I can’t really think of a reason other than “It goes with the stereotype” - it’s a distinctively American name, like “Hank” or “Earl” or “Mary-Beth”.
Anti-Americanism didn’t start out as Anti-Americanism to begin with. Well, actually, it did, but it wasn’t called that and was applied more generally.
First off, I distinguish between Anti-Americanism in Europe, the Middle East, and countries outher than that. They have fundamentally different characters.
European Anti-Americanism dates back a long way. From the beginning, Americans were seen as uncouth in England, and this attitude spread. One thinks of that of-handed note in “A Modest Proposal,” where the narrator describes the idea of eating babies as coming from an American. But first and foremost, it comes from elitism. America was settled by low-class individuals. The rich and powerful were rarely interested in moving: what could they gain? America, then, had realatively littler haute culture in the European vein, and tended to celebrate wealth, self-creation, and commercial success in a way that Europe did not. We also did not (and do not) respect class in nearly the same way, outside of a small number of East coast elites, who get no credit away from home.
Given how difficult it was to move before this century, and the vast number who did come to the U.S. from Europe, the immigrants to the U.S. are an implicit rebuke to the elites of Europe. Think about: there was millions upon millions of people who wanted to leave so badly that they sold everything, left everyone, and sailed acros the sea to a place they’d never seen.
In the modern world, I’ve found that Europeans tend to be very arrogant when talking about American. I am perfectly willing to acknowledge I am not that familiar with Europe. Europeans, however, seem to assume they know everything about America. Note that this primarily talks about Western Western Europeans. Eastern Europe, like most of the world, has had little to no relationship with the US and comes with a vastly fewer preconceptions.
Does it exist? Yes.
Talking about the European type not the ME or anywhere else.
If brought up I hear a lot of negative stereotypes used, loud, ignorant etc. No more than when any other nation is mentioned. We slag the Brits, French, Danish, Norwegians etc. We use different stereotypes but non are that nice.
Yes there are people who because of politics (anti globalisation etc. ) think that the US is Satan incarnate but they are rare and thankfully living mostly in Galway.
What I have noticed in both my trips to the US and meeting Americans here and abroad is a surprising amount of insecurity when it comes to their nationality. The slightest jab and they are on the defense and taking offence.
We Irish spend way more of our time slagging the Brits off that anyone else. Generally the Brits just suck it up or come back with comments about Ireland. Americans want to fight you for insulting their country even when you were only joking.
I know I’ve not meet all 350 odd ,million of you feckers but the vast proportion of Americans I’ve meet have been quick to take offence.
Most likely this stems from the patriotism thing that Tevildo was talking about.
YMMV.
Gitfiddle – did you not answer your own OP in the affirmative in the sentence above? That’s testbook anti-Americanism to me, if only a mild form.
You know what’s funny? In the U.S., “Hank” and “Earl” have something of a mild “redneck” or “lower (rural) class” connotation.
Many two-part female names have the same connotation (“Bobbie Sue”, “Mary Jean”, etc.). I grew up in suburban New Orleans across the street from a “Mary Beth”, so on that name I can’t really give a general impression.
I find it interesting that what is a narrow generalization in America is, in the British Isles, broadened to cover all Americans. I am quite sure that many Americans do the same thing when their experiences with folks from the U.K./Ireland are limited.
I am going to chime in as well. I live in the US, but am not American. Individual Americans are like individuals everywhere - varied. It is US policy that drives a lot of the mocking, despite and ridicule. Not just for foreign policy either, although that is almost invariably seen as hypocritical and bullying. There is genuine outrage at the lack of public healthcare for all as well (and other social policies).
The flag waving thing? Not so good. Here it is called patriotism, but to an outsider like myself it smacks of nationalism. This is the fourth country in which I have resided, and I have never seen anything remotely like the flags and god bless America stuff I see here. It is also apparent looking at newscasts. Seriously - people look at it like they look at the nationalism in totalitarian dictatorships. It looks to a lot of the world like some sort of ‘USA Uber Alles’.
There is also a lot of resentment at what is seen as the exporting of a vanilla ‘one size fits all’ culture. I am not entirely sure I can explain that any better.
Like I said, this really isn’t, in my experience, directed at individual Americans, but is at the nation itself and the US companies that do business elsewhere. I recall and American friend trying to start a business in another Western (and English speaking) country. He gave up - people would not trust an American in business
And I couldn’t care less if they do. If I don’t see or hear it, to me, it’s the same as if it never happened.
Kick a dog to many times and don’t be surprised when he bites at the provocation. Perhaps many of those Americans were just wary of having such statements made time and time again or maybe we’re just not used to relative strangers insulting our nation of origin when we first meet them.
That was the reaction I got in another thread when I said I’d be a bit peeved if I was in Australia and the people referred to me as a “tank.” That I should just “chill” and come up with some insult of my own, perhaps sheep shagging colonial, was their response.
