I don't know how old you are. Our reputation wasn't always good. I saw "The Ugly American" in a movie theatre in Mexico City in 1962. The crowd howled. A wake-up call for me. Ever since I have tried mightily not to reflect badly on the US when out of the country.
At any time in history, in anywhere, there will be young anti establishment types that would root against the establishment. Those same people in that Mexico City movie theater, I would guess, would jeer at their own ruling party.
After WWII and until recently, we were clearly the economic and cultural establishment in the world. I travelled extensively throughout the world in those days. There was genuine appreciation for what America did for Europe. You could go to any pub in the UK and they would be buying rounds for Americans. In those days many of the Americans traveling abroad were typically making over $50,000 a year and locals would be averaging 4 or 5 thousand a year. A European executive would be making around $10,000 a year. I never encountered resentment because of the disparities of income.
That could also be said for my experiences in Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan.
The Japanese from almost any economic strata would treat Americans with the greatest deference (even if the American had very little standing at home).
With the possible exception of the anti-establishment crowd, Americans were treated with the highest regard from every strata of overseas society (eg, the academic, business, and government sectors). I often felt unworthy (and maybe a little uncomfortable) of all the respect that was bestowed on me just because I was an American.
If recent polls are any indication, 60 to 80 percent of people in Northern European countries now view us unfavorably.
But, many of my European friends try to assure me that that feeling is directed more specifically towards George Bush and unfavorable views of America overall is not quite that bad. |
