69 million page views

Reaction

Reader comment on item: America the Unpopular

Submitted by Delbert S. Buttman (United States), Nov 5, 2003 at 14:05

These countries are so anti-America indoctrinated I am surprised that they have not actually physically attacked American forces. Whatever America does is considered wrong I myself was in the military for 22 years. I was an investigator for the military so I became familiar with these attitudes. I worked in France for a short period of time and when I was identified as an American soldier I was treated like a piece of garbage. We pulled Europe out of a lot of problems during WWII and I don't expect them to love us but I did expect common courtesy.

One theme that I heard in Europe and Central America was the theme that America and Americans are rich. I believe that we should cleave to the countries that support us and do nothing for the countries that do not.

Regarding the anti-American countries I do not trust them. I believe that if given the chance they will betray us and hurt us badly. If they see an opportunity to do something against us, something they can get away with, they will do it. We are seen as an evil in many of these countries by their citizens.

I was stationed in one area in Germany that had restaurants and clubs that would have their people routinely throw Americans out of their establishments. I would have to investigate some of these incidents and I found that many of them were instigated by simple ethnic prejudice. They did not like Americans so they mistreated them. There were also German police who would support Germans no matter how stupid their premise. I recall minor traffic accidents between American soldiers and Gemans in which the main factor seemed to be the ethnic background of the individuals involved in the accident. If an American was involved the Germans spoke to the Germans and charged the American without speaking to the American. Once they filed charges that was it.

I am not anti-German and I am not anti-European. I came face to face with reality and I have the attitude that if a country and its people do not like us, do not support us, and support our enemies then we need to drop them like a hot potato. When we do, we need to tell them what the deal is. Tell them that they screwed us, supported our enemies, and that they have expressed that they want us gone so we are. Econcomically most countries need our markets to survive so that will not be affected from their point of view. Militarily we may save a lot of money. Besides we should move our forces to friendly countries.

Another thing. The United Nations has turned into an organization that wants our money and support but it works against our interests. It wouldn't sadden me in the least if we just left. Take our money and tell them to find some place else to hold anti-American conventions.

I may sound bitter but I am not. We have done a lot for many people in the world. When there is a big problem we are called for assistance. I have no problem coming when we are called but we should not stay where we are hated and not wanted.
Submitting....

Note: Opinions expressed in comments are those of the authors alone and not necessarily those of Daniel Pipes. Original writing only, please. Comments are screened and in some cases edited before posting. Reasoned disagreement is welcome but not comments that are scurrilous, off-topic, commercial, disparaging religions, or otherwise inappropriate. For complete regulations, see the "Guidelines for Reader Comments".

