When you spend time in a different country, you realize how different people can be from one culture to another. You realize that there are a million different ways to get things done, a million different ways to go about the business of life. When I lived in France, I learned that I could, in fact, live without clothes dryer (air drying, who knew?). I learned that smiling doesn’t have the same implications everywhere in the world. I learned that a bathroom is a room with a bath, but not a toilet.

But most of all, what I learned is that, despite all the superficial differences, ultimately, we aren’t that different at all. We have the same emotions, the same joys and the same pains. Deeper than the labels of French, American, Spanish, what have you, we are human.

So it was with a clenched jaw that I listened to all of the anti-Americanism I encountered while living in France. Those who would generalize and stereotype, and make us all out to be a bunch of polluting, money grubbing, uneducated assholes who enjoy watching the poor suffer and invading other countries on whims. There are people who said how much better educated the French are than “those Americans”, right in front of me. The people who want to know why “those Americans” don’t give the poor access to medical care? The people who outright admit that they hate Americans. Oh, and why don’t “you Americans” give more money to Africa? And, pssst, is it true that you eat your young? They would ask.

But who are “those Americans,” anyway? Me? My family? My friends? Perhaps you were referring to my Granny, who likes to grow squash and beautiful flowers. Or my son, who likes to mouth his toys, and is going to crawl any day now, I’m sure. Or my friend Sara, who just had a baby, and calls me from time to time to commiserate. Yes, we’re probably the ones trying to take over the world, make everyone wear Nike sweat-shop gear and eat hormone laced McDonalds hamburgers.

It was also with a clenched jaw that I listened when Americans badmouthed the French at the beginning of the Iraq war. When they urged people to stop buying French products. When the Fox News anchor said no one would care if Paris blew up.

But I have to tell you, since I had my son, my jaw is no longer clenched. People spouting this hateful crap (is there a better word?) are likely to get an earful from me. In his short lifetime, we have already encountered some anti-French Americans - they have those stickers that say “Boycott France” on their cars, and we see them parked around town sometimes. I wrote a letter to the local newspaper to express my concern about it (and embarrass the hell out of them hopefully. Small town!). And I simply said the truth: scorning someone based on their national origin is racist. Loulou didn’t choose to be French, and he didn’t choose to be American. He didn’t personally refuse to sign the Kyoto treaty, and he didn’t personally conduct any nuclear testing in the Pacific. He is a human being and not simply a nationality. And I won’t have my son feeling embarrassed about who he is.

I totally agree with you ; not as an excuse, but as an explanation, I would like to say that I think most of us do not realize how big are the US. We know images from New York, research labs, top level companies, movie stars... and we are completely taken aback when we realize that in the US there are also very conservative and narrow-minded people living in far remote country ; and more, that they actually represent majority (well, I know it's not THAT simple, but the idea is this). All this does not fit the "european american dream"... what a disappointment... you are not all perfect after all :-)
Once the shock passed, we learn to admire what should be, and criticize what should be, in the US like everywhere else... I hope you will forgive the ones that are still under the shock !

I agree Marianne, it seems like people often don't realize what a vast and diverse country the US is. Of course there are bad people here, but then, there are bad people all over the world. And I suppose a lot of the people that may seem bad are really only misled, or undereducated, or misinformed. I think most Americans are basically good, even if they did vote for a corrupt leader. Just like most of the people who voted for Le Pen aren't really hateful racists.

How interesting that just by reading a few lines on a site I never asked about, had never heard about, can actually make me feel kind of guilty.

For one side one thing that I really hate is racism or any sort o "ism" that goes against people. On the other side, I have to try hard to understand the American thinking. The thinking behind the culture of superiority, the culture of war on the world, the culture of Fear us but love us. I'm not saying this based on pre-judgement, but based on my few American acquaintances and their behaviour back here im Brazil.

I'm not speaking against America either, maybe trying to initiate a conversation which could help me believe and trust the goodness in every person - hey, that includes American $ French too!

It may be worthy to tell that there are people who don't like either culture. For all that seems valuable in our little world, my dream (which I hardly believe I'll see anything near) is to see at least South America together, as one country. But if that is already visionary world, let alone the French and the American walking hand in hand.

From where I stand, I see much more points in common between A&F than you could probably see. The things I said about understanding the American thinking is also true to the French.

But I think this is enough food for thought for the moment.

Interesting comment, Maciel. Certainly I agree, there are Americans like the ones you describe. But I guess my point, like I said in my comment above, is that you find that type of person in every country or culture. I do think our government is corrupt, but there must be a distinction between the average American and their govt. Yes, I know they voted for it (well... 50% of the 50% who have enough faith in the political system to even vote. Hey didn't someone tell me voting is mandatory in Brazil?). But if you could only see how misleading their campaigning is. And the way they make themselves seem like the only moral choice for Christians (and yes there are a lot of those). Hell, a huge part of their voters are poor, rural, God-fearing Americans. The politicians are smart, and they are evil. But the Americans, they are like anybody else.

Its too bad the Americans you have met fit the stereotype. I have some friends from Brazil who told me that rich Americans come there and stay in hotels they could never afford. I don't know if this is the type you have met. Most of us aren't rich. Many of us are even poor. For what its worth, I read that only 10% of Americans have passports.

And yes, I agree that the French and Americans have way more in common than different. As much as many would hate to admit it.

As I said Jessica, I'm in a personal quest. It has to do with my feeling better in relation to other people, whenever I come to meet them. Whoever they may be, wherever they may be from.

When I lived in Britain I met some French (of the stereotyped sort) and I can't say they were any friendly - much the contrary. Interesting it was, though, that it was not only towards me. I could have thought it was because I'm Brazilian. But in fact they didn't get along with any of the 8 different nationalities there were in the class at the time.

They were one of the reasons why I never got the two-and-a-half-hours-trip to Paris from London. Pitty.

I trully believe people are basically the same, regardless of their culture. Anyone can be taught to love. Because we don't love naturally as we don't hate naturally. Culture is taught as much as it can be retaught.

Augustin was very much worried with the evil and the wrongdoing. I personally think he overvalued the issue.

At last, I have to believe in the good nature of people; this way life is at least "liveable" if not adorable.

I've run into this situation increasingly and have found myself attempting to defend this country, American, that I love to call home. What I've come to learn is that stereotypes are, in a sense, dead on. They may not be true for the majority, but they are on point in regards to the face we put on for the rest of the world.

I work for a Japanese company, and on my trips to the home office in Tokyo, I have had the chance to see other Americans (and Westerners in general) as they interact with the "natives". Sadly, I have been ashamed of my fellow countrymen on more occasions than I care to admit. Yet, I have seen the same arrogance and superiority displayed there with foreigners here in the states. I don't believe that any of these people are intentionally, at least in the broad sense, trying to put on such a face, but rather it stems from ignorance and the very stereotypes they are reinforcing.

Commendations for trying to break those with your family.

Hello.
:) Watched attentively by big sisters Maud and Leah the newest member of the Norwegian royal family has been captured in homely shots used by proud parents Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her husband Ari Behn to introduce her to the world.
Bye.