Just wondering if anyone had any thoughts about the accident with Italian journalist Giuliana Sgrena in regard to travel? Do you think American's will be treated well as tourists in Italy after this incident? We were in Italy during the weeks before and after Bush decided to invade Iraq and I was amazed by how many anti-bush posters were plastered all over the towns with vulgar captions. We snuck into an anti-war demonstration tent and the atmosphere was REALLY intense (not to mention the printed materials which I took home), luckily my husband and I are Italian and managed to blend unnoticed. We were also in Italy during the '04 election and were bombarded with questions about Bush and who we voted for and why by everyone from gelato vendors to waiters and hotel workers! The war was a big issue, the election was a big issue, but to me, this accident with Sgrena seems worse for American travelers since we are being accused of an act of violence "allegedly" targeted at an Italian national. I was just wondering if I should prepare myself for "general nastiness" abroad, or do you think I'm being a bit paranoid???? I'd love to hear some of your opinions!

I think you're being paranoid.

For what it's worth when we arrived in Rome this summer we heard a lot of antiBush sentiment as well, but it was all about how he was making a mess of the Rome traffic as he was in town that day. I never heard or saw the political nastiness (other than some banners for when his motorcade passed by). I'm always curious how these issues come up between tourists and locals. Do people really find that anyone comes up to them to start arguments about American politics? I've never experienced that.

Patrick, when I was in Sicily sometimes people sitting near me on the train would initiate a conversation about america and politics. The owner of an agriturismo place where I stayed in the Nebrodi Mts. liked to express his opinions about how wrong US policies were, and the desk clerk at a hotel in Assisi was almost trying to engage me in political discussions. I never found any of this threatening (especially since I agreed with many of the criticisms of US policy) and never sensed any attitude against individual American people, but it was definitely my experience that all sorts of people would start conversations with me about their opinions regarding the US and American international policies.

GiuliaPiraino, you are full of crapola. I spend 12 days in Italy and never saw one ounce of what you are talking about. We were welcomed with open arms.

BTW, Giuliana Sgrena was writing for a communist newspaper -- speaks volumes. If I were one of those Marines at the checkpoint and told her to stop and they kept going? She is lucky to be alive.

You want opinions? Go to Spain.

When I was in London the only anti-Bush sentiment I found was by a group of American students at Speakers Corner.

Most of the discussions there were about religion or socialism

I don;t think there is any real anti-american sentiment in Italy. There's just a lot of anti-bush sentiment - although not nearly as much anti-Bush sentiment as there is here!

<<Do you think American's will be treated well as tourists in Italy after this incident?>>

No, I'm sure as soon as they hear you speaking English, you'll be stoned to death in the streets, your bodies mutilated and dragged from one end of Italy to the other until you are a bloody pulp!

But seriously, this is SUCH a non-issue.

You are actually Italian and worrying about this? How very odd!

"If I were one of those Marines ... She is lucky to be alive." - Its statements like that which spur anti-Americanism.
Enlightened, thoughtful Americans who seem genuinely concerned about our image in the world need not worry about anti-Americanism. You'll find that you'll connect instantly with Europeans and have some meaningful discussions.

We were also in Italy about two weeks after the invasion of Iraq, and we did not experience the slightest bit of anti-American sentiment. There were some overtones of anti-American government feeling (i.e., people exercising freedom of speech), but the people were uniformly friendly and welcoming.

I suspect some of the difference comes from how eager one is to invite attack, or how sensitive you want to be to perceived slights.

We'll be back to Italy in late May and June, and this topic is not on our list of things to worry about.

I began a response to this thread several times...and then stopped because this isn’t a travel question at all. It is purely intended to be political. But, here I am taking the bait anyway.

I find it so disheartening when there is a thread such as this because it immediately turns into a political platform with a definite slant against the U. S. and its president.

Comments such as “I was amazed by how many anti-Bush posters were plastered all over” and “a lot of anti-Bush sentiment” makes me wonder—just how many posters and how many Italians voiced their sentiment? During my two weeks traveling around Italy in 2001 and another two weeks in 2004, I saw one wall of anti-American graffiti and a few peace flags. No one every engaged me or my husband in a political discussion...with one exception.

That exception was for some older folks who reminisced about how many members of their families were killed during WWII and how grateful they were when the Allied forces saved them from the devastation of such a terrible war. They told of how they welcomed the American soldiers into their towns and villages with parades and offered their meager gifts of wine and cheese to the soldiers and how the soldiers gave them chocolates. Their last comment was that even after all these years had passed, that they would never, ever forget being freed and that they would be forever grateful to America.

I’ll get off my soapbox now....but before I do, try to keep in mind that when you offer political opinions, you may just offend someone...maybe even a lot of people...and that politics is not the real purpose of this board.

Let the bashing begin.

