Anti-Americanism 'feels like racism'
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I don't think this is a one-way solution. Europeans are highly critical of everything North American. This needs to stop. America is not Europe and Europe is not America. Something as simple as that should be so obvious but it, apparently, is not. One source of the confusion is the media. A quick scan through the BBC and CNN websites should suffice to illustrate what I mean. Unfortunately, most people take their information about a place from such secondhand sources like the media rather than visiting them firsthand. Consequently, impressions of America are biased by the source. This is particularly the case in Switzerland. In France, however, it is different. France is socialist, America is not. That is the difference in that case. The key problem is that Europeans have little first-hand experience of North American society - i.e. they have not lived there, they have not lived amongst the people, they have not "experienced" North America. 2-3 week vacations do not count as "cultural immersion". The reverse is true as well. So, two things: 1./ the onus is not solely on America doing something about it's image. That is only 1/2 of the problem. 2./ The other 1/2 of the problem is Europe doing something about their misconceptions of North America. I think both North Americans and Europeans need to engage each other absent the political situation. Both sides need to ignore the negative and biased media accounts, explore the positive accounts, and focus on the fact that at the most basic level everyone is human and each can learn a little something from the culture of the other. The last generation do have such close contact between the two societies was the Second World War Generation, but now the participants of that conflict are aging and decreasing in number. The younger generations are quite separated in comparison. People need to interact on a personal level rather than through the media. I think we need to get to know one another.
thealj wrote:
The key problem is that Europeans have little first-hand experience of North American society - i.e. they have not lived there, they have not lived amongst the people, they have not "experienced" North America.
This is one reason why i used to love hearing Alistair Cooke's "Letter from America". The primary reason was that the man could tell a story, a skill lacking in so many commentators, foreign and domestic, that sadly doesn't prevent them trying anyway. But the other reason was that he told his stories, not from the perspective of the proud native Citizen, and not from the perspective of the aloof foreign Observer... but from the perspective of the interested Guest. He spoke, of our successes and failures as one might speak of a dear friend. We could use more of this.
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Americans receive just as much abuse from left-wing Americans. I do not believe that conservative Americans (presumably the ones hated by left-wing Europe) need to compromise our position because leftists disagree. They can disagree all they want, but they does not mean that we cannot disagree with them. Case in point: My wife's best friend's boyfriend is an American (barely) and a left-wing extremist. He told my wife's friend that my wife is a murderer because she drives an SUV. Do I feel compelled to be apologetic to somebody like that? Answer: No.
espeir wrote:
Americans receive just as much abuse from left-wing Americans
You mean right-wing Americans receive just as much abuse from left-wing Americans, of course. And there would be fewer complaints from the center if the right wing were actually conservative. Instead, they are only socially conservative -- anti-gay, anti-privacy. Fiscally, they are completely, off-the-charts liberal. Borrowing money for enormously expensive experiments in nation-building is not the least bit conservative.
espeir wrote:
He told my wife's friend that my wife is a murderer because she drives an SUV
You're wife's best friend didn't say that because he's a left-wing extremist. He said that because he's an idiot.
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espeir wrote:
Americans receive just as much abuse from left-wing Americans
You mean right-wing Americans receive just as much abuse from left-wing Americans, of course. And there would be fewer complaints from the center if the right wing were actually conservative. Instead, they are only socially conservative -- anti-gay, anti-privacy. Fiscally, they are completely, off-the-charts liberal. Borrowing money for enormously expensive experiments in nation-building is not the least bit conservative.
espeir wrote:
He told my wife's friend that my wife is a murderer because she drives an SUV
You're wife's best friend didn't say that because he's a left-wing extremist. He said that because he's an idiot.
Vincent Reynolds wrote:
You're wife's best friend didn't say that because he's a left-wing extremist. He said that because he's an idiot.
What's the difference? "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
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I agree that I will never understand the madness of Islam.
espeir wrote for himself:
I agree that I will never understand the my own madness of Islam.
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espeir wrote for himself:
I agree that I will never understand the my own madness of Islam.
Oh Fisticuffs, I Need Your Approval For I Am Misguided Without Your Awesome Insight Please Validate My Existence With You're Internet Powers By Pumpkinhead, Age 15 or something
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That little crossout thing you do reminds me of how the Taliban blew up those big Buddha statues. "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
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Vincent Reynolds wrote:
You're wife's best friend didn't say that because he's a left-wing extremist. He said that because he's an idiot.
What's the difference? "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
espeir wrote:
What's the difference?
Spoken like a true right-wing extremist.
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That little crossout thing you do reminds me of how the Taliban blew up those big Buddha statues. "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
You remind me of Uranus.
-- Please rise for the Futurama theme song
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espeir wrote:
What's the difference?
Spoken like a true right-wing extremist.
