It seems this topic comes up quite a lot - fear of it, having heard about it, etc.

It made me curious. It's happened to me only once, in rural southern Mexico about 25 years ago when my family's camper was stoned by an elderly woman as we drove past. A once-in-a-lifetime occurrence for me, totally offset by the polite, warm and personal receptions we met there for the balance of our monthlong trip and other excursions there.

Otherwise, I'm commonly engaged when traveling in conversations about the war, American politics, American highways and geography (?), food and lifestyles, etc.

What's been your actual, personal experience with anti-Americanism?

This is not a direct answer to your question, but perhaps a related observation. I have been to Europe many times, mainly in France and Germany. When I speak English (my only language), the response from the locals can sometimes be cool. I'm not sure whether that is because they think I am English or American or whatever. When they learn that I am Australian, their demeamour generally alters significantly, and they become quite noticeably more friendly. Much of this may be because I come from a land with 'funny animals', and because it is 'so far away', or because there are fewer Australians visiting Europe. Other Australians have remarked on this, but maybe folks from the States can report that they have been treated similarly, and that it is therefore not unusual. My observation would be that most Europeans are hospitable to most visitors.

The only anti-Americanism I've experienced is when I tried to discuss politics with an American. I was against Bush's international politics. I'm from the US and live in Europe. He called me an anti-American.

That sure wouldn't have happened ten years ago!

(P.S. Talk to Europeans about Clinton. They loved him and feel terribly sorry for him because of the way the US public treated him. They don't understand it.)

<Much of this may be because I come from a land with 'funny animals', and because it is 'so far away'> you're right!
And surely because you were extremely friendly like your compatriots! I know a few now and I can say they were all very friendly and cool when in Dijon! g'day mate ;-)

My view on this topic is:

If you look hard enough for something you can always find it.

Just to clarify my original post: I don't attempt to start political conversations while traveling (actually, I'm kind of shy, so I don't start many conversations at all),

But I seem to meet people who want to talk about American politics, so I do. (A Dutch couple in Venice who was interested in our gun laws as they relate to school shootings, a British family we were staying with who was surprised that our evening newscasts were just 30 minutes long, an Irish waitress who wanted "Saddam's ears on a platter," some Irish truckers who opposed the war, but not vehemently, etc.)

All were very interested, non-judgmental, and apparently separated Americans from American policy.

So the conversations were good, not an example of what I'm asking about.

In short, aside from the rock-throwing I mentioned earlier, I just haven't seen much to be worried about.

You?

I have never experienced violent anti-American behavior although I sometimes hear anti-American remarks. It doesn't worry me.

Face it, its just typical human behavior for some people to be snotty about "foreigners" no matter who they happen to be.

The Brits make fun of the French and vice versa. Remember all those Monty Python sketches mocking the French? The French can get pretty arch about les Rosbifs.

When the foreigner is a citizen of the biggest, richest, most powerful nation on Earth then finding people who are really ticked off shouldn't surprise or dismay you.

If a Parisian complains about American policy just smile and remember his country has chronic 10% unemployment and has created fewer new jobs in the last decade than the USA created last month.

Its not my business to defend George W. I didn't vote for him. If you did then I'll leave it to you to say something nice about him.

And when a European criticizes America generally I just threaten to take away his Marlboros and make him smoke Gaulois.

Worktowander,

I know you are not trying to be political but you have to realize that Europeans like Americans as people but they are very frustrated with US politics which affect us (Europeans) directly.

We get tourists from all over and American behaviour in itself does not stand out. Only individuals (from anywhere) who behave badly stand out.

<they are very frustrated with US politics which affect us (Europeans) directly. >

Full disclosure: Me too.


I guess what I'm driving at is this: There seem to be some people who want to "blend in" (see thread on this topic) because they believe it reduces some ill-defined (to me) risk of actual danger involved with being a traveling American.

I'm not worried for my safety, not intending to judge, not worried about the occasional rude store clerk, and not about to change my view that most people in most places are astoundingly pleasant.

But I'd like to know what the Fodorite public has, personally, experienced. I'm curious about how much of this fear is based in experience, how much is not.

Frankly, I think a lot of the people who want to "blend in" are more afraid of others recognizing them to be exactly what they are: tourists.

Anti-American behavior is not really that. Americans are targeted by bandits everywhere. Not because they are Americans but because they are perceived to be 'rich'. Willy Sutton, "That's where the money is!"

Hey, when I took a group of Swiss to Rome, we all took care that our money was well hidden. We felt that ANY TOURISTS are victims of pickpocketing, not just American tourists.

Most people are educated and intelligent enough not to judge everyone from a particular country together, but their socio-political attitudes will probably be coming from somewhere near the view (I think American in origin) that "No-one ever rooted for Goliath".

My experience has been extremely positive. People have been very friendly upon learning I was American, and talk about their own trips to the US or other Americans they know. I have never felt any reason to fear telling people I was American. I agree that most people I have met in most places are, as Worktowander says, astoundingly pleasant.

In my mind this has absolutely nothing to do with wanting to know how they dress.

>citizen of the biggest, richest, most powerful
biggest = Russia
richest = Brunei
most powerful = China
;-)

logos999

The Russian Federation may have more land area but then a very large chunk of that is frozen wilderness.

Brunei may have a higher per capita wealth but then it's population is less than 400,000 and, in any case the distribution of the wealth is essentially one family has it all. If you want to count per capita wealth than Kuwait and Luxembourg are also richer. However, as a recent study shows, the average European is less well off than individuals in the lowest quintile in the USA. Just one example. The average POOR household (lowest quintile) in the USA has a living space of 1200 square feet. The AVERAGE European (all income levels) household lives in 1100 square feet.

China is not anywhere near being the most powerful nation. Indeed, militarily it is pathetically weak and unable to project its military power more than a few feet over its own border except with a relative handful of ICBMs, probably about 20. A single American SSBN-726 Nuclear Attack Submarine carries more missiles (24).

Easily the biggest cause of of anti-americanism worldwide is her support for Israel.

Now we get the anit-americanism thing going. Rillifane
You actually believe yourself, what you're writing. Nobody else on the planet believes it. First point: "Americas are arrogant".
I hve been to rural Mississippi and Louisiana recently. Looks more like a 3rd world country than an industrialized nation, extreme poverty, dirt. Reminded me of southern Egypt in a way. People living in rotten shacks. (mostly black btw). On the other hand people living in closed "plantations". A community for golfers only, wealthy, safe and protected from the "evil world" outside.
Face it, one source that sparks anti-americansm apart fron foreign politics, is the way americans treat their fellow americans, who are different (poor). The total lack of solidarity.

logos999
Well said.

Um, I have been places all over the world where there is a disparity of the living conditions between economic groups. I believe Americans ranks as a group quite high in charitable giving. Do we have problems and poor that we need to do better about - yes. But I don't appreciate generalistic statements about how WE treat our poor. Thank you very much.