The American image abroad

In 1969 I left the rat race for a year and went to Europe on an extended trip. Then America's image in Europe was very positive, especially in England and Germany. Even then, however, I found the French didn't like Americans very much. One time I stopped for a meal at a restaurant in southern France. I wasn't very hungry and did not order too much. The waiter evidently took umbrage with this as he slammed the tray onto another pile of trays when he took my meager order to the kitchen. I quickly slipped out of the restaurant and hit the road.

Out of curiosity, I rummaged through the diaries I kept during my stay in Europe to see if I had made any reference to the American image then. In the process I uncovered some interesting information that I had forgotten. For instance, I made reference to the price of gasoline being 60 to 90 cents a gallon. However, that was when gas was 25 cents a gallon here. Even then European cars were much smaller and more economical to operate than American cars mainly because of the high price of gas and the narrow streets. There were some streets in Europe that were so narrow that you could not squeeze a full size American car through the street.

Another diary item mentioned that a lot of men in Rome would hold hands while walking down the street. I don't believe they were gay. I believe it was just an unusual custom.

While most Europeans treated Americans with respect, some tried to take advantage of us. In Rome I happened to enter a taberna or bar for a drink. Soon I was approached by an attractive woman for a drink. Not wanting to seem like an American tightwad I foolishly agreed. Instead of bringing a drink the bartender sat down a whole bottle. I knew something was up and so I got ready to leave. I was presented with a bill for $50, which was a lot of money then, which I refused to pay. Three greasy looking Mafioso types came over and took me into the back room and tried to intimidate me into paying. I refused and after 10 minutes of haggling I told them I was from Chicago, which I was at that time, and all of a sudden they decided to let me go. They must have thought I was a gangster also.

I think the high point of my standing as an American in Europe came in July of 1969 as I sat and watched Neil Armstrong step onto the moon while in the company of Europeans travelers at a youth hostel I was staying at in London. I was never more proud to be an American than at that point as the moon landing seemed to clearly indicate that America was technologically superior to any country in the world.

The impression I remember that Europeans had of Americans back in 1969 was that we were industrious, hard working, but lacking culture. There were a lot of pot bellied men with Hawiian shirts and ladies with beehive hairdos and pink framed glasses rolling out of tourist buses full of Americans. Generally, the American tourist was considered a little pushy and loud.

My own feelings is that the Europeans were right about our culture. The average European was more likely to go to a museum or an opera or play than an American. Europeans seemed to spend more time in the public conversing at coffee houses or sidewalk cafes or walking in their many beautiful parks - generally just enjoying life. The old cliche' is that Europeans work to live while Americans live to work which I think is pretty close to the truth. However, I believe part of the reason for this difference is that in Europe social mobility is much more difficult and people tend not to move up from their social strata and, therefore, they are not as motivated to be achievers like Americans.

The things I remember the most upon my return to the United States was how wide the streets were and how big the cars were and how open the landscape seemed to be. After driving a 1964 Volkswagen all year, my 1967 Buick Wildcat seemed like the Queen Mary. I was glad to be back on American soil. I am also glad I went 36 years ago instead of this year. I believe my reception would have been much different. SInce my stay in Europe, the United States has gone on to win the Cold War and is the undisputed power in the world but the Iraqi War has tarnished our image. Europe has forgotten that we saved the world 60 years ago.