You tow said it better! Both European countries and the USA do not really know how the other half really is. Yes, there is arrogance, stupidity, and ignorance on both sides but this done by relatively a small percentage of people. European tourists/guest workers cannot measure the American way of life by just visiting or working for a less than 20 years in the USA. And it is the same for Americans as well. Likewise, you cannot do the same by following the news on both sides of the Atlantic. Real mature Europeans and Americans do not show off their nationalities or professions unless it is necessary, which is not frequent.

When travelling or living abroad, it pays for the individual to do the following:
1. Research the country in terms of history, economics, science and technology, customs and holidays, and everyday lifestyles.
2. Be low key and soft spoken when speaking.
3. Do dress causal. Do not wear designer clothes or any “loud” clothes.
4. Do not wear “hot” or designer/expensive jewelry.
5. Eat in the local restaurants and eat with good manners.
6. Learn and practice the language as much as you can.
7. Show interest as much as you can for the host nation.
8. Do not show off your nationality or profession unless it is necessary.
9. Stop debating and stick to the facts that will not change generation after generation.

This will reduce prejudices and most misconceptions on both sides of the Atlantic

You don”t stay in Americanized hotels and when dining out, you try to eat the food that’s part of that culture, instead of insisting American food. We’ve never seen you in T-shirts with the names of US bands, funny sayings in English, American sports jerseys or clothes of a particular label. You don’t wear designer jeans but seem to opt for comfortable slacks of durable duck cloth or attractive dresses. You wear minimal jewelry and don’t overdo the makeup. We’ve never seen you wearing expensive (or any) sports or running shoes. In winter you wore hiking or winter boots and in summer you wore good walking shoes. We’ve never seen you carry an “it” bag and the only place where we’ve seen you wear shorts or a bathing suit is at the beach, the spa, or the pool.

You genuinely try to learn phrases in different languages and speak softly. You don’t seem to get upset if travel causes a delay. If you don’t understand, you apologize and try to ask the question again. You’ve had a sense of humor when you make a mistake. We’ve never seen you eat while walking around “seeing the sites.” (Food is eaten at a table or standing at the bar.) You seem genuinely interested in asking questions about what’s happening and we get the impression you like us.

Now maybe my upbringing helped me to innately do these things, but I think these things could apply to anyone traveling anywhere.

In Nazi Germany there was a lot of freedom, as long as you were not a threat to the government. You clearly got a wrong view of how europe was and is. There are cases in the USA in which governmental influence is abused. How about the patriot act for example?
You mention the right to bear arms. I’d like to make a comment about that: The USA exceeds the european number of gun related homocides with shocking figures. I’d not be too proud about that. But I understand what you are saying. If everyone owns a gun, i’d like one myself. But thats a circulating system that will never end if there is no governmental control over guns. But I don’t see that happen anytime soon in the US.

Europeans generally don’t hate americans. in fact after WWII the USA was enourmously popular. I’ts just that some of us question the american system and by government indoctrinated fear of almost everything.

As long as you keep a people in fear, they are willing to let you control them. There is no such thing as constant terroristic threat or evil socialistic european system.

I do honestly hope americans understand what i’m saying, even though they disagree. I think it’s time to question your own system.
I critisize my country, the EU, the US constantly and it keeps me sharp. But in the end i’ll just settle for where i feel home. Soon i’ll be living in BC, Canada or the Boston area.

Making ignorant and untrue comments about U.S. and EU hatred towards each other only does one thing. It causes people who are clueless and who don’t know that this is untrue to put their guard up. This causes them to automatically and subcounciously feel discomfort and dislike towards others because they have not yet experienced how the things they have heard are untrue. It causes a vicous circle of hateful lies!

@Impeach Bush
I know you were joking and being sarcastic(somewhat), but you made a rash generalization. You assumed that all Americans have similar views as Texans, and dare I say it, you even stereotyped Texans unfairly : ). And ofcourse someone from Germany would have more in common and be more agreeable with you because you guys share a common language and live in the same geographic vacinity. That’s like me saying that I like people from Arizona better than people from Austria. It’s just idiotic. Just because it may be easier for me to communicate with someone from Arizona dosn’t mean I’d like them better. Infact, I would much rather talk with an Austrian because someone from Arizona would most likely have a similar lifestyle to my own and have the same knowledge as me, and therefore it would be quite borring to talk with them. Someone from Austria on the other-hand, would have knowledge and stories unfimiliar to me that would be quite interesting and intriguing.

Sorry for the rant. Can’t we just all get along and share an alcoholic beverage or some other form of refreshment?!?