I don't hate the US but their political ways annoy me and there are many others who think similar.
As a European, the USA's international policy annoys me to no end. It's characterised by Arrogance and Double standards. Arrogance isn't an uncommon trait and we can handle it, but the relentless pursuit of double standards (in a broad sense; this is meant to cover everything from getting all steamed up about N. Korea's nuclear programme while ostensibly stepping out of the nuclear treaties yourself, to not giving a hoot about the environment, to American judges supposedly unquestionably having jurisdiction about everyone anywhere in the world - but going into fiery rage the moment a foreign judge tries an American) that drives everyone angry at the USA.
It's not all your fault though ;). For myself, it's reached the point where I fail to seperate "the american" from "the american policy" and I'm immediately assuming the worst whenever the USA comes up. That scares me. I'm hoping to get to go the USA for half a year, next year, to see America for myself and flush out that bias. Right now, it takes a lot of effort to keep in check. Admitting this to myself and the world is probably a good first step. I wouldn't be surprised if many other people here in Europe are in the same condition, though.
As to American hegemony: you absolutely do have a point when you say the EU isn't making much effort to climb to a more competitive position, I'll hand you that. |
