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| Europe |
| The Hidden Premise of European Anti-Americanism |
| 2007-03-15 |
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| Posted by:anonymous5089 |
| #2 I put it down to cowardice. They have the same mindset as all the idiot antigunners over here who think that "if we're just smart enough to ban guns all that nasty gun crime will go away." Since it's patently obvious it won't, people who think that are just trying to rationalize their own fear and lack of preparedness. The Euros are afraid because they no longer have the military strength to protect themselves and don't want to disrupt their comfortable lives with the costs of reacquiring it. Having Uncle Sugar take care of their defense for 60+ years has infantilized them. It's long past time we told them to either contribute equally to NATO or take over the whole job of European defense themselves. As long as we'll let them shirk their legitimate burdens they'll be happy to do so, with bad consequences for both sides. |
| Posted by: Mac 2007-03-15 18:41 |
| #1 Well crafted piece. I think his argument is fairly persuasive when it comes to certain elites in Europe, but there are other (equally dishonorable) sources of anti-Americanism among the broader masses. A childish detachment from the realities of an insecure world, coupled with an extreme and almost bizarre case of moral narcissism - both presumably direct results of dependency since WWII - seem to characterize the broader fashionable disdain for America among most Euros. Whatever the source, my travel dollars have been directed elsewhere for some time and will remain so. Good allies (Australia) to visit, and several Asian countries where the attitudes are more mellow, the food as good or better, and the local talent more alluring. |
| Posted by: Verlaine 2007-03-15 14:52 |