Several people I spoke to yesterday, remarked that one of the many downsides to Bush’s re-election is four more years of hostility (at best) and actual danger (at worst) they feared on their frequent travel abroad for the perception that if we’re Americans, we have a superior attitude towards furriners, have a huge chip on our shoulders, think it’s fine to send troops in anywhere we like no matter what the damned UN or sovereign nations say, etc. People who rarely travel abroad (Jethro and Maybelle in Red State Township, USA, that is) experience none of this, of course.
So: how does your own foreign travel coincide with who you voted for?
Let’s say in the last five years (maybe with brief day or weekend trips to Mexico and Canada not counting much).
Me: enthusiastic (and now angry and sad) Kerry supporter, two trips to Europe, one to Jamaica in the last five years.
I voted for Kerry. My travel in the last five years has included two trips to India, one to Australia, and one to France.
A negative perception of Americans abroad does matter to me, and I do have concerns over my ability to travel safely and work easily with people in the future. As has been so regrettably illustrated right here on the boards, it’s an all-too-common trait to focus strong feelings about a larger entity on the first representative you run into. More than once I’ve been asked to defend US policies abroad, and not always in the most non-confrontational manner; it’s a remarkably uncomfortable feeling, especially when I don’t personally agree with the policy in question.
I suspect that the people who are most vocal about not caring what the rest of the world thinks do not travel abroad; have no business interests abroad, or foreign colleagues to deal with; or have no close ties to relatives in other countries. Lack of regular, personal exposure to other perspectives (not media reports) is at the heart of the issue, IMHO.
We voted for Kerry. We tend to take a trip once a year, or twice if we can afford it.
We spent three weeks in France last summer. Everyone was cordial.
We were rather taken aback in Cordes when we met a very pleasant couple (they have a house in Greece plus their summer place in Cordes) who told us that they support and admire President Bush.
I do tend to agree with Sunfish’s theory but there certainly are exceptions to every rule.
Views there were pretty mixed. Many of the Hindu-fundamentalists percieved Bush as the anti-Muslim party, and liked what he was doing. But they didn’t like Bush’s cooperation with Pakistan. The Muslims and more moderate Hindus had pretty strong views that Bush is a “dangerous man” and are worried about how his policies will affect the stability of their part of the globe. Everyone kind of likes us for all the outsourcing. Even the poorest chai-wallah is well informed about international issues and eager to discuss them.
But nobody was upset at me for being American. The closest I came were a couple of American businessmen who berated me for saying I was going to vote Kerry. Many people have friends or family in America, and they still see it as a “good place” that is full of riches and oppertunity. They were often very happy to meet me and wanted to shake hands, take photos, etc. Everyone was also very aware of California, and everyone that guessed what state I was from pinned me as a Californian. I think they were aware of just how divided America is over this, and understand that our foreign policy isn’t a reflection on individual Americans.
This doesn’t mean that Bush’s policies are right. But so many Americans lie that they are Canadian or just stay away from travelling and there really is no need for that. We need more friendly responsible people representing us.
Kerry supporter. In the last couple years, I’ve traveled to Spain, France, Germany, Turkey, Japan, Jordan, and a few other countries. With the exception of Japan, in each country the anti-US sentiment was palpable, but in general, each country treated Americans well… Jordan less well, but not really blind hostility.
In talking with some Turks and Jordanians recently, they anticipated that should Bush win re-election, people in their country would make less of a distinction between liking Americans and hating America. Their view was that people would view Americans has having approved the policies that have driven anti-US sentiment up to 90% or so in each of those countries.
That’s what I’m worried about, too. I’ve traveled to western Europe about seven times in the past five years – France, Spain, Italy, Ireland – and experienced no rancor, but that was before the Chimp got himself an actual majority of the popular vote.
As an American Bush-despiser living in France, I can tell you that most French people (Parisians anyway) don’t have a huge problem with American tourists. They tend to see them as folksy with big wallets. They seem to complain more about the Germans and British as far as I can tell.
