Why Does the World Hate the US?

[cwelsch]

Because we have money and power and they feel threatened.  A complex form of jealousy.

The same reason the mere fact that somebody is rich often draws criticism.  It makes people feel bad about themselves, feel weak, feel inadequate, feel threatened, and feel like they were somehow wronged.  Rather than crediting US success to historical processes, natural resources or economic policy, people like to assume they must have somehow stolen it, that the wealth is ill-gotten gains.  It's not entirely rational.

Other people hate us because it's cool and easy, maybe more people hate the US for social reasons than for the above reason.

[cwelsch]

Most of the hatred of the US is irrational.  There are so many legitimate critiques of America - or of almost any country - that it's not even funny.  But most people approach anti-Americanism from a place of emotion.  It's like there's a chip on the shoulder for anti-Americans, and whether their arguments are good or bad is secondary, they won't be deterred.  The rest of the people are just followers, doing what's cool or common or seems radical.

Then there are also people who do it from fear of being invaded or bombed, but that hardly explains anti-Americanism in Europe.

[cwelsch]

I refuse to be called arrogant by the French.  A country full of racists, virulent right-wingers and ignorant nationalists.  A pseudo-fascist makes it to round 2 in their national elections and I'm supposed to take lessons from them in being tolerant and accepting?  Sorry.  Some polls have shown that as many as 25 or 30% of French people voted for Le Pen's party (National Front) at least once.  Other polls show that many French people think there are 'too many Arabs' in the country.