird state. I don't belong anywhere.

I thought this was funny. See Cyndi down there?
She called me a Pendejo, or an idiot.
Look at one of her questions recently:

Why if god made us all equal.and this world to share why is it that there is so much hatetred against?

inmigrants here in the usa and many,many other countries why cant we all get along and love and see each other throughtout gods eyes god love the world so much that he gave his only one son why cant we all love like that!!!!

Am I really a Pendejo....or is that basically the question I just asked?

Now there is someone who can be judged on who they are.

Answer 1

Yeah... it's pretty much jealousy.
That and they associate us with Bush and his administration, regardless how we feel about him.

Answer 2

First, I would offer you as encouragement that many people in the world do not hate Americans. Their is a lot of animosity between Americans and those around the world because of our seeming arrogance, our at times rudeness and lack of manners overseas. I'm sure that that doesn't describe you at all and you sound exactly like the type of traveler we want internationally representing us. However, many Americans don't share your sentiment towards respect for other people and their cultures.

I recently returned from France and it is an absolutely beautiful country and the people are very kind. Their is some rudeness to Parisians, but even they are nice. They like to mock those that can't speak French or do so with a bad accent but they don't mean any offense by it.

As American foreign policy becomes more and more interventionist, and we wage wars and dismiss the sentiments of others with accusations of jealousy, ignorance, and weakness they will continue to dislike us. It doesn't help our cause that from what I saw when I was in Europe is Americans tend to have the unreasonable expectation that people will change their country for our betterment. Americans expect the French to speak English to them, in France. To the French that is insulting. We tend to be loud in bars and restaurants, hold loud conversations and that is rude.

Now with that said I believe Americans are among the friendliest people. Many Europeans would agree. If you continue to travel and sit and meet with people you will enjoy your stay and find plenty of people that like the United States and Americans. Most just wish we would be a bit more polite, a bit more considerate, and listen to what they have to say.

Latinos are different. America has had colonial like policies with latino countries for over a century. We have supported tyrannical governments in South America, corrupted their politics for our economic advantage, and interfere with their nations. They have a resentment! Now even then most people don't hold that against Americans, just our government. Now some of their claims are untrue and unfair, but like anything when people don't know for themselves they go by what they hear, and that is usually negative.

As for your experience in Canada, I'm sorry to hear that. Vancouver is a very very liberal city as is the Northwest (You will find similiar sentiment in Seattle and Portland) I wouldn't judge.

I would encourage you to continue to travel, and continue to be friendly. You will have some great trips and meet some very nice people that will confess how much they do like America and Americans. When in doubt offer to buy them a beer.

Cheers

Answer 3

There is no good reason. It happens all the time though.

I've visited Florida a couple of times, and stayed close to Hollywood beach. There was a very large number of French Canadians there at the time. Horribly rude, in general. I tend to think the French dislike everything, even themselves.

I was stationed in Germany while in the Army a few years ago. I must say, plenty of wonderful Germans. They tolerated an awful lots from us dumb GI's. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night, throngs of GI's would walk from post 'down-range', or downtown to the bars. At the end of the night, they (we) would walk back. On the way back, on average, about every other car parked on the street would lose its antenna to a GI. We were obnoxious, and they tolerated us.

The Brits, Dutch, Czechs, Danes (especially the Danes), Italians, Spaniards, Swiss, Austrians (a bit uptight however), Swedes, etc., were great. Very friendly. The French? Miserable.

France is one country I'll never visit again. I'll go to Gaza with a US flag on my forehead before I visit France again.

We partly earn our trouble - braking antenna's - and we have to face folks with a French background.

The only thing I appreciate about the French, to be honest, is the fact that some found their way to Louisiana.

Answer 4

I am Canadian. I love Americans and have a lot of family who live in the U.S. Yes there is a lot of anti-americanism in Canada but not all Canadians hate the U.S. I think it stems from the fact that Canadians see themselves as the nicer "cousin" to the US. The funny thing is, Canadians try to be so non prejudiced with visible minorities. We are a country of inclusion and muticulturalism. it's amost as if we have to hate someone, so let it be Americans.... I'm sorry you had a bad experience. I hope you will come back to Canada one day and have a much better experience.

Answer 5

Well I am Canadian and have many American friends I do not hate the Americans, unfortunately we have people up here that do, you went to the wrong part of the country to visit, B.C. is the bleeding heart capital of Canada when it comes to saving the world and protesting against everything but the kitchen sink and sometimes I wonder about that, we get many hunters up here during the season, If you ever come up again come to Saskatchewan in the north is just breath taking hope you come again.

Answer 6

The same thing happened to me in England back in 2003, 4 weeks after the war started. Even though I totally agreed with them, it sucked to be treated that way.

Sadly we live in a nation of idiots electing idiots.

I never get that in Canada and I used to go at least once a month before I moved to California, but I am a western New Yorker from the shores of Lake Ontario and people in Ontario are pretty nice if you are from Rochester or Buffalo.

The latinos in Orlando are mostly Puerto Ricans (like me!) and are techniacally Americans as well, but the American Government is doing nasty things down in PR, like missile tests and such.

Answer 7

You have to get used to people hating America, Bush isn't making it easy for the American people to be liked. It makes me sick, that people treat others that way. There is no need for that kind of rudeness. All they are is ignorant and just think every single American thinks and acts the same way. We are all individuals who have our own thoughts about the world. Hopefully soon, others will realize that we aren't all that different from one another. We all have the same needs.

Answer 8

There are ignorant Canadians just as there are ignorant Americans, ignorant any nation.

I live in a tourist area I know though that you treat people the way you want to be treated. Sorry you happened on some of the more nasty Canadians , generally we're a nice lot .

Answer 9

It's the foreign policy. I'm from Europe and I know why some people don't like America. It is definitely not jealousy, I'm not sure what you think these people are jealous of exactly. It is only since the election of George Bush that this has started, and people making assumptions that all Americans think like he does.

Answer 10

I was treated very kindly in France, the important thing is learning how the french treat each other. Your teacher probably didn't, and he paid the price for it. Buy a copy of Culture Shock: France! and you'll be fine. As for canadians... I can't help you with them, but I'd choose France for a vacation spot over Canada any day.

http://www.amazon.com/Culture-Shock-France-Customs-Etiquette/dp/155868056X

Answer 11

I'm an American born-and-raised kid in Canada, and so far where I've went to school most kids HATE the Americans. It's sad, and I don't understand how someone could actually say it out loud like that.