Being anti-American is as silly as being pro-American or, to put the same idea another way, as "my country right or wrong". The USA is a strong, healthy democracy. Americans and their governments do some things well and some things badly. They sometimes act with the best of intentions and sometimes not. In other words, America is much like most other nations, companies, organisations and individuals. The difference lies in the strength of the current American hegemony which tends to magnify both praise and criticism in the public arena.

In this regard, it's also useful to remember the old adage about people in glass houses. If you've an immigrant background, for example, it's a lot better to be in America than to be of Middle Eastern background in France or of Turkish background in Germany or an immigrant of any kind in Denmark. To some of us, the notion of anti-Americanism seems like the price the USA has had to pay for rescuing Europeans from themselves in two world wars and from the communist USSR during the cold war.

It's a mistake to call it anti-Americanism. A big mistake. It completely misses the point.

My experience living through WWII, was that the Americans came in halfway through.
They were a part of the war and not the total victors, as it was the Russians that closed down Germany, and America killed and maimed thousands of civilian Japanese with their, my bomb is bigger than yours!

Love their constitution, their national anthem rocks (Whitney at the Superbowl just takes the cake), their democracy and most of them I meet I seem to get along with fine but I will happily admit they can scare the beejeebers out of me.

The convention speeches of both sides just dripped with war rhetoric am I'm not shy in saying McCain's war record is stunning but I'm not sure I want his finger on the nuclear trigger any more than I have been comfortable with Bush's. Surprisingly Obama is not that far behind them in the glorification of the soldier and thankfully this is one cultural export that hasn't yet had a huge impact in this country (though Howard tried to give it a nudge).

They just need to dial it back a little; okay they may need to dial it back a lot. The Russkies may be badder and meaner but they are certainly more predictable and don't scare me nearly as much.

Does this make me an anti-american? May be in some eyes but I just see the promise that is America being far from being realised and this disappoints.

I think the term "Anti-American" was invented by Americans themselves - to blur specific criticism into a generality.

It's like calling someone "un-Australian" or "Anti-Semitic" because they disagree with perhaps even a tiny aspect of some official doctrine - much like the "your either with us or with the terrorists" statement.

I don’t mind the prefix ‘anti-’ (= discrimination, prejudice) – if it’s appropriately used … which is rarely the case with the term ‘anti-American’.

The term is one of those Culture Wars concept rip-offs that the Right co-opted from the Left and then re-vamped for their own purposes.

Examples abound – men became re-vamped as the ‘victims’ of feminist discrimination; whites the ‘victims’ of black discrimination; the Church the ‘victims’ of secular atheism, and on it goes.

Little wonder then, that the most militarily assertive nation on earth – run mainly by white, right-wing Christian males – has revamped itself as a victim of discrimination and prejudice.

csteele

Totally agree about the American national anthem! After hearing it at least a couple of hundred times over the course of my life, it still makes me go misty-eyed and goose-bumpy. Sadly, poor old Advance Australia Fair sends me racing to the nearest exit.

Well put STEEL.
The same reasoning applies to all countries, specifically their Leadership/ foreign policy seeming driven by Corporate Capitalism. Being fair most so called democracies are likewise driven including Australia. Don’t get me wrong Capitalism is a reality but like everything in this world, best when in balance.
Lamentably much of US foreign policy is (Corporately) Hegemonic.

Understandably this has given rise in the so called Anti-Americanism is simply because American administrations have seemingly their country outside and above other countries. For example the USA doesn’t recognize the international court’s jurisdiction over the actions of its citizens but either takes unilateral action or compliance from others.

Under the current and (as far as I can judge) a possible Pres McCain the view of “do as I say not as I do” in foreign policy will continue. And under an Obama presidency it will be simple less obvious (more behind the scenes diplomatic arm twisting), much like Rudd when compared to Howard.

I also think RACHE astutely raised the issue that Anti-American et sec if not invented by the American Political machines they foster the sentiments to draw their citizens in so their control is facilitated.

Again these criticisms are Universal as is their source. The source isn’t the population or the country IT’S THE FALLIBLE SELF INTERESTED INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE CORRUPTED OR ALLOWED CAPITALISM TO CORRUPT THE POWER SYSTEMS.

BTW I am not anti-Capitalism, it (or some form of entrepreneurial encouragement is essential) is a reality and must be dealt with. Like everything in this world it is fine until gets out of control and sync with the people.
However the idea that the interests of non living /non voting entities (business) can take precedence over people is to me obscene.

I hear you SJF but in reality I wouldn't want a Star Spangled Banner for Australia. Thankfully I don't think that is who we are. Advance Australia Fair is a 'dialed back' national anthem and probably suits us (though Waltzing Matida is a sentimental favourite). I have some sympathy for Mr Johnson's adage about patriotism being the last refuge of the scoundrel.

KIPP: "America maimed thousands of civilian Japanese with their my bomb is bigger than yours."

This is true but you need to be balanced in your accusations.

You say nothing of the 15million chinese ethnically cleansed and tortured by the Japanese in their Greater Asia campaign and their invasion of Nanking, in the years leading up to the second World War.

Their invasion of Singapore and Malaysia? Why do you accuse America while not mentioning the atrocities that were also committed by the Japanese.

THIS IS REALLY THE CRUX OF ANTI-AMERICANISM. IT IS ONE-SIDED AND NEVER MENTIONS THE EVIL DOINGS OF OTHER NATIONS.
Maybe that's because people look to America to be the shining beacon of liberty and human rights that it claims to be and are more harsh in their judgement, when America can't live up to this ideal.
In reality America is no more cruel, warlike or intolerant than other nations if you study the history of other countries, in fact other societies have been and still are more barbaric and crueller.

HIGHER EXPECTATIONS BRING HARSHER CRITICISM. Like a parent saying to a child you are the oldest or (most advanced) and you should know better. Just the same, the oldest child shouldnt have to stand their and take it, if the ones that supposedly dont know better persist in punching the oldest child in the face.