Are people in France anti-American ?

Question

I heard they think we're stupid or something and that they don't like us . And if they are anti-American , is it just a Bush thing ? I heard they think they're superior or better than everyone else , but I kinda doubt that one .

Answer 1

really we have better things to think than being anti-American! the media spend their time to speak about American things: elections, politics, movies, stars, culture...we know everything about the US! so how can you say we are anti-American? I wonder if any country can be more pro-American than us! we know that we're only a tiny country in the world and that our powers are getting smaller and smaller, we are lucid. Criticising our country is a national sport here, you won't find any French flags elsewhere than in townhalls, you can't say that we are chauvinistic.

Answer 2

Your question is boring because I read it so often - If I were you

( notice my grammar ) I would turn the question into :

    " Why are US people worldly hated - are french people in that sense really different from other countries ? What are the best paths to hate ? "

     In all the cold meat of stereotypes and prejudices, french witness the world and if they should agree on some peculiar aspects of US foreign policy - they have the right to disapprove - don't expect that I tell you all the fields in which you're odious, and the violence that you widespread in the name of your force - still recently some of your fellows destroyed six among my questions about Georgia-Russia implying the role of the USA, explicitely or not - THIS is violence - but htis is a violence which is exerted by individuals in the name of their collective behaviour in the world - don't oversimplify - because all is not that simple

   If you want to be acknowledged as the strongest bums in the world, you must hence accept the strongest back-snaps -

  Otherwise the confusion between individual behaviours, and mutual consideration is very classical - things are not that clear - and if some french dislike the US stream, don't listen to people who say " oohh french dislike US because of their disagreement with Bush "  this is true but widely unsufficient - because Bush represents an excellent summary of all what french dislike in US and lige more generally -

  One of the major factors of misunderstanding between both countries is the way US behave, the way they exhibit themselves, their $, or what can still be called $, the way they are so germanically dumb in their attitudes - their total lack of humour - their noisy attitude - their love for money and flashy etc -

  enough Said  - Bye bye

Answer 3

Well, the French Fries bit was dumb.

Basically, the world kind of hates America right now, with perfectly good reason. But, if you go to France, no one is going to shoot you because you're American. Most European countries just hate dumb tourists, which the majority is American.

Answer 4

Well, if you compare two persons with the same years of education between the two countries, there's a big chance that the american will look somehow more stupid, ignorant, and disrespectful. On the other hand, French are proud, and they're very educated in worldly issues. Therefore, they might have a good reason to be anti-American.

And, by the way, I don't think that's because of Bush. Just put some texan redneck in the Musée du Louvre and you'll see, the same way I've seen them in Mexican and Guatemalan archaeological sites, in Croatia, in Turkey, in the Czech Republic, among other places.

When I went to Prague, it was during the 2006 World Cup (soccer). There were some americans, very nice people, in fact, I got a chance to talk with them, but since they were americans, people threw bottles at them and started yelling stuff at them. It is not only in France, and unfortunately, and thanks to the behavior and mouth of few, a whole country loses. Sad.

Answer 5

Generally speaking, they are not.

They don't much like George Bush but then, in that, they are like most Americans who, after all, don't much like him  either.

They find the behavior of many American tourists to be annoying ( although the German's are at least as annoying and equally disliked for that reason.)

But the truth is that the average French person, especially the young,  smokes Marlboros, drinks Coca cola, eats Big Macs, adores Starbucks, wears blue jeans,  probably has a UCLA sweat shirt or a Yankees baseball cap, listens to American music, goes to American movies, watches American TV shows, and will tell you that he hopes to visit the USA some day.

Just how "anti-American" can they be?

EDIT: And if you have any lingering doubts then please read the full text of the speech made by President Sarkozy to the United States Congress. ( http://www.nysun.com/national/speech-by-... )

One brief excerpt:

"The men and women of my generation heard their parents talk about how in 1944, America returned to free Europe from the horrifying tyranny that threatened to enslave it.

Fathers took their sons to see the vast cemeteries where, under thousands of white crosses so far from home, thousands of young American soldiers lay who had fallen not to defend their own freedom but the freedom of all others, not to defend their own families, their own homeland, but to defend humanity as a whole....

...France will never forget the sacrifice of your children."

Does that sound like the elected leader of an "anti-American" nation?

Answer 6

The French have historically really liked americans (for some reason), but now there are more anti-americans.  As for french fries: they're not French at all, it's only in North America that they're called French Fries.  In french they're called "Frites", which means just fries.  I'm not sure of their mindset of superiority, but generally, they're a nice people.  I'm not sure if you realised it, but most people all over the world think you're stupid don't like you.

Answer 7

Even if they think so ...its there opinion..like u think that arabs and muslims are stupid !!

Answer 8

To the first post. You are disgrace to all americans. Who cares what the french think ha! I hate them.

Answer 9

I'm French and I'm not anti American I' m just anti "American politic through the world", it's for me a big difference .

