I've noticed lately, and particularly since the war with Iraq that a lot of US and UK kids seem to divided, almost to the point of hating each other and their respective nations, whereas I always saw the two as pretty good friends...anyone else, or is it just me?
202593
I haven't noticed this at all. I'm not sure most American teenagers even have a clue as to what the attitude of their U.K. peers is on the war. As far as the general population of the U.K. resenting America's intrusive foreign policies, that' nothing new. And while Fox News does tend to be polarizing when it comes to attitudes about national boundaries, it generally backs up the U.K. while attacking just about everybody else. If anything, I would say that most Americans, especially conservatives actually perceive the U.K. as our only true ally right now.
322578
I don't think many people in the US realises that the UK is actually a real, seperate, you know country. They think we are   one of those cute litle places they saved from the Germans but that doesn't have as many castles.
563250
We can sometimes be spoiled brats.  Rightly or wrongly most of us grow up thinking we live in the greatest country in the world, not because of who we are as individuals but because of our institutions and our history.  We naively expect the entire world to feel the same way and for everyone to "love" us.  I suppose it is kind of an insecurity, possibly because we are this melting pot.  I think most countries with single strong ethnic identities probably don't suffer from this insecurity.  They are who they are and they just don't care what anyone thinks.  Americans get this attitude but in a different reactionary way.  Trying to give an example:  The French say might criticize America for something it's doing in the world...and it feels no embarrassment about doing so...they are perfectly justified in doing so.  However after this "affront" we become insulted...kind of get our "feelings hurt"....then respond with a kind of beligerant screw you attitude.  I suppose we come off kind of whiney at times like that.  On the other hand it seems that other countries aren't quite as "thin skinned".  So I don't think it's an inferiority complex...but I think it's a bit of over concern with image.  I think we should just do what we do and quit worrying about what people think.  Personally though I have to admit that i'm becoming weary of the weight of all the worlds problems and if the world wants us out of them maybe we should just get out of them...and let them deal with it all.  Seems to me like we are only having our entire economy destroyed by dealing with the rest of the world anyway..so shut the borders...bring all the troops home, cut off all foreign aid, no more trade, sit back, and carry a big big stick.  Maybe then the rest of the world will find us acceptable.\n\ntruthseeker...you are seeking anything but the truth or if you are it's to seek it out and destroy it wherever you find it.
424520
I wouldn't say that it's normal but it seem's to be very common.  I lived in London for 3 years after college and I met very few Brits who were proud of their country, culture or heritage.  Many were planning to move away - usually to Australia.  I often heard that the British policy on providing amnesty to foreign nationals was too soft and that Britain wasn't Britain anymore.
451212
People may disagree but here goes, it cost far too much, too many lives have been lost and what really annoys me is that there are doubts surrounding the decision to go to war in the first place?\n\nWeapons of mass destruction we were told, where are they???\n\nSomeone else made a good comment which was, while I also hate saddam for what he has done and welcome his death sentence, there were fewer deaths under his regime than under our so called care?\n\nWe need to get out and let the Iraq people get on with their lives. Obviously we are not welcome there so why are all our troops still dying??\n\nFinally, this war has come down to one man who should he not have gained power we would never have hone to war.\n\nBUSH\n\nNot forgetting the sheep that followed his every move, good old Mr Blair!!\n\nShould never have happened and this topic will continue to be discussed far into the future.
527548
I like and respect most Americans.\n\nBut here's some of the reasons that I think some of your fellow countrymen occasionally do your great country no good whatsoever:-\n"Who cares what a foreigner thinks" (see above). If you cared a little bit more "what a foreigner thinks" you might be having slightly less trouble in Iraq right now. The cowboy attitude of thundering into Dodge City and sorting out all the bad guys at gunpoint might work in the movies but in the Real World things are slightly more complex.\n\nArrogance, particularly when dealing with non-Americans and even more particularly when that arrogance is displayed by Americans who seem to know very little about the World outside of the USA. I have seen a question on here asking if we have air conditioning in London - like we still live in the Middle Ages over here in the UK. NEWSFLASH: Americans are not always right about everything; you don't always have the biggest and best, cleverest or quickest - and even if you do, please try to keep your patriotism in check so that everyone else doesn't mistake it for bragging.\n\nYour ridiculous image of "Britishers" all having big ears and bad teeth (about as accurate as our image of Americans as red-necked trailer-trash who marry their sisters and who are too stupid to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time).\n\nThe fact that you say "England" when you mean "United Kingdom" or "Great Britain".\n\nThe rest of the World doesn't like breathing your pollution.\n\nHalf your country seems to be ultra right wing fire-eating bible thumpers and the other half seems to drown in drugs, porn and gun crime... both worry me and I'm not sure which is worse.
