Why Do Europeans Hate America? Jean-Francois Revel Explains

Crosswalk ^ | November 11, 2003 | Albert Mohler

[americanSoul]

And since when has Cananda been free? It is a rigid, semi-totalitarian PC wasteland.


Absolutely right on this. But then Canada has been hijacked by Quebecers, cousins of the French, natch.

[lafroste]

bookmarked for later reading

[harpseal]

The hatred by so many of the powerful in europe will definitely have an effect upon the coming American civil War. The support for the left within this nation is what will give them their chance. Presuming most of the American military stays out of it initially one may well expect European and Asian militaries to become involved on the side of the left.

The involvement of foreign military forces to kepp peace will probably be the nudge the American armed forces need to become directly involved.

[FierceDraka]

I want on the list, too, if you please.

Service and Glory,

[archy]

I want on the list, too, if you please.

Service and Glory,

You're welcome, and you're added.

-archy-/-

[BlueElephant]

All I am saying is that there is a plethora of democratic countries to hate. Why us?

We must ponder this. It's not that simple to just "hate us for our freedom." It goes a lot deeper than this.

[Porterville]

What is a European??? I have no idea, I only care about the United States and Israel.

[John Valentine]

We must ponder this. It's not that simple to just "hate us for our freedom." It goes a lot deeper than this.

Of course.

My point to you is that no one, least of all J.F. Revel, is making the simplistic argument that "they hate us for our freedom" or "for our democracy."

They hate us for our success.

[blanknoone]

Self ping for the name Revel next time I go to the library.

[petercooper]

who cares why they hate us.

[MAGEE]

I woke feeling discouraged this morning, coming down from the November 11th services and more bombings in Iraq, and more disgusting savagery of Jessica Lynch, opened this thread and its wonderful article which gave me hope.

Thank you for taking the time of posting it. There is much to read and I will copy it to return to over and over again.
Revel's other work which another poster suggested will also be noted by me. Thank you both.

I believe there are still intellectuals in all countries who understand and appreciate the mission which the U.S. has undertaken, whether it be "allowed" as daily speech, or merely an appreciation pondered silently, there is no doubt in mind there are like-thinkers who comprehend what is being done who reside in Europe as well as other regions.

Perhaps the animosity between the European nations and our free world can reflect back to the very birth of the great nation of ours, becoming what Europeans could only dream of becoming, having to find their way by bloody revolution, demise of monarchies, and the resultant difficult times of war, ineffective governments over many years, until they have found their way or the possibility of independence and an accountable Union of Nations. Such as we enjoy in our Union of States.

Yet they always seem to be lagging or at odds with our successes in the arena of personal lifestyle. They choose to put on a "tarted up face" for visitors, while we seek personal satisfaction without regard for others' opinions. We do not only live through our restaurants or tourism, but a comfortable, expected series of personal and familial acquisitions which tend to simplify our life for more leisure, even though we work harder for them. It is our choice - the keyword to fruition - hard work. There is still a huge wealthy "royal" class in Europe and too many lower echelon communities. While we in the huge U.S. middle-class have gifts undeard of which we take for granted. Perhaps a source of envy?

Even if the current governments preach disagreement with the U.S., it matters not as we have witnessed for example - the French can turn on a dime and become your friend overnight. I think it is waste of energy to try and befriend the Europeans at the present time. Let them spy and carp and whine and criticize.

The success of the U.S. would be more readily attained if there were others who would share the responsibilities, but the success of the U.S. mission is not dependent upon other countries, whether they hate us, or simply cannot help through lack of funding, military, equipment or public support.

We have more important matters to settle, and once that is accomplished, we can relax and watch the European Union try to unite as we did through our own bloody birth, joining the 50 states into one huge entity of self-rule.

It isn't always an economic issue, it is a matter of the heart with the European people. They have not had much practice in self-determination nor governance, regardless of the age of their countries, and we must be patient for them to finally reach our level of independent thought which may be quite foreign to them and they therefore cling to the old pack mentality - a hold over from the oppression of royalty and religious doctrine.

