I’m American and for as long as I’ve been alive I always got the sense that Americans are not respected but just tolerated. Mostly because of our military.
I don't know how old you are, but I feel the same way. However, I suspect that immediately after WWII ended and before it became common knowledge that the US was in the game of empire, there was a brief period where the US was seen as a place where people could seriously upgrade their station in life through hard work and a bit of luck.
But that might be the same propaganda that taught us that we were special when I was in school. I honestly can't tell and I don't have anyone that I can ask of the right age that wasn't born here.
I was born in the early 80’s and I remember a lot more pro America propaganda when I was a kid compared to now. I had some friends from Albania and Poland in high school and I think when their families moved to the US they bought into the pro American media stuff a few moved back pretty quickly. I’ve been to Europe a few times and some people I met told me to not tell people I’m American they will treat you different. Some straight up said they hated all Americans to me.
I’m American and for as long as I’ve been alive I always got the sense that Americans are not respected but just tolerated. Mostly because of our military.
I don't know how old you are, but I feel the same way. However, I suspect that immediately after WWII ended and before it became common knowledge that the US was in the game of empire, there was a brief period where the US was seen as a place where people could seriously upgrade their station in life through hard work and a bit of luck.
But that might be the same propaganda that taught us that we were special when I was in school. I honestly can't tell and I don't have anyone that I can ask of the right age that wasn't born here.
I was born in the early 80’s and I remember a lot more pro America propaganda when I was a kid compared to now. I had some friends from Albania and Poland in high school and I think when their families moved to the US they bought into the pro American media stuff a few moved back pretty quickly. I’ve been to Europe a few times and some people I met told me to not tell people I’m American they will treat you different. Some straight up said they hated all Americans to me.