After I started the question 'Why dont americans like England?' I realised that that is not the question i should be asking. The American dislike for England and visa-versa can simply be put down to lack of knowledge. I think that if everyone on earth was tought about the beleifs or everyone else the whole planet would be much more peacefull and understanding. So why dont our govenments teach us about each other?
209377
For the most part, it's a difficult enough proposition to get people to learn about their own culture, much less cultures that exist across an entire ocean.
143424
it's not ignorance, it's arrogance. and it isn't all the americans, but it is deffinately a large group who thinks the whole world evolves around the USA, and they need no knowledge of the rest of that world. i've met americans who think Afhanistan is the capital of Iraq.\n\nThe arrogance is even proven in some of the answers above. they attack you on ur english. maybe ur native language isn't even english, but they would never even concider that fact, bcs the world ends for them at the borders of the USA.\n\n(they will probably attack my english too now, but hey, who cares? english is only my fifth language, far behind dutch, german, french and romanian)\n\nsometimes i wish Columbus had taken another turn in 1492.\n\nof course there are also a lot (and i mean A LOT) of normal, friendly open-minded americans. met them, seen them and respect them highly. but most of those people i met, agree mostly with my points made here.
286188
why is that disturbing to you? many people don't know many things for many reasons. i recentlty saw a report on how few 'average Americans' know the words to the national anthem. is that disturbing?
262637
I agree with camoman73. U answered my question by saying britain is full of jerks! you are the jerk buddy
148647
Ignorance is the base of all hate. Many Americans are unwilling to learn about the culture of their neighbors, mainly becausse of our egocentrism. We (in general...) believe that America and the American way IS THE WAY so what is the point of educating ourselves about a culture or people that "don't matter"? This is called willed ignorance. An unwillingness to learn. And this ignorance leads to misunderstanding which leads to hate. The only thing one can do to stop this is to not hate...stop the cycle...eventually all the old bastards will die off. (ha).
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.
666131
You are talking about the America before George Bush. Don't be so quick to jump on the "I hate America" bandwagon. Most people hate us simply because they do not enjoy the freedoms we have here and they are envious of that. Move here and change your attitude.
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....
317708
I think those who don't live in one of the countries within the UK should not keep saying that the UK is a country. I expect that those who actually live in a place would know whether it's a country or not. Anyway, in answer to your question, it's probably because they are American sites. Many Americans, as has been proven here, think that the UK is a country. As for the map thing. If you look on a map of Britain or the UK which is printed in one of the UK countries, you will find that it mentions each as a seperate country. Maybe maps made in America or wherever represent them as one.\nI am offended that stupid Americans(or wherever else you uneducated people are from) insist that MY COUNTRY is not a country. Why do you dumb people keep trying to tell English(and Scottish and Welsh) people that our country is not a country?
277608
As an American who about five years ago moved from her home country I may be able to put some light on this in general. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say in my case. Number one you may have answered a big part of it when you said we need to know more than what we see on television. Many many people get their ideas about things that way.  Not purposely of course. You don't sit and watch tv and conciously decide this is how it is but subconciously you can't really help it if you are subjected to it constantly.\n\nI was born a into a middle class american family in the last year of the fifties and was raised in school saying the pledge of allgience every day.  Singing God bless america blah blah blah.America is such a big country that it is almost too easy to forget there is " the rest of the world " out there.  About five years ago I moved to England to marry an English man and I have to say that so many of my beliefs have changed.  I have learned so much more about other peoples lives and their past.  I know that ENgland is another western country so I realize that it isn't so different however I do come into contact with people from so many different places here. Where I work my first best friend was from India. She was so sweet and so very intelligent. She learned what we did a lot quicker than I did even though english was her second language and she had to help me several times. I work with many many young muslim people and they are the nices group of kids. They are much more respectful than many others I have known. ANd just because I have always loved people we get a lot of conversations and I find out that very few of them agree that the terrorist things we have seen are right.\n\nI will not say that I understand and agree with everything I hear but you know what facinating thing I did learn.  That just because someone is from America doesn't automatically mean that what they say, believe or promote is right.  And ironically I meet some of those people here that automatcically hate me because I am american.  When I first moved here that was so hard but now I understand. It is no different than the average person hating "muslims" because of Bin laden.\n\nI dont' know if I answered your questions or not. I may have understood it on a different level than you meant but what I got was that  Americans gave an inflated sense of country, that they are the best, almost like why can't everyone else see if they would just do what the americans want every thing would be ok lol.  It is because we were raised thinking that was true and until something happened in our lives to question that we didn't know.\n\nThe thing about God bless america, I have to say my husband and I joke all the time.  When I am on my high horse he will say ( again him being English) oh yeah, I forgot God blesses america and I respond, only when he isn't busy saving the Queen :)\n\nPeace\nChristina
