I can’t speak for other European countries, but here in Germany the media and most public discourse has a left slant. Anti-Americanism is one of the fashionable attitudes resulting from this. I can confirm what others have pointed out: The over-generalizing jokes and rethoric (to the effect that Americans are all stupid, uneducated, superficial, fat, imperialist hillbillies who get a kick out of destroying the environment) is often a deflection tactic, or plain envy.
As a young German, I’m often ashamed that so many people here mindlessly still stick to this type of talk that became fashionable in the late 60s. When I point out the discrepancies in their reasoning or the little fact that America played a key role in liberating Germany from Nazi rule and transforming it into a democracy, I’m often met with hostility. It can be pretty infuriating. However, all’s not lost. There are enough people who have a more realistic view on things. The main problem remains the media, which fortunately can’t be said to accurately represent the views of the general public.
On the other hand, it is interesting to see that it appears to be a two-way thing, judging by the equally idiotic, uninformed and generalizing comments here against “Euro trash”.
