Having spent the 50s, 60, and half of the 70's bopping back an d forth between Europe and the USA, I can say for sure Europeans did not experience the cold war as we did...
You are absolutely right. I also noticed that the British and U.S. propaganda against Communism in S.E. Asia was simply overwhelming compared to the reaction against Communism in Canada and the U.S. In S.E. Asia, Communism was depicted as absolutely evil and the scourge of mankind.
By contrast, in North America, during the post-McCarthy era, there was only muted propaganda against the Soviets and the occasional deprecatory remarks against Soviet foreign policy and visiting Soviet personnel. And much to my surprise, Communist parties were allowed to flourish in various parts of western Europe!
It also appeared to me that at times the U.S. manifested some love for the Soviets! (that is, something akin to a love-hate relationship). I believe this was largely because of its fear of the Soviets becoming too cozy with the Red Chinese a.k.a "Yellow Peril". In the 60s and early 70s, U.S. servicemen and tourists in S.E. Asia were dubbed "Ugly Americans". Anyone interested in knowing the origin of that epithet should read the book, "The Ugly American".
Some folks on this thread believe I am anti-American. But little do they realize that I was merely providing some missing gaps (arising from their highly parochial outlook) in their knowledge of world events that would enable them to view history in a better perspective (that is, see the big picture).
Thank you for pointing out that, "Americans to this day are considered exuberant adolescents, filled with energy but of questionable judgement" and that American culture and politics are considered naive by Europeans. |
