I recall from my own experiences as a Fulbrighter back in those challenging days of 2001-2002 many a tirade from Germans, who wanted to tell me how wrong the US was in its polices. That I supported some of what the Bush Administration had done, until December 2002 when the President chose to do an "end-around" the UN, only made matters worse. This is not a new phenomenon; it is not a question of being too "sensitive." That it is now receiving a lot more attention is, however, quite telling.

I do not think it is a question of anti-Americanism. Labeling it as such does not help. Instead, I believe the problem rests on the fact that many Germans are strongly opinionated, especially on matters of war and peace. A factor of history and education, most Germans are ingrained with a sense of disdain toward war and the death penalty for example. Over the years, and I think unfortunately, that healthy disdain has developed into a sense of arrogance that creates sparks when it collides with opposite opinions. Now, that is not to say that Germans are wrong and the Americans, for example, are right. I myself learned much from Germans during my year there, so much so that the issue of global warming is now one that I closely follow. My continued research into the German Green Party for my dissertation has also opened a number of interesting political perspectives to me.

However, in much the same way that Americans often no very little of Germany (if they know more than beer and Lederhosen, that is a start), Germans, though they are extremely well read and informed, often have a somewhat limited perspective of the United States beyond policy and societal ills.
>From what I remember and from what the story Joerg sent suggests,
>Germans
appear more interested in telling any American, irrespective of their viewpoints, how wrong America is. Yet polls today clearly show that support for the Iraq War and for the President himself hover around the 28-32%. As such, why should any American in Germany be seen as a purveyor of a minority viewpoint? Would it not make more sense to try and understand the political realities that govern the US, than make assumptions based on nationality? To put it in the context of Joerg's question: American students or visitors in Germany are ambassadors of American society, not of US government policy.

This hard and direct "criticism culture" is, in my opinion, counter-productive to inter-society dialogue and exchange. Many Americans who visit Germany, and vice versa, are guilty of the "ugly American"
syndrome--allowing their own cultural norms to blind them to what the other society has too offer and represents. Perhaps we must now also speak of an "arrogant German" syndrome--allowing political assumptions to define a society. To be sure, both societies are guilt of both. One need only look at the American President and his blatant disregard for international society to see the latter in action. Regular Americans, such as religious conservatives, NRA advocates, or animal rights activists, are also guilty of the "arrogant German" syndrome.

We as Fulbrighters, both past and present, must address both of these challenges. Over the fifty plus years of the German-American Fulbright, we have done pretty well in countering the "ugly American" problem. Through direct experience in each other's society we bring direct interaction that can inform both sides of the cultural and societal norms of both Germany and the US; myths are dispelled and replaced with facts. Yet, we fall short in addressing the "arrogant German" syndrome, in part because it is relatively new. And given the prevalence of politics in both societies today and the continuing strained relations, we should focus more on this gap of communication. Though arguments of "what is wrong with each society" must surely remain, I believe we should focus more on understanding the tremendous dynamics and arguments within each of our societies that define the most challenging issues of our time. All of the issues Joerg mentioned--the war in Iraq, the death penalty, and gun laws--all have their proponents and detractors in the US. In Germany, issues such as using military force, socialized medicine and work laws, which often draw the ire of the educated American, also have numerous political nuances.

We should all strive to understand those nuances and explain them to our counterparts. To be sure, on both sides there will be those that will continue with the "ugly American" and "arrogant German" syndromes. Being an Ambassador, especially in the face of such verbal abuses, is not easy and can be very uncomfortable. I myself was subject to a one hour tirade in December 2002 on the ofrthcoming US invasion of Iraq by one I had thought my friend on one of my last days in Germany. Yet at the same time there can be successes. One of my fondest memories was a discussion about the US and its policies with a German on the S-Bahn in Berlin. After 30 minutes of explaining the intricacies of American politics and diplomacy, the man was shocked to learn that I was an American and told me that I had changed his view on some aspects of the US.

These successes may be few and far between and may not even exhibit themselves immediately, but it is through our hard work as Ambassadors of our societies that they become possible. We as Fulbrighters are chosen because we represent some of the best our respective countries has to offer.
And the mission we undertake is not easy, but I firmly believe it is necessary and over the long term pays enormous dividends that can only benefit our two countries.

Wishing you all the very best.

"Mit internationalischen Gruessen," (In the words of Joschka Fischer from October 1995)

Scott Brunstetter
Fulbrighter 2001-2002
Berlin