America’s global influence is incredible. Culture seems to be our biggest export. People go to our movies, listen to our music and wear our jeans. In a recent survey, it showed that 60 percent of Europeans would vacation in the States.

So, you think if Europeans import American goods, wear American jeans and want to spend their vacation in the U.S.A., they must like Americans because our logic tells us that A+ B = C. But the truth is, Americans are not well-liked. My Canadian friend tells me Americans sew a Canadian patch on their backpacks to up their quality points among Europeans.

What do they say about us?

“Americans are egocentric, and in the movies, they always save the world.” When was the last time a big world news story took precedence over the soap opera of our president’s sex life? If Europeans are watching our films instead of their own, why would we buy their films? If we did, we would be supporting other cultures, and we would not want to look outward now would we?

“Americans are materialistic.” Yeah, we like stuff. But who doesn’t?

“And fat.” Our health organizations tell us the same thing.

“Americans are not genuine. They don’t mean what they say.” My Swedish friend’s father told her to be careful with us Americans because we will say something and not really mean it.

“American government sticks its nose into the business of other countries.” Phillippe Dumartheray’s Jan. 6 column in the 24 Heures newspaper said Americans are all about protecting their interests. The title of this editorial was, “If Saddam didn’t exist, America would have invented him.”

We are talking about politicians, not your average American citizens.

“Americans are ignorant, especially when it comes to geography.” A New Yorker living on the Canadian border asked my friend, who was living one kilometer on the other side of the line, “What is the weather like there?”

I have to say, many Europeans know where Iowa is and do not insist that it is Idaho. I agree Americans need to get out the map more often.

People have made it clear why America sucks, even if they haven’t been there, and they have told me why they don’t like Americans, even if they still plan on going there. Sigh.

Some Americans may very well be all that Europeans say they are, but I am glad to be an American because I understand all the song lyrics, and I can get Levi’s much cheaper at home. I also feel America is quite open to the European lifestyle and we are less occupied with the smell of Europeans and their love of mopeds than Europeans are with American goings-on.

Maybe it is because we are more accepting, or maybe it’s because we don’t know enough to criticize effectively. I don’t know.

At the end of a lunchtime discussion with Irish, American, English, Canadian and Swedish people about “Why we hate America, “I asked what it was they did like about the States. An Irish fellow admitted that America was cool because “you can get free refills.”

He also mentioned the fact you can walk down to the grocery store in pajamas without getting hassled and find yourself a friendly clerk who asks how you’re doing. This Irishman, who is a geography major, conceded that perhaps Americans are bad with geography because of the immense size of the States and our proximity to other continents. (Still, it is no excuse.) The Swede said she finds Americans easy to talk to and to get along with.

Finally, the Irishwoman said, “I guess it is like every other country; you have your ignorant people, and you have your nice people.”

And she is right. It’s the yin and the yang philosophy: In everything that is good, there is a little bit of evil. And in all that is evil, there exists a little bit of good. The exceptions cannot exist without the stereotypes.

And the stereotypes cannot exist without the exceptions. In the end, we are all unique.

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Amanda Fier is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Davenport.