Obama Cannot Stop Global Sentiment Against Americans

Aby December 1st, 2008

Lately, a popular belief among Americans is that since Obama has been elected President, all forms of ‘anti-Americanism ‘ around the world should come to a halt. They appear to hold on to the belief that anti-Americanism is a direct and isolated consquence of the Bush administration, by foreign nationals who in their words “can’t seperate the American people from their government”. It is this errorenous presumption that is fuelling a bitterness among Americans, on the realisation that anti-Americanism hasn’t dissappeared with the election of Obama (as they hoped).

Americans try to explain why they are hated around the world.

Some of these American folks have been so embittered by global anti-American sentiments that they have have coined a new term “Americanophobe” to describe anyone who is a critic of America (as opposed to a critic of the US government). Countless communities have formed, that support each other in this new breed of nationalism - which range from general distaste of ‘anti-American’ parts of the world to outright hatred for the entire non-American world. While most of their efforts are well-intentioned, what most of these people fail to understand is that there is no simplified ’cause’ for someone to dislike Americans. Anti-Americanisn is not a comprehensive or coherent belief system or ideology that people hold on to, but rather a series of criticisms and prejudices regarding America that have haphazardly been labelled ‘anti-Americanism’. A person might dislike United States or Americans for numerous reasons - ranging from irrational phobia of American people or a dislike of American policies or even a general aversion to American behaviours. While the former might be a discriminatory reflex of cultural stereotypes against Americans, the latter is often a consquence of the “ugly American syndrome” - a term given for unpleasant experiences with American people. (A previous article gives a few examples of such negative experiences.)

In the next few posts, we will discuss the history, ideas, attitude and behaviour that act as catalyst to generating anti-American sentiments. We will cover both the reasonable and unreasonable criticisms of Americans, with special emphasis on the differences between the people and the government.

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America , Internationalism , World Culture , World Politics
Comments(6)

6 Responses to “Obama Cannot Stop Global Sentiment Against Americans”

# Slinger on 02 Dec 2008 at 9:03 am

You couldn’t be more correct. It didn’t start with George Bush and it won’t end with Obama. It’s quite a pancake. The only appropriate response by the U.S. is to simply disconnect itself from external opinion (which for the most part, we do already). It’s a perpetual “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” situation. If suddenly your debts were paid, your wars ended, your economy fully revitalized, there would always be one more reason.
# jonr on 02 Dec 2008 at 10:47 am

European anti-americanism has been around since this country was founded. And now the US is the world’s only superpower and Europe is more jealous than ever. The US is the only superpower not just because of wealth and military power, but primarily because of culture. American media (movies, music, internet, technology) reaches every corner of the globe and the people of the world can’t get enough of it.
# Nitin on 05 Dec 2008 at 2:01 am

What u mean by obama…
no one on this earth can stop!
its impossible to change hearts of people….i know obama is kool he is good at so much stuff..hes not a magician!
# kronic on 05 Dec 2008 at 4:53 am

The gap between America and the rest of the world has widened. While China is closing in, in terms with economic growth and military might, on the international stage, China is often silent. American influence cannot be understated in the international arena. They lead the world. They make things happen. Good or bad. So long as it is within their best interests. That is what all countries want for themselves. The might, power and the riches are aspirations for all countries. Domination is what people like to do. It shines the ego. Only time will tell in reference to all the hype about Obama, that he will in fact be any better than ol’boy Georgie.
# Aranez on 17 Dec 2008 at 8:18 pm

Anti-Americanism is the spawn of Americans’ own behaviour with foreigners in their country. As a high schooler in US, I learnt that its not easy being a foreigner in America.

As the son of a Brazilian diplomat when I first moved to the US I was immediately branded a worthless spic. I never felt so humiliated in my life since where I went I was treated like a moron in high school even though I spoke four languages fluently and lived in several different countries, posessing an insight to humanity that few people in that school had. Not even the guidance counselor could see through this, since he insisted in putting me in ESL classes (english as a second language) even after I demonstrated an excellent grasp of English. To add insult to injury, he tried to steer me into a career in manual labour (woodshop, metal shop) rather than something that would nurture my intellect. The kids in there treated me no differently. Despite all this my parents still don’t understand why I burnt my yearbooks a few years after graduation.

All that Obama can change is the political perception of America. The actual perception of American people can’t be changed, until Americans learn to respect people outside the Anglophone world.
# James Bond on 22 Dec 2008 at 4:03 pm

The arrogance of americans as the only superpower is tolerated only becaue the world also perceived it to be the world’s economic driver. The current global financial crisis created by the US is a sound reminder to the world that USA is nothing more than a nation that continue to spend more than it can afford. America is in fact BANKRUPT and the world is now paying for the grave mistake for trusting USA and it’s grossly corrupted financial institutions. America and americans will soon be seen like the “has-been” british colonialists of the 19th century.
I have lost whatever little respect I had of America.