"Does your family hate Americans?"

One interesting experience, I would like to share with you here: Most of you who read my blog here know that I have been supporting American troops for a bit more than a year. And one of the recent questions I get when we get to know each other enough so that we would call each other friends is: "Does your family hate Americans?" The first time I heard this question I have to admit I was kinda shocked. Why should they hate Americans? I, and my family, don't like or dislike people because of where they come from. There is so much more to each single one of us that makes us special. I think I also would have to say in that context that for me there is no such thing as a typical American, just like I believe there is no such thing as a typical Austrian, German or Italian. Of course there are things that are more probable to be encountered in some regions and barely encountered in others, but I would like to know how would you feel if I asked you as an American, if your family hated Austrians? Since both world wars had been started by Austrians, it might be the case. I just could not help thinking about all this.

I know, I might not agree with every single one of you on everything, I think the chance that we disagree on several things is pretty high, but still I respect your points of view as long as you respect mine. I might tell you my point of view if you say something I don't agree with, but that would not mean that I hate you or want to change you.

I just somehow got the feeling that a lot of Americans seem to have the feeling that Europeans in general would not like any Americans. One thing that is true, is that many Europeans don't like President Bush, and I have to count myself among them, whether you like to hear this or not, but in this very same sentence I also have to say that I don't like the Austrian chancellor Wolfgang Schüssel either. That doesn't make me hate Austrians. I just believe that there is more to people than their political views and than who they would vote for...

Linked to  The Mudville Gazette and Basil's Blog

Technorati Tags : USA, Austria, politics, friendship