Submit a comment on this item

<< Previous Comment      Next Comment >>

Reader comments (59) on this item

Title Commenter Date Thread
With us or against us? [244 words]C. AtkinsonApr 28, 2004 07:4314917
Rule Britannia [41 words]English 'till I dieJul 18, 2006 17:0414917
1America is the spoilt child of the world [35 words]colinAug 7, 2006 18:0814917
Article of Mensa Quality [83 words]InfidelAug 17, 2006 17:4014917
AMERICA'S FUTURE [102 words]ralph crawfordDec 27, 2006 04:0414917
rule of britania BS [143 words]Biggles the manNov 28, 2009 22:0314917
I am an European [179 words]kjartan thommesenMar 2, 2004 05:0714036
I hate American Arrogance ...Response to Mr.Miller [260 words]SOLODec 22, 2003 05:1412763
Arrogance [52 words]JenningsMay 15, 2006 21:3012763
Foreign criticism [86 words]heatherJul 18, 2006 15:3812763
hey [50 words]akAug 15, 2006 23:3612763
Two Evils, Death or Prejudice [87 words]InfidelAug 16, 2006 12:0212763
ok [57 words]akAug 17, 2006 12:4312763
Nice Try ak [32 words]InfidelAug 17, 2006 16:1712763
Right back atcha [39 words]akAug 17, 2006 22:3012763
AK Rocks! [487 words]InfidelAug 18, 2006 23:5512763
Arrogance [22 words]Im so sureApr 14, 2007 19:2812763
One negative group [89 words]Biggles the manNov 28, 2009 21:5012763
America [6 words]UberMooJan 29, 2010 06:4712763
Nationalism [247 words]mastJun 22, 2011 17:4812763
Go for it [25 words]Gabriela RobertsDec 15, 2003 11:4212663
The Left is our enemy [79 words]Jason EritanoNov 27, 2003 15:5312351
Your arrogance will be your destruction! [253 words]Colonel TavingtonNov 25, 2003 12:0312293
The Left [279 words]Octavio JohansnNov 22, 2003 11:0012266
Respect and (some) Fear [106 words]Brian McCarthyNov 12, 2003 00:0312121
I Am Happy to Stay Informed, but [124 words]Reverend Mary Todd PendergastNov 11, 2003 12:5612119
Pray [12 words]InfidelAug 17, 2006 17:2112119
Amerca the unpopular is now radical chic [223 words]Allyson Rowen TaylorNov 10, 2003 00:3612115
Scholarship [163 words]Arlinda DeAngelisNov 9, 2003 03:0012111
Wildly unpopular [65 words]Glenn KlotzNov 7, 2003 17:5912106
How long can we fight the "Forever War"? [249 words]Brian EargleNov 7, 2003 00:4912100
Dealing with the Jihadis - Now, or Later [154 words]Ray KraftNov 6, 2003 20:1312098
America and Western Culture [200 words]Raymond LowNov 6, 2003 18:1112095
What do you mean, "we"? [322 words]Frank BradyNov 6, 2003 15:4012093
Remaining friends requires efforts [137 words]EdwardNov 6, 2003 14:2912092
to be killed or to be disliked, that is the question [335 words]Stephane HanoNov 6, 2003 12:3912091
Politicizing Everything [335 words]Arlinda DeAngelisNov 6, 2003 12:3512090
America the Unpopular - So be it. [211 words]Kent McDonaldNov 6, 2003 12:2312089
to Kenn: on American interests [232 words]Anubhav SinghAug 18, 2006 03:2312089
Free riding [24 words]Richard webbNov 6, 2003 00:2712088
RE: Hatred of America [119 words]PERRY TRATTENNov 6, 2003 04:1512086
Kudos [232 words]Peter J. HerzNov 5, 2003 23:2312083
Fight to win or to be popular? [186 words]Mike RocheNov 5, 2003 19:2812080
Not all AFL-CIO members are liberals [114 words]Robert FinkNov 5, 2003 17:5712078
Europe vs USA [90 words]William F. MillerNov 5, 2003 17:4412077
USA vs Europe [95 words]MarcellaJan 26, 2007 05:3312077
please, marcella ..read it!! [24 words]giancarloMay 24, 2007 01:2212077
Brrrrrrrrr [168 words]StigJun 8, 2008 20:4212077
Things have changed [9 words]EuropeanSep 26, 2008 09:1712077
us supremacy [41 words]johnOct 11, 2009 02:1212077
We're a bunch of low class bums! [45 words]Stephen BermanNov 5, 2003 17:3912076
Better to survive our own ignominy that to succumb to our enemy [100 words]Graham Rael-BrookNov 5, 2003 17:0012075
You're all just jealous [122 words]Anthony RizzoNov 21, 2006 23:0112075
Naive [92 words]CarlJul 14, 2007 18:0912075
I don't get it. [418 words]SimonaNov 5, 2003 16:3812074
Actions have consequences [265 words]Michael ElvinNov 5, 2003 14:3412073
Trying to turn a sow's ear into ...... [219 words]Ron ThompsonNov 5, 2003 14:2412072
Reaction [541 words]Delbert S. ButtmanNov 5, 2003 14:0512071
The struggle for preservation of Western culture [31 words]PhillipNov 5, 2003 12:5912070

Follow Daniel Pipes

Facebook   Twitter   RSS   Join Mailing List

All materials by Daniel Pipes on this site: © 1968-2024 Daniel Pipes. daniel.pipes@gmail.com and @DanielPipes

Support Daniel Pipes' work with a tax-deductible donation to the Middle East Forum.Daniel J. Pipes

(The MEF is a publicly supported, nonprofit organization under section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Contributions are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Tax-ID 23-774-9796, approved Apr. 27, 1998.

For more information, view our IRS letter of determination.)