I know this may come as a shock but we’re not English, Irish, nor are we French so don’t expect us to act like them. We are Americans, and while we do share some similiarities in culture we also share some differences. For the most part if someone meets an Irishman in the United States they’re not going to say, “Hey Mr. Potato Head, guys are so violent with all your bombs and such, but you’re not like the others who are constantly in a druken stupor so you’re ok.”
Or perhaps you could look beyond your own ethnocentrism.
Marc
Oh, yeah? Why don’t you come over here and say that to my face?
I recall a few days ago that a black Jamaican student pretty much told a girl, an black American, that he find African Americans dumb.
And of course the West Indians really hate the American word “soccer”.
Other nationalities get it as well. Americans may get it more but then again the US is more involved in world politics than any other country so they’re more on the radar. As I said though you tend to take it more seriously IMO. I got shit from Brits about the IRA blowing them up quite a bit, hell we all did back in the day. Suck it up and hit them back with something or engage them in debate. I never really thought about just dismissing them as anti-Irish as that term just isn’t in the lexicon over here.
In the US maybe but when you’re in another country be prepared to deal with their shite. Irish and British people tend to insult people more openly have more in your face political conversations with strangers and swear and slag(insult) nationalities freely.
I’ve read a lot of people here talk about the bad sides of European culture and people yet I don’t remember anyone talking about anti-European etc. I’ve never heard anyone IRL or on TV be they politician or normal prole talk about anti-Irish. It’s just an alien concept. You are anti- certain people, political parties etc but never the country.
Yeah yeah it’s my fault. You have to deal with foreigners. When you are outside the US be prepared to deal with other cultures and more robust ways of talking to others. I didn’t do the drunken argumentative Irish thing when I was in Vermont as that was your playground not mine but when I’m here I will be.
You know, it might have something to do with the fact that a large number of the people living in America are freakin retards. I’m a reasonibly educated and well traveled American but sometimes I have to ask what the hell is wrong with some of these people. The Southern/ Texan in your face American love it or leave it gun toting cowboy types, your evangelical Christian right religeous nuts, your whiny Liberal PC douchebags, your hyper-competitive soccer-moms/NASCAR dads, your hip-hop wannabe gheto homies the list goes on. To a certain extent, it’s understandable why the world, if it doesn’t hate us, certainly looks at our culture with a raised eyebrow.
The assumption here seems to be that patriotism is somehow bad or wrong…because thats how the Euro’s look at it. Well, there are reasons why the Europeans look at ‘patriotism’ and ‘nationalism’ in such a poor light…millions of them in fact buried in shallow graves throughout Europe. That doesn’t make it bad here in the US where we don’t have the same history you guys do.
Oh, I think we can trace our current position prior to Pearl Harbor. Perhaps we can trace our current military superiority to WWII, but economically we were already rising to become a world power prior to WWII…probably since WWI at least.
As for the US’s ‘isolationist foreign policy’ and the fact that the US didn’t jump right into another European blood bath…well, why exactly should we have? It was Europes problem, the seeds for the conflict were sown by your own stupid governments from the ending of the first world war (directly contrary to how we wanted things settled). The first world war was another case…why exactly SHOULD we have jumped into that one early (or at all)? You guys were in such an all fired hurry to bathe in blood and happily slaughter each other…why should we get involved?
The irony (to me) is that Europe successfully dragged us into their conflict twice in the last century…and then when we because more militarized afterwards (due in no small part to them dragging us in kicking and screaming) they are all of a sudden ticked off at this. I know you guys would have been happier had we just gone back into our shell after WWII so that we could come unprepared to the table the next time you guys got it into your heads to start slaughtering each other…but eventually we were going to wise up and at least prepare ourselves.
Anyway, does anti-Americanism exist? Certainly. Hell, if you parse the OP you can see the anti-Americanism right there. Its different in different places throughout the world. I’ve traveled extensively in Europe (in fact I was in Germany last month), in Asia, Africa, South and Central America and even in the Middle East. Everywhere you go there are people who think they know what America is about…and who have anti-American sentiments to a greater or lesser extent. How this comes out is different for every nation/region. Mostly the people who you will meet aren’t going to wear their anti-Americanism on their sleeves…you’ll never know how they really feel about America and Americans. Sometimes this isn’t the case. There are some places in Central and South America for instance I wouldn’t be comfortable traveling too if I were wearing the fact I was an American on my sleeve…thankfully I speak spanish and a bit of portugese.
Where is the most blatant anti-Americanism I’ve seen? I’d have to say mainland Europe would rank up there fairly high for sheer numbers of people I’ve personally met who are anti-American (the UK is also high surprisingly enough to some American’s who think the UK is our buddy. They ARE…but that doesn’t mean the folks there look up to us or think all that highly of us). I’ve met more vocal anti-American’s out there (as I said in Central and South America, also in the Middle East and parts of Asia and India…and Canada of course 
)…but in Europe it seems to be more predominant (or at least less buried). This could simply be that Europeans are more apt to discuss it (in fact I think this may be the case).
