It was hardly surprising that on a recent visit to Germany I encountered criticism of the US policy towards Iraq and an overall skepticism to the Bush administrations post 9/11 actions from a good chunk of the German media and government officials. While I tend to disagree vehemently with most of their assertions I can understand the basis for some of their opinions and also realize that since their country was not the one attacked on 9/11 they don't carry the same passions on the issue that many Americans do. What really rankled me was the attitude among American expatriates living in Germany on some of these matters. To be fair I did not talk to a large number of American expatriates and perhaps the few that I came across were not an accurate sampling of the views that most of them hold. But I have a hunch that the feelings they expressed are commonly shared in their small community.
I have two theories to explain this anti-American attitude among Americans abroad:
1. Unless they are overseas for work the type of person who ends up living in Europe as an American expatriate is inclined to lean toward the Left by nature. Often initially brought to a country through their studies they buy into the view that Europe is culturally superior to the US early on and cast a disdainful eye towards their former land. And many of them are of an artistic bent or teachers of some kind or another, both groups which also tends to gravitate Leftward.
2. Even if they don't hold these views before arriving in Europe they soon find (especially those in the artistic or intellectual circles) that their Euro friends negative attitudes towards the US don't leave much room for open debate. In order to avoid the ignominious "ugly American" label they learn to stifle their patriotic leanings. They learn that it is much more acceptable to be an American who mocks rather than defends their native land. Most of the local country's media tend to reinforce these beliefs and the few media outlets available from the US often don't help matters. CNN for example.
The most egregious example that I witnessed of an American ex-pat dissing his land of origin was the English language tour guide we had in Berlin. He was an extremely bright and entertaining fellow with a encyclopedic knowledge of the history of the city. But during his three plus hour walking tour he took numerous pot shots at GW and his administration even mimicking the common Euro insult with a disparaging "cowboy" remark or two to describe Bush. What's so bad about a cowboy anyway? The nadir of the tour occurred when we reached the Reichstag and our guide related its history including of course the 1933 fire which Hitler used as a pretext to crush his opposition and consolidate his absolute authority. He then mentioned that a British friend of his had raised a comparison between the events following 9/11 and the Reichstag fire. "Think about it," he intoned to us solemnly.
Why yes! It all makes sense now. A fire set in an empty building by a deranged man which may or may not have been arranged by the despotic regime in power followed by the wholesale destruction of all political parties within the country opposing the regime through assassinations, orchestrated mob violence, arrest, torture, and detention in concentration camps along with the elimination of virtually all remaining political rights and an attack on civilians by terrorists resulting in three thousand deaths followed by the government giving its law enforcement agencies more latitude in monitoring, tracking, and prosecuting groups, and individuals suspected of planning further terrorist acts. How could I have missed the obvious similarities?
No comments:
Post a Comment