550562
Hi there! I moved to England when I was 14 so lets see if I can help. \n\nFor the most part people will be really nice. A lot of people are really interested in American culture and you'll get asked the same questions over and over again, but it's all good.\n\nThere is a lot of anti-American feeling over here given the current political situation. Everyone- and I mean EVERYONE- hates Bush. But the English are very good at keeping that seperate from how they judge individuals, so it won't impact their opinion of you for the most part. Don't worry about that, be prepared for the odd joke but laugh it off because they are just kidding.\n\nSomeone already said this, but you must be able to laugh at yourself. Americans can have a certain arrogance. At school and in the media we got taught to be really openly patriotic and it's really annoying to the rest of the world. A lot of Americans will stand up and declare that the USA is the greatest country in the world when they don't even know anything about other places (like, it's not the ONLY free country!). So just be open-minded.\n\nTry and learn things about geography and anthropology as well. Just showing that you're knowledgable about the world outside the USA will impress them, and help us defy the stereotype of Americans who don't know where any other countries are, let alone the language they speak.\n\nDon't complain about food portions or the fact that you tend not to get free refills for your soft drinks in restaurants. I had some friends visit and I swear it's all the talked about the whole time. "Oh my god, I can't believe how much coke costs, and the glass is soooo small!". Comment on things you like and appreciate until you become an honorary Brit- then you can start b*tching about Tony Blair, the NHS and the bloody weather.\n\nOh and forget the etiquette books. Honestly, you'll just come across as pretentious. Read "Notes from a Small Island" and "Notes from a Big Country" by Bill Bryson- it's all about the cultural differences between the US and the UK. Hilarious reading, and will make you see things you take for granted differently.
218201
You know you have asked one of the most pertinant questions I have read for a while.On the surface you have opened up a potentiel minefield here.\nI am english.I have visited the USA many many times and have loads of great american friends.I have written many times in this column poking a little ironic fun at "the yanks".\nMy experience is that" the average american" and remember we are talking the average,is warm, generous and very naive.They often have little or no understanding of other countries or their cultures. Often to the extent of having little knowledge outside their own state.Because they lead their lives around Oprah, Jerry Springer,World wrestling are easily influenced by tv propaganda they have become, unfortunately, the butt of jokes.I dont know the exact figures , but my understanding is that"Joe" doesnt travel outside the USA.I believe they have a blinkered view of the world. An observation confirmed by the replies I have received from americans. Self irony doesnt exist for you.Loosen up and dare to poke a little fun at your "leaders".The other point is remember that God isn't american.Try to learn and understand a little of other cultures and beliefs.You dont have to agree just take a look.Take care. Good Luck
670201
Isn't that funny, i was asking myself the same thing. I assume that most have never travelled abroad and experienced the world beyond their own back yard. Call it ignorance. But I do agree that there are people out there who don't know that there is a whole world of opinions and ideals that are waiting to be explored. By the way, explore some of the questions in politics and you will discover that there are a considerable amount of people who are questioning their present government in the US.
39234
I propose we change the version of english spoken in the US, and call it American. Being that we are a bigger and meaner country than England, we can bully them and say we speak proper english, but truth be told, English is from England.
362892
I have learned that it is not the American people that the rest of the world doens't like, it's the politics and policies of the government.  Sometimes it comes across as anti-american.  I do wish that the ones who are saying these things would get to know some Americans as you have.  There are good and bad from everywhere.
390408
Why they hate Americans is beyond me. You ask good questions and I find it offensive that idiots like to limit others opinions.. I know yours are always on the right track. Keep asking them and ignore them. I do at least while I laugh my silly bum off... See how easy that is.. I gave you a thumbs up too.. when I happen upon you.. Take care..
216395
Its true that many US people do have bad steriotypes about the british. But those r only french-americans or people who side with the french. Most of the french r a snotty bunch of assholes. Both america and the UK helped them out in WW 1 and 2 yet they arent grateful. Any way it isnt most americans but the reason some do is cuz there different. People here dont know many if any British people so they only know what movies potray. Movies like Austin Powers. Im sure that there are steriotypes of americans in the UK . Like that we eather have a thick new york/ bostan accents or hick southern accents. There are mixes of different accents just as there are in Britain. But any way the french should change there flag 2 a white 1