Obama Confronts European Anti-Americanism

Speaking at a Town Hall meeting in Strasbourg before a group of French and German students, President Obama criticized the reflexive anti-Americanism that has always existed in "Old Europe" but reached a fever-pitch during the presidency of George W. Bush:

Americans in the past often showed "arrogance" toward Europe, failing to appreciate its leadership on many issues, Obama said.

"But in Europe, there is an anti-Americanism that can be casual but can also be insidious," he said. "Let me say this as clearly as I can: America is changing. But it cannot be America alone that changes."

The message went over well with the students and also with the French and German media, who so far have given President Obama (and his wife!) high marks for his first official visit to Europe.

Still, anti-Americanism remains in the DNA of much of the German Left, and for them Barack Obama is nothing more than a war-mongerer in a much cleverer packaging.  Lydia Harder writes about this in the FAZ - Der alte neue Feind - The Old New Enemy) :

„Obama mag schwarz sein, sicher ist er nicht links und auch nicht allzu progressiv“, urteilte die Linkspartei schon 2007 auf ihrer Internetseite. Der Präsidentschaftskandidat vernachlässige die schwarze Unterschicht. Er ähnele zwar einer Friedenstaube, werde sich jedoch schnell zu einem „Falken mit scharfem Schnabel und blutigen Klauen“ entwickeln. Auch wenn es um Israel geht, laufe Obama „den Rechten hinterher“ ("Obama may be black, but he is not left and not too progressive", was the verdict of the LEFT Party on its Web site already in 2007.  The presidential candidate neglects the black underclass. He resembles the dove of peace, but will quicky change into a "hawk with a sharp beak and bloody claws".  In the matter of Isreal, Obama is "beholden to the right wing".)

Zwar bietet Obama weniger Angriffsfläche für Hassbekundungen und primitive Ressentiments. Niemand nennt ihn geringschätzig „Barack Hussein“. Es wird auch sehr viel weniger „Not welcome“-Plakate beim nächsten Staatsbesuch geben. Doch für viele linke Gruppierungen ist er schon drei Monate nach seinem Amtsantritt nur ein Kriegstreiber mit Charisma, die neue Maske des Großen Satans. (To be sure, it is not as easy to attack Obama with hate and primitive ressentiment (as it was Bush).  No one referes to him dismissively as "Barack Hussein". There will also be fewer "Not Welcome" posters to be seen at his next state visit. But for many leftist groups Obama is seen - just three months after his inauguration - as a warmonger with charisma, the new mask of the great Satan.) 

Of course, it is not just the German Left that persists in its anti-Americanism.  The neo-Nazi party NPD published a long diatribe against President Obama on its Web site, claiming he is nothing more than a continuation of George W. Bush.  They also crticize the Harvard-trained president for being "uneducated" since he said in a recent speech that the automobile was an invention of America.  Still, the right-wing extremists see an opportunity since President Obama and the US are preoccupied with Asia and the war the Afghanistan:

Für Deutschland ergibt sich in dieser Situation die Chance einer Politik im nationalen Interesse, zur Wiederherstellung seiner Souveränität. Die Zeit ist auch reif dafür, daß sich die USA für ihre Verbrechen an den Völkern der Welt endlich verantworten müssen – vor dem Internationalen Kriegsgerichtshof in Den Haag.(This is a chance for Germany to engage in politics in its national interest, to reestablish its sovereignty. It is also time to bring the US before the International War Crimes Court in Den Haag to answer for its crimes against humanity.)

Once again, with respect to anti-American rhetoric in Germany, left meets right.

Comments

[Bushama Hussein]

It's rather a global phenomenon, don't you think?

I don't know of any place where US-Americans get _more_ sympathies than in Europe. They are pretty much hated everywhere else, even within the Anglosphere. Say thank you to your politicians for that, including Bushama.

It's always very worrying to see this unchanged arrogant self-image of "we are the apex of human development" from a bunch of socially underdeveloped,violent and narrowminded people. The mentioned NPD fascists are a splinter group and much more harmless and domesticated than your republican rednecks...

It's indeed the modern European fascists and mafiosi of Berlusconi persuasion who "love America".

[David]

Bushama,

You illustrate my point exactly: the authoritarian left in Germany and Europe is infected with a rabid anti-Americanism. The rhetoric with respect to the US mirrors that of the neo-Nazis.

[Bushama Hussein]

It's not rhethoric, it's reality (the worldwide thing).

There is no such thing as an "authoritarian left" in Germany.

You seem like another "rabid" christian redneck, yourself.

[David]

Basically, the Putin-worshiping German left is cowardly: afraid to use their actual identity when commenting.

[Bushama Hussein]

No I just want you to have a laugh at my name.

You are superficially correct, there is a growing consensus between real (european) conservatives, and the progressive left.

However, the consenus is one of anti-war, anti-racism and and anti-violence, which is of course the sin of "anti-americanism".

Trying to prove anything with quotes from Nazis (your recourse) is very poor, because: it reeks of smear tactics and makes you stand out as somebody who actually believes Nazi propaganda, who takes it at face value.

I think you don't learn such simple things over there, do you.

Where did you get the Putin thing? Sounds like another meme from hate radio.