Opinion of this Quote.

[Gustaf]

I think whoever this is is kind of missing the point. Anti-Americanism isn't a slander term flinged around by pseudo-fascist conservatives in the United States, it's a rather peculiar mind-set which is very common on the left all over the world. The idea that America embodies certain values or traits, to use Gabu's terms, isn't something the Republicans made up. It's an essential part of the anti-American worldview; most of the evil in the world stems from America, which is an empire of evil which aspires to world domination, Americans are fat, stupid bigots, etc, etc.

I understand that an American who voices criticism of American foreign policy and is told by his countryment that he is being anti-American might getting frustrated. But I live in a country where I encounter anti-Americanism on a daily basis and it's not just a right-wing propaganda thing. It is real and pretty warped. Just look at the reactions to the Iraq war when it broke out. No one in their right mind could seriously view the Iraq war as the greatest atrocity of our times. No one gave a damn about Iraqi civilians as long as they were killed by Saddam Hussein. No one gave a damn about the countless illegal wars for dark purposes being fought all over the world. Yet thousands of people cared about this, of all things. The list of such examples is almost endless. The Swedish left has supported fascist regimes in Argentina, Serbia and Iraq, to name just a few, driven by their hatred for America. One prominent spokesman for the Swedish socialists thought it was legitimate for Iraqi insurgents to gun down Red Cross workers. Those kind of things do not occur unless the US is involved, plain and simple.

This is not to say that the US should never be criticized, but I don't really see it as a problem. After all, most European countries don't even produce as much anti-Americanism as America does. If we compare self-criticism it becomes so ridiculous it's absurd. Something similar to Michael Moore movies would never be produced in Sweden and equivalent products would of course never be successful if they concerned another country. The notion of going to the cinema to laugh at another country would seem both bigoted and kind of strange if that country wasn't America.

[Gustaf]

Even with that valid point made, the post still looks ridiculous by jumping into that way of conservative thinking with Michael Moore movies mentioned as an example of domestic anti-Americanism.

Um...have you actually watched Moore-movies? You may not get this as an American but the way he portrays the out-side world is completely ridiculous. His point is always "America suck, the rest of the world is great. OMG, look at Cuba their health-care is wonderful. Look, at Europe (which is btw pretty much one country with one culture) their health-care has no problems" I mean, sure, America has obvious health-care issues but Sweden has had a drawn-out debate on what to do with our enormous health-care problems. Besides, if you could read you would know that I never said Moore was anti-American, I said he criticizes America. Even you cannot deny the truth in that.

[Gustaf]

Even with that valid point made, the post still looks ridiculous by jumping into that way of conservative thinking with Michael Moore movies mentioned as an example of domestic anti-Americanism.

Um...have you actually watched Moore-movies? You may not get this as an American but the way he portrays the out-side world is completely ridiculous. His point is always "America suck, the rest of the world is great. OMG, look at Cuba their health-care is wonderful. Look, at Europe (which is btw pretty much one country with one culture) their health-care has no problems"

In other words, he's as American as apple pie.

Yes, that was part of my point?