Guilia-this is a fact: The bonds between the US and Italy, between Americans and Italians are SO strong, that nothing, but nothing could put them asunder. They run so deep. I have always felt this, even when I have been sitting in my Italian language class in Florence, or watching out the window of a beauty salon in Rome, and saw and heard the protest rallies of Communists and others against various and sundry US policies through the years. So no, I am not at all concerned with anti-American sentiment. It's just not there.


And as far as the Italian Govt. paying a ransom for kidnapped Italians in Iraq, well, I think I understand this, although such a policy is quite problematic no question. The Italians are some of the most vocal opponents of capital punishment in the world. They regularly get involved with people who are on death row in this country. They protest, they write, they even come to the US and appear on behalf of condemned criminals that they of course do not know. They value human life to this extent, and the human connection.

For these reasons, I think, they could never handle seeing a fellow Italian having their head sawed off in a video. This they could not do, it is not part of their culture to wince and turn away. So they pay, even when the young Italians who were freed come back to Italy and say they will go back to Iraq to continue their work, that's okay, they're alive, that's the important thing, and back with their loved ones, so they can say whatever. To the Italians, money is just money. If it can be used to save the life of someone's sister, brother, husband, son, then they'll do it, without hesitation.

The Americans voted for Bush as a nation so any sentiments expressed against the Iraq issue is deserved. As an Aussie I am embarrassed at our Government so would expect to be harrangued and explain I am not a puppet of policy. Europeans have the broadness in attitude to argue and listen so stand up for your personal beliefs.

I think Budman has summed up many people's response to this perfectly and his attitude speaks volumes.

I think that folks who can't give Italians credit for separating individuals from U.S. policy are sadly underestimating our friends in a wondeful nation.

And with some of the twists and turns of U.S. policy, can you blame folks for being curious and starting conversations?

I think you guys are naive. There will be repercussions from this incident. The Italians are mad and they believe Giuliana. I doubt it will be directed at American tourists however.

We have lived in Europe for the past 7 1/2 years and have seen the ebb and flow of Anti-Americanism. It was quite high in Switzerland just prior to the Iraq war. For the most part, it is directed at the admin, but there is spillover. We see graffitti galore, even here in Slovenia which is very pro-America.

It's not worth getting your knickers in a twist about, though. Expect some conversation and discussion, esp. if you are under 40. Be polite, discuss respectfully if you wish and keep an open mind. Perhaps, you may gain a different perspective.
cheers,
Jan

As a conservative American college student studying in Britain this year, I have had a harder time with politics among my American friends than my British friends. While traveling, I have had no problems. You just have to be a little more careful and thoughtful about what you say and how you say it, but I don't think it's anything to worry about.

That being said, any chance we can refrain from politics on this board?

I went on the board to express sorrow to the Italians about this tragic incident and sympathy for the family of the man who was killed, but that wasn't with any political intentions, just an expression of sympathy to their countrymen through this forum.

I don't believe Italians will treat me any differently when I go there, and I think any Italian I have met is perfectly aware of the difference between a tourist and a government policy. So I give them credit for their intelligence, and expect they will treat me as well as they always have.

Maybe one or two might want to talk about it, maybe not. I wouldn't have a problem with such a discussion at all, but unlike Giulia, I probably would sneak into am antiwar demonstration tent and expect the atmosphere NOT to be intense! That would be the same as here in the US at any antiwar rally, so it's slightly redundant. I'm sure if you look for this while travelling, you can find it, but I like to look for other things in Italy.

Hey Giulia!
I am from Germany and can only agree that there are some Anti American feelings in Europe in Italy, but I think those people rather disagree with the American politics and not with the American people. On a trip to Tuscany I noticed that most Italians don't like to speak English

Ups, posted it too soon.
Anyway, I don't think you have to fear anything. Italians are very proud of their country - and obviously their language as well - they earn too much money with tourism that they can allow bad publicity.

I am a consultant to an Italian company and have just spent several days working with my Italian colleagues, including the woman who runs the company's press office. Over coffee, we discussed the whole issue and its possible impact on US-Italian *government* relations.
First, just because a reporter works for a politically slanted newspaper (very common in Europe), left, right or center, it doesn't mean the reporter isn't a good journalist. Ms. Sgrena is well respected in Italy, even by those who don't agree with her newspaper's views. Second, SloJan has a good point. There will be some ramifications, which is why the Bush Administration is working hard on damage control. The Italian population are firmly against the Iraq war, even though the government supports it.

However, tourists are not likely to feel any effects from this event. Few Italians would take their disagreements with a country's government (any country, not just the U.S.) out on a tourist who happens to be from that country. It would simply not be good manners.
My Italian colleagues were as charming, witty and warm to me as ever. My only real concern is that I let it slip that I like to cook risotto. Being from Milan, they are all threatening to make me cook it for their evaluation. Now THAT scares me! ;-)