First of all, if you do study Argentinean history (which is not as officialist as US’s one) you’ll find that anti-ammericanism is old. It started around 1900, just when both Argentina and the US were competing over who sold food to European countries, which were at war. It’s quite obvious that a lot of propaganda was issued on both countries during that time. The difference is that, when the US won that economic war, Argentina just became another “Third world country”.

But nowadays anti-americanism has nothing to do with it. It is true that any Argentinean can easily difference between American government and US citizens. US’s government is criticized over all, because of it’s foreign policy, just as the article mentions so. Most Argentine do believe that US always sticks it nose where it does not belong.

However, most people also have a poor-concept of US citizen, given that, at least over the media, they seem to be stupidized by the media itself, which has converted one of the greatest population of human rights defenders, into some idiotized corporative zombies.

There’s no jealousy. Life might be hard in Argentina, but there’s not much difference with the US, considering that they do in fact have a large amount of poor people. Argentinean people is not jealous, it just think with prejudge (created by the media) and the facts of US foreign policy, which tends to be not only agressive but also sweeping human rights.

Another important point, regarding US foreign policy of stickin its nose where it does not belong, is Latin America. Considering the fact that US government not only supported but also pushed military governments i. e. dictatorship government (while giving the classic double-faced speech of acting in defense of human rights and democracy). This last fact, is DOCUMENTED. You can even check the, always officialist, Wikipedia where it explains it perfectly.

Let me quote some examples on this very article’s reviews to explain my point on why do most people in Argentina believe US citizens are idiotized:
“one of the reasons is the constant leftist propaganda by Clarin and Pagina 12, they tend to show USA in a negative light. They never highlight the positive. This is obviously expected since this is what people want to hear, they don’t want to hear how great of a country the USA is, how the USA is home to the inventors of the light bulb, airplanes (Wright brothers), internet, Apple, Microsoft, etc. People also resent the lifestyle of the Americans, because it’s something that they feel the can’t access, and it is easier to knock it than to try to achieve something like it. I think that some of the reasons are those.
RL”
Seriously. Clarin and Pagina 12 are NOTHING but leftist. And anyway, Argentine people does not vote left government, yet most of them think US is unstrustable. See?
We do not have the so called “American dream”. And if we did, it is impossible, considering Argentina’s situation in the globe, that most people reachs that “dream”. It’s quite simple, the “prosperus” countries in the world won that prosperity opressing the “Third world countries”. That is ECONOMY. It’s not a point of view. It’s scientific data.
Other example might be:
“….sorry to burst your bubble, but the truth is that nobody cares what Argentines think or say. Nobody.
…have fun…”
Which makes us think… who cares about what this guy says then? Who cares about him saying no one cares?

I do not believe in anti-americanism. Anti-americanism is nowadays, and easy way to win the elections. It is just stupid. What I do believe in is a critic of the US government, given that, they are indeed (or were) one of those important countries in human history (ONE OF… I don’t know, hundreds).

Thanks and sorry for the vervorragia.

Leon

I totally agree with the poster you quoted. Why do you say that he is the kind of US citizen that justifies anti-americanism? All he said is true. I don’t know why it bothers you so much… Besides, how do you know he is an American citizen? He didn’t say where he is from. He could be of any nationality.
I don’t know how many Americans you know, but it’s not true that they all believe what fox news says. Just for your information, Fox News is just ONE channel. Not all Americans watch it. Luckily, the US is not like Cuba where there is no freedom of press and only the voice of the government is heard. Americans have access to many news channels, newspapers, etc representing all sides of the political spectrum.
On a side note, you say there is no anti-americanism. However, your previous statement seems to defy that. You said that the poster you quoted is the kind of American that justifies anti-americanism, just because you disagree with his post… Are you sure you are not an avid reader of pagina 12?

This is the kind of us citizen that justifies anti americanism.
Well, chistes aparte y boludos agrandados tambien (only the zurdos believe in pagina 12), there is no antiamericanism, yes anti the actions of usa in the world.
Sorry, i know a lot of americans yankies estadounidenses, but seeing that they buy what fox news sells, i feel sorry for many of them.

YOU SAID IT RIGHT! I think alot has to do with jealousy-

By the way, for the record, I love Argentina, the culture, las amistades que duran toda la vida y la unidad entre amigos aunque no te conocen igual te extenden la mano,esa es Argentina!

I come from Argentinian parents that have been in the USA since 1962, but the truth is exactly what RL said.

Instead of knocking the hand that can feed you, be smart and except the USA for what it is, A smart, rich country that hands opportunities to every foreigner that steps foot here.

…have fun…

Actually, if you read my post carefully, you’ll see that I was careful to make the very distinction that you mentioned yourself. Here is the key graph:

“So why is Argentina, evidently, so anti-American? First, it’s important to distinguish between sentiments toward the U.S. government and feelings for Americans themselves. After all, it’s certainly possible to dislike President George Bush and his policies while caring a great deal for average American citizens. Most Argentines I know cannot stand the U.S. government. (Actually, most Americans I know don’t like the U.S. government.) But rarely has this translated into demonstrations of distaste for me as an American citizen.”