Spoken like a true idiot. "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
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You remind me of Uranus.
-- Please rise for the Futurama theme song
That's hot. "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
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You remind me of Uranus.
-- Please rise for the Futurama theme song
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I have been living in Switzerland (for over three years now) and I'm Canadian and I feel it. I have also experienced it in France, the Czech Republic, Italy and Turkey. One exception was Greece. It's more along the lines of anti-North Americanism. Sometimes it is mild, sometimes quite severe. Speak North American English around anybody at your own risk. I get screamed at, eyes rolled at me, long stares, impatience and downright rudeness directed at me. I have even been called a "bloody capitalist" once. :rolleyes: The best is that usually within 10 seconds of initiating a conversation I get the inevitable: "So, where are you from?". I hate it. What should be done about it? Well, I think know that Europeans have large misconceptions regarding (North) American culture. Their source of what North America is all about comes from television and the news media which, generally, do not portray the U.S. in a positive light. Most reports are biased and critical of U.S. culture, society and politics. Consequently, they adopt this view of America via osmosis. Many of my European colleagues engage me in conversations that centre on what life is like in North America. My experience is that while they have many misconceptions of it, they are interested in what it is "really like". In my opinion, the North American governments need to promote an accurate, unbiased image of what North American society is and Europeans need to stop being so critical of North America. -- modified at 8:53 Wednesday 19th July, 2006 And that crap about "Tell people you're Canadian" is total rubbish. I get just as much flack as the author of that article does. I can sympathize with her experiences.
I suspect it's different down on the continent than up here in the north. The general opinion about US americans is "somewhat crazy, but good people". If it was any other way, I really don't understand how the hell Sweden could've become so affected by US culture. What is common up here, is criticism against the US administration. From what I gather, Bush is seen as a fool. Hardly anti-american prejudice (nor unfounded criticism), unless you'd like to count half of the USA's population as anti-american. :~ -- Pictures[^] from my Japan trip.
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well My mom told me once that "while we all don't speak the same language, everyone in the world undestands an asskicking"
Well, what? Speak up!
-- This episode performed entirely by sock puppets
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I suspect it's different down on the continent than up here in the north. The general opinion about US americans is "somewhat crazy, but good people". If it was any other way, I really don't understand how the hell Sweden could've become so affected by US culture. What is common up here, is criticism against the US administration. From what I gather, Bush is seen as a fool. Hardly anti-american prejudice (nor unfounded criticism), unless you'd like to count half of the USA's population as anti-american. :~ -- Pictures[^] from my Japan trip.
If I had any idea who the president of Sweden was, I'd call him a fool too! Just kidding. I have a Volvo and love it. Ikea sucks, though. "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
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If I had any idea who the president of Sweden was, I'd call him a fool too! Just kidding. I have a Volvo and love it. Ikea sucks, though. "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
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That little crossout thing you do reminds me of how the Taliban blew up those big Buddha statues. "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
Taliban did what Abraham taught them.Ever read a bible? Oh Fisticuffs, I Need Your Approval For I Am Misguided Without Your Awesome Insight Please Validate My Existence With You're Internet Powers By Pumpkinhead, Age 15 or something
http://weblogs.com.pk/kadnan | kadnan.blogspot.com | AJAX ba
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Taliban did what Abraham taught them.Ever read a bible? Oh Fisticuffs, I Need Your Approval For I Am Misguided Without Your Awesome Insight Please Validate My Existence With You're Internet Powers By Pumpkinhead, Age 15 or something
http://weblogs.com.pk/kadnan | kadnan.blogspot.com | AJAX ba
The Taliban was Jewish? "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
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I know they have one hot princess. Do they actually have an acting (in a political ruling sense) king, though? "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
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The Taliban was Jewish? "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
Your ignorance of cultures, religions, and viewpoints other than your own is truly staggering. Your ignorance of cultures, religions, and viewpoints other than your own is truly staggering. -Vincent Reynolds on espeir's staggering ignorance
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Your ignorance of cultures, religions, and viewpoints other than your own is truly staggering. Your ignorance of cultures, religions, and viewpoints other than your own is truly staggering. -Vincent Reynolds on espeir's staggering ignorance
Go away. I'm done pooping on you for now. I want someone actually capable of intellectual debate. Unfortunately, those people typically in agreement with me. :sigh: "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
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If I had any idea who the president of Sweden was, I'd call him a fool too! Just kidding. I have a Volvo and love it. Ikea sucks, though. "Everything I listed is intended to eliminate the tyranny of the majority." -Vincent Reynolds on American Democracy
Sweden is a constitutional monarcy. You'd have to call the State Minister a fool. Should you, I would agree with you. The king's even a bigger fool. In fact, he's got the same aura of enlightenment as GWB does.
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