It's good to hear the occasional voice from "Old Europe" that gets it. I do hope those who get carried away with their anti-Americanism realize that they're feeding a growing anti-Europeanism (or at least anti-Old Europeanism) here in the US. In the end, that would likely be worse for them than for us. Most Americans I know take a rather dim view of being shat upon. Slap me on the cheek, and I won't turn the other. Instead, I'll bloody someone's nose. I'm far from the only one. I remember my friends, and I remember my enemies even more.

In genetics terms, there's a scientific phrase called "hybrid vigor." It states that pure breeds of a species tend to be weaker than mixed (hybrid) breeds. I believe it applies to nations as well as organisms. America has accepted (admittedly not always willingly) immigrants from every nation and sect from around the world. They've become part of us, and we've become stronger for it. It's only the recent advent of immigrants who refuse to become part of the greater whole that has caused problems, both here and elsewhere.