She cautioned Americans not to take this personally, that is, it isn't about America. This was back in the 1990s.

My high school French teacher, a Frenchwoman, said that if we attempted, however ineptly, to speak the language while there, we would receive much more courtesy than if we expected them to speak English. This is a courtesy that many Americans don't observe, and the French people tolerate it less well than some other nations.

If we chalk other nations' less-than-friendly attitudes up to envy of us, we have less reason to examine our own behavior as a possible contributing cause: a great relief not to have to undergo the rigors of self-examination, but not especially helpful in a relationship.

An aside: Liberals I know don't want to see the rich knocked down so much as to see the poor helped up. Without a worthiness test.