The Mounting Tide of Anti-Americanism

There really is such a thing as a mounting tide of anti-Americanism in Europe and the reasons behind it are both good and bad, contrived and legitimate. The bad reasons clearly prevail, although, to be quite frank, Americans themselves often reveal a curious duality: in spite of loud protestations, they are frequently more ideological- minded (and prejudiced) than most Europeans, but they also have a highly pragmatic bent. The idealistic Puritan and the hardheaded businessman seem to fight a never-ending battle in the American soul.

The usual mistake most Americans make in dealing with people of other nations stems from the notion that “human beings are more alike than unlike” (the result of the successful assimilation of millions of immigrants) and the rather idealistic determination to treat others as one would like to be treated oneself: “What would my reaction be if I were in his shoes?” The American is not aware that to be in somebody else’s shoes is to be another man altogether, and so this commendable phrase really makes no sense. The other mistake derives from pragmatism. Americans are by nature generous and quickly forget insults and injuries. Europeans, on the other hand, not only have long memories but, their comparative lack of generosity often makes them spiteful and even envious. Envy is Europe’s most widespread and terrible disease. After a great upheaval Americans will ask themselves “Where do we go from here?” whereas Europeans, their gaze always fixed on the past, will continue to act under the influence of past experiences, memories, and grievances. (In this respect the Latin American is very much like the European; events that took place 400 years ago have not in the least been effaced from historic memory.)

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Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn

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There really is such a thing as a mounting tide of anti-Americanism in Europe and the reasons behind it are both good and bad, contrived and legitimate. The bad reasons clearly prevail, although, to be quite frank, Americans themselves often reveal a curious duality: in spite of loud protestations, they are frequently more ideological- minded (and prejudiced) than most Europeans, but they also have a highly pragmatic bent. The idealistic Puritan and the hardheaded businessman seem to fight a never-ending battle in the American soul.

The usual mistake most Americans make in dealing with people of other nations stems from the notion that “human beings are more alike than unlike” (the result of the successful assimilation of millions of immigrants) and the rather idealistic determination to treat others as one would like to be treated oneself: “What would my reaction be if I were in his shoes?” The American is not aware that to be in somebody else’s shoes is to be another man altogether, and so this commendable phrase really makes no sense. The other mistake derives from pragmatism. Americans are by nature generous and quickly forget insults and injuries. Europeans, on the other hand, not only have long memories but, their comparative lack of generosity often makes them spiteful and even envious. Envy is Europe’s most widespread and terrible disease. After a great upheaval Americans will ask themselves “Where do we go from here?” whereas Europeans, their gaze always fixed on the past, will continue to act under the influence of past experiences, memories, and grievances. (In this respect the Latin American is very much like the European; events that took place 400 years ago have not in the least been effaced from historic memory.)