I believe a vast majority of this forum’s members would benefit from reading the article below…it cuts right to the heart of how most Americans (myself included) perceive Europeans and why it is you seem to hate us now.
Anti-Americanism is the prevailing disease of intellectuals today. Like other diseases, it doesn’t have to be logical or rational. But, like other diseases, it has a syndrome–a concurrent set of underlying symptoms that are also causes.
• First, an unadmitted contempt for democracy. The U.S. is the world’s most successful democracy. The right of voters to elect more than 80,000 public officials, the length and thoroughness of electoral campaigns, the pervasiveness of the media and the almost daily reports by opinion polls ensure that government and electorate do not diverge for long and that Washington generally reflects the majority opinion in its actions.
It is this feature that intellectuals–especially in Europe–find embittering. They know they must genuflect to democracy as a system. They cannot openly admit that an entire people–especially one comprising nearly 300 million, who enjoy all the freedoms–can be mistaken. But in their hearts these intellectuals do not accept the principle of one person, one vote. They scornfully, if privately, reject the notion that a farmer in Kansas, a miner in Pennsylvania or an auto assembler in Michigan can carry as much social and moral weight as they do. In fact, they have a special derogatory word for anyone who acts on this assumption: “populist.” A populist is someone who accepts the people’s verdict, even–and especially–when it runs counter to the intellectual consensus (as with capital punishment, for example). In the jargon of intellectual persiflage, populism is almost as bad as fascism–indeed, it’s a step toward it. Hence, the argument goes, the U.S. is not so much an “educated democracy” as it is a media-swayed and interest-group-controlled populist regime.
The truth is, on the European Continent there is little experience of working democracy. Italy and Germany have had democracy only since the late 1940s; Spain, since the 1960s. France is not a democracy; it is a republic run by bureaucratic and party elites, whose errors are dealt with by strikes, street riots and blockades instead of by votes. Elements of the French system are being imposed throughout the EU, even in countries such as Denmark and Sweden that have long practiced democracy with success. In a French-style pseudodemocracy, intellectuals have considerable influence, at both government and street levels. In a true democracy, intellectuals are no more powerful than their arguments.
• Second, anti-Americanism is a function of cultural racism. An astonishingly high proportion of European elites know very little about U.S. history or culture and even deny that they have a separate existence apart from their European roots. It is strange that those seeking to bring about a European federal state or union have at no stage sought to study the lessons Americans learned during the creation of the U.S. in the 1780s. After all, the U.S. Constitution (suitably amended) has lasted for more than 200 years, and within its framework the country has emerged as the richest and most powerful society in world history. You might think, therefore, that European elites would seek to learn something from such a successful process. Not at all: The view is that sophisticated, civilized Europe has nothing to learn from “adolescent” America. What these Euro-elites particularly abhor is the way in which the framers of the Constitution made every effort to involve the population through the process of public debates, town meetings and ratification votes–and this at a time when Europe was still governed (for the most part) by the absolute sovereigns of the ancien régime.
This cultural racism is particularly directed at the supposedly “know-nothing” President George W. Bush and his “gung ho” Texas background. The European intelligentsia gets its notion of America chiefly from Hollywood, TV soaps like Dallas and fiction. Few of them have any experience of America, outside of three or four big cities. Middle America is unexplored territory. The fact that the U.S. has proved a highly efficient crucible for melding different peoples into a human sum greater than its constituent parts is seen as a misfortune in Europe because it produces a cultural stew that lacks purity of any kind and is therefore at the mercy of commercial forces.
• Third, European elites tend to look at Americans as a subcivilized mass, whose function is to be obedient consumers in a system run by big business. The role of competition in U.S. economic life–and in every other aspect of life–is ignored, because competition is something Continental Europeans like to keep to a minimum and under careful control.
Although Americans are seen as highly materialistic consumers, they are also despised and feared for their spiritual interests, their participation in religious worship and their subscription to creeds of morality. Europeans see no inconsistency in their condemnation of the U.S. for being at one and the same time paganly unethical and morally zealous.
The truth is, any accusation that comes to hand is used without scruple by the Old World intelligentsia. Anti-Americanism is factually absurd, contradictory, racist, crude, childish, self-defeating and, at bottom, nonsensical. It is based on the powerful but irrational impulse of envy–an envy of American wealth, power, success and determination. It is an envy made all the more poisonous because of a fearful European conviction that America’s strength is rising while Europe’s is falling.
By: MINIDOH - 2nd May 2004 at 19:37
Phil Foster, you can call yourself British. The problem is you cant call yourself English. Most surveys sent out ask you for your nationality giving a list of the possible ones, in most of them there is no English, but there is a Scottish/Welsh… but no English!! IF you are English then you have to tick British!
By: ELP - 2nd May 2004 at 19:12
Gee, long time ago we had a new member who actually had something interresting to say. Go on, mate!
