A response to a BBC article by Justin Webb in which the author rather patronizingly suggested that worldwide anti-Americanism is nothing more than old-world bias. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the pro-USA lobby often uses allegations of prejudice and racism to deflect legitimate criticism from US policy.
Anti-Americanism is not anti America or the USA. As everyone knows, it is a dislike of consecutive White House regime's foreign policy, some aspects of domestic policy, and the suffocating pervasive onslaught of US corporate culture (Hip Hop, McDonalds, Hollywood). You may or may not like the aforementioned aspects of the US, but you quite definitely do have the right to dislike them, if you so choose. And if you dislike them you are in no way being prejudiced or racist.

One aspect noted in the report is that America gets an unfair amount of criticism, for example the anti death penalty lobby target Texas rather than China. This is not the case. Human Rights organisations do spend a lot of time targeting human rights abuses in China and elsewhere. Texas is also a legitimate target however because America sells itself as a democracy, and its citizens have democratically voted for the death penalty. There is no excuse for human rights abuse in the developing world, but in the most advanced country it is absolutely unforgivable, not least because a cursory examination of those who are executed brings up some frightening demographic statistics. In his article, Justin Webb forgets that American society leaves a vast amount to be desired. Of course Chinese society does to, but Chinese society is not taking over the world, American society is.

Many political and business leaders seem content for us to follow America both socially and economically. You can see why, the corporate leaders and politicians in America are the richest and most powerful in the world.

But from its social and racial inequalities to its corporate ethos, obesity and media addiction American society is riddled with problems. Problems that we don't want to have.

Factor in America's insular disregard for much of the rest of the world, and a non-sensical and unswerving support for Israel and it is easy to see why people protest against America. I never have and never will discriminate against someone because of their nationality, but I will never be scared to criticise and protest against a countries policies and ethos.

We don't want an American style society here and we don't want them calling the shots on our side of the pond. We don't want their urban sprawl, shopping malls, violent crime and TV addiction. There is nothing wrong with that!