France and America are friend but like in any good "friendship " if something is not right we should have the right to say it to the other part.

Now if I look at the American politic through the world I would say that it is pretty 95% of the planet  that are anti americain

but this is not new .

We understand that you would like to see the world living the "american way" but maybe the minimum would be to ask us if they agree about it.

In France people will  generally treat you back the way you treat them first , and I guess it's the same everywhere right?

Answer 10

French are anti-everybody. Even anti-French.

Answer 11

Yes, almost everyone is anti-American, 'cause we can act pretty stupid sometimes, you have to admit.  It's not just Bush, a lot of Americans are really ignorant, have terrible geography skills, know nothing of the diversity in British accents, and think completely wrong things about the British culture.  The French dont' think they're superior.  WE think WE are superior sometimes, that "America's the best ol' country in the world" and that's just wrong.  A lot of Americans are arrogant and clueless, total tourists to Europe, and Europeans get annoyed with us sometimes.

Answer 12

As an American who is married to a Frenchman and who has lived in France for a number of years, I'll answer the question with out all of the emotion and nonsense that some others have:

No, the French don't have any general bias about Americans.  I never once was treated in any way other than with great respect when I lived in France.  

On the other hand, although I am a very proud American; I must say that I did notice one thing: SOME American tourists (primarily in Paris) tended to behave rather rudely.  These "I know this guy can speak English and just doesn't want to" type of tourists tended to be loud, impolite and generally arrogant.  I am sure that though few in number, they were memorable.  Thus, some French who work in the tourism industries (hotels, restaurants, etc) probably do cringe (as would I) when they saw Americans approaching.

Neither my French neighbors, friends or relatives ever made disparaging comments about Americans.  Like most people whose brain cells function, they realize that what governments do and who citizens are... well they are two separate issues.  Lets not mix politics and people.  There are people on the left and the right in both countries after all.

Answer 13

I'm French and I am not Anti-Americain!  =O !

On the contrary, most French people like them.

The american tourists are very nice and I like to see them.

We have never said that we're more superior than them.

I really love the american culture.

Answer 14

I've been to France seven times. No, they don't hate Americans in general. In fact, I get along very well despite the fact that I know only a few words of French. They have some serious concerns about George Bush and his friends, but that's true of most countries. That concern doesn't extend to hatred of Americans in general.

It is true that the French have little tolerance for Americans who are boorish and don't respect their customs. What would happen if a Frenchman traveled to the US and complained loudly that the food was not French, the menus were not in French, and that the restaurant staff dis not speak French? People would say "it's our country and you have no right to expect everything to be like it is in France." Yet, some Americans will go to France and do the same thing - complain about the food and other things that are not like at home. Not surprisingly, the French have the same attitude that we would have - it's our country and you have no right to expect everything to be American.  Go home if you don't like it.

Most Americans don't do that, but it has happened enough to give us a bit of a bad reputation.

Answer 15

French are not anti-American.

A lot of us (Frenches) are just anti-Bush or just think as it's said in the first post. But if we meet Americans, we will treat them as anybody else. We are not going to beat you or to shout at you just because you're American. But if you're not polite, don't try to speak a little word of french and think that we have to do everything  for you, yes, we will be a little bit annoyed and will show it to you, as we will do with others.

But, it's like for everything, yes, there are some really anti-American like there are some racists...

Answer 16

uh.... most of the whole world hates them.

Answer 17

No! And you can't generalize everybody. I think it is so funny how people in America get so bothered if everyone in the world doesn't agree with us or bow down and worship us. It is as if the whole world owes it to us to admire, love and worship our every decision. I have a friend in France who loves the US, they watch US shows, movies etc. We can't say the same in the US, I think we are one of the most culturally lacking countries, we hardly think about the outside world unless it is a trip to the fast food joint to get a burrito or noodles, yet we expect everyone to love us.  

Answer 18

No, they are really polite and nice, just very formal. Respect their manners and they are very charming and helpful. I've been there several times and am never disappointed in the people. And...I'm a Texas redneck who doesn't apologize for Pres. Bush or any other American. People are generally less friendly in larger cities, just like most other places.

If you plan to visit, the book "French or Foe" can be helpful in explaining their etiquette.

Answer 19

I've travelled alot, including in America.  Sometimes Americans get a bad rap for no real reason.

What I think the real issue is, is that some Americans tend to have a superior attitude, as though only Americans know the right way to live etc.  This is why the US has a tendency to involve themselves in matters in other countries that are really none of their business.  Also, Americans don't know as much about countries outside the US as other countries do.  I live in Canada and have often had Americans ask how I can stand to be in freezing weather all year.  Of course we have seasons like most of the states, and every other country knows that.  Yet, US is right beside us and Americans don't know that.  Having said all that, Americans are definitely not stupid.  I have found them to be very nice hospitable folks in all of my travels.