As for anti-European sentiments out there…someone should start a thread. I bet the results would be surprising if there are enough non-European/non-US/American’s on this board. I’ll tell you that a lot of the places I’ve traveled too don’t think all that highly of Europe either (and in many cases actually dislike them more than they dislike Americans)…which comes as a shock to a lot of my Euro buddies. They forget that folks have long memories about history in the wider world.
-XT
On the three occasions when I’ve been outside the US - well, four, if you count Puerto Rico - I’ve never gotten anything other than friendly drunken shit-talking from anybody I’ve ever sat down for a beer with. No worse than any other night at the bar shooting pool. Though after reading this thread, I suppose I should have brought a hankie.
I’ve also encountered incredible acts of kindness. On our second full day in Ireland, our family called home to check in from Roscrea. Turns out my grandmother had had a stroke, and one of my aunts had been frantically trying to track us down for two days.
We decided to drive all night to Shannon to try to catch a flight out in the morning.
Outside of Roscrea, we stopped for gas at a little filling station, and the elderly attendant teeters out and says, “Are you the family from Ohio? They said on the radio that your auntie Bridget is looking for you.”
That’s right - they actually made an announcement on the radio to be on the lookout for some random American family driving around Soutwest Ireland. Like, woah.
As I said, we’re not you so quit expecting us to behave like you. If you know most Americans don’t seem to enjoy those kinds of insults then maybe you should do the polite thing and refrain for making those statements. I
[quote]
I accept that, but if you insist on the insults then realize that Americans will respond the way the’ve been conditioned to do so. If that isn’t your cup of tea then tough shit I guess.
A lot of you folks living overseas seem to expect us to behave in the same way you do. I call that ethnocentrism and its just as arrogant as the behavior people accuse Americans of. I suppose I can just take up your attitude. You just have to be prepared to deal with other cultures and a different way of talking.
Marc
if I get time I may make a post about Middle Eastern, Chinese, Japanese, and other anti-Americanism
For now, I will say this: Anti-Americanism does exist. It is not actually that people are against America. They, instead, against something they hate, which they project on America. Indeed, it’s often something very close to them, which, for various reasons, they prefer to think of as distant.
See, this actually bothers me more than the private anti-Americanism. It’s one thing to be critical - but if Americans simply disagree with Europeans, it’s always taken to mean that the Americans are barbaric or stupid or something, and obviously have something to learn from the “enlightened” Europeans.
Maybe we don’t have the same problems in the same way. Maybe we have different needs. We we’re right. Maybe we’re wrong. Maybe we even just don’t feel it’s worth it. Maybe we have other priorities. None of this is ever considered. There’s an automatic assumption that if American policy isn’t exactly like French, German, Swiss, Belgian, or Swedish, or whatever, it’s wrong. They never even consider that we might have reasons for doing differently what we do differntly. And I see nothing like that in the reverse: no one I’ve ever met thinks it’s his or her slihgtest business what France does in her own schools. We might or might not agree, but we don’t really care. We’re not French, German, Swiss, Belgian, or Swedish, so we don’t get a say. Maybe in the future we’ll decide otherwise. Maybe not. But it’s our decision and our
ideas about what’s important which matter.
As for foreign policy, I have a different objection. Unlike many here, I support the current administration and believe it’s on the right track. I have no problem with people criticizing it. But while I’ve seen rational (if, I feel, misguided) attacks coming from inside the U.S., I’ve seen nothing but petulant childishness coming from outside it. Heck, Schroder almost managed to keep his job over of it.
That’s because it’s not logical. We may be exporting, but only because there’s so much demand. I guarrantee that if foreigners stop wanting it, we won’t push it. OIt’s not like we have some secret cabal to take over all culure; ours is simply so much more attractive
Actually, the U.S. built the world’s most powerful Army in the Civil War, though the Navy would not match England’s till later.
That’s probably it.
OTOH, there are plenty of retards in other countries.
We have the regional equivalent assholes in Ireland, as every country has. I’ve cringed with embarrassment several times abroad when some Irish pricks have started acting up.
MGibson I accept what you’re saying and to a large extent agree with you. I try never to be rude unless I actually mean it. It’s hard to turn off your way of acting sometimes and I accept that it’s as hard for Americans as it is for everyone else.
My only real point is that IME sometimes the stuff that I see being described as anti-Americanism just isn’t. There is real anti-American idiocy out there, a lot of it but IMO there’s a fair bit of crying wolf as well.
Well, at least you got the point of what I was saying, though I don’t know if you understood that I was saying it. I hate France in that it’s fun to look at a map of France and make fun of it. I had a roomate from France once, she was nice enough, her friends from France were nice, most of the people I’ve met from France are nice.
I was simply pointing out that I think that a lot of anti-Americanism is that kind of idle hostility that doesn’t really run all that deep.
Erek
This may rankle the ire of non-Americans and the Left, but I believe that when it exists, Anti-Americanism is typically nothing more than a thinly veiled variation of penis envy. I would be dumbstruck to learn of many countries not harboring a fair degree of resentment toward any country with more power, particularly if that country meddles in global affairs. If I may equate America to a parent and other countries to it’s children: a minor degree of rebelliousness is healthy, even productive; too much and they need to be spanked.