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After listening to the ignorance of your guests it is really not surprising that the rest of world thinks that we are idiots. Sure the French and the Americans have always had their differences but the more serious issue is the degree that Anti-Americanism has skyrocketed around the world. Why has it filtered into countries that were historically our friends (ie. our closest neighbor, Canada)? It’s foolish to think its just ‘jealousy’.

And of course New York is always the exception; rarely does it reflect what’s going on in the rest of the country. And lets not forget that New Yorkers don’t usually have a problem with making fun of people from the “Bible Belt” either.

I’m incredibly disappointed that Leonard Lopate stooped down to the level of these shallow minded guys ranting and name-calling.

I believe that America is much more imigrant friendly than Europe (at least for now) ouur immigrants integrate about as well into American society as possible, ask any one who works in the restutaunt business. Raicism towards African American (although on the surface detested with episodes like Don Imus) bubbles to the surface with events like Katrina and the abandonement of that city and its African American population. Any European soccer fan can tell you that raicism exists in European society. When Thierry Henry or any other opposing black player gets the ball on the road in places like Madrid or Rome the crowds do monkey chants and throw bananas at them. I couldnt imagine Americans throwing bananas at Michael Jordan or Tiger Woods!

"Posted by: walis August 27, 2007 - 01:55PM
manhattan
I take exception that the race situation is worse in france than in the US. remeber OJ, Rodney King, Amadou Diallo? Come on!"

To be fair, it must be admitted that in the U.S. no one questions as a given fact, and one which is quite obvious, that blacks are really and fully Americans and have a place as such which is complete. It's simply beyond question.

That isn't true of non-white reseidents of France, no matter how long they or their families may have lived in France. The fact is that for a significant number of the French, being French means that your family's root go back centuries and that they're _white_ people.

France is a multi-racial _society_ but that doesn't mean _french_ _people_ are.

please explain building 7 guys...

No, "Ratatouille" is a _Disney_ film--i.e. an _American_ view of France, french cooking and society, etc.

La preuve?

Nearly all the humour is what might be called "Jewish" humour. The lines, the gags, the gestures, the tones, cadences, mannerisms, and on and on.

Very funny stuff---I watched it in English. And I thought, "Heh, this is jewish sounding humor."

I take exception that the race situation is worse in france than in the US. remeber OJ, Rodney King, Amadou Diallo? Come on!

American TV---

true, the French are _great_ fans of American TV series. They _love_ American TV shows---crime shows and Desperate Housewives, for example.

could you find two more naive Americans that the ones you are interviewing.
every cliche in the book and very very annoying.
Leonard I expect better from you.
A Brit in New York.

Spanish very nice to us...

On my last trip to Europe, my first ever trip to Spain--specifically Madrid, Valencia and Barcelona in Dec of 2005 I was worried about anti Americanism. I found NONE! The Catalonians and people of Valencia and Madrid were very nice to us. As were the people at the airports. I felt like Spain was a much sweeter, slower paced place than the US! Nor did people expect tips they way they do in the states esp. New York. It was so refreshing!
Ny one and only trip to Britain--I found people in London to be generally rude. But the country people of Dorset, Somerset, couldn't have been nicer. (In 1985)
The two times I have been to France (1984 & 1991) the French were fantastic. In the countryside of Burgundy an innkeeper thanked the US for helping out in WWWII !!!
I think French formality and manners can be misunderstood by Americans.

IMHO European 'hatred' for Americans is mainly due to American arrogance (about their contribution and role in the world, realism vs myth) & ignorance (about other cultures and the rest of the world).

Your guests are a great example of both. Good pick!

To the producers--

I'm curious about what questions--if there were occasions for them--French (or Polish or British) children posed to you most often about the U.S. and their people in the process of your making the film.

thanks.