Stormin Norman
7th September 2002, 06:39
European Anti-Americanism
Those of you who took the time to read my experience in Canada will remember the anti-American sentiment that I found to be deplorable north of the border. Of course, our brothers to the north have only a mild case of this disease, as they realize who brings home the bacon on this side of the hemisphere. Therefore, they can not appear overly critical for fear of straining relations with a country that they are dependent on.
Unfortunately, this is not true in the rest of the world. Tonight I read an article in Harper's Magazine entitled "Le Divorce", by Nicholas Fraser. The main question posed by Fraser was; "Do Europe and America have irreconcilable differences?” The article was full of further examples of European's disgust with the American people, most of it lacking any logical reason. The criticisms were generic complaints; many of which I have heard espoused on this very website. It seems that these snot-nosed elitists in Europe are obsessed with America, if for nothing else to bash them with their popular media. Fraser cites many examples of poorly done foreign films, T.V. sitcoms, The Guardian publication, and countless prominent figures in European culture that routinely engage in this type of ridicule. I found the general lack of respect for the 'hyperpower' of the world to be a bit disconcerting at times, if not alarming. These stuck up bastards are supposed to be our allies. Talking to them on the streets would lead anyone to the conclusion that they are our bitter enemies, soured by years of rivalry, a formerly friendly rivalry that has been marked by their inferiority to the American way of doing things. It seems as if the European's continued losses in this game have led them to an unthinking hatred for the American lifestyle. At times, it was hard to distinguish European cynicism from the hatred espoused by Islamic Fundamentalists, based on what Fraser wrote in his column.
Just when the article becomes too overbearing and I am on the edge of shear violence, a breath of fresh air calms me back to a normal state. Finally, in Fraser's trip throughout Europe, he talked with a prominent figure that had great respect for us Americans, a former Canadian to my surprise. The man known as Lord Black of Crossharbour, Conrad Black, is also one of the more conservative members of the House of Lords. I found myself liking this guy for two reasons. First, because he renounced his Canadian citizenship. Secondly, since he had nothing but criticism for the fools in Europe that hold such views of Americans. He had an excellent reason that accounts for such nonsense.
I found myself agreeing with this Englishman, who said, "You have to take a long view. In two hundred years America has gone from being a colony barely larger than Great Baltimore to the status of uncontested world power. Start from the premise that anti-Americanism is a terrible and classic, conventional case of envy - and the envy is hidden behind a posture of moral disapproval. It's so easy to blame Americans for having everything. Even the British are not immune to such feelings." This has been my suspicion for some time, and it is compelling to hear the words spoken by a Brit. The article concludes by noting some of the less than desirable aspects of European living and goes on the state, "whatever one chooses to think of George Bush and his Great Crusades, it is hard to see how Europe can be presented as any sort of model for the rest of the world." Slam-dunk; for everyone already knows that it is our system of rule and way of life that is the example of a 'shining city on a hill' for the rest of the world to try to duplicate.
Finally, this article left me wondering if the Europeans openly admit to such hatred of America, why should we seek their approval for implementing a regime change in Iraq. Aren't we seeking the approval of a collection of people who secretly laughed at the fall of our World Trade Towers? Aren't we seeking the permission of Nation-States who would enjoy nothing more than the collapse of the American political machine, so they can compare our downfall with that of Rome? Europe, who needs them? We should act unilaterally, and make those wimps consider how secure they are in their ability to maintain legitimate power outside of the influence of the Juggernaut that is the U.S..
Source: Harper's Magazine September 2002
(Edited by Stormin Norman at 6:40 pm on Sep. 7, 2002)
Those of you who took the time to read my experience in Canada will remember the anti-American sentiment that I found to be deplorable north of the border. Of course, our brothers to the north have only a mild case of this disease, as they realize who brings home the bacon on this side of the hemisphere. Therefore, they can not appear overly critical for fear of straining relations with a country that they are dependent on.
Unfortunately, this is not true in the rest of the world. Tonight I read an article in Harper's Magazine entitled "Le Divorce", by Nicholas Fraser. The main question posed by Fraser was; "Do Europe and America have irreconcilable differences?” The article was full of further examples of European's disgust with the American people, most of it lacking any logical reason. The criticisms were generic complaints; many of which I have heard espoused on this very website. It seems that these snot-nosed elitists in Europe are obsessed with America, if for nothing else to bash them with their popular media. Fraser cites many examples of poorly done foreign films, T.V. sitcoms, The Guardian publication, and countless prominent figures in European culture that routinely engage in this type of ridicule. I found the general lack of respect for the 'hyperpower' of the world to be a bit disconcerting at times, if not alarming. These stuck up bastards are supposed to be our allies. Talking to them on the streets would lead anyone to the conclusion that they are our bitter enemies, soured by years of rivalry, a formerly friendly rivalry that has been marked by their inferiority to the American way of doing things. It seems as if the European's continued losses in this game have led them to an unthinking hatred for the American lifestyle. At times, it was hard to distinguish European cynicism from the hatred espoused by Islamic Fundamentalists, based on what Fraser wrote in his column.
Just when the article becomes too overbearing and I am on the edge of shear violence, a breath of fresh air calms me back to a normal state. Finally, in Fraser's trip throughout Europe, he talked with a prominent figure that had great respect for us Americans, a former Canadian to my surprise. The man known as Lord Black of Crossharbour, Conrad Black, is also one of the more conservative members of the House of Lords. I found myself liking this guy for two reasons. First, because he renounced his Canadian citizenship. Secondly, since he had nothing but criticism for the fools in Europe that hold such views of Americans. He had an excellent reason that accounts for such nonsense.
I found myself agreeing with this Englishman, who said, "You have to take a long view. In two hundred years America has gone from being a colony barely larger than Great Baltimore to the status of uncontested world power. Start from the premise that anti-Americanism is a terrible and classic, conventional case of envy - and the envy is hidden behind a posture of moral disapproval. It's so easy to blame Americans for having everything. Even the British are not immune to such feelings." This has been my suspicion for some time, and it is compelling to hear the words spoken by a Brit. The article concludes by noting some of the less than desirable aspects of European living and goes on the state, "whatever one chooses to think of George Bush and his Great Crusades, it is hard to see how Europe can be presented as any sort of model for the rest of the world." Slam-dunk; for everyone already knows that it is our system of rule and way of life that is the example of a 'shining city on a hill' for the rest of the world to try to duplicate.
Finally, this article left me wondering if the Europeans openly admit to such hatred of America, why should we seek their approval for implementing a regime change in Iraq. Aren't we seeking the approval of a collection of people who secretly laughed at the fall of our World Trade Towers? Aren't we seeking the permission of Nation-States who would enjoy nothing more than the collapse of the American political machine, so they can compare our downfall with that of Rome? Europe, who needs them? We should act unilaterally, and make those wimps consider how secure they are in their ability to maintain legitimate power outside of the influence of the Juggernaut that is the U.S..
Source: Harper's Magazine September 2002
(Edited by Stormin Norman at 6:40 pm on Sep. 7, 2002)