Why Europe Hates America
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Transcript of Why Europe Hates America
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Analysis: “Why Europe Hates America” Video
The video, “Why Europe Hates America,” is a documentary video created by Bruce
Bawer which offers an insightful examination on the nature of anti-Americanism in European
nations. Considering I live in America I find this video hard to accept but welcome the criticism
because it highlights the efforts the U.S government in order to showcase America as a nation
without malice and assess its flaws. This will enable America to understand why it is perceived
negatively by the world and improve themselves in the eyes of the world. Despite the remarkable
contribution by America in varied fields such as politics, economics, science and culture, Bruce
Bawer’s video claims that a new breed of anti-Americanism has evolved in contemporary times
among the new generation. Could this hatred be fueled by a steady feed distortion and
manipulation by the media or could this be about real facts?
In this video analysis, I try to examine the accusations put against America and establish
the views of most Americans on U.S government policies. In addition, this paper presents the
background of the video and analyze it by comparing the prevailing attitudes in Europe with
those in North Korea. An argument will weave that much of what Europeans believe about the
US is borne out of sheer ingratitude.
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Background
Produced in 2009 in Phoenix news, “Why Europe Hates America” is a supplement of
Bawer’s literary critique “Hating America” which was published by Hudson in 2004. Bawer,
who has lived both in the Netherlands and Norway believed that Europeans were more superior
intellectually when compared to Americans who are ignorant and lacked culture. However, after
spending five years in Europe, Bawer changed this perception after he discovered this churlish
and seemingly unreasonable hatred of America by Europeans.
Video Analysis
The Video is basically a narrated documentary film which features supplementary clips
and videos from different news agencies which act as a visual support for its story. Additionally,
the film makes use of texts and subtitles to emphasize certain statements and show the magnitude
of the situation across Europe. However, in my opinion, the use of interviews made the video’s
argument more convincing.
The narrator claims that the prevalence and intensity of hatred against Americans among
the Europeans has reached an all time high but he also notes that this may be a result of
European media distortion of certain information. According to the video, Anti-Americanism has
become a public issue in the United Kingdom and further acknowledged the efforts of right-wing
political leaders . In the video a journalist named Margaret Drabble was quoted saying, “my anti
Americanism has become almost uncontrollable. It rises in my body like acid reflux”. This view
is also shared by the many media networks among which the video claims that the British
Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is the biggest basher of America a fact which was admitted by
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the then British Prime Minister Tony Blair in a statement, “the BBC is full of hatred for
America.” But what is most shocking is that European media circles have promoted and
stimulated anti-Americanism by purposely framing information about America.
Luckily, most European citizens have noted this and expressed their concern by forming
Anti Anti-Americanism websites to enlighten the European publish about certain issues. In the
interviews carried out in the video, some of the interviewees were shocked of the fabrications
made up by the European media houses about pressing issues. This led the European citizens to
believe that Americans are inhumane by allowing their government to abuse human rights
particularly to detainees in Guantanamo Bay. Other skewed thoughts about America depicted in
this video include; Americans carry M16s, fast food, death penalty, and American children are
all fat.
What the European media failed to mention to their citizens is that the majority of the
American citizens disagrees with some of their government policies. Issues such as the death
penalty and gun policies are just bitter pills the American citizens have had to swallow.
However, most still are against the much debated detaining of POW in Guantanamo Bay where
alleged human rights violations is being propagated.
Anti-Americanism Attitude in Europe
In my view, the Anti-Americanism attitude in Europe exists and as greatly discussed in
the video I am greatly convinced it does. The description of American soldiers by the Germans
in the video shows that the European media networks have succeeded in changing the mentality
of their public and have generated a market for anti-American news. The video claim that the
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Germans believe that American’s military is filled with dangerous armed criminals who pose a
greater threat to the entire world greater than the Afghans or Iraqis. But in their defense, the
American military has fueled its own persecution by the actions of certain soldiers in its ranks.
The video of American soldiers torturing POW at Guantanamo bay portrayed Americans as
enemies of mankind leading the rest of Europe to believe the U.S and its people care less about
humanity.
Anti-Americanism in Europe is further enhanced when the video shows European
demonstrators burning the American flag. This video provides the impression that Europeans
indeed have a compelling and substantial hatred against Americans.
However, part of these allegations are only mere fabrications by the European media
networks and do not have legitimate grievances against the U.S. The impression portrayed by
these media companies such as Americans are ignorant and deserve criticism due to their vulgar
personalities are mere fabrications collected from few media personalities who in their defense
are exercising their media freedom. The European Media have taken the Larry King’s and the
Diane Saywer’s personalities to sway their European citizens how Americans are narrow minded
and lack culture (Bawer).
These views are, however, are not spread out across Europe. Some of the European
citizens can be seen arguing against the anti-American sentiments. The BritainAndAmerica.com,
operated by British conservatives launched a commercial that highlights the significant
contributions of America to the world with the message that the world needs America. Even
some of the comments on the YouTube video also claim that the European media had gone too
far. A comment by Alpha Vox state that even the British are imperialists and the attitude
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portrayed by the media networks is just absurd. These sentiments are further aired by hudson485
who states that the whole video shows stereotyping Europeans and its just that plainly that
stereotyping.
The resistance discussed above should be viewed in conjunction with the prevailing
attitudes towards America in South Korea. It is reported that “eight-in-ten South Koreans (78%)
have a favorable opinion of the U.S.” (Poushter, para 4). Positive feeling for the US among
Koreans have spilled over to the current president Obama who “enjoys high ratings … 77%
express confidence in the American President’s ability handle world affairs,” (Poushter, para 6).
It is imperative to mention here that South Koreans, like Europeans, owe much their post-World
War II survival in the face of the imminent communist takeover of the US (Poushter, para 6).
Conclusion
It has been shown that the media networks have succeeded in plucking anti-Americanism
from the margins of European society and bringing it to the center. Of all those who have
decided to go against the grain in Europe, the most thoughtful path has been taken by the British
conservatives. By aiming to remind Europeans of the noble things the US has done, they will in
the fullness of time spur a continent-wide return to gratitude. Once Europeans wake up from
their media-lulled sleep, they will most probably align themselves with the South Koreans in
appreciating America’s avuncular internationalism which has brought them more good than evil.
Therefore, this video could play an important role in exposing US policy makers to the reality on
the European ground to which they must respond accordingly.
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Works Cited
Bawer, Bruce. Why Europe Hates America. Accessed on 17th June from:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hWJ5cI-uQ8
Pousthter, Jacob . South Koreans Remain Strongly pro-American. (2013-May 13th) Accessed on
17th June 2013 from http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/05/06/south-koreans-
remain-strongly-pro-american/