Filed under: anti-Americanism | Tags: Barack Obama in Strasbourg, NATO Summit, Nicolas Sarkozy, Strasbourg
64 years ago, my mother saw the Americans liberating Strasbourg, France, my hometown. Today she is proud that Strasbourg was up to the visit of the U.S. President, in giving him a warm welcome. She also saw the French-German border collapse on the Rhine, and was proud to watch the NATO allies meeting this week on the Pont des Deux Rives, which materializes the former check-point.
Mom called me from Framce today to make sure I had not missed the event. But she also wanted to make sure that the American media did not put too much emphasis on the anti-NATO demonstrations held on the sidelines of the summit. “Just a few idiots and thugs” she said as to apologize. This is her city, she’s proud … and ashamed.
And it is true that aside from the overall warm welcome, some violent demonstrations took place in the suburbs of the city, against the Europe-US Alliance, against capitalism and against globalization. Not to say the word: against America. These events are not specifically French. They have become routine at most major international meetings. They were violent in London for the G20, as for all the latest “G” meetings. But from a US perspective, they take a special importance when held in a country which is viewed as the most anti-American in Europe. It’s a cliché (polls show that anti-americanism is much stronger in Germany and Spain), but one must acknowledge that it is a cliché that many French politicians are likely to promote.
By showing respect and consideration for the European culture and influence, Barack Obama undermines the foundation of the French anti-Americanism. But it seems now that anti-Americanism gets fueled by the pro-American support Nicolas Sarkozy is showing in return. As the President of the United States gets more popular in Europe, anti-Americanism turns into “anti pro-Americanism.” Since we can’t blame the American president anymore , let’s blame the pro-american decisions of the French president. Pure rhetoric.
It will probably take more than the speech Barack Obama delivered in Strasbourg in a public meeting to put an end to this sterile antagonism. It will also require the media to report full excerpts of the speech, not just 5 seconds. In the excerpt of Obama’s speech reproduced below, the french media often broadcasted the first part only, while CNN pulled out the second part. Unfortunately, the “antis” on all sides have nice days ahead …
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In America, there’s a failure to appreciate Europe’s leading role in the world. Instead of celebrating your dynamic union and seeking to partner with you to meet common challenges, there have been times where America has shown arrogance and been dismissive, even derisive.
But in Europe, there is an anti-Americanism that is at once casual but can also be insidious. Instead of recognizing the good that America so often does in the world, there have been times where Europeans choose to blame America for much of what’s bad.
(…)
So let me say this as clearly as I can: America is changing, but it cannot be America alone that changes.
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Filed under: France 0 - America 1, Politics, anti-Americanism | Tags: Afghanistan, anti-Americanism, France, USA
It seems that anti-Americanism has never been so strong in France that since Nicolas Sarkozy – the newly elected French president – unashamedly demonstrated his solid pro-American views. Not that there are more “anti-Americans” in France than before, but it has forced them to speak up, and louder than ever before!
Thus, as Sarkozy recently announced his intent to strengthen French military presence in Afghanistan, anti-Americanism entered the French parliament. Arguing that the decision to send new troops (in addition to the 2,000 soldiers already involved) was “more political than military”, the socialist opposition called for a non-confidence vote against the French government. In other words, according to the French socialists, one can’t imagine a reason to step in Afghanistan other than just to please the American administration… and pleasing the Americans is disgraceful enough to censure the government! I may add that the same congressmen argued a few years ago that the only legitimate fight against terrorism was taking place in Afghanistan, not in Irak. Obviously for them, the only “legitimate” stand is to stay away from America, whatever it takes.
It’s a French specialty to look away from actual issues for the sake of ideological conservatism. There might be good reasons not to further involve French troops in Afghanistan. But the French socialist party has spoiled a “legitimate debate” with its basic anti-American ideology.
Of course with such poor arguments, the motion against the government fell short. “The opposition accuses us of ‘Atlanticism’, a pleasant way of saying we are in the pay of George Bush. Everyone understands that their aim is to surf on one of our most questionable failings: basic anti-Americanism,” Prime Minister François Fillon told congress.
Let’s stay positive after all. A country where the Prime Minister remains popular after having deliberately stated that anti-Americanism was a “failing” of its people must be a true pro-American country!
