Anti US graffiti

There is no shortage of anti USA sentiment on the walls of Buenos Aires, some of it humorous, some not. Ill feeling towards the U.S. and anti-imperialism has a long history in Latin America dating back to the 19th century.

Mural in Palermo depicting ‘Evil’ Uncle Sam

Yankees get out of Latin America

One thing that Argentines object to is U.S. citizens calling themselves ‘Americans’. They find it arrogant and are quick to point out there two continents in the Americas. Argentines often use the word ‘yanquis’ (pron: Shank-keys) as in ‘Yankees’ to describe their North American cousins.

Return the blows in Latin America

Anti-USA stencils can often be found close to important buildings such as the U.S. Embassy in Plaza Italia and places popular with North American tourists. Uncle Sam’s aggressive foreign policy and the ‘War Against Terror’, most notably with the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, under the George W. Bush administration have of course contributed to making the U.S. (together with countries like Britain, thanks to Tony Blair) one of the most hated nations in the world.

Stencil in downtown Buenos Aires

Of course not all Argentines dislike ‘the Yankees’ and it’s important to make a distinction between hatred towards a government and its people. However, a poll by The Chicago Council on Global Affairs and WorldPublicOpinion.org a few years ago questioned almost 22,00 people (in China, India, the U.S.A, Russia, Indonesia, France, Thailand, Ukraine, Poland, Iran, Mexico, South Korea, the Philippines, Australia, Armenia, Israel, Peru and Argentina) and Argentina led the list of countries that distrusted the U.S. and its role in world affairs. An overwhelming majority (84%) said they didn’t trust the United States to act responsibly in the world, including 69% who didn’t trust it at all, more than any other public polled.

Statue of Liberty or Statue of War?