Have traveled much of the world on Business and pleasure over the last 20 years - from Turkey to Europe to South Africa. Some of it was pretty extended, but never lived there. Many times I was on my own and also have done a lot with my wife.

I am sure that it helps that I speak Spanish pretty well, but I have to admit, I must not have travelled anywhere Redwitch has been. I have never really experienced any more hatred of America there than I do from Lefties in this country. This is what I have learned from my travels:

1. There are people everywhere that hate America - usually they have a liberal viewpoint - I see that here as well as there. So what, I am not real fond of Iran or China either.

2. What the news media does NOT tell you is there are Conservatives everywhere (well, almost, maybe not in Palestine) and for the most part, they want their governments to be more like ours - this is especially prevalent in Eastern Europe (the polish and Czechs love us) and in Britain and Germany, as well as in Japan and South Africa. There are both sides of the political spectrum everywhere you know.

3. A lot of the anti american sentiment is there for the same reason that everyone hates the Yankees - people love the underdog and want to root for them, and hate the people who always win.

4. If you learn to say please, thank you, good morning, hello, and goodbye in the native language, everyone will love you no matter what. I make a habit of doing this when going to a new place - "Donde esta el bano" is also very helpful ;D

5. If you are nice to people, they are going to be nice to you.

6. As a general statement, I don't usually see the "stereotypical" american overseas - I see them here. Most who have money to travel overseas are more sophisticated - I normally just have not seen much of that anywhere overseas. I see a lot more of the overdone loud people being Europeans everywhere (especially Germans) - it was especially bad in Capetown. Europeans and Canadians are especially rude smokers.

7. I especially disagree about WW2 - I have had many discussions overseas with Europeans who are VERY thankful we helped them in the war, especially many of my good friends in England (I used to work for an English company, great people, horrid dressers).

Everybody realizes that America is always going to act in its best interests. The reality is that our best interest is also usually in the best interests of many of the other countries we encounter, but not all. Remember that America is the ONLY country in history that ever invaded a country for any other reason than for conquest - think about it (not an original - my college history teacher pointed this out).


Just my 2 cents - I personally think there are a lot more important things than worrying if we are liked.. Just as a note - I was in Europe late last year, so these are not "old" views