As I read words and thoughts such as those in the article, I know there is hope for all of us. Some day. Man's ability to dream - even as a prisoner or under oppression - always allows for one or two to escape to see the possibilities. That is what the United States was founded upon, by dreamers and those who were willing to work to see the dream completed into reality. We shall prevail. I have no doubt.

[Bernard Marx]

I have read that when Revel's book Without Marx or Jesus came out, the intellectual elites in France and the U.S. didn't like it, gave it bad marks.

Who needs book reviewers when we have the intellectual elites? Whatever they like, avoid. Whatever they hate is probably the truth. Works for me.

[keri]

Thanks Allan. I think I'll buy Democracy Against Itself for my son.

Bookmarked.

[jombafomb]

I heard about this book on The Laura Ingraham show, which I am sure some of you know is a farther than hell right wing show. A show that I listen to for reasons that this book helped pacify.
Recently in college I have been struck dumb and dead by the pseuso-intellectualism of my peers and the self rightous indignation with which they view this country. I have had problems with American policies in the past but I, and any sane person, still have to recognize that it is the greatest country that has ever existed. When you look at the across the board advancements in everything from political structure to technology this statement comes off not as jingoistic (sp?) but rather as an assertion of the purest logic. We are lucky sons of bitches to be born in this country at this time and the people who don't feel the slightest bit of gratitude make me sick. People like my fellow students.
My loathing of their socialist pie in the sky ideals have driven me to seek out and embrace anyone who loves America. Whether it's radio talk show hosts, conservative authors, or even (gulp) Fox News, because I am literally brought to heart palpatating anxiety when I see ridiculous anti-American protests and anti-American articles in newspapers that have the ability to spark my admiration for their passion and my nausea for their stupidity all at the same time.
Thus (finally) I read this book and loved every word. Revel writes with a moral clarity and temperment that I have not felt from the printed word since I read Rand for the first time (why are America's best supporters foreign born?). And now I find myself completly at ease with the left lap dogs of satan, because I understand what is at the heart of their hatred. It isn't reason that drives them, it's jealousy. Not for our wealth but for the fact that our ideals work. The fact that America works, and their quick fix schemes never will. They hate reality because it keeps their utopias locked tight in their heads, and they hate America because it works with reality.

[hvete]

From the States... I bow in gratitude, M. Revel. God bless you and God bless France because of people like you.

> And since when has Cananda been free? It is a rigid, semi-totalitarian PC wasteland.

From one who has lived in the Soviet Union, I have news for you. Canada is a free nation.

[John Valentine]

Please excuse a little hyperbole. Everything is relative.

Having lived in Canada, I can tell you that while it certainly isn't the Soviet Union, it also isn't the USA.

[hvete]

Hyperbole excused. However, I think it's important to avoid it.

These days it's mostly the left-wing which is failing to draw relevant distinctions. For someone who has known and loved real concentration camp survivors, it's annoying (to put it mildly) to hear Bush compared with Stalin.

Based on something she said, I asked a participant on some European blog, "So you think Stalin was a pretty nice guy?" "Well," she says, "I don't really approve of his policies regarding gays, but other than that, I feel he was pretty okay."

"Well, ya know," I say. "I probably don't agree with his policies regarding gays either. But I find the fact that he tortured and murdered 20,000,000 people without trial rather more objectionable." "Lies, all lies," she says. "Well, ya know," says I, "it's well documented in the form of billions of personal letters, it's engraved into the minds of an entire nation whose Papas and Dyadya Mishas disappeared in the night... History will know the truth even if you don't. If you lie to yourself about the diagnosis, you're likely to prescribe the wrong medicine."

However, it's no excuse for the other side to do the same sort of thing. It so easily gets out of hand, as Revel points out. Words have power, and exaggerations expressed gain a kind of force of their own.

So as long as one is in the right, let him/her at least state the simple truth without embellishment. That's my opinion anyhow.

So Bush is not Stalin. Republicans are not Baathists. And Canada is not the USSR.

[John Valentine]

Well said.