All 21 Suburban News Publications, April 30, 2003
Trip to Spain reveals pro-Americanism
It all started when I was visiting Spain on the anniversary of Sept. 11.
I was amazed by the number of American flags pinned on lapels and fluttering from buildings in downtown Madrid. The Royal Palace and main plaza were flying Old Glory as high as the Spanish flag. I was humbled by the tributes in the papers and the sympathy I received from strangers.
After the war in Iraq started, I was often reminded of my three-month stay in Spain last fall. As headlines shout about protests and anti-Americanism all over the world, I think about that day in Madrid and all of the people I met while traveling there. The last thing I would describe them as is anti-American.
This trip was my first extended stay outside of Worthington. I had heard from friends and family that I should keep my citizenship quiet. Upon arrival it became apparent that it is almost impossible for Americans to hide who they are.
But whenever anyone mentioned my heritage, it wasn't scoffed at or met with hostility. However, politics would immediately come to the forefront of the conversation.
People from as far away as Kenya and Japan would quiz me on the American political system. I would have my mind picked by citizens of France, Australia and Israel. Swedes and Syrians would chastise me for not knowing enough about their countries' politics.
At times people would get passionate. The Germans I met were concerned with what they saw as a single man marching his country toward war. A Swiss woman was worried about whether Americans truly cared about all of the civilians who would die in battle. An Israeli grilled me on all of the reasons for going to war and cautioned me to really think things through before getting in too deep.
On some level they believed that if they could change my mind they were doing their part to chip away at Bush's policy. I tried my best to be a good ambassador and calm their fears. However, our conversations usually ended with a sigh as my explanations of American policy and the American mind-set didn't fully satisfy them.
But, rarely did I encounter anger or resentment directed toward me. Much to my surprise, no one personally attacked me nor did they hold me responsible for my government's actions.
In fact, they would repeatedly tell me not to be offended by their questions and followed up by telling me stories about how much they loved Americans. We would talk about American movies and food and act as if there weren't a care in the world, save soaking up the Spanish sun and finishing up our vacations. Individual Americans are generally seen as fun and interesting, if a little boisterous at times.
Whenever articles about anti-Americanism now appear in the papers or on the news, I am a little saddened. The friends I made in Spain, who hail from all comers of the globe, don't hate Americans.
They e-mail me and express grievances with policy and leadership. They tell me about a protest they attended and how they have felt about the whole situation in Iraq. But, not once have they made crass generalizations or sweeping criticisms, as I sometimes hear on this side of the pond.
Before this trip, my only experience with people from other countries was with exchange students and immigrants who love America and chose to come here and experience the culture. In Spain, different points of view and ways of thinking confronted me every day.
Although these people may not have changed my actual opinions on war or George Bush, they did broaden my outlook and expose me to a range of ideas.
More than anything, they put a face on the international dissenters and helped me to understand the people behind the protests.
Ashley Bleimes is a senior at the Linworth Alternative Program who is working as an intern with Suburban News Publications.