Question for the Forum

Crusader · 02-15-2012, 04:17 PM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

So... what made you think of this question? LOL....

Who knows is the likely answer ..... I found it, I guess now, not so eye opening that during my recent stay in Paris there still is an anti-American sentiment amongst the French, and probably in most of Europe... and yes even my father whom was a courier on a bicycle during WWII. How quickly they forget, don't they? I will always remember what my American grandfather said to me once or twice about Finland being the ONLY country that ever repaid the USA for its assistance in freeing all of Europe from this tyrant; a small fact I reminded my father and my step-mother about.

Not really true, the Anti-american sentiment were a lot stronger during the Bush regime , it usually depend on the current US foreign policy, During the Clinton era USA was really popular in the world.

Most regular europeans enjoy visiting USA and the american culture, books, movies, music, sports etc. the disliking is usually due to pure political reason. Invading Iraq and blaming it on "Weapons of mass destruction" for example pissed off a lot of people, it would have been better to be honest and say "we want your oil".

saintfan · 02-15-2012, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by Crusader

Not really true, the Anti-american sentiment were a lot stronger during the Bush regime , it usually depend on the current US foreign policy, During the Clinton era USA was really popular in the world.

Most regular europeans enjoy visiting USA and the american culture, books, movies, music, sports etc. the disliking is usually due to pure political reason. Invading Iraq and blaming it on "Weapons of mass destruction" for example pissed off a lot of people, it would have been better to be honest and say "we want your oil".

Europeans hated Bush to be sure, but I had first-hand experience with the anti-American sentiment in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands as well as other countries over there in 1985. Ya'll HATED Reagan with a passion too. LOL

But I was a bit miffed by how we were treated. Not generally speaking, because generally speaking it was good, but there were times when, I think, people expected a certain arrogance from us that simply wasn't there. It's like we were resented in advance or something - before we were able to dispel what I guess was a common viewpoint which was that we Americans were arrogant bastards that looked down on the lesser living standard of the typical Belgium family. Hell, my grandpa was a poor cotton farmer and I grew up with far less than I think was assumed.

But is was a good trip. I learned a lot and met some very friendly people.

SmashMouth · 02-15-2012, 04:50 PM

Originally Posted by Crusader

Not really true, the Anti-american sentiment were a lot stronger during the Bush regime , it usually depend on the current US foreign policy, During the Clinton era USA was really popular in the world.

Most regular europeans enjoy visiting USA and the american culture, books, movies, music, sports etc. the disliking is usually due to pure political reason. Invading Iraq and blaming it on "Weapons of mass destruction" for example pissed off a lot of people, it would have been better to be honest and say "we want your oil".

Well .. Europe wants Libya's oil for sure ... kind of a parallel one might say.

02-15-2012, 04:17 PM	#1
Crusader Resident Swede Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Märsta, Sweden Posts: 8,045	Originally Posted by SmashMouth So... what made you think of this question? LOL.... Who knows is the likely answer ..... I found it, I guess now, not so eye opening that during my recent stay in Paris there still is an anti-American sentiment amongst the French, and probably in most of Europe... and yes even my father whom was a courier on a bicycle during WWII. How quickly they forget, don't they? I will always remember what my American grandfather said to me once or twice about Finland being the ONLY country that ever repaid the USA for its assistance in freeing all of Europe from this tyrant; a small fact I reminded my father and my step-mother about. Not really true, the Anti-american sentiment were a lot stronger during the Bush regime , it usually depend on the current US foreign policy, During the Clinton era USA was really popular in the world. Most regular europeans enjoy visiting USA and the american culture, books, movies, music, sports etc. the disliking is usually due to pure political reason. Invading Iraq and blaming it on "Weapons of mass destruction" for example pissed off a lot of people, it would have been better to be honest and say "we want your oil".

02-15-2012, 04:41 PM	#2
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	Originally Posted by Crusader Not really true, the Anti-american sentiment were a lot stronger during the Bush regime , it usually depend on the current US foreign policy, During the Clinton era USA was really popular in the world. Most regular europeans enjoy visiting USA and the american culture, books, movies, music, sports etc. the disliking is usually due to pure political reason. Invading Iraq and blaming it on "Weapons of mass destruction" for example pissed off a lot of people, it would have been better to be honest and say "we want your oil". Europeans hated Bush to be sure, but I had first-hand experience with the anti-American sentiment in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands as well as other countries over there in 1985. Ya'll HATED Reagan with a passion too. LOL But I was a bit miffed by how we were treated. Not generally speaking, because generally speaking it was good, but there were times when, I think, people expected a certain arrogance from us that simply wasn't there. It's like we were resented in advance or something - before we were able to dispel what I guess was a common viewpoint which was that we Americans were arrogant bastards that looked down on the lesser living standard of the typical Belgium family. Hell, my grandpa was a poor cotton farmer and I grew up with far less than I think was assumed. But is was a good trip. I learned a lot and met some very friendly people.
	C'mon Man...

02-15-2012, 04:50 PM	#3
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,807 Blog Entries: 29	Originally Posted by Crusader Not really true, the Anti-american sentiment were a lot stronger during the Bush regime , it usually depend on the current US foreign policy, During the Clinton era USA was really popular in the world. Most regular europeans enjoy visiting USA and the american culture, books, movies, music, sports etc. the disliking is usually due to pure political reason. Invading Iraq and blaming it on "Weapons of mass destruction" for example pissed off a lot of people, it would have been better to be honest and say "we want your oil". Well .. Europe wants Libya's oil for sure ... kind of a parallel one might say.