I notice from quite recent posts that some people (presumable Americans) are still boycotting French products. Even at the time when the US/UK decided not to ask the UN to sanction its war, preferring to rather take unilateral action, such a boycott would have been childish.
Many American's talk about how great their nation is. Unfortunately, the impression they are giving to the rest of the world is not quite so appealing - people who cannot tolerate others disagreeing with them. What makes it even more childish and immature is that the French/German and Russian attitudes have subsequently been proved right. Much of the evidence presented to the UN and public by the US/UK was untrue.
France was regularly mis-quoted by US/UK politicians. France did not say it was against the war ?full-stop? but rather believed that the war was not necessary at the time it started. They were saying "we will not xxx unless yyy". However, it suited US and UK politicians to omit the "unless" bit.
In Europe and certain other countries (where I am aware of attitudes), the general attitude to the US have taken quite a lot of knocks over the last few years ? mainly due to their politicians and generally portrayed attitudes (e.g. "I?m boycotting French products because they don?t agree with me".
In Europe, you will find relatively little antagonism to US individuals. Europeans are mature enough to realise that within a nation there are a wide range of opinions and attitudes and they can "rise above" such immaturity.
If the US is such a great nation, why can?t it behave like one.
To Europe, the US presents a general impression of total self interest. It has shown total disregard to the UN over starting a war. Also, for example, the illegal taxation of steel imports to the US. The case had to be taken to the World Trade Organisation which declared it illegal ? which did not stop the US. For some time they just ignored the WTO. Self interest gains the respect of nobody.
I'm not for one moment suggesting that the rest of the world is perfect. However, the rest of the world is a little more "open minded" and less childish over e.g. "Lets all boycott the French as they wont agree with us".
I hope I'm my comments are helping some US people realise that maybe some of their attitudes might be a little "one-sided".
Many American's talk about how great their nation is. Unfortunately, the impression they are giving to the rest of the world is not quite so appealing - people who cannot tolerate others disagreeing with them. What makes it even more childish and immature is that the French/German and Russian attitudes have subsequently been proved right. Much of the evidence presented to the UN and public by the US/UK was untrue.
France was regularly mis-quoted by US/UK politicians. France did not say it was against the war ?full-stop? but rather believed that the war was not necessary at the time it started. They were saying "we will not xxx unless yyy". However, it suited US and UK politicians to omit the "unless" bit.
In Europe and certain other countries (where I am aware of attitudes), the general attitude to the US have taken quite a lot of knocks over the last few years ? mainly due to their politicians and generally portrayed attitudes (e.g. "I?m boycotting French products because they don?t agree with me"
In Europe, you will find relatively little antagonism to US individuals. Europeans are mature enough to realise that within a nation there are a wide range of opinions and attitudes and they can "rise above" such immaturity.
If the US is such a great nation, why can?t it behave like one.
To Europe, the US presents a general impression of total self interest. It has shown total disregard to the UN over starting a war. Also, for example, the illegal taxation of steel imports to the US. The case had to be taken to the World Trade Organisation which declared it illegal ? which did not stop the US. For some time they just ignored the WTO. Self interest gains the respect of nobody.
I'm not for one moment suggesting that the rest of the world is perfect. However, the rest of the world is a little more "open minded" and less childish over e.g. "Lets all boycott the French as they wont agree with us".
I hope I'm my comments are helping some US people realise that maybe some of their attitudes might be a little "one-sided".