Does Europe hate us? Should we care?

I just finished watching a Discovery Channel special by Thomas Friedman. The piece called 'Does Europe hate us?' finds Mr. Friedman in the EU talking to folks on the streets. The amount of disdain for America and Americans is striking. While most of the young people interviewed by Friedman find George W Bush the object of their anger and outrage, it must be said that these sentiments did not sprout up in November 2000. The European hatred of the America started decades ago and has now found a convenient target of ridicule in President Bush.

A few highlights for me were the gentleman Friedman interviews about religion in Europe and France in particular. I can't find the transcript at this time, however to paraphrase, he said that there are four major religions in France. Christianity, Islam, Judaism and secularism. I found that very intriguing indeed. Secularism is a religion,, plain and simple. As much as it offends the French that our President swears an oath of office on a Bible, it is our tradition and our right. The freedom to practice your religion without fear of oppression from the government should be celebrated, not condemned.

Mr. Friedman also interviews an American living in Germany. The couple have four children and receive 9 hours a day, five days a week of free childcare. They also have free healthcare and three years of unpaid leave for the birth of a child. When asked if he paid more in taxes, the man said he wasn't sure, but didn't think it was any more than he paid in the US. I was talking to the television (again) asking Mr. Friedman what it was like looking years for a job in Germany with its staggering 12% unemployment rate?

I refer back to my post last week on Germany and Europe.

Do I wish to see our relationship with the EU improve? Absolutely. Do I hold much hope for such improvement, no. The two ways to think about our relationship are the same as the two ways we fight the war on terror. The EU wants America to submit our ideals and assimilate to their ways, period. The US believes that it is right to stand up for freedom and confront serious threats now rather than wait until we have another smoking hole in the ground.

As socialist Europe surrenders its identity and becomes predominantly Muslim, they will become more antagonistic towards the US.

Should we join them in march towards a two religion state, secularism and Islam?