/rant/ But I personally have cringed countless times by the behavior of some Americans. If you’re going to visit a foreign country, please learn at least some of the customs, manners and local language phrases!! And keep your voices down. /rant over/
Everyone upon everyone tries to talk politics with me, though, especially in the last few days. I don’t mind at all. It doesn’t become hot headed or taken personally if views don’t agree here (unlike my experiences living in the US or reading threads on the SDMB).
I feel perfectly safe in France. I would ,however, be hesitant to travel to Africa or Middle Eastern countries. We were planning to go to Tunisia in the late spring and we’re rethinking it based on this election.
I am an ardent Kerry supporter currently living/studying in England. Of all the American students I have met here, only a single one has admitted to being a Republican.
The British students’ opinion seems to be that they must only encounter the ‘clever’ Americans here because no Americans here in Oxford say they like Bush.
I certainly don’t feel scared to travel here, nor was I scared last summer when I went to France, Amsterdam, and Germany. No one gave me any trouble then, even in France, Bush has got himself a second term, I will just continue to make sure anyone I meet here or elsewhere in Europe knows I didn’t vote for him!
What I worry most about Bush being re-elected is that the economy and exchange rates will keep me from going abroad again. I have traveled to Paris twice in the last four years and would love to see more of Europe. or Paris again.
I travel abroad all the time. In the past five years I’ve been to Amsterdam, Brazil, as well as Mexico and Canada and a few Carribean islands.
I did get into an argument with a Brazilian prostitute about W. Bush but that’s about it.
For the record, I tend to favor Republicans but I don’t much care for Bush. I just like the fact he won because it ticks off all the know-it-all Liberals.
DaphneBlack - ALL students (unless they are in B-school) are Democrats until they start working and paying taxes.
Kerry voter here. I’ve been to Europe several times, Canada once, and New Zealand and the South Pacific once since the last election. The only time I’ve really encountered hostility was from one random drunk guy in Belgium during the last few days before the war in Iraq broke out, but I’ve got to say that it is a bit of a headache having to talk politics with every last person you meet.
By the way, nobody ever told my students about the “all students are Democrats” thing.
And I think the same is true about most of the people who voted for Bush out of fear of terrorism. As if you’re going to be a victim of terrorism sitting in your little town in South Dakota :rolleyes:
(I’m an American expat in Ireland and a regular traveller to other European countries, and I voted for Kerry, if you couldn’t guess.)
I thought it was interesting that security seemed to be a big factor - but the red states were largely places the terrorists have probably never even heard of, and New York and Washington, DC were both blue.
Hardy har har, I’ve never heard that before. Let me just say that is far from true in my field, probably the second most conservative academic field out there, after theology - I study Classics.
I’ve lived in China for almost a year and a half. I can feel some anti-American feelings here, but a lot of that comes from the other foreigners(non Americans) here.
I voted for Bush. I think living internationaly has really widened my perspective and made me understand the States more. I think Bush is signifigantly better than Kerry for both the States and the World.
I voted for Kerry, am going abroad next week for a month, and lived in Europe though almost all of Bush’s administration. During that time I traveled frequently and extensively through many countries from France to Kosovo to Uzbekistan to South Africa and have been involved in many political discussions.
Never once have I experienced hostility for being an American. Every single European I met (and I am not exaggerating) was able to separate the American individual from American politics. I suppose part of it could be my personality, but there was never a time I felt in any way, shape, or form threatened because of my nationality. And I have always freely admitted my country of origin.
The idea that Europe hates Americans, in my experience, is patently bullshit. Europe hates American policy. But Europeans don’t hate Americans—unless they behave like assholes.
My German friends feel pretty much the same way, but they are smart enough to know that there were still 48% who have a clue - and from recent phone calls, they certainly don’t hate the USA, just the Bush regime. My guess is they will still come to visit me when they have the time and money.
I think disappointment is the best way to phrase their feelings towards the US right now.