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COMMENTS:
Voted : My opinion is below
This doesn't surprise me in the least. In fact, I posited such in another group, that anti-American sentiment would blossom to the point where Americans wouldn't be safe abroad. I was trying to line up a gig in France, but had to drop the pursuit after advice from a friend of mine at State.
Voted : Consul person is crazy
The majority of Europeans dislike America’s foreign policy and fear the loss of their country’s cultural traditions to Americanisation, but I seriously doubt that because of this American citizen’s are advised to feign a Canadian background. In my opinion this commentator is merely endorsing the all ready over-exaggerated opinion that Americans are not welcome in Europe. I suspect that the overwhelming majority of Europeans would welcome American tourists in a far friendlier manner than those from other nations; your wallets are a lot heavier than theirs.
Voted : Consul person is crazy
I don't think most Europeans would be dangerous just because they don't like Bush. I don't think much of Bush either.
OK, I'll grasp this nettle.
Quite a few Americans that I know have had problems being accepted in Europe.
One possible reason for this is what might be termed US cultural evangelism – in fairness, though, it's largely the fault of European media companies force-feeding their viewers cheap, dreadful American TV programmes in which Americans come across as arrogant, parochial, unstable gun-freaks or schmaltzy and insincere to the point of revulsion. Yes, I know this is just TV, BUT... these programmes have been made by Americans, about Americans and for Americans. They're how you define your culture. And there's a tendency for Europeans to want to distance themselves from people who choose to define themselves in this way.
Another possible reason is that it's not unusual for Americans abroad to come across as loud, brash and somewhat socially gauche (hint: boasting about anything or overt declarations of e.g. national pride are a definite no-no, lol) – in particular, groups of under-21s that don't have easy access to alcohol back at home can be a right pain in the arse once they've had a few pints of Stella Artois. Well-behaved Americans will find that people's attitudes to them will soften over time, but the initial reaction is often one of wariness.
And thirdly, unavoidably - US foreign policy. Whatever your personal politics, you're a representative of a nation that's widely perceived in the international scene to be a bully – and on a more personal note, do be aware that even an American Democrat is likely to be considered quite right-wing in Europe. You can expect to be challenged on US foreign policy wherever you go, you'll just have to accept this.
So, the dice are somewhat loaded against the average American traveller in Europe.
Pretending to be Canadian is one easy option (when did Canada ever offend anybody?)... BUT I suggest that decent Americans don't need to resort to such subterfuge – it'd be better for your nation in the long run if you impress people by your good manners and your willingness to fit in with the social mores of other cultures whilst visiting them.
One last thing - don't be overly generous. Americans have a reputation for throwing money around, and uncharitable people would consider this an attempt to buy friendship or impress the locals. My advice on things like tipping, etc. is to do your homework before travelling, and try to do as everyone else does in whatever country you're visiting.
And before anyone starts: I'm not having a go at Americans here, I'm just answering the ballot question :-P
^ okay, but the way this person in the ballot description commented , the US consul thought he would be harmed... sure, people in Europe might have feelings as you described dingle, but I don't think an American would have to fear for his life in Europe, even if it was just after the invasion of Iraq.
I was in UK and Ireland, the republic of, few years ago and not one person treated my dad or me badly or even showed any kind of displeasure toward us
It was one of the greatest experiences of my life.
Oh, I see.
In that case no, you're not likely to be harmed in Europe just because you're American. And I'd be very surprised if anyone at your consulate said you might be... perhaps their advice was misunderstood or misquoted?
^possibly this person misunderstood, or maybe he is someone who doesnt like Europeans and wanted them to be looked at in a bad way by the other posters.
DingleDung's got some good points.
My brother-in-law used to travel overseas on business quite frequently and he was told more than once to say that he was Canadian if anyone on the street asked him where he was from. But this wasn't right after the start of war. This was at a particular time when there were alot of riots and US flag burnings in Europe and some of his co-workers who went on a previous trip were harassed. True that it's our foreign policy and not our citizens that most dislike, but there's always going to be some biased bigots around who are not willing to see past the nationality of someone.
As for the heavy pockets of Americans, there's some that don't even like the color of our money. My sister has been refused on more than one large internet purchase when the people she was purchasing from saw that she was from the U.S. It pissed her off, but I told her, "Don't it make you feel good knowing that you wouldn't turn them down?" She said, "F*ck yeah! If they're stupid enough to not take my 800 dollars because of where I'm from, they're got more deepseated problems that I do."
but there's always going to be some biased bigots around who are not willing to see past the nationality of someone. by Grumpy_Person on Sat Jan 19, 08 5:00pm
I will never understand how anyone can hate 300 million people they never met , I don't like the government of China but I don't hate 3 billion Chinese People I never met, that would be so silly. IMO
^ and yes, I know there are Americans who feel this way about people in some countries and I think they are silly as well.
Oh yeah, exactly. It works both ways.
Voted : My opinion is below
I've read that many people traveling abroad do that. I think it speaks more to the dismal opinion of our country than anything else. I don't think of Europeans as being torch bearing mobs either, but I think that they were/are very angry at how our government conducts itself in world affairs. Who can blame them?
Much of what Dingledung said also applies to Americans traveling in Canada (especially Quebec.)
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