OT: Rising Anti-americanism

Digital Drifter

This post might *not* be to everybody's liking but I want to bring
this up for a specific reason. Is this how a country,race &
people are judged? Ignoring the fact that she's American, is this the
way to judge? The mind boggles at this kind of writing. At this
rate, if I were to hazard a guess, this kind of writing will only inflame
people to the very things she's trying to soothen.

Actual article
http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/st...328663,00.html

Some responses
http://www.guardian.co.uk/letters/st...329763,00.html

On a related note, how many have actually faced the kind of situations she saw?

Karma Queen

I can understand the hatred of america (and sometimes americans) in this country. i don't hate americans, but the 'war against terrorism' makes me so angry, i often have to leave the room if there's a speech by bush or blair or someone on the tv. and sometimes americans can come across as very insular and unaware of the world in the media, fuelling hatred for actual americans.

as i say - i don't hate americans. i just hate the general american mentality.

Merchant

Compare that article with the general Euro and especially French bashing that went on the US, even in the halls of Congress, not too long ago. It's fair to say that a French visitor might have felt threatened here in the land of the free.

I haven't been to Europe recently, but in India, the UAE, and the Caribbean during the last two years, I haven't experienced the slightest bit of anti-Americanism, and I wouldn't expect to. This sort of rhetoric and attitude is the purview of an educated (or semi-educated) elite. It's a luxury to express such views. Most people, the world over, don't have time for them.

Jorge Reverter

We spanish/europeans in general understand american feelings, but in my opinion, the article is absolutely unreal and seems to be writted/published for
other reasons, but is not explaining the truth.

All the people in my country was absolutely supportive with the americans after 9/11, but the reality now is the terrible three years of dirty war, and the fear all over the world. We are almost all against this politics. First thing our prime minister do after winning the elections was to give back our troops from Irak (90% of the population was against this war)

In brief, people in Spain are very fond of americans but hate Bush and co. and the neocon. ideology.

Remember the first words of italian hostages once at home, supporting the liberation fight against the invaders.

Of course, if we move east, things become harder and harder for americans.

seraph

Jorge,

I guess that depends on how far east you plan to go ...

Frankly, I was a bit suprised by the GlobeScan/Maryland poll which found that 34% of Indians polled would vote for Kerry and 33% would vote for Bush (statistically within the margin of error).

See the BBC article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3640754.stm

Even farther East (Thailand and the Phillipines) it appears that Bush (and, by implication, American policies) are even more popular.

Seraph

Ruprecht

That article - I have never seen such behaviour towards Americans in the UK; it doesn't happen. People like Americans, they seem like nice people, it's just that no-one likes the American leadership. That article is crazed. Maybe the author forgot to mention that they were wearing a "bomb the arabs" T-shirt.

iyers

I like American's. They have helped a lot of countries Industrialize.

Ruprecht

And dumped previously flourishing countries into global markets they cannot compete in. You might as well say "I like America, it has a pretty flag".

rahulmehta

american policies are always there to suit themselves.... they supported bin laden, now he's a dirty word for them....
we can keep quoting examples like this the whole day long...
why dont these guys understand the fact that they should not meddle in other countries affairs & stop acting as the conciense of the world...
rest of us no matter how poor or underdeveloped are fit enough to handle the matters of our countries ourselves.

rest the americans are really cool with their no nonsense attitude.

__________________
the road never ends........

brianct

americans backed the wa on iraq, so they are only reaing their karma. Its a pity that they have to suffer the policies of their leaders, but then the iraqis are suffering from being iraqis! Lets not forget that.
Whats more, if americans elect Bush again the monster has plans to invade iran! I hope americans will wake up and do the democratic thing and kick the bush mal-administration to kingdom come.

brianct

the author of the Guardian piece ends on the following 'observation'

'Here is what I perceive as the explanation: Europe has always been a seething hotbed of anti-semitism. England, sadly, has the distinction of being the very first country to expel its Jews and initiate the blood libel. The Jews were not allowed back into England until the time of Cromwell, and feel to this day that they worship by the grace of the sovereign. It is impossible to convey to Americans inside the US, or to American Jews, the open loathing of both groups that dominates daily life outside the US today.
...
'Anti-Americanism is not a result of Abu Ghraib or of a Rumsfeldian pronouncement. It is a disturbing and hurtful form of psychosis that is rapidly eroding the all-important special relationship. '

-----
Which is rich, as some psychologists have labelled Bush a sociopath.
Now what has anti-jewishness got to do with anti-americanism?? CAn it e because the war in iraq is really for the sake of Greater Israel? And that zionist jews are yoking the US to israel? You bet!
Is that what she means by 'special relationship'?

Someone should tell Gould to take a close look at what the US and israel and doing in the middle east, before she ponders the rising tide of anti-americanism

brianct

its enough for the americans to stp invadingt other countries, privatising their economies, and killing those who resist.

rahulmehta

its not only bush,
its the overall mentality of the american politician that in order to have a upper hand on the world they need to interfere in everyones affairs...
till the time they realize that these practises always backfire & nothing good comes out of this.. things wont change for the better.

seraph

(For Brianct)

Wow mate,

You managed to figure out that the writer of the article was a Jew. All by yourself, no less! You didn't even have to read to the end of the article where she states that she prefers to be in Alexandria, Virginia where she is not seen, "as a bloody American or an accursed Jew."

As for the "special relationship" that she is referring to, it is not the one where, "zionist jews are yoking the US to israel" but the one between the US and Europe (specifically, the UK). You know, the "special relationship" where the US sent its young men to die in the trenches in World War I and to liberate Europe from the Nazis in World War II.

Then again, based on your post, perhaps if only the US hadn't meddled in European affairs, you would not have to lose sleep over "Greater Israel".

Frankly, it is Leftists like you that make me wonder why over 80% of the Jews in America will vote for the Democratic party. As Digvijay said above, it would be nice if only half the things that are stated in the Arab (and increasingly so in the liberal) media about "Zionists" and Jews were true.

For those readers who would like some perspective regarding the growing nexus between leftists, anti-globalists and anti-semites, I suggest the following article "Antigloblism's Jewish Problem" from the the journal "Foreign Policy". It is reprinted on the Australia/Israel Jewish Affairs Council website. (Specially for you, mate!)

http://www.aijac.org.au/updates/Oct-...Article%20%201
(scroll down a bit and you will see it)

Seraph

PS I spare you the need to "out" me as a Jew.

sbballer33

I really doubt this is a typical experience. There are a lot of anti-American feelings out there, but in my experience it’s directed at the government not individuals. I was in Egypt last spring and made no secret about being an American, if I was asked; I didn’t wear a flag or anything. Everyone always made the distinction between the people and the government, which they don’t like incase you were wondering. But everyone was friendly towards me as an individual. They were more interested, as I am, how could we let these guys get into power. What do Americans think of their government? Answer: Half hate it, half like it. How does it happen? People are dumb.

“No one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people.”

-P.T. Barnum