633515
Thank you. I didn't know that. As the wife of a serving British Army Officer I often get the impression that the opposite is the case. Some of the bizarrely Gung-ho statements don't help. I mean what on Earth does 'Ladies and gentlemen, we got him' say to a watching World? or, a recently aired interview with an American Soldier serving in Iraq who referred to 'zapping' Iraqis. We joined you in making a terrible mistake. I have been deprived of my husband for a year in the last three whilst he served on two Operational Tours, and a 27 year old friend mourns her husband. There were, and are, no WMD and all we can do now is to try to help clear up the terrible mess we made and hope that our UN Allies, the French & the Germans will forgive us. I don't suppose the people of Iraq ever will. You are right. It's not your fault. It's your Government's fault and my Government's fault and the only way we can truly protest (although as a Senior Army Officer's wife, I have marched against this war) is at the polling booth.
247368
From the UK perspective, Bush is pretty much universally loathed over here, and most English people don't agree at all with his 'war on terrorism'. (or not how he's going about it anyway). \nBut then Bin Laden is a psychopath pure and simple, so we don't really care much for him either!
268454
I think Great Britain has proven to be the best ally in recent years.  Obviously I would think Iran hates us the most right now.  I think France hates us.  We are not well liked around the world LOL.
403389
Oustanding question! You probably wont see many liberal viewpoints here. In response, YES. People seem to want to settle with their own racial background. There is very little real diversity and this is what most people have problems with. It is these (remember that guy having a go at John Reid) 'Muslim areas' where tension between in the indiginous population and within themselves will develop. Lets just cast our minds back to july 7th 2005.  Apparently those guys were 'british'. Im sure the 52 people on those trains and buses would question that. That is merely a prelude to what could be a regular occurence. And yes it will become like baghdad. with different 'muslims' fighting amongst themselves. Meanwhile all the anglo saxons will be recreating histroy and fleeing to Australia and the USA. This is a bad time and it needs to be addressed aggresively if needs be. \n\nYou want to play on our pitch? \nYou play by our rules.
116749
Isn"t that when germany was attacking them? I have friends in England, she's english, he's polish and it was in that time period that he came as a tank driver from poland  to england to help defend from the germans, and that's when they met and fell in love & got married.  He told me the germans were trying to blow up the old historic sites in particular. Sorry, that's all I know, which isn't much.
407302
you like us but you've devised a plan to kill us off with your big army? nice..... this site is about opinions, grow up with the good comes the bad. India and China???? i guess you don't have enough unwanted immigrants in Britain. you argument is weak, i've known tons of brits in my life and have nothing bad to say about any of them or their country. piss on you....
465120
Yes!\n\nJust like I feel terrible when I hear about my fellow Americans losing their lives for us, I want to let you know that I feel no different when I watch the BBC news and hear about The British Soldiers losing their lives. \n\nWe should be proud of all of them! Not just The Americans and The British...There are a few other Nations who have their young putting their lives on the line for us too.\n\nIn the 1970's, I served 6 years in The Army Reserve and if I was still young enough to get back in, I would gladly do so! \n\nGod Bless all Soldiers who are putting their lives on the line in order for us to live in safety and security!\n\nI can't believe how a few of the people who answered this are so unfeeling. I guess it's either they have not had anyone in their Family serve in the Military, have not lost a Family member or they just don't give a damn.
558758
I spent my first 25 years in England and the rest (33) over here and I don't know why they don't like us, but being a Brit from birth I can tell you that they are opinionated and a tough audience so don't take it personal. They have no reason to not like Americans. Could be envy couldn't it?
517146
Well, they were on the same side in World War I and II.  France and Britain have often been on the same side - united against a common enemy e.g. Spain.  Sorry, can't help with the American Revolutionary War.
661406
Well, our culture is most derivative of Britain's.  We adopted their common law wholesale, for example, and their language.  We weren't a Commonwealth country, but that is sort of just the way it worked out.  We have ties, for certain.\n\nGreat Britain and France are allies now, but historically they were enemies and rivals for a long LONG time.  I don't know if we just inherited that mantle as well, or if the abrasion between the French (or Parisians) and us is born of other things.  Clearly the French are highly offended by McDonalds in France, and growth of the use of the English language, however I think most of us just find that amusing.\n\nI think we don't consider them as true to their obligations as an ally as we consider Great Britain to be, and we reciprocate.  However, again, while the British don't all like us either, we have a lot in common in how we look at the world.  This probably makes our relationship easier on many levels.  \n\nHowever, I think Germany would be a closer ally as well, if it weren't now most focused on integrating into the EU.
397857
I could easily agree with you on some places. British rule always made sure that things in these countries ran much smoother and the British protected those people from outside threats and civil enemies. And it is weird how all these 3rd world countries all seem to be packing old, rusty kalashnikovs... that last bit really made me laugh. One of the things I'll have to remember!!!! But now they are all moving into England and god help anyone who speaks up against them, because "it would be un-PC".