CultureFrench Anti-Americanism

American culture is everywhere in France, on television (Columbo, The Sopranos), music (Bruce Springsteen, Tracy Chapman), movies (Fill in the number one movie in American here), books (John Grisham). This before mentioning McDonalds, which is just as widespread in France as in America. This makes it hard for me to see the French as anti-American. How can a people so willing to embrace American culture, hate America? The answer is they don't.

Yes, there is a backlash to this embrace of American culture. For example, some demand there be a limit to the number of American films that can play in a movie house at any one time. This view is not widely held and could not be enacted. Why? There wouldn't be enough films for the existing movie theaters!

The Bush Administration is not loved in France. Frequently cited is its present policy on Iraq. The French government took the lead in demanding that war be avoided at all costs. This is a very popular view in France; over 70% of the French population oppose a war. This anti-Bush Administration feeling is not carried over to Americans in general. A distinction is made between the American government and its people.

One to one the French have no problem with Americans. I never hide my nationality. I always tell people where I am from; more times than not, most then tell me of their vacation spent somewhere in America, or the fact that they would like to someday visit.

The French government wants Americans to come to France and spend tourist dollars. The French economy relies greatly on tourism. Americans tourists are a large part of the tourist economy. At certain times, one in five tourists in Paris is American. In short, do not go to France for fear you'll be shunned. You won't. Personally, I find the French to be very welcoming and helpful.

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Related links
http://www.dailytelegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtm
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20030210&s=alterman1
http://perso.club-internet.fr/hwelty/France/Intercultural2.html#ancre1130740