# Why do Europeans seem so ungrateful to the US **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 2, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199 "2012-08-02T18:08:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/101 "2012-08-03T22:55:04Z")
**[Soccer vs Football](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sD_8prYOxo)** ---
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2012, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/102 "2012-08-03T22:58:12Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Well, the aqueducts are nice. Yeah, when they’re sober. It’s a well known historical fact that soccer was invented by European ladies to keep them busy while their husbands did the cooking. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/103 "2012-08-04T00:25:13Z")
I, for one, think Europeans should show some gratitude to Americans. Specifically, I think Monica Bellucci should show some gratitude to me. Or Sophie Marceau. By this, I mean Sophie Marceau should show that gratitude to me and not to Monica Bellucci. Upon further reflection, Sophie Marceau showing gratitude to Monica Bellucci would be an acceptable outcome, as long as I got to watch. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/104 "2012-08-04T00:48:15Z")
I’d like to cordially invite all of the people of Europe to come over to the USA for one gigantic ‘everyone showing appreciation to everyone else’ party. All 320 million Americans and 503 million EU citizens. All at once. We’ll hold the party in Connecticut. It’s small enough to be cozy, yet large enough to hold 823 million really good friends. And it’s close to ports and airports for when we wake up the day after the party and wonder why the fuck they’re still there. Everyone bring wine and condoms. Canada? You get to be jealous and watch. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/105 "2012-08-04T00:57:42Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Canada? You get to be jealous and watch. That sounds like my plan with Monica and Sophie. ---
**Author:** ![Steophan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steophan/32/9595_2.png) [@Steophan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steophan)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/106 "2012-08-04T10:44:22Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Canada? You get to be jealous and watch. Can’t they party with the French? We don’t want the French at our party. ---
**Author:** ![gamerunknown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6bbea6/32.png) [@gamerunknown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gamerunknown)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/107 "2012-08-04T12:20:42Z")
Hors d’œuvre and champagne? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/108 "2012-08-04T19:52:56Z")
> **[Better late than never - Scandinavia and the World](https://satwcomic.com/better-late-than-never)** > > Webcomic: A lot of Europeans have asked if I would do a comic about how some Americans act like they personally ended WWII, and the irony of Brother America tells the Scandinavian countries they should thank him for defeating Germany. Looks ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/109 "2012-08-04T21:37:28Z")
> [@RedFury](#): > > **[Soccer vs Football](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sD_8prYOxo)** Fun. And it taught me how “soccer” is pronounced. I had no idea. I pronounced it like “sausage” :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/110 "2012-08-04T21:54:31Z")
Those who were 20 in 1945 are now 87. Those who were 10 in 1945 and had a parent who perished in the war are now 77. These people exist. But methinks this concern is approaching the end of its shelf life. That said, I’d like to express my gratitude to the Greek civilization, whose contributions made the very idea of Western culture possible. Special thanks to Socrates, Plato, Pythagoras and Aristotle. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/111 "2012-08-04T23:16:48Z")
This, my fellow dopers, is easily the most amusing thread I have ever participated in. And, just for the record, the proper name of the game is American Gridiron. Not what someone else insultingly said involving kitty cats and medieval accouterments. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/112 "2012-08-04T23:18:26Z")
Also, I wish to go on record in saying that I owe an immense burden of gratitude to the French as my dear spouse was a descendant of a Norman baron. Without the French, many years of my life would have been barren. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/113 "2012-08-04T23:23:05Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > … > > That said, I’d like to express my gratitude to the Greek civilization, whose contributions made the very idea of Western culture possible. Special thanks to Socrates, Plato, Pythagoras and Aristotle. I think we should all express our undying gratitude to those dozen or so Australopithecines who helped the other dozen survive the drought of 1,876,325 BC, in the Great Rift Valley. Even if the first group’s heroic actions allowed the second group to enjoy universal health care, and eat funny cheeses, and sit around in cafes and talk about philosophy, it’s still great what they did. Mad props all around. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/114 "2012-08-05T12:14:10Z")
So if the Europeans should still be very grateful for World War II, shouldn’t the Japanese still be very pissed off? Incidentally, my understanding is that Canadians still get a warm reception in the Netherlands. 'Course, we have [nearly-Canadian Princess Margriet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margriet) partly to thank for that. I got to see Ottawa’s tulips last year, and they’re lovely. I think we should invite the Netherlands to our alternative barbeque up North. The [French](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juno_Beach) can come too, at least they’ll be able to find someone to talk with. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/115 "2012-08-05T13:02:40Z")
Have we moved on from pointing out how incredibly fucking stupid the OP was? > [@TriPolar](#): > > If you call it football, why do you play it with a soccer ball? I chuckled. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/116 "2012-08-05T13:53:35Z")
Why is it called “foot” ball when only one player on the team is allowed to kick it? ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/117 "2012-08-05T13:59:52Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Why is it called “foot” ball when only one player on the team is allowed to kick it? Same reason why they have the “World Series” when there is only one country who participates and is remotely interested in it. But for the record I am grateful for Americans past and present. No seriously I am. ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/118 "2012-08-05T15:13:24Z")
> [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](#): > > So if the Europeans should still be very grateful for World War II, shouldn’t the Japanese still be very pissed off? I think **edtv78** would feel right at home with [those morons who said the tsunami last year was “payback” for Pearl Harbor](http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/03/facebook_imbeci.php). Not only is it horrifically stupid to equate a natural disaster with a military attack (and disgusting)… uhm, guys? I’d say they got their “payback” plus a lot more in the same fucking war? Y’know, those tiny little booms at Hiroshima and Nagasaki? :smack: My favorite, though, was when Japan won the women’s World Cup over the US, and [this bastion of liberalism and compassion tweeted thusly](http://static.thesocietypages.org/socimages/files/2011/07/43.jpg). I’m totally sure you really and truly care about Darfur, kid, and you’re not just leaping onto the cause bandwagon. In the comments for [the blog post](http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/07/18/poor-sports-racism-and-jingoism-among-u-s-soccer-fans/), one guy said exactly what I was thinking: > [@](#): > > … [guy being gung-ho about Darfur] in an attempt to look more enlightened. Ten bucks he sneers at anyone not professing their dedication to the cause on Facebook and says, “I bet you’ve never HEARD of Darfur,” but couldn’t tell you what country it’s in… ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/119 "2012-08-05T16:00:23Z")
we will be able to repay the gratitude when they save our arse in World War III. ---
**Author:** ![Docta\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2bfe46/32.png) [@Docta\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Docta_G)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199/120 "2012-08-05T16:59:56Z")
> [@etv78](#): > > In a Game Room thread about Olympic sports, people are talking about how they’d like to change sports to make them more “European”, not recognizing that US culture is\*\* the\*\* dominant culture on Earth, and that it is becasue of our blood, sweat and $$ that Europeans countries are even around to have to worry about the issue. So Europe: show some gratitiude! Get fucked. In France. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-europeans-seem-so-ungrateful-to-the-us/630199.md?page=7)