That is some pretty fantastic BS Geforce. First as was asked already. Why bring this thread up? Two: What you quoted was stupid…. The U.N. ? The same U.N. that ran the oil for food program, with large crime family like kickbacks?
Bring back Bill Clinton. Sure if you are a rank socialist who doesn’t believe in working for a living, I am sure that makes sense. Our problems are in too much foreign involvement. Something the Clinton lovers ignore as Clinton did too much foreign involvement also.
By: google - 2nd May 2004 at 18:23
Perhaps it’s the racists themselves that we’re meant to envy, although I can’t think of anything the Ku Klux Klan have that I’d feel envious about………. 😎
Well, they are good at keeping things tidy…their white hoods are always pearly white. 😀
By: Grey Area - 2nd May 2004 at 18:12
Perhaps it’s the racists themselves that we’re meant to envy, although I can’t think of anything the Ku Klux Klan have that I’d feel envious about………. 😎
By: google - 2nd May 2004 at 18:09
Because they love racing?
but we don’t even like racing, we like the crashing that inevitably occurs in racing. 🙂
By: Arthur - 2nd May 2004 at 18:05
Because they love racing?
By: google - 2nd May 2004 at 15:51
How can it be racist envy if *Americans* aren’t even a race?
By: tenthije - 2nd May 2004 at 14:07
why are you bringing this thread back up?
By: Geforce - 2nd May 2004 at 13:58
Most of the world doesn’t hate us. Most of the world admires the dynamics that makes the United States a great country. I love my country! I love what my country truly stands for. But I hate the current government’s policies. They are misguided. Bush has caused a great deal of damage on many fronts (economics, terrorism, national security). He has been a disaster. But I am hopeful this will be corrected in November!
For those of you who are not Americans, do not think that the entire nation is behind Bush and the idiots who are running this country. The country is truly divided. The war in Afganastan was(and is) necessary and I strongly support what we are doing there. We need to finish the job! We were attacked and this country had to take out that government that allowed the attack to happen. Iraq on the other hand is a disaster. Yes, the government there was terrible. But there are a lot of terrible governments that should be removed. But for this to happen, other countries must agree. The US shouldn’t do this alone. This is a job that belongs with the UN!
The United States has a lot of power, more power than most of the world combined. But there are limits to that power. In addition, the US needs its friends (I hope we still have some!). The US must understand that it absolutely must consult its allies and friends on issues that effect other countries (Canada, particularly Canada, the European Union, Japan, Australia, Israel, Mexico, even Russia). We must always use our power carefully.
I think the American people will fix the problem in Washington, DC, this November.
BRING BACK BILL CLINTON!
bkonner
Gee, long time ago we had a new member who actually had something interresting to say. Go on, mate!
By: Flood - 16th April 2004 at 08:54
Re: Why the world hates us?
Originally posted by bkonner
For those of you who are not Americans, do not think that the entire nation is behind Bush and the idiots who are running this country. The country is truly divided…
But not on here – as you will shortly find out when they amble over to see what lies we have written about the ‘land of the free’, later.
Flood.
By: bkonner - 16th April 2004 at 02:40
Why the world hates us?
Most of the world doesn’t hate us. Most of the world admires the dynamics that makes the United States a great country. I love my country! I love what my country truly stands for. But I hate the current government’s policies. They are misguided. Bush has caused a great deal of damage on many fronts (economics, terrorism, national security). He has been a disaster. But I am hopeful this will be corrected in November!
For those of you who are not Americans, do not think that the entire nation is behind Bush and the idiots who are running this country. The country is truly divided. The war in Afganastan was(and is) necessary and I strongly support what we are doing there. We need to finish the job! We were attacked and this country had to take out that government that allowed the attack to happen. Iraq on the other hand is a disaster. Yes, the government there was terrible. But there are a lot of terrible governments that should be removed. But for this to happen, other countries must agree. The US shouldn’t do this alone. This is a job that belongs with the UN!
The United States has a lot of power, more power than most of the world combined. But there are limits to that power. In addition, the US needs its friends (I hope we still have some!). The US must understand that it absolutely must consult its allies and friends on issues that effect other countries (Canada, particularly Canada, the European Union, Japan, Australia, Israel, Mexico, even Russia). We must always use our power carefully.
I think the American people will fix the problem in Washington, DC, this November.
BRING BACK BILL CLINTON!
bkonner
By: Phil Foster - 6th April 2004 at 13:53
Originally posted by dcfly
So, Phil Foster aint English then!!!Well I am and Im proud to be English, whatever the rest of the world think about us!!
The Scots are allowed an identity so are the Welsh and the Irish but us English aint allowed to fly the St’Georges cross cos its “racist”, we’re not allowed to celebrate St’Georges Day cos it might upset the immigrants but we have to put up with their religious holidays etc etc. We’re not allowed to say “Merry Xmas” and now Easter is upon us will we be allowed to eat hotX buns.
Yeah I know this has post went off a tangents, but Im just getting it off my chest………………So, who does agree with Political Correctness??
dave
Oh and by the way dcfly. You are aware are you not that the flag you use as your avatar is not the English flag?
By: Phil Foster - 5th April 2004 at 15:32
Originally posted by Nermal
Are you an egg? – Nermal
How dare you!!!!???????????:D
By: Phil Foster - 5th April 2004 at 15:31
Originally posted by dcfly
So, Phil Foster aint English then!!!Well I am and Im proud to be English, whatever the rest of the world think about us!!
The Scots are allowed an identity so are the Welsh and the Irish but us English aint allowed to fly the St’Georges cross cos its “racist”, we’re not allowed to celebrate St’Georges Day cos it might upset the immigrants but we have to put up with their religious holidays etc etc. We’re not allowed to say “Merry Xmas” and now Easter is upon us will we be allowed to eat hotX buns.
Yeah I know this has post went off a tangents, but Im just getting it off my chest………………So, who does agree with Political Correctness??
dave
Nobody said anything like that. You have the right to call yourself English if you want to and indeed to be proud of it. But tell me this……….what is so bad about being all of the above? I’m proud to be English too you know.
By: Phil Foster - 5th April 2004 at 15:29
Originally posted by dcfly
So, Phil Foster aint English then!!!Well I am and Im proud to be English, whatever the rest of the world think about us!!
The Scots are allowed an identity so are the Welsh and the Irish but us English aint allowed to fly the St’Georges cross cos its “racist”, we’re not allowed to celebrate St’Georges Day cos it might upset the immigrants but we have to put up with their religious holidays etc etc. We’re not allowed to say “Merry Xmas” and now Easter is upon us will we be allowed to eat hotX buns.
Yeah I know this has post went off a tangents, but Im just getting it off my chest………………So, who does agree with Political Correctness??
dave
So you do want an argument about it?
By: Nermal - 5th April 2004 at 14:01
Originally posted by Phil Foster
So long as I am allowed to be proud to be British mate you can do/think/say what you want. The moment you start telling me I’m English and not British, then you might get an argument. 🙂
Are you an egg? – Nermal
By: dcfly - 5th April 2004 at 13:04
So, Phil Foster aint English then!!!
Well I am and Im proud to be English, whatever the rest of the world think about us!!
The Scots are allowed an identity so are the Welsh and the Irish but us English aint allowed to fly the St’Georges cross cos its “racist”, we’re not allowed to celebrate St’Georges Day cos it might upset the immigrants but we have to put up with their religious holidays etc etc. We’re not allowed to say “Merry Xmas” and now Easter is upon us will we be allowed to eat hotX buns.
Yeah I know this has post went off a tangents, but Im just getting it off my chest………………So, who does agree with Political Correctness??
dave
By: Phil Foster - 5th April 2004 at 12:35
Originally posted by MINIDOH
I particularly like the US, and im English, not British by the way!
The thing that annoys me is that when I visit the US, everyone seems oblivious to the rest of the world! For example (and yes I know you cant take a few news channels for the rest of the country, but as an example) last time i visited the US all of the news channels, thats FOX, CNN… you name it, all they had was American news. I cant remember exactly what, but I remember that in Europe there were much bigger things happening, but no, they wouldnt show it. Now, that may sound like an insult, but trust me it isnt. I think the English should be proud to be English, but at the moment its probably politically incorrect to be a patriot. Not only that, but if England was more patriotic then i think many of our problems would be solved (assylum, for example. just kick them out! i dont want to pay for assylum seekers).
Second, Europe and England are not the same. The Europeans (main people are France, Germany and Belgium in my opinion) seem to disagree everything that the English say. Lets put it this way, France doesnt like us because their army basically sucked in WWII and they are jelous that a country about half the size basically kept france alive. I wouldnt say the Germans hate us, or that they dislike us, and I am fond of Germans. They are more polite (in most cases) than the French. As another show of ignorance by the French, in the Eurovision contest, guess which nation out of how many???? about 30, didnt use English to process results on the television. You guessed it, France.
They absolutely hate the English, and I dont care. I just thinks its a pity that so many English soldiers died in France fighing for their and our freedom and yet they are ungratefull. It really fills me with anger. (and guess what, we still have to learn f******* french in school).
So keep it up America, you arent hated, its just we get hacked off youre so far up youre own ar$es (but whos perfect eh?!)
So long as I am allowed to be proud to be British mate you can do/think/say what you want. The moment you start telling me I’m English and not British, then you might get an argument. 🙂
By: Flood - 5th April 2004 at 09:35
Originally posted by starjet
Agreed.We went way off on this one. I’m not going to see whether I contributed or not.
So why haul it up again?
Flood.
By: starjet - 5th April 2004 at 04:40
Agreed.
We went way off on this one. I’m not going to see whether I contributed or not.
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July 21, 2003 at 11:55 pm