Freeman:
Thank you for breaking your promise with your last post. From your earlier comments I was indeed getting the impression of "America right or wrong, and no-one else can criticise America because we saved your rears in the war".
It is a sensitive subject, particularly after the events of last year, and very easy to be drawn into an emotional exchange, rather than an objective one. From what I've seen here in Canada, from my home country of Britain, and from most other media sources I've seen, the response to America has been, and just as importantly, continues to be overwhelmingly positive.
It is understandable that Americans are sensitive to perceived Anti-Americanism at this time. It is also understandable that non-Americans are sensitive to perceived American jingoism. America is the most powerful nation on earth. Other countries are therefore understandably nervous as to what America may do in a, shall we say, "empassioned mood."
It is unfortunate that there are some Americans who will say "my country, right or wrong", and use the war as a way of bolstering themselves at the expense of others. Nothing is more annoying, to be frank, than an American who demeans and cheapens the sacrifice of my family and countrymen who suffered and died fighting the Nazis by writing them off with an "if it wasn't for us you'd be speaking German" phrase. Such instances are not common, but do happen. A far more realistic and accurate phrase (borne out by the reading I've done), is to say, "if it wasn't for all of the Allied forces, we might now still be under Nazi rule." Why cannot we honour all of those who fought for freedom, rather than being drawn into petty arguments about whether one nation or another played a vital role? I've met quite a number of war veterans from different countries. Never do they argue like that; only the later generations do.
As to whether America acted in it's own self-interest I would say: of course it did, and it would have been silly not to. I believe that all individuals and nations act primarily in their self-interest. But as we develop, we realise that co-operation rather than conflict is in all our self-interests. Throughout most of Anglo-American history, our self-interests have been virtually indentical, and I hope that continues.
Not all outside criticism of America is anti-Americanism, but some is. Europeans should put thought into what they say and how they say it, instead of expecting the Americans to just perceive the point of the message.
Expatbrit
