Attitudes towards Americans

[I_luv_saber]

Firstly, saying that many don't look to America when it's time for fighting is ludicrous, IMHO. Action speaks louder than words, and militarily, the contributions of other countries to intervention efforts are somtimes quite pitiful. Whether right or wrong, many countries were supporting at the beggining of the war... but you don't see them shipping as many soldiers do you? *shrugs* if their kids aren't dying, who cares, right? Dunno... whether or not there is a large feeling like that, it still isn't much better to ***** from the sidelines.
I dunno... I try not to take the attitude of isolationism... but it's hard to not feel that that's the way to go, sometimes.

And regardless, this isn't a "disagreements with the American government" thread. This is an "attitudes towards Americans" thread. I, in my personal experience, have felt I've been treated differently at times due simply to the fact I'm an American. This may be an isolated experience, granted, but I think not. And that really isn't fair. I don't agree with a lot of policies of some of the European governments, or even some of the cultural and societal attitudes in some European countries, but I don't treat them ANY differently than I would treat anybody else.

Again, disagree with my governmentall you want, but please don't give me nasty looks or talk about me "jokingly" on the metro (yes, it's happened to me more than once).

[Durando]

I don't agree with a lot of policies of some of the European governments, or even some of the cultural and societal attitudes in some European countries, but I don't treat them ANY differently than I would treat anybody else.

One has to wonder, for example, at the wisdom of officially recognizing the Hungarian Guard.

[I_luv_saber]

Well, the political atmosphere in Hungary is...interesting now anyways. Dunno, it'san odd situation for sure. At least now the protests are (mostly) peaceful-ish. :P

[Wingate85]

One has to wonder, for example, at the wisdom of officially recognizing the Hungarian Guard.

Yes, formally called "Ostaseh" during WWII. Hungarians in general still have issues with minority groups.

[I_luv_saber]

As a matter of fact, I was just talking about this with Nusy. There is a good chance this group could come to power next election *shudders*. Because of the recent scandal with the current administration, there's a good chance for a strong pendulem effect in the other direction, leading to the far right party. Who has a lot to thank the Hungarian guard for. You can bet if they get to power, things are gonna get quite interesting here. I just thank the stars that we should both be outta here by the time it *could* happen...

[Wingate85]

As a matter of fact, I was just talking about this with Nusy. There is a good chance this group could come to power next election *shudders*. Because of the recent scandal with the current administration, there's a good chance for a strong pendulem effect in the other direction, leading to the far right party. Who has a lot to thank the Hungarian guard for. You can bet if they get to power, things are gonna get quite interesting here. I just thank the stars that we should both be outta here by the time it *could* happen...

Not a bad idea to get out now. I was in Hungary for af fencing clinic a few years ago and was told by a Jewish friend of mine that it is still not a good idea to advertise this fact in public. Sounded like attitudes haven't changed that much in 60 years. Best of luck.

[wahrman]

There are parts of the US where that would be a bad idea as well.

Not a bad idea to get out now. I was in Hungary for af fencing clinic a few years ago and was told by a Jewish friend of mine that it is still not a good idea to advertise this fact in public. Sounded like attitudes haven't changed that much in 60 years. Best of luck.

[I_luv_saber]

Not a bad idea to get out now. I was in Hungary for af fencing clinic a few years ago and was told by a Jewish friend of mine that it is still not a good idea to advertise this fact in public. Sounded like attitudes haven't changed that much in 60 years. Best of luck.

Not really a good idea to advertise that you are anything BUT Hungarian, mostly

There are parts of the US where that would be a bad idea as well.

Don't get me wrong, the US still has some problems in this department... but, at least in my experience, it's much worse here. People are still afraid to go near Kossuth (the "protests" tend to be around here somewhere, but not always).

And actually, it had seemed to me that racism and such in the States is really no worse, if not better than many other regions. Could be wrong here, though.

[I_luv_saber]

Methinks if thread drift keeps heading in this direction, it's time for a seperate thread

[Lemonaide]

Did you see the recent news about the vaccine? WHO [the Organization that I "don't qualify for"] used live vaccine, which is given orally and is "cheaper" and can be "administered by anyone"..... etc. While they understood that that old vaccine was the correct one to use, they went with the cheap variety and 'hoped' nothing bad would happen. They must have seen what I really wanted..... I want quality.

That's it, I can't post anymore, someone is just twisting everything up and creating a big problem.

[pigeonmeister]

Firstly, saying that many don't look to America when it's time for fighting is ludicrous, IMHO.

You kind of reinforce my point of about this mostly being said by Americans..

[jeff]

...which neither proves nor disproves the underlying conjecture. If Europe is privately relieved when we do the dirty work, you wouldn't expect it to be shouted from the rooftops.

This has nothing specifically to do with GWB and our misadventures in Iraq. This style of disdain for the US dates at least as far back as WW II, and was widespread during the Cold War, even while we were holding the USSR at bay and when it was popular in left circles (far from a tiny fringe) to praise Stalin over Eisenhower. Pick the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s or 80s if you like. A little historical perspective is informative. Honest self-examination across the Atlantic about historical resentment of US power and having to be protected by the US might be valuable

It's also a bit silly to blame everything on the US. Sure, we have lots to answer for - no doubt about it, but US-bashing is a convenient way for Europe (I use the term loosely, of course) to absolve itself of historical actions that formed today's world. So much nicer to point at the US over Iraq (never mind how Iraq was created and by whom), while ignoring the historical origins of (for example) Congo (ex Belgian colony, a few million deaths in recent years), Darfur (a few hundred thousand), and in today's news, Burma/Myanmar - a British colony till 1948. No, it's not entirely the UK's fault of course, nor the ethnic cleansing and many deaths in India and Pakistan, but it's worth keeping in mind next time everyone's sitting around the pub saying how it's the US that's cause all the world's problems

[I_luv_saber]

You kind of reinforce my point of about this mostly being said by Americans..

I'm not saying that Europeans (again, not all) openly say this, or possibly even consciously do so, but it's still done all the same.

[Nusy]

Hungarian Guard... ouchie. Do we have to mention it?

I go to school not far from Kossuth Square (where the parliament is and the protests were). In a while I was literally afraid to cross it. Those people now are making their own army. I am scared. Basically, I don't really care about ideologies, but I bloody hate when ideology goes over economical reasons... Right now we need stability and reforms so our yearly deficit would go under the thousand billion forint area. :S These people want to spend billions on things we don't need to spend on, AND at the same time decreases taxes... Now we stagnate our pretty high taxes and try to cut down on expenditures. A lot of people just don't see the problem in it and believe them - wish they would just see it as their own pockets. You can't take in more than what you put in.