During my thirteen years of living in Europe, we Americans were always considered the rich Americans or were always called "The Capitalists" of the world by the friends I had that were from Germany, Italy,and included my dutch friends as well (from Holland). The last time I heard this from them was in the early eighties when we left our second home in Europe for the last time. Whats wrong with that I would say? Whats wrong with always working hard and always striving on working for something better? This country was built on a foundation of immigrants from these countries afore mentioned and many others and therefore wasn't bothered by this little word whatsoever. I felt good about this "capitalist" name they had given us and just smiled instead.
These days, we Americans are considered the worst "TERRORISTS" of the world. What? After all we've done for everyone in this world this is what we get? I thought the worst had been said about us by the french after world war 2 when their ingratitude for saving them from Hitler left us with the name "the ugly american" which to this day still follows us. They to this day, still do not like us. Go there and find out. Speak english or try to speak imperfect french and find out how you get treated...ha...
This whole thing about being considered the "TERRORISTS" of the world has really got me bothered. What do you think?? And what do you think we can do to save face when viewed and judged by people of other countries, and how do we pick ourselves up from this fall from grace?
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Comments: 20
I say we stop helping other countrieds and start worrying about ourselves for a change.
You don't WANT to know what Americans are called when they're not around!
Good piece...and as a European all I can say is that you should not take it personally - for it's not to the American people that these barbs are aimed; but the government [your leaders scare the hell out of us!]
Thanks to Karen for her wise comments regarding this issue, by the way there are No military installations in France and there never have been.
Thanks karl for giving me the origin of the "ugly american" that has followed around long enough cause we're not Ugly...
Thanks to Gina for you enlightening information as well.
What I do have a problem with is your present Government and its foreign policies and the fact that my Govt followed along like a poodle, involving our armed forces in a war which was morally wrong.
Oh, and the one thing I HATE is when Americans call us or our country 'quaint'!!!! :D
Thank you too Ishbel on your comments. I don't know what country you are from in Europe, but I would never be so ignorant as to call anyone's country "quaint" those that do are boors and should just be ignored.
So glad to hear you wouldn't call us 'quaint' - but belive me: many do!
who was belittling someone because the line was too long, cussing the taxi driver because he failed to understand what was said, stomping away in public disgust because the show was not what he thought, dropping trash near a pristine tourist attraction or something similar. In business meetings I often heard one of our representatives talking "down" to the locals as if "we" were the only ones there with enough intelligence to conduct business. I generally found Europeans helpful and congenial as a rule. I do agree that many view us not thru our public actions but thru the actions of our government. Thru my eyes we could be a lot more sensitive to othes culture and way of life.
<3 Krystal
I was born in DC, and one of the neighbor's I had first was the Ambassador to Argentina-I think some other nations are too friendly-oops, ya said European. A French person then moved in and sparks flew, I wouldn't invite them over or something- or whatever, I just didn't like them and they called me everything in my opinion but nice.. lol They moved back to where they came from.
I know some did not like American's in war's all over, but then well